Editing 2nd Royal Guards

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = [[File:Royalguards2nd.png]]
| Designation    = 2nd Royal Guards RCT
| formed         = 
| Disbanded      = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname       = The Pride of Skye
| Affiliation    = Lyran Commonwealth
| Parent Command = [[Royal Guards]]
| Sub-Command    = 
}}
The '''Second Royal Guards''' were an elite military formation in service to the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and [[Lyran Alliance]], as well as the united [[Federated Commonwealth]] during its brief existence. Usually based on the capital of [[Tharkad]], the Second Royal Guards were often assigned to the less-glamorous assignments as opposed to the [[First Royal Guards]], such as protecting Tharkad's military industries and coordinating with planetary militia units. Although rarely seeing significant combat, the Second were able to maintain a high experience level through the regular rotation of veteran officers and soldiers into and out of its ranks, with the exception of top commanders.<ref name=FMLA97>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 97: 2nd Royal Guards RCT: The Pride of Skye</ref>

==History==
Historically, the Second Royal Guards drew its soldiers from the [[Federation of Skye]] region. Despite the political difficulties of that region, the Second has been regarded as fanatical as the other Royal Guard commands to the Lyran state. During and after the Federated Commonwealth era, this policy was relaxed.<ref name=FMLA95>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 95: Royal Guards: Lyran Pride</ref>

===Star League Era===
The Second Royal Guards were one of the many [[Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces]] units revealed to have extensive ties to criminal cartels during [[Operation CATALOG]], with the regiment's executive officer, his [[lance]] mates and half the unit's regimental supply officers all arrested or dishonorably cashiered. Aside from the blow to the regiment's prestige, the unit's readiness was below par thanks to the large influx of new recruits and abrupt promotions in the wake of CATALOG, additionally hampered by the LCAF's efforts to ensure the loyalty of the newcomers to Commonwealth as a whole and House Steiner ahead of Skye.<ref name=FR:2765LCAFp17>''Field Report 2765: LCAF'', p. 17: "Royal Guards" - Regimental Status</ref>

As of [[2765]], the Second was stationed alongside the [[First Royal Guards]] on Tharkad.<ref name=FR:2765LCAFp17/>

===Third Succession War===
Prior to [[Archon]] [[Giovanni Steiner]]'s death in [[2980]], his son, [[Alessandro Steiner]], was a [[battalion]] commander with the unit.<ref name=HSLC77AS>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 77: Alessandro Steiner</ref>

In [[3001]], [[Katrina Steiner]], Alessandro's niece, was transferred in to command the Second Royal Guards. She commanded the regiment for three years before she was transferred to the [[Lyran_Commonwealth_Armed_Forces#Strategies_and_Tactics_Division|Strategies and Tactics Division]].<ref name=HSLCp151>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 151: Katrina Steiner: Brief Personal History</ref><ref name=HW39-17>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 17: Katrina Steiner</ref>

[[Edward Regis]], who would eventually become [[General of the Armies]] under now-Archon Katrina Steiner, once commanded the Second Royal Guards, during which time he was awarded the [[McKennsy Hammer]] for his leadership of the unit.<ref name=HSLC90ER>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 90: Edward Regis</ref>

The unit defeated House Davion's [[3rd Ceti Hussars|Third Ceti Hussars]] in a mock battle during [[Operation Thor]] in [[3027]].<ref>''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1'', p. 8: "Operations Galahad and Thor"</ref>

As of [[3025]], the Second Royal Guards were based on Tharkad.<ref name=HSLCp121>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 121: Deployment Table</ref>

===Fourth Succession War===
The Second Royal Guards spent the entire [[Fourth Succession War]] protecting Tharkad, even as the First Royal Guards were temporarily relocated to [[Skye]].<ref name=NFSW45OG>''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1'', p. 45: Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG</ref>

===War of 3039===
The Federated Commonwealth raised the Second Royal Guards to [[Regimental_Combat_Team#Regimental_Combat_Team|Regimental Combat Team]] level, permanently attaching brigades of [[Combat Vehicle|armor]] and [[infantry]] as well as [[Aerospace Fighter|Aerospace]] assets. During the War of 3039, they remained on Tharkad with the First Guards.<ref name=HW39-138>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 138: Deployment Table</ref>

===Clan Invasion and Lyran Alliance===
As of [[3050]], the Second Royal Guards were based on the Lyran capital of [[Tharkad]].<ref name=20YUp29>''20 Year Update'', p. 29: Deployment Table</ref> They remained on Tharkad through [[3054]], though by then, their quality level had improved to veteran.<ref name=ORp21>''Objective Raids'', p. 21: Deployment Table</ref> The unit seemed to experience no reservations in transferring their loyalty from [[Archon-Prince#Archon-Prince|Archon-Prince]] [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] to Archon [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]] and the [[Lyran Alliance Armed Forces]].

