17th Recon Regiment

The 17th Recon Regiment known as Camacho's Caballeros are a mercenary unit featured in the BattleTech novels Close Quarters, Hearts of Chaos, and Black Dragon, all written by Victor Milán. Their unit strength at the beginning of Close Quarters (circa 3057) is roughly a regiment in size, with three full battalions of 'Mechs and an unspecified number of infantry.

Unit History

Close Quarters describes the unit as being composed of Free Worlds League natives, and having a diverse mix of different ethnicities. Many of the members hail from the "southwestern trinity," three poor worlds on the League edge of Periphery that are composed primarily of individuals of Hispanic descent. The novel also states the unit as being involved in battle against the Clans, Colonel Carlos Camacho most notably piloting a captured Clan Smoke Jaguar Mad Cat. They are employed by the people of Crotch (in a flashback) and, for the main part of the story, Chandrasekhar Kurita, the CEO of Tanadi Computers, which is based out of Hachiman.

The Caballeros have been key in foiling the plots of the kokuryu-kai, as they did when the rebels attempted to conquer Towne from the Federated Commonwealth. The Caballeros defeated the 15th Dieron Regulars there, earning the Draconis Combine a bruised ego as a line unit was defeated by corporate mercenaries.

The Caballeros were again on hand at Coordinator Theodore Kurita's birthday celebration, which they were invited to as a thanks for their involvement in the Towne debacle. There, they were able to escort the Theodore and Chandrasekhar to safety when the Otomo, the Coordinator's bodyguard, attempted to assassinate him.

Upon hearing of the imminent disintegration of order in the Free Worlds League and the heavy-handed treatment of rioters on the southwestern trinity, the Caballeros returned home, though details are sketchy.

The Caballeros deployed after Operation Bulldog on some liberated worlds to protect Tanadi assets, and were attacked by the Ghost Bears' . The regiment survived the fighting, but lost Force Commander Bar-Kochba and many others of the Battalion on Luzerne.

Officers

The commanding officer in (3067) is Carlos Camacho

3067

(Carlos Camacho's)17th Recon Regiment (2 Battalions)

• CO/Colonel: Carlos "Tiburon" Camacho

XO/Lt. Colonel: Gavilan "Falcon" Camacho

• 1st Battalion: Force Commander Kali "Dark Lady" MacDougall
• 4th Battalion: Force Commander Bobby "Navajo Wolf" Begay

Infantry (1 Scout Company)

• Infantry Commander: Lt. Sergant Daniel "Rooster" Morgan

Heavy Aerospace Squadron

• Wing Commander: Captain Sharon "Dragon" Omizuki

Unit Notes

Notable members of Camacho's Caballeros include Cassie Suthorn (the main character of Close Quarters) and Colonel Carlos Camacho. The unit appeared to be composed of older 'Mechs, such as the Phoenix Hawk, Shadow Hawk, and Wasp, though they are mentioned as being upgraded with double heat sinks and at least one C3 computer system.

No color scheme or insignia is referred to in the novels (as far as this editor remembers). The 'Mechs seem to be custom painted and decorated by each pilot.

References

• Black Dragon
• Close Quarters
• Hearts of Chaos
• Dawn of the Jihad
• Jihad Hot Spots: 3070
• BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction - Short story - Ozymandias
• Field Manual: Mercenaries Revised