Editing The Arcadians

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = [[File:The Arcadians.jpg|150px]]
| Designation    = The Arcadians
| formed         = [[3042]]
| Disbanded      = [[3075]]
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname       = 
| Affiliation    = Mercenary
| Parent Command = Independent 
| Sub-Command    = 
}}

'''The Arcadians''' were an unregistered, [[Federated Suns]]-affiliated, [[mercenary]] [[BattleMech]] [[regiment]]. The regiment later grew to be a combined-arms unit similar to an [[AFFS]] [[Regimental Combat Team]].

===Unit Insignia===
Their insignia was a crossed sword and lightning bolt on a gold shield.<ref name="FM:MRp39">''Field Manual: Mercenaries (Revised)'', p. 39</ref>

===History===
====Formation====
The unit was formed in [[3042]] by twenty senior field-grade officers from the [[AFFS]] military. These officers wanted to take advantage of the [[Federated Commonwealth|Federated Commonwealth's]] reorganization of its military in wake of the [[War of 3039]]. At the time, a number of regiments within the Federated Suns were being demobilized and both officers and senior NCOs were regularly retiring or being cut as a part of this reorganization. Seeing a potential opportunity, the twenty officers involved in founding the Arcadians quietly began recruiting personnel from within the ranks of the [[AFFS]] before retiring, cashing in their pensions and retirement funds and forming an independent command.<ref name="FM:MRp39"/>  

The founding officers had sufficient funds to purchase a [[regiment]]'s worth of [[BattleMechs]], most of which were older, [[BattleTech eras|Succession War]]-era technology intended to be scrapped or mothballed.  Their quiet recruiting work prior to retiring left them able to fill all the ranks for their new unit with retired and recently-discharged personnel from the AFFS military. <ref name="FM:MRp39"/>

====Early Contracts====
Using contacts accumulated during a lifetime of military service with the [[AFFS]], the Arcadians were able to acquire contracts protecting a number of major private military supplier complexes. This work gave the unit ready access to steady income, [[lostech]] advances, and time to upgrade their equipment. These contracts, interspersed with garrison work and occasional raiding missions, has kept the unit’s military skills sharp.<ref name="FM:MRp39"/>

====Service to the Federated Commonwealth====
The [[Federated Commonwealth]] took over the Arcadian's contract in the wake of the [[Clan Invasion]] of 3050. The unit was deployed initially as a garrison force on the [[Capellan]] border to free up regular [[AFFC]] units for redeployment to face the [[Clans]]. In [[3052]] the unit absorbed the demobilized [[AFFS]] 8843rd Armored Regiment into its ranks, enhancing its artillery abilities.<ref>''Field Manual: Mercenaries (Revised)'', p. 39 - "8843rd Armored Regiment information".</ref> This together with the formation of the 1st Arcadian Air Wing enabled the unit to become a [[Regimental Combat Team]].

The Arcadians were rotated to the [[Clan]] border in [[3056]] where they would remain for the next five years.<ref>''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 39 - "The Arcadians original profile" -  Unit stationed St. Ives Compact in 3061, prior stationed they were stationed Clan Borders for five years.</ref> The unit was then deployed into the [[St. Ives Compact]] and were almost immediately involved in the [[Capellan Confederation]] invasion in [[3061]].<ref>''Field Manual: Capellan Confederation'', p. 16 - St. Ives Conflict & Capellan Civil War articles. Start actual Liao invasion (not peacekeepers) in 3061.</ref>  The unit remained in the Compact throughout the fighting until it victory was achieved.  They were then redeployed amongst the first wave of the [[Federated Commonwealth Civil War]] in [[3063]] as part of a strategic operation against [[Talcott]]. Here the Arcadians safeguarded the [[GM]] production facilities on behalf of Duke [[George Hasek II|George Hasek]]<ref name="FM:MRp39"/>.<ref name="FCCWp163>''Federated Commonwealth Civil War'', p. 183.</ref>

