Difference between revisions of "21st Centauri Lancers"
Sarna News
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From [[3058]] to [[3067]] the unit's XO was [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Ryan Searcy]].<ref name=FMM51/> | From [[3058]] to [[3067]] the unit's XO was [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Ryan Searcy]].<ref name=FMM51/> | ||
| − | Dark Age:<ref></ref> | + | Dark Age:<ref>Mechwarrior Darkage Dossiers and Pilot Cards Pages ,234,262</ref> |
'''Thos Cardella''' | '''Thos Cardella''' | ||
Revision as of 15:58, 3 July 2023
| |
| Twenty-first Centauri Lancers | |
| Formed | ca. 2875 |
| Affiliation | Mercenary |
| Parent Command | Independent |
The Twenty-first Centauri Lancers are one of the foremost mercenary units in the Inner Sphere. Since their founding, the Lancers have forged a reputation for honesty and loyalty, though they expect the same from their employers and are known for not accepting any mistreatment.
Contents
History
Originally a battalion of House Liao's Third Centauri Guards, the Twenty-first Centauri Lancers were a regular military unit of the Capellan Confederation. They were well-known for having totally destroyed the Fourth Marik Militia in an attack against Anegasaki in 2793,[1] thereby stopping a string of Marik victories.[2] Around the year 2875 the unit mutinied against their regimental commander over wages nine months overdue. They seized several DropShips and a JumpShip from their regimental battle group as payment and fled Capellan space.[2] In the years since becoming mercenaries, the Twenty-first have worked for all Successor States save House Liao, against whom they still harbor a grudge. They also built a reputation for honorable conduct on the battlefield and honesty off of it, and the expectation of similar fair dealing from their employers. If ill-used, they are not afraid of letting others know about it, and even walking away from a contract if it continues, an aspect which has not damaged their reputation among potential employers.[3]
During the latter part of the Third Succession War, the Twenty-first came across a hidden cache of Star League equipment, including fully functional SLDF 'Mechs and tanks. Exactly how many and what types of machines they possessed was kept a secret for many years.[4]
Anton Marik's Revolt
During Anton Marik's Revolt the Twenty-first Centauri Lancers fought for the loyalist faction in the Free Worlds League. They were able to drive the Eighteenth Marik Militia off of New Olympia by arriving in orbit. The Eighteenth had been fighting for several weeks, but the undamaged Twenty-first's arrival changed the tactical situation dramatically and the Eighteenth withdrew.[5] The Twenty-first was also involved in combat on Rasalas, Drusibacken,[6] Asellus Borealis, Asellus Australis, Lungdo, Sorunda, and Gomeisa.[7]
The Lancers remained employed by the League in 3025 and were stationed on Nestor,[2] a position they would hold in 3050 from which to defend against and launch counterraids into the Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth.[8][4]
House Davion Contract
The Black Widow Company engaged elements of the Twenty-first Centauri Lancers during the Twelfth Battle of Marduk.[9]
Service with Marik
Towards the end of the year 3057, Thomas Marik sent them to participate in Operation GUERRERO. First they helped pacify the former League world of Wasat, and later, as they were only a jump away, sent them to assist the Capellan forces. To be fighting again alongside the Capellans worried a lot some Lancers... and their worries were proven right: sent to attack New Canton, alongside McCarron's Armored Cavalry, against the Kestrel Grenadiers, their descent was contested by the Grenadiers' both aerospace wings, and the joint commander, Colonel Marcus Baxter barely sent them help, which allowed the enemy to heavily damage the Lancers' DropShips, as their own aerospace wings were in another mission, far away.[10]
That same McCarron's attitude became a constant: during a joint assault of New Canton's capital city of He Min, the Lancers were suffering a pounding by the FedCom artillery, while the McCarron's were advancing very slowly, far away. When the weakened Lancers were forced to abandon the attack and retreat, Baxter blamed the Lancer's commander, Evelena Haskell, of the attack's failure. And the next day, the same history repeated: the Lancers were sent to attack frontally the Grenadiers' lines inside the city, while McCarron's Cavalry advanced towards the city's spaceport, very slowly.