===FedCom Civil War===
The Second Royal Guards saw very little action in the early stages of the [[FedCom Civil War]], instead forming an armed camp on Tharkad along with the First Guards and the [[Com Guards|Com Guard]] [[66th Division (ComStar)|66th Division]].

In August [[3066]], when [[Morgan Kell]] and [[Peter Steiner-Davion]] arrived in-system with a pan-Lyran invasion force to stake Peter's claim to the throne, the [[Loyalist (FCCW)|Loyalists]] would be joined by the by the battle-tested [[11th Arcturan Guards|Eleventh Arcturan Guards]] and the [[1st Alarion Jaegers|First Alarion Jaegers]]. The invaders neutralized the defenders [[WarShip]] defenses and landed their ground forces, including the [[First Kell Hounds]], the [[Twentieth Arcturan Guards]], the [[1894th Light Horse Regiment]] and [[21st Rim Worlds|Twenty-first Rim Worlds]] from the [[Blue Star Irregulars]], the [[Golden Keshik (Clan Wolf-in-Exile)|Golden Keshik]] and [[4th Wolf Guards (Clan Wolf-in-Exile)|Fourth Wolf Guards]] from [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]]. The Second engaged the Wolves in the Methow Valley. Despite outnumbering the [[Clan]] warriors, the Second pursued [[Khan]] [[Phelan Kell]] who led his warriors into Stahlwurzel Forest, where the Wolves spent a week brutally mauling the Loyalists. The Second fell back to Tharkad City.<ref name=FCCW175177>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 175–177: Tharkad</ref>

Both sides were reinforced before the campaign reached its conclusion. The [[4th Skye Rangers|Fourth Skye Rangers]], after the failure of the [[3rd Skye Rebellion|Third Skye Rebellion]], joined the [[Allies (FCCW)|Allies]] while the [[24th Lyran Guards|Twenty-fourth Lyran Guards]] arrived to aid the Loyalists. The Second was held back in Tharkad City when [[Nondi Steiner]] attempted to take the offensive against the Allies, and when the Loyalists began collapsing, Nondi attempted to hold out with the Second, engaged in street-to-street fighting in the capital city itself. Vastly outnumbered, the Second refused to surrender, and was effectively destroyed as a combat effective unit. Nondi Steiner herself was killed on 2 April, [[3067]].<ref name=FCCW175177/><ref>''Endgame'', p. 235</ref>

Archon Peter refused to disband either Royal Guard commands, instead beginning a crash rebuilding program. Despite this, some of the survivors continued to resent owing fealty to Peter, who had shattered them months earlier. Many of its members chose to resign.<ref name=FMUp172>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 172: Second Royal Guard</ref> By the beginning of August, the Second had been rebuilt to only 20 percent strength overall, with barely a company of 'Mechs.<ref name=FMUp172/><ref name=FMUp178>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 178: Lyran Alliance Armed Forces Deployment Table: Donegal Province</ref>

===Jihad===
[[File:Archon Peter Steiner-Davion.jpg|frameless|right|Peter Steiner Davion, who the Guards opposed and later defended]]
When the [[Word of Blake]] attacked Tharkad after the [[Whitting_Conference#Fourth_Whitting_Conference|Fourth Whitting Conference]], many of the Lyran units on planet were shattered by the orbital bombardment. Archon Peter merged the survivors of both Royal Guards into a single command, and they defended him throughout the campaign. Suffering severe losses over the course of years of guerrilla fighting, the Royal Guards were constantly reinforced by soldiers from other commands on planet who the Archon transferred in, refusing to disband his illustrious unit. Despite being reduced to less than a ghost of their prior selves, the Guards did successfully protect the Archon from death or capture.<ref name=JTPT6C>''Jihad Turning Points: Tharkad'', p. 6: Combatants</ref> In the aftermath of the fighting on Tharkad, the Second essentially existed only on paper, composed of a single lance of the best MechWarriors that defended the capital. By September [[3079]], they were still at only five percent strength, even while their sister unit, the First, was rebuilt by absorbing militia units.<ref name=FRLAAF14>''Field Report: LAAF'', p. 14: Royal Guards</ref>

