Editing 8th Lyran Regulars

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{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = [[File:Lyranregulars08th.png]]
| Designation    = Eighth Lyran Regulars
| formed         = [[2783]]<ref name="FSWp36"/>
| Disbanded      =
| Previous Designation =
| Nickname       = Mad Hatters
| Affiliation    = [[Lyran Commonwealth]]
| Parent Command = [[Lyran Regulars]]
| Sub-Command    =
}}

The '''Eighth Lyran Regulars''' was a [[BattleMech]] Regiment formed by the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] at the dawn of the [[First Succession War]]. The unit was considered to have unusual behaviors and anti-establishment attitude towards Commonwealth leadership. At one point they were considered to be best pirate hunters in [[Periphery]].<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 90: Lyran Regulars' attitude and general description of the unit given</ref>

==History==
===Formation===
The origin of the post–Star League incarnation of the Eighth Lyran Regulars lay in a [[Star League Defense Force]] command, the [[238th Mechanized Infantry Division|238th Mechanized Infantry Division]] — also known as the Czech Lancers. Already suffering from low morale and constant harassment prior to the beginning of the [[Periphery Uprising]], the 238th took heavy damage when deployed forward into the [[Taurian Concordat]] after the Uprising began. The losses were sufficiently heavy that [[Commanding General of the Star League Defense Force|Commanding General]] [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] officially disbanded the 238th in [[2767]]; a third of the 238th's Second Mechanized Infantry Brigade and a regiment of [[BattleMech]]s were folded into other combat commands, but that left roughly four [[battalion]]s of 'Mechs and infantry behind, to be shuffled into a reserve pool.<ref name="FSWp111">''First Succession War'', p. 111: "The Scattered Lancers"</ref>

In [[2783]]<ref name="FSWp36">