214th Division (ComStar)
Sarna News
Contents
History
Prior to the inital Clan Invasion the green rated 214th Division was known by the nickname of Arrows of ComStar and assigned to the 11th Army. Then a IV-kappa based formation, the 214th's headquarters world was Fatima in the Lyran side of the Federated Commonwealth.[1]
Along with the rest of the relatively green Eleventh Army, the 214th faced Clan Jade Falcon during the Battle of Tukayyid. Assigned to defend the approaches to Plough Bridge from the advancing 305th Assault and 124th Striker Clusters, the dug-in 214th broke under the massed fire of the 305th's Assault weight OmniMechs. While suffering heavy losses, the Division did succeeded in delaying the Clans advance long enough for Com Guard sappers to rig demolition charges to collapse the bridge when they tried cross, sending a Trinary and two Binaries of the 305th their deaths in the fast-moving Prezno River. [2] [3]
As the bulk of the Eleventh fought to prevent the capture of the target city of Olalla at the hands of Falcon Guards, the withdrawal of Clan Ghost Bear allowed the Fourth Army to assist the 214th and 388th Divisions to launch an assault against Falcon bases at Robyn's Crossing and Plough Bridge. While the Delta and Vau Galaxies held their ground against this counter-attack, a Com Guard air-strike succeeded in destroying the Gamma Galaxy's supply depot at Robyn's Crossing, forcing Clan Jade Falcon to withdraw off planet. [2] [3]
While less than a Level III of the 214th survived the hellish fighting on Tukayyid, the division's resilience and fortitude during the battle meant the Precentor Martial selected to rebuild it around the core of these survivors. Like many Com Guard Divisions, the rebuilt 214th chose a new nickname after that climatic battle, calling itself The Red Arrow Division, being transferred from the 11th Army to the 7th Army to recoup the heavy losses that Army suffered against Clan Nova Cat. Upon this transfer the now IV-eta based 214th made Sirius its headquarters world [4] before the Free Worlds League Military recaptured this world as part of Operation Guerrero in 3057, the 214th then transferring its headquarters to the Lyran Alliance world of Engadine. [5]
While well respected for its actions on Tukayyid, the reputation of the 214th was increasingly clouded by its infamous commander, Richard Pettigrew. Openly critical of the Com Guard high command for the horrific loss of life on Tukayyid, the demoted Pettigrew only retained his post thanks to the steadfast loyalty shown by the rebuilt division to him. While not showing any great inclination towards the Word of Blake, this led ROM to flag the division's loyalties as questionable in the early 3060's. [5] By 3067, only a lack of sufficient JumpShips kept the 214th on station on and around Engadine. [6]
Officers
The CO in 3067 was Demi-Precentor Richard Pettigrew. Originally holding the rank of Precentor, Pettigrew commanded the unit from at least 3049 [1], continuing to hold the post during the Battle of Tukayyid. One of the most infamous members of the Com Guards, Pettigrew was highly critical of the number of lives lost on Tukayyid and was demoted for insubordination, only avoiding a full court martial thanks to his performance at Plough Bridge. A staunch opponent of both the policies of Focht and "Tiny Tyrant" Victor, Pettigrew is large part of why ROM questions the loyalty of the 214th to ComStar. [4] [5] [6]
Composition History
3050
214th Division - Arrows of ComStar IV-kappa [1]
3055-3067
- Solid Foundation Ill-eta: Demi-Precentor IV Yan Zhang
- Lightning Strike lll-epsilon: Demi-Precentor VI Karl Haviland
- Guiding Light lll-theta: Demi-Precentor III Bass Deike
- River Raiders Ill-iota: Adept X Anthony Lux
- Steadfast Survivors Ill-eta: Demi-Precentor VIII Jason Neace
- The Breakout lll-zeta: Demi-Precentor IX Bong Ro
Notes
- The post-Tukayyid insignia of the 214th is flight of arrows, centered on a large red shaft.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 20-Year Update, pg. 71 "11 V-lambda"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tukayyid, p. 58 "Campaign: Clan Jade Falcon"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 32 "Battle of Tukayyid"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 ComStar, p. 84, "3rd Army V-lambda"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Field Manual: ComStar, pp. 32-33, "7th Army V-iota: The Dark wave"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Field Manual: Updates, p. 86, "7th Army V-itoa (The Dark wave)"