Tired of all that mistreating, Evelena accused Baxter of being deliberately using the Lancers as cannon fodder, to punish them for their defection of the Confederation's army. He denied it, but to no avail: Haskell contacted the FedCom commander and informed than she will retreat.[11] After terminating their contract, and finishing their forty years of service with Marik, the Lancers left the planet and traveled to Outreach, where the 30 November they received an offer of ComStar to garrison terra, with they gladly accepted.[12]
Operation ODYSSEUS
The Lancers suffered a severe blow to their impeccable reputation and Dragoon Rating in 3058, when they apparently turned on their ComStar employers and aided Word of Blake in capturing Terra. Upon investigation, however, it was determined that the Lancers never set foot on the planet.[3]
On 5 December 3057, the Lancers returned to Nestor to retrieve their dependents before leaving for Terra; before landing, they were contacted by the Word of Blake's Precentor Suzanne Mulvanery, who informed them that her division had captured their dependents and held them hostage in order to force the mercenaries into keeping quiet and allowing Word of Blake Militia forces to be substituted for them. The Lancers commander, Evelena Haskell, had to comply, and they stayed for twenty days on the planet, isolated and incommunicado. On the 25, after celebrating Christmas, Mulvanery contacted them and informed them that they could go to their base on Gibson to recover their families. Once there, they learned what the fake Lancers had done, and departed... but only briefly. On 24 April, the bulk of the mercenaries, after placing their families in a safe place, landed on Gibson again, crushing all the Blakist defenders, razing their base, and taking all the salvage they could before departing.[13]
The Lancers later returned to Outreach, where the MRBC studied the evidence declared them innocent, removing their black mark.[14]
Later, ComStar honored their contract, posting them at their new headquarters on Tukayyid. They helped train Com Guard and SLDF forces here as an opposing force.[15]
Jihad
The Lancers suffered terribly at the hands of the Blakists. Word WarShips jumped in-system on 21 January 3068 and the flotilla was soon able to achieve air superiority. With no aerospace or naval forces to contest them, the Word's WarShips began to destroy Tukayyid's cities and Com Guard bases, including the Focht War College. Anybody trying to flee was annihilated, as evidenced by the destruction of a Lancer force that was trying to move into the mountains. This attack also killed Colonel Evelena Haskell. July 3070 saw the arrival of Clan Ghost Bear, who were able to defeat the Word assets around Tukayyid. As of 3071, the once proud regiment had been decimated and barely existed as a cohesive fighting force. Under the new command of Colonel LeMonds they attempted to rebuild - albeit at the sufferance of Clan Ghost Bear - by managing to salvage six 'Mechs and opening up recruitment to all other forces on the planet, including members of the Com Guards and the Killer Bees.[16]
Sometime prior to 3076, the Twenty-first had rebuild themselves into a combined-arms reinforced battalion and came into the employ of Chandrasekhar Kurita. They were stationed on Hachiman in the Draconis Combine to protect the Tanadi Computers complex from Blakists.[17]
Dark Age
The Lancers were still active as of the Dark Age,[18] and as of 3130 were in the employ of the Lyran Commonwealth.[citation needed]
In 3131, technician Jon Roberson developed what would become the standard militarized modification to the Opossum SalvageMech, when he got permission to add a light AC/2. The design debuted that year on Issaba, proving effective when the Lancers fought Rim Territories raiders. An operation on Ventabren in May 3132, in which the Lancers aided a joint Oriente-Republic salvage operation on an Operation GOLDEN DAWN-era battlefield, caught the MOD wider attention for its effectiveness, leading to the once unique design's eventual standardization both in the Lancers and from the 'Mech's manufacturer.[19]
The unit fought on Sorunda as well.[19] Soon afterwards, the Lancers were hired by the planet Towne for protection of the planet itself and its working HPGs. A detachment of Jasek Kelswa-Steiner's Stormhammers' Lyran Rangers raided the planet in 3133, trying to hijack the HPG. The fierce fighting failed to prevent the Rangers from commandeering the communications grid and accomplishing their mission broadcasting his call to all House Steiner loyalists to support his movement.[20]
ilClan
The Lancers left the Lyran Commonwealth in favor of accepting a contract with the newly created Tamar Pact. They provided a powerful force that steamrolled the Falcon opposition on Pandora, saving the Second and Third Tamar Jaegers from destruction, and are noted as working well with the First Tamar Jaegars as well as becoming stronger thanks to the access to the multiple factories producing Clantech in the Pact and Alyina Mercantile League. They are less pleased with some of the other mercenary units employed by the Pact, however, and disputes with the Burnt Offering and Bleeding Eagles units has led to the Lancers requesting to not be deployed with them outside of emergencies.[21]
Officers
| Rank | Name | Command | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commanding Officers of the Twenty-first Centauri Lancers | |||
| Colonel | Thaddeus Kusaka | 3025[22] | |
| Colonel | Evelena Haskell | 3057 - 3067[23] | |
| Colonel | James LeMonds | 3071 | |
| Colonel | Richard Haskell | 3132[19] | |
Other Officers
From 3058 to 3067 the unit's XO was Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Searcy.[3]
Dark Age:[24]
Thos Cardella MECH: Sun Cobra DOB 06/09/3110
Large of frame, with a deep, resonating voice, dark skin, and a face twisted in a perpetual sneer, it‘s quite possible that Thos Cardella is descended from Clan Elemental breeding stock. Despite appearances, however, this hulking MechWarrior may well be the gentlest person ever to climb into the cockpit of a modern BattleMech. Driven by a personal code of ethics that verges on pacifism, it‘s a wonder that Cardella ever sought the profession of a mercenary warrior at all, except as some kind of personal challenge. In battle, he ardently refuses to fight near population centers, and even seems reluctant to do battle in woodlands, where native wildlife may be harmed. When he does attack, he deliberately aims to cripple or suppress enemy armor and infantry units. Even though this behavior results in the lowest kill ratio in his unit, many of Cardella‘s fellow Lancers swear by his marksmanship.