By 3085, the Second had grown. The LCAF High Command forwarded many elite soldiers to the unit for consideration. These soldiers then took a series of tests to see if they had what the Second Guards were looking for. Anyone who failed these tests didn't make it into the unit. The [[4th Royal Guards|Fourth Royal Guards]] performed the same tests, but out of respect for the Second's history, the Fourth didn't recruit many soldiers from [[Skye]]. Instead they went to the Second for their evaluations.<ref name=fm85104>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 104</ref> Even with these high standards, the Second had managed to rebuild to over a third of its nominal strength.<ref name=FM3085p108/>

Unlike previous iterations of the Second Royal Guards, the Pride of Skye of 3085 is expected to perform more than ceremonial duties. To prepare to join their sister units in the field, the Second trains against the Fourth Royal Guards.<ref name=fm85104/>

===Dark Age===
In 3143 [[Clan Wolf]] invaded [[Tharkad]]. The Second Royal Guards defended the [[Nagelring]] from the Wolves, but lost two companies of machines.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3145 The Clans'', p. 52</ref> In addition to the Nagelring fight, they also defended Tharkad City. After the fighting on Tharkad the unit was reduced to fifty percent of its nominal strength. With the creation of the Wolf Empire so near Tharkad, the LCAF High Command left the Second to reinforce the First Royal Guards on Tharkad.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 124</ref>

When Clan Jade Falcon attacked [[Coventry]] again in February [[3148]], the Second was among the Lyran relief force and was personally led by [[General of the Armies]] [[Roderick Steiner]]. During the struggle over the Port St. William Spaceport the Second Royal Guards beat back the [[1st Falcon Striker (Clan Jade Falcon)|First Falcon Striker]] and claimed the vital facility.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', pp. 50–51</ref>

==Officers==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Rank
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Time Period in Command
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the Second Royal Guards'''
|-
| ||[[Katrina Steiner]]||[[3001]] - [[3004]]<ref name=HSLCp151/>
|-
| ||[[Hermann Steiner]]||[[3007]]<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 46: Hermann Steiner commanded the Second Royal Guards before retiring</ref>
|-
| [[General of the Armies]]||[[Edward Regis]]||[[3025]]<ref name=HSLC90ER/>
|-
| [[Leutnant-General]]||[[Christopher Malvin]]||
|-
| [[Marshal (rank)|Marshal]]||[[Richard Regis II]]||
|-
| Marshal||[[Richard de Gambier]]||[[3055]]
|-
| Leutnant-General||[[Luke Patterson]]||[[3085]]<ref name=FM3085p108>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 108: "LAAF Deployment Table - 3085"</ref>
|-
| [[Hauptmann General]]||[[Judith Kelly]]||[[3145]]<ref name=FM:3145p133>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 133: "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces - Donegal Province"</ref>
|-
| General of the Armies||[[Roderick Steiner]]||[[3148]]<ref name=TAc2>''The Anvil'', ch. 2</ref>
|-
|}

==Tactics==
The Second Royal Guards specializes in defensive operations, both mobile and static. Their Engineering battalion includes several [[IndustrialMech]]s and vehicles skilled at creating defensive emplacements.<ref name=FMLA97T>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 97: 2nd Royal Guards RCT: The Pride of Skye, Tactics</ref>

==Composition History==
===2765===
'''Second Royal Guards''' (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=FR:2765LCAFp17/>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Tharkad]].
=== 2786 - 2821===
'''Second Royal Guards ''' (Regiment/Elite/f)<ref name=FSSp139 >''First Succession War'', p. 139</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on [[Tharkad]]. In 2821 the command was reduced to 57 percent of its strength and was deployed on [[Tharkad]].<ref name=FSSp139/>
=== 2830 ===
'''Second Royal Guards''' (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=2ndSSp99>''Second Succession War'', p. 99</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on [[Tharkad]] with an operational readiness of 97 percent.<ref name=2ndSSp99/>
=== 2864 ===
'''Second Royal Guards''' (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=2ndSSp99/>
: Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on [[Tharkad]] with an operational readiness of 39 percent.<ref name=2ndSSp99/>

===3025===
'''Second Royal Guards''' (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=HSLCp121/><br>
:* CO: Leutnant General Christopher Malvin<ref name=HSLCp121/><br>
:Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Tharkad]].

