Blanc's Coyotes

Blanc's Coyotes
Formed	3009
Previous Designation(s)	Wylie's Coyotes
Nickname	Lonesome Scavengers
Affiliation	Mercenary
Parent Command	Independent

Blanc's Coyotes (formerly Wylie's Coyotes) mercenary unit was a mercenary command with origins as mysterious as Wolf's Dragoons and one of few that managed to vanish decades earlier only to reappear 36 years later to share an incredible tale. The unit earned wildly different reputations during the respective periods they appeared.

History

Formation in the Third Succession Wars

The unit first appeared in 3009, in Davion space, with an entire battalion of pristine light BattleMechs transported by equally well maintained DropShips and a Star Lord-class JumpShip (unprecedented at that time). Additionally, the Coyotes had far more technicians than would have otherwise been required for a 'Mech battalion. Without any knowledge of their origins, the Federated Suns hired them a year later with the idea they would be getting the same deal as they had with the Dragoons.

The 'Suns gamble paid off by contracting the Coyotes, and unlike the Dragoons much shorter stint, they remained in their employ. From 3010 to 3030 the unit was employed by the Federated Suns. During that time, the Coyotes managed to expand from a battalion to a full regiment without hiring any outside personnel. This was done by training the extensive ranks of their dependents, all of which received a combination of excellent educations and combat/technical training. Oddly, the Coyotes also never acquired new BattleMechs on the open market or by salvage, only selling their own at discount to House Davion — the Coyotes instead would curiously replenish lances with what appeared to be yet more pristine, new 'Mechs always of light designs.

The Coyotes further, baffling behavior was also often reported by natives of every world they were stationed on. For days at a time, it was observed that the entirety of the Coyotes and their dependents would simply disappear. When they were questioned regarding these disappearances, the only response was that they were "communing with nature" where "outsiders" could not observe them. Since their contract terms stipulated that they were never on any one world for more than a year, the Coyotes traveled a large portion of Federated Suns systems and worlds. As a result of this, mystical communes would spring up from the local populations, alleging they were "living in balance with nature", and remain after the Coyotes had left.

While under contract during this early period, the Coyotes were noted for specializing in swarming tactics that would later be doggedly pursued by Mercer Ravannion of the DCMS. However, the Coyotes performed these feats with much better success, charging and flanking always at top speed, and never attacking any one opponent for very long due to their use of lighter 'Mechs. Each Coyote would charge past an opponent while firing, with fellow lancemates following up their attacks in turn to finish the job. These swarming tactics would have the added benefit of catching enemies off guard in pincer attacks from every angle, especially the more vulnerable rear armor.

Fourth Succession Wars

By the time the Fourth Succession War had begun the Coyotes were stationed on Bromhead. AFFS High Command gave the Coyotes free rein, and as a result they decided to first attack Zanzibar in 3029, completely defeating Bullard's Armored Cavalry only to disappear for several months after. When they finally returned, the Coyotes delivered a package of intelligence to their command liaison on Bromhead. This information turned out to be vital in securing the borders of the St. Ives Compact before it would officially form. It has been rumored this information was also shared with the Duchy of Andurien which is believed to be one such cause of the Andurien-Canopian invasion of the Capellan Confederation.

Disappearance and Return

In 3030, the Coyotes would be seen for the last time in Federated Suns space, departing as mysteriously as they had arrived. One night the entire Coyote command disappeared with liaison officers only investigating after the unit's officers missed regular meetings. When they arrived at the Coyotes' base, it was found abandoned. The only people left were civilian employees who had served the unit, along with some dependents that had married into the unit, along with their children. It was described that those left behind had ancestry alien to the Coyotes that had originally arrived. Their departure, as it would turn out, was not actually a "disappearance" but rather a "calculated withdrawal," which was remarkable considering the great difficulty of launching DropShips undetected and without anyone noticing. At the time, their status was considered unknown and they had not been sighted again.

