24th Lyran Guards
Contents
History
The unit earned its nickname while stationed on Suk II during the Second Succession War. When a local nobleman threatened and harassed the unit and its dependants, heavily disguised soldiers assumed to be from the 24th broke into the noble's mansion and cut off his ears in the ensuring scuffle. While there was not enough evidence for anyone in the unit to be officially accused or charged of the crime, the unit adopted its new nickname and insignia in its wake as if to simultaneously mock and confirm them. [1] [2]
When Wolf's Dragoons landed on Hesperus II in 3019, the Twenty-fourth Lyran Guards formed the core of the defenders. The 24th stopped several attacks cold, and when the Dragoons were finally pushed off-world the Slashers maintained the pressure on the Dragoons as they evacuated, suffering losses of over 50% but taking pride in their performance.[3][4] [2]
While reduced to green status with the influx of so many replacement troops after its battle against the Dragoons, the 24th was deployed to take Sabik in 3029 during the Fourth Succession War. Having succeeded in pushing the Barrett's Fusiliers off-world to retake it Draconis Combine at the start of the war, Kingston Caballeros fared less well against the 24th, the Caballeros able to destroy a company of Lyran 'Mechs before being forced to withdraw.[5] [2]
Federated Commonwealth Era
Save for a brief redeployment back to Sabik during the War of 3039, after the Fourth War the 24th spent most of their time during the years of the Federated Commonwealth on garrison duty on Donegal, a posting that allowed them to act as test pilots for the TharHes Industries and Lockheed/CBM facilities on-world.
The 24th's sole mission of note during this period was a deployment to Cumbres. Nominally there to evaluate a number of new technologies, on April 5 3057 elements of the 4th Viper Guards of Clan Steel Viper launched in a raid against the Lyran command facility on-world. Despite their lack of experience against the Clans, the 24th inflicted notable losses on the Vipers until their battle was interrupted by the seeming arrival of the Knights of the Inner Sphere. Later revealed to be Periphery raiders, the false-Knights took advantage of their shock appearance to shatter the 24th's Alpha Battalion and kill its commanding officer, Orpheus Thomas. [2] [6]
FedCom Civil War
During the FedCom Civil War the 24th held their position until summoned to Tharkad in wave 6. There they served mostly as Nondi Steiner's mobile force. After skirmishing with Allied forces for a month, they faced off against the Kell Hounds. Nondi Steiner ordered them to attack a fortified position and "damn the casualties", at which point their commander contacted the Allies and asked for terms of surrender.[7] General Riskind then resigned his commission.[8] They remained on Tharkad.[9]
Jihad Era
Fought a bitter resistance campaign on Tharkad against the Word of Blake December 3067 - January 3072, during which its strength declined to two combined arms companies.[10] The Twenty-fourth spent five years fighting a guerrilla action against the Word of Blake on Tharkad. To rebuild, an entire battalion from the Teyvareb TMM was transferred to the Twenty-fourth. The new Twenty-fourth was sent to Main Street to train.[11] After rebuilding the unit, the Twenty-fourth participated in several pirate hunting missions near the Lyran Commonwealth/Circinus Federation border area. These missions allowed the unit to become a cohesive fighting force.[12] The Twenty-fourth was stationed on Galisteo in 3085. At this time they were reorganized into a Light Combat Team.[13]
Officers
Until 3057 the 24th commanding officer was Marshal Orpheus Thomas. Having held the post from at least 3019, Thomas was killed during the brutal three-way fight on Cumbres. [14][15][16][17] [2]
As of 3067 the commanding officer was Leutnant-General Peter Riskind. Thomas's XO and mastermind of the 24th evacuation on Cumbres, Riskind was promoted to command of the 24th. Considered self-righteous by many, Riskind amply proved his critics right by choosing to surrender rather then sending his unit to a meaningless death. [2]
As of December 3067 the commanding officer was Leutnant-General Sabine Steiner. Daughter of Quartermaster General Lisa Steiner and an extremely talented tactician and strategist, Sabine served as an aide to Riskind, promoted to command the 24th upon his resignation. [2] [10][9]
As of 3085 the commanding officer is Leutnant-General Prudence Steiner.[13]
Tactics
The unit can react to many battlefield events with the right maneuver, but is skilled to counter clan units.[2]
Composition History
3025
24th Lyran Guard (Green/Fanatical)[15]
- CO: Leutnant-Colonel Orpheus Thomas
3040
24th Lyran Guards RCT (Green/Fanatical)[18]
3050-3054
24th Lyran Regulars RCT (Green/Questionalbe)[16][17]
- CO: Marshal Orpheus Thomas
3062-3067
24th Lyran Guards (1 BattleMech Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[2][9]
- CO: Leutnant-General Peter Riskind
- Aide: Colonel Sabine Steiner
24th Lyran Guards Aerospace Brigade (2 Wings)[2][9]
- CO: Captain Russell Samura
- 111th Lyran Guards Wing
- 113th Lyran Guards Wing
24th Lyran Guards Armor Brigade (3 Regiments/Regular/Fanatical)[2][9]
- CO: Colonel Justin Barry
- Aide: Leutnant-Colonel Flint Killoran
- 2nd Donegal Artillery Group: Colonel Hyacinth Sheehy
- 344th Lyran Heavy Armor: Colonel Valentin Petrayla
- 87th Lyran Recon Regiment: Colonel Demetria Terry
24th Lyran Guards Infantry Brigade (5 Regiments/Regular/Fanatical)[2][9]
- CO: Colonel Jade O'Conner
- Aide: Leutnant-Colonel Garfield Kalu
- 57th Lyran Infantry Regiment: Colonel Morton Groome
- 212th Lyran Mounted Rifles: Colonel Bernice Massey
- 745th Lyran Light Infantry: Colonel Katheryn Merteuil
- 9th Lyran Armored Infantry: Colonel Garth Manchester
- 4th Donegal Commando Regiment: Colonel Sebastian Berne
3085
24th Lyran Guards LCT (Regular/Fanatical)[13]
- CO: Leutnant-General Prudence Steiner
24th Lyran Armor Brigade (Regular/Questionable)[13]
- CO: Colonel Ciriaco Lambert
24th Lyran Infantry Brigade (Green/Reliable)[13]
- CO: Colonel Kostyantyn Wieck
Notes
Their homeworld is Donegal.
They have been known to take justice into their own hands, especially when friends or relatives are in danger.
Reference
- ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 56 "Regimental Nicknames (continued)"
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 81, "24th Lyran Guards Unit Profile"
- ↑ Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook), p. 25
- ↑ Hector (short story), p. 20
- ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 77
- ↑ Star Lord, p.??[citation needed]
- ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 175-177
- ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 170
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Field Manual: Updates, p. 178, "LAAF Deployment Table - 3067"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Jihad Turning Points: Tharkad, p. 6, "Combatants"
- ↑ Field Report: LAAF, p. 12
- ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 101
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Field Manual: 3085, p. 107, "LAAF Deployment Table - 3085"
- ↑ Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook), p. 24
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 121 (pdf version), "Unit Deployment Table - 3025"
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 20 Year Update, p. 29, "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Objective Raids, p. 21, "AFFC Deployment Table - 3054"
- ↑ Historical: War of 3039 , p. 137
Bibliography
- 20 Year Update
- Endgame (novel)
- Field Manual: 3085
- Field Manual: Lyran Alliance
- Field Manual: Updates
- Historical: War of 3039
- House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)
- Jihad Turning Points: Tharkad
- Star Lord (novel)
- Objective Raids
- Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)
- FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)
- Field Report: LAAF
- Hector (short story)