Rosin Douglas MECH Mongoose II DOB 05/03/3106
Rosin Douglas is a third-generation member of the 21st Centauri Lancers mercenary regiment, a unit that can trace its origins to House Liao's Capellan Confederation. Taking great pride in her heritage and service in a unit that prizes honor in battle and honesty off the field, Douglas lives her life as if ruled by the codes of an Arthurian knight. She conducts herself with a rigid, military bearing, and will not hesitate to rein in any under her command who step out of line; but she presents a much softer side to civilians, for whom she feels a duty to defend at all times. This attitude makes her unwilling to fight in an urban environment, or to pursue a retreating enemy through populated regions---"judgement" calls that have gotten her in plenty of trouble with her more aggressive superiors.
Phuong Trahn Mech: URA-2A-H Ursa ("Prowler")
Phuong Trahn and her Ursa have seen action on several planets since old rivalries flared in the darkness of the HPG blackout. Currently, she's taken up an open position with the 21st-Centauri Lancers for those times when she can't find work on her own. Some also speculate that she's taken up with the group as a nod to Ty Van Trahn, who served with the 3rd Battalion.
Jon Roberson MECH: SalvageMech MOD DOB 10/26/3091
All his life, Jon Roberson yearned for adventure, completely taken in by holovid dramas of the mercenary MechWarriors roaming the Inner Sphere. But there was a problem: A childhood disease had ravaged his nervous system, and all his ambition could not overcome the fact that he lacked the motor skills and reflexes necessary to pilot a true BattleMech. Though medications and treatments were developed to counter the effects, random spasms continued to wrack Roberson well into adulthood, disqualifying him from BattleMech training. But his wealth of technical knowledge and skill for basic IndustrialMech piloting, where misplaced weapons fire is not an issue, earned him a spot in the 21st Centauri Lancers technical support section. Though halfway to his dream, Roberson remains dissatisfied, and he has gone so far as to modify his assigned SalvageMech with a light autocannon, allegedly for self-defense.
Enlil Searcy Mech: MNL-V1-H Mangonel ("Copperhead")
Enlil Searcy currently associates himself with the 21st-Centauri Lancers, where his cousin, XO LT COL Ryan "Blade" Searcy, once served. Enlil frequently hires himself out for solo freelance work, unwilling to rely solely on the mercenary unit for an income that will keep him in the style to which he is accustomed. He especially enjoys demonstrating his antito the dismay of opposing VTOL pilots. He lets his calculating style on the battlefield do most of his advertising for him.
Tactics
The Twenty-first prefers fighting in the open as opposed to restrictive terrain, and specialize in fighting in high- and low-gravity environments and in nighttime conditions. They are also known for their phenomenal gunnery skills.[3][15] The Twenty-first employs independent command lances for each battalion, and a command company for each regiment. They also insist on having full strategic and tactical control over all units with whom they will be working during a given contract; that employers typically agree to this points to the level of trust the Lancers have built up over the years.[3]
Providing support to the commander of the Twenty-first, the Lancers Command enjoyed the best equipment they could get their hands on. In 3050, the command company was spotted using a number of Star League-era designs, such as the MAD-2R Marauder or TDR-5Sb Thunderbolt, while the attached Recon Company enjoyed the use of Star League hover tanks like the Gabriel.[4] After working closely with ComStar, in 3058 the Lancers Command employed C3 computers to connect each 'Mech lance with a recon platoon.[3] These were upgraded to C3i computers by 3067.[15]
The Centauri Lancers were known to employ an unusual number of Grasshoppers, with at least one per 'Mech company. On average the Lancers used heavy 'Mech designs, though each battalion had at least one light and one assault lance. The Centauri Lancers regiment was well-trained fighting at any strength, from the entire unit operating together down to individual lancers operating independently. The Air Lancers were focused more on providing ground support with heavy fighters, though after the Clan Invasion they began altering their function to provide air cover with the addition of some medium fighters. Unlike the 'Mech forces, the Armored Lancers do not train to fight at battalion strength, instead having each armored company being moved around individually as needed (though the Armored Recon was typically permanently attached to the Lancers Command). Likewise the Security Lancers primarily served to guard the Twenty-first's bases of operation, with Fourth Company providing combat support in the form of two platoons of scouts and one platoon of artillery.[4][3][15]
Support
The Twenty-first have historically had some of the best technical support of any mercenary command, enough to exceed what would be required for a unit of their size. In 3058 they possessed enough DropShips to transport the entire command, including dependents, and owned two Star Lord JumpShips, one of which was equipped with a Lithium-Fusion Battery; by 3067 both had been so upgraded. The Twenty-first benefited greatly from their time employed by ComStar, with their technicians receiving training from both them and Wolf's Dragoons on Clan technology and access to some of the most advanced equipment available.[3][15]
Composition History
3025
Twenty-first Centauri Lancers (Elite/Reliable) - FWLM[22]
- CO: Colonel Thaddeus Kusaka[22]
3028
Twenty-first Centauri Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Reliable)[25]
3050
Lancers Command (1 heavy 'Mech company/Elite/including Star League variants)[4]
- Seventeenth Armored Recon Company (1 vehicle company, Elite, including lance of Gabriel tanks)
Twenty-first Centauri Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Reliable)[26]
- CO: Colonel Evelena Haskell[26]
- Note: At this point in time the heavy 'Mech unit was stationed on Nestor.[26]
Twenty-first Centauri Air Lancers (1 heavy aerospace regiment/Elite)[4]
Twenty-first Centauri Armored Lancers (5 companies)[4]
- Third Armored Command (Elite)
- Second Assault (Veteran, heavy/assault tanks)
- CO: Steve Hoyer
Twenty-first Centauri Security Lancers (1 reinforced infantry battalion/Elite)[4]
- Fourth Company (2 platoons Jump Infantry scouts, 1 platoon Long Toms)
3059
Lancers Command (1 company/Elite/Reliable)
- CO: Col. Evelena Haskell
- XO: Lt. Col. Ryan "Blade" Searcy
- Seventeenth Armored Recon Company permanently attached
Twenty-first Centauri Lancers (1 Regiment/Elite/Reliable)
- First Battalion: Major James LeMonds
- Second Battalion: Major Katherine Li-Smith
- Third Battalion: Major Ty Van Trahn
Twenty-first Centauri Air Lancers (1 Wing/Elite/Reliable)
- CO: Major Joshua Ling
- 3 squadrons and 1 command lance
Twenty-first Centauri Armored Lancers (6 Companies/Veteran/Reliable)
- CO: Major Wu Ti Seng
- Third Armor Command
- Seventeenth Recon (permanently attached to Lancers Command)
- Twenty-third Recon
- Fifth Fire Support
- Eleventh Fire Support
- Second Assault
Twenty-first Centauri Security Lancers (1 Reinforced Battalion/Veteran/Reliable)
- CO: Major Bradley Hunter
- Fourth Company (2 platoons scouts/1 platoon Long Toms and Arrow IVs)
Gallery
A Stalker in Twenty-first Centauri Lancers colors.
Twenty-first Centauri Security Lancers troops
Notes
- It was confirmed that the Twenty-first Centauri Lancers were a battalion within the Third Centauri Guards in 2793 and responsible for the destruction of the Fourth Marik Militia on Anegasaki by the BattleTech Developer Adrian Gideon in the Catalyst Game Labs official errata forum:
| “ | Handbook House Liao (print)
Pg 30, Timeline: First Succession War, Dev-level errata: 2793 - The Twenty-First Centauri Lancers destroy the Fourth Marik Militia on Anegasaki, in one of their first contracts as mercenaries after the Star League Defense Force's withdrawal. Replace with: 2793 - The future Twenty-First Centauri Lancers, a battalion of the Third Centauri Guards, destroy the Fourth Marik Militia on Anegasaki. |
” |
| — Adrian Gideon, BattleTech Developer, 0243 26 Jan 2016 | ||
- The Twenty-first Centauri Lancers were among the five mercenary units presented in the original BattleTech boardgame (the others being the Eridani Light Horse, Wolf's Dragoons, Hansen's Roughriders and Lindon's Company), and as such have been part of the BattleTech universe from the very beginning.
- Although "Twenty-first" indicates an English pronunciation, the unit name is spelled "Twenty-first Centauri Lanciers" in German material.
- The Third Battalion is commanded by Ty Van Trahn in 3059, who goes over to the Eridani Light Horse a year later, according to Field Manual: ComStar. Nonetheless, he is still listed as the Third Battalion commander in 3067 in Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised.
Bibliography
- 20 Year Update
- All Good Things (short story)
- Era Report: 3145
- Field Manual: Mercenaries
- Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised
- Historical: Brush Wars
- House Marik (The Free Worlds League)
- Jihad Conspiracies: Interstellar Players 2
- Mercenaries Supplemental Update
- Objective Raids
- Technical Readout: Irregulars
- This Too Shall Pass (short story)
- Mechwarrior Darkage Dossiers and Pilot Cards