Their next contract would have brought them to the Magistracy of Canopus. A misjump sent them off course to the Samoyedic Colonies in the Deep Periphery. Over the years they would form a close relationship with them. Once three decades' worth of repair work to their Star Lord Class JumpShip was completed and many of the original Coyotes members died due to virus on Samoyedic. Some of the survivors of the unit decided to remain behind and help defend their new homes, while many of the unit's descendants decided to return to civilization. In 3063, the unit returned to the Inner Sphere with only one battalion's worth of troops.

Jihad

By 3067, the unit found employment with the Word of Blake, and likely participated in the Jihad. The command had shown a brutality unknown from them. Rumors suggest the WoB held Samoyedic Colonies as a hostage.

Dissent on New Earth increased when the WoB Twelfth Division left, and the Word dispatched Blanc's Coyotes in 3068 to put it down. The mercenaries' heavy-handed response temporarily restored order but gave birth to even more powerful resistance in the long run.

Officers

Rank	Name	Command
Commanding Officers of Blanc's Coyotes
Colonel	Enzo Wylie	3010 - 3030
Colonel	Martin Blanc	3063 - 3067

Tactics

The unit fights with a pack mentality. During battle one company attacks then fades away while another company from another direction attacks next and so on.

Mercenary Rating

3066

Dragoon Rating: C

3067

Dragoon Rating: Wanted

Composition History

3010

Wylie's Coyotes (Battalion/Regular/Reliable)

Contract: AFFS

• CO: Colonel Enzo Wylie

- The unit arrived with an entire Battalion of pristine Light BattleMechs.

The unit has one Star Lord-class JumpShip, the Geronimo, and three well maintained Overlord-class DropShips.

3025

Wylie's Coyotes (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)

Contract: AFFS

• CO: Colonel Enzo Wylie

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Bromhead. The unit expanded to 1 full BattleMech Battalion with 1 Vehicle Company, 1 Infantry Company, and Aerospace assets in support; 75% of all 'Mechs are light or medium in design (Size 1 or 2) and all vehicles and aerospace are light size (Size 1). The infantry company consists of three platoons of Jump Infantry with Laser rifles. The unit has one Star Lord-class JumpShip, the Geronimo, and 3 well maintained Overlord-class DropShips.

3040

Wylie's Coyotes (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Marcus.

3067

• Blanc's Coyotes (1 BattleMech Battalion/Regular/Questionable)
  • Able Company (Pack Hunters) - CO: Colonel Martin Blanc/ command's strike unit, fielding medium units
  • Baker Company (Desert Hounds) - XO: Captain Brittany Wolfgang/ heavies and assaults designs
  • Charlie Company (Scrap'n Scavengers) - Major Tamil "Light Foot" Fawcett/ pursuit scout unit (extremely fast light and medium 'Mechs)

- Most of the unit includes Upgraded Project Phoenix designs and upgraded Star League designs they received through employment with the Word of Blake.

- Blanc's Coyotes was at 80% strength

• Technical Support: 100%

The unit has one Star Lord-class JumpShip, the quirky and uniquely modified Geronimo, and two serviceable but very old Overlord-class DropShips.

Gallery

• 

  Old Logo of Blanc's Coyotes, formerly known as Wylie's, ca. 3030

• 

  Logo from House Davion (The Federated Suns) sourcebook

Notes

• Oddly the unit, or someone using its name, would be listed as available for Deployment from 3038 to 3040 during the War of 3039 when they had completely vanished around 3030 and were not seen again for quite some time. During the prewar phase they were supposedly based on Marcus with a January Jump-Off point from Lambrecht. The deployment suggests they did not participate and by war's end were back where they started on Marcus. It is unknown at this time if this was overlooked or done on purpose.

Bibliography

• Combat Manual: Mercenaries
• Historical: War of 3039
• House Davion (The Federated Suns)
• Mercenaries Supplemental II
• Mercenaries Supplemental Update