After the war ended in [[3067]] the unit was deployed to [[Acamar]] to defend the planet from possible [[Capellan]] raids. By this time the unit had upgraded a considerable amount of its equipment. The unit had bolstered itself up to 126 [[BattleMech|BattleMechs]] including a number of ''[[Avatar (OmniMech)|Avatar]]'' and ''[[Sunder]]'' [[OmniMech|OmniMechs]]. In addition they were presented with a company of [[battle armor]] and a pair of the new ''[[Templar]]'' assault class [[OmniMech]]s by Duke [[George Hasek II|Hasek]].<ref name="FM:MRp39"/>

====Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE====
In [[3068]], Duke [[George Hasek II|Hasek]] had the Arcadians conduct a diversionary raid as part of [[Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE]], his invasion of the [[St. Ives Commonality]] and [[Capellan Confederation]].  This raid turned into a full invasion of the [[Capellan]] world of [[Ningpo]] but subsequently went terribly wrong when the Arcadians encountered [[Hell's Black Aces]], an elite AeroSpace mercenary [[regiment]] contracted to [[House Liao]].  The Arcadian's Aerospace Wing took severe damage from the Black Aces while the Arcadian ground forces landed near an armor-sheet factory.  As the Arcadians approached their objective they were intercepted by the [[1st Taurian Lancers]]; the outnumbered [[1st Taurian Lancers|Lancers]] tore into the Arcadians. The ferocity of the Taurians' attack, likely fueled by their prejudice against units of [[Federated Suns]] origin, left the Arcadians reeling. Although the Arcadians' cavalry squadron succeeded in flanking the [[1st Taurian Lancers|Lancers]], the unit was demolished in turn by attack runs from Hell's Black Aces. The damage inflicted by both the Taurian Lancers and the Black Aces inflicted upwards of 60% losses on the beleaguered Arcadians unit in a mere 24 hours. The Arcadians were forced to conduct a fighting withdrawal from the planet, losing their [[DropShip]] the ''[[Dark Star]]'', and its remaining fighter complement in the process.<ref>Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 25 - "Arcadians' failed raid on Ningpo in spring of 3068".</ref> The surviving members of the Arcadian Air Wing began to suffer from severe demoralization, robbing them of the fearless spirit they once possessed.<ref>''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 25 - "First Arcadia Air Wing" - Pilots suffer from severe demoralization, making them more timid.</ref>

====Acamar And The Thirst for Revenge====
By July [[3068]], the Arcadians had returned to their base on [[Acamar]] and started to work on rebuilding their heavily damaged regiments.  During this time the government of Acamar was secretly negotiating with the [[Word of Blake]] about possibly joining their growing [[Word of Blake Protectorate|Protectorate]].  In August the government made a formal announcement that the Arcadians had two choices: terminate their contract with the [[Federated Suns]] and sign up with the [[Word of Blake Protectorate|Protectorate]] or pack up and leave Acamar immediately with the promise of being unmolested if they did so.  [[Colonel]] Andrews sent an HPG message to [[New Avalon]] and [[New Syrtis]] requesting confirmation of the situation; what the Arcadian commander did not realize was that the [[Word of Blake|Blakists]] were already in control of Acamar’s hyperpulse generator station.  [[Word of Blake]] forces on planet moved in, forcing the Arcadians into a fighting withdrawal.  Unable to find enough transportation for all of their equipment, the Arcadians were forced to abandon the vehicles of their entire 8843rd Armored Regiment and its 3rd [[BattleMech]] [[Battalion]].

After withdrawing from Acamar, the [[Colonel]] managed to use his old corporate connections to rebuild his unit on [[Ronel]]. As the unit rebuilt, Colonel Andrews dispatched a liaison team to offer the Arcadians' services to the [[Allied Mercenary Command]].  The Arcadians set their sights on liberating Acamar from the grip of the [[Word of Blake|Blakist]] forces and getting a decent paycheck as well.<ref>Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 25 - "Arcadians forced off Acamar and plot liberation of planet".</ref>

====Destruction====
The Arcadians were destroyed by [[Word of Blake]] forces after being lured into a trap in [[3075]]. There were no known survivors.<ref>''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'', p. 47 - "The Arcadians fall victim to a well-orchestrated trap in 3075 that destroyed the unit with no known survivors".</ref> The Arcadians were one of many mercenary units within the [[Allied Mercenary Command]] to be destroyed by the Word of Blake during the [[Jihad]].<ref name="J:FRp119">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 119, "Allied Mercenary Command"</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;" | Command
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of The Arcadians'''
|-
| [[Brigadier]]||[[Michael Penne]]||[[3067]]
|-
|}

===Notes===
* As of 3067, the overall commanding officer was [[Brigadier]] Michael Penne. The commanding officer of field operations was [[Colonel]] [[Bradley Andrews]].<ref name="FM:MRp39"/>

==Dragoon Ratings==
===3067===
'''Dragoon Rating: Unrated'''

===3071===
'''Dragoon Rating: Not Registered'''

==Tactics==
===3042 to 3068===
The unit trained in traditional [[AFFS]]-style combined-arms fighting and was able to conduct unsupported battles.  The unit preferred to first engage at range and whittle the enemy down before cavalry forces would flank the damaged opposition and deliver the final blow. <ref name="FM:MRp39"/>

===3071===
The Arcadians had to change their tactics following the loss of their artillery and the majority of their [[Air Wing]] on [[Ningpo]]. The unit resorted to close-in fighting instead of ranged combat while still using combined-arms tactics when they could.

==Composition History==
===3042===
The Arcadians ([[BattleMech]] [[Regiment]])

===3052===
* The Arcadians (BattleMech Regiment)
** CO: [[Colonel]] Bradley Andrews
* 8843rd Armored Regiment - ([[Combat Vehicle|Armor]] Regiment)
** CO: [[Lt. Colonel]] August Prentiss

===3067===
* The Arcadians (Reinforced BattleMech Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)
** CO: Colonel Bradley Andrews
** XO: Lt. Colonel Willard Estevez
* First Arcadian Air Wing (Reinforced [[Wing]]/Regular/Fanatical)
** CO: [[Major]] Kelli Winston 
* 8843rd Armored Regiment (Reinforced Armor Regiment)
** CO: Lt. Colonel August Prentiss

In [[3067]], the air [[wing]] consisted mostly of ''[[Stuka|Stukas]]'', ''[[Transgressor|Transgressors]]'', and ''[[Eagle (Aerospace Fighter class)|Eagles]]''. The 8843rd Armored Regiment consisted of a [[cavalry]] [[squadron]] and two heavy [[battalions]], plus an attached [[mechanized infantry]] battalion and a [[company]] of [[battle armor]]. The BattleMech regiment could muster 126 'Mechs at this point in time, most of which were of modern construction; the Arcadians were noted as not only fielding a number of ''Avatar'' and ''Sunder'' 'Mechs, but as also having been given two ''[[Templar]]'' [[OmniMech]]s by Duke Hasek.<ref name="FM:MRp39"/>

===3071===
* The Arcadians (2 BattleMech [[Battalion|Battalions]])
** CO: Colonel Bradley Andrews
* First Arcadian Air Wing (2 Air [[Lance|Lances]])
** CO: Lt. Colonel Kelli Winston

==Support==
As of [[3067]], the unit contracted two [[JumpShip|JumpShips]] to transport their entire force to its various locations.  It also had enough [[DropShip|DropShips]] to move all of the ground regiments and the Air [[Wing]].<ref name="FM:MRp39"/>

As of [[3071]], the Arcadians had been reduced to four [[DropShip|DropShips]] transporting its two battalions of 'Mechs.

==Notes==
* The specific number of DropShips, JumpShips, and other surviving equipment prior to the unit’s destruction in the Jihad is unclear. The unit entry in the ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries (Revised)]]'' does not specify the unit’s transport assets and the ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental Update]]'' gave little detail on the status or types of the equipment left prior to the Arcadian’s destruction.

* The Arcadians are not mentioned in the ''[[20 Year Update]]''. This may be explained retrospectively through the Arcadians predominantly being hired by defense companies, rather than the [[Federated Commonwealth]], for the majority of its existence up until the [[Clan Invasion]].

* Special rules for {{PAGENAME}} can be found in ''Field Manual: Mercenaries Revised'' (p. 128) and ''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'' (p. 123).

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[FedCom Civil War]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Capellan Confederation]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries Revised]]''
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
* ''[[Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents]]''
* ''[[Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers]]''
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental Update]]''


[[Category: Mercenary Commands|Arcadians, The]]