===3040===
'''Second Royal Guards RCT''' (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=HW39-138/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Tharkad]].<ref name=HW39-138/>

===3050===
'''Second Royal Guards RCT ''' (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=20yup29/>
:* CO: Marshal Richard Regis II<ref name=20yup29/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Tharkad]].<ref name=20yup29>''20 Year Update'', p. 29</ref>

===3054===
'''Second Royal Guards RCT''' (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=OpjRp21/>
:* CO: Marshal Richard Regis II<ref name=OpjRp21/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Tharkad]].<ref name=OpjRp21>''Objective Raids'', p. 21</ref>

===3062===
'''Second Royal Guards''' ([[Regiment]]/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=FMLA97/><br>
CO: Leutnant General [[Richard Regis II]]<br>
Aide: Colonel John Lovgren<br>

'''Second Royal Guards Aerospace Brigade'''<ref name=FMLA97/><br>
CO: Colonel [[Saffron Olivery]]<br>
:* Third Royal Guards [[Wing (Military Unit)|Wing]]<br>
:* Fourth Royal Guards Wing<br>

'''Second Royal Guards Armor Brigade''' (3 Regiments/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=FMLA97/><br>
CO: Colonel Leo Mitchell-Heggs<br>
Aide: Leutnant Colonel Ruby Bass<br>
- Third Royal Tharkad Panzer Regiment - CO: Colonel Haikel Mertl<br>
- Fourth Royal Tharkad Panzer Regiment - CO: Colonel Owen Frear<br>
- First Royal Tharkad Armored Cavalry Regiment - CO: Colonel Lindsey Holby<br>

'''Second Royal Guards Infantry Brigade''' (5 Regiments/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=FMLA97/><br>
CO: Colonel Anfa Shou<br>
Aide: Leutnant Colonel Victor Duong-Cheng<br>
- Fifth Royal Tharkad Light Infantry Regiment - CO: Colonel Victoria Jordan<br>
- Sixth Royal Tharkad Light Infantry Regiment - CO: Colonel Anton Merrick<br>
- Third Royal Tharkad Mechanized Regiment - CO: Colonel Nick Meyer<br>
- Fourth Royal Tharkad Mechanized Regiment - CO: Colonel Edwin Chan<br>
- First Royal Tharkad Jump Regiment - CO: Colonel Ewan Lindstrom<br>

===3067===
'''Second Royal Guards''' (Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=FMUp172/><br>
CO: Leutnant General Richard Regis II<br>

'''Second Royal Guards Aerospace Brigade'''<ref name=FMUp172/><br>
CO: Kaptain Saffron Olivery<br>

'''Second Royal Guards Armor Brigade'''<ref name=FMUp172/><br>
CO: Colonel Leo Mitchell-Heggs<br>

'''Second Royal Guards Infantry Brigade'''<ref name=FMUp172/><br>
CO: Colonel Anfa Shou<br>

===3079===
'''Second Royal Guards ''' (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=“frlcaf14“>''Field Report: FWLM'', p. 14</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Tharkad]].<ref name=“frlcaf14“/>

===3085===
'''Second Royal Guards RCT''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM3085p108/><br>
CO: Leutnant General Luke Patterson<br>

'''Second Royal Aerospace''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM3085p108/><br>
CO: Kaptain Thad Travieso<br>

'''Second Royal Armor Brigade''' (Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=FM3085p108/><br>
CO: Colonel Theodar Brooks<br>

'''Second Royal Infantry Brigade''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM3085p108/><br>
CO: Colonel Antono Stenet<br>

===3145===
'''Second Royal Guards RCT''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM:3145p133/><br>
CO: Hauptmann General Judith Kelly<br>

'''Second Royal Aerospace''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM:3145p133/><br>
CO: Kaptain Alice Walker<br>

'''Second Royal Armor Brigade''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM:3145p133/><br>
CO: Colonel Lawrenche Mitchell<br>

'''Second Royal Infantry Brigade''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM:3145p133/><br>
CO: Colonel Keith Williams<br>

==Notes==
* The insignia of the Second Royal Guards is a kicking donkey against the blue shield of the Royal Guard bridge.<ref name=FMLA97/>

==Game Rules==
<div class="gamerules">
The Second possess the 'banking initiative' special ability, and gain a +1 initiative bonus when acting as the defender. If acting as the defender in a non-chase situation, 50 percent of all units may begin in improved positions.<ref name=FMLA134RG>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 134: Royal Guards: 2nd Royal</ref>
</div>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
<div class="desktop-3-col">
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[The Dying Time]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Endgame]]''
* ''[[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Lyran Alliance]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Field Report: LAAF]]''
* ''[[Field Report 2765: LCAF]]''
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]''
* ''[[Jihad Turning Points: Tharkad]]''
* ''[[NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1]]''
* ''[[Objective Raids]]''
* ''[[Second Succession War (sourcebook)]]''
* ''[[Shattered Fortress]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3145 The Clans]]''
* ''[[Warrior: Riposte]]''
</div>

[[Category:Lyran Commands|Royal Guards, 2nd]]
[[Category:Federated Commonwealth Commands|Royal Guards, 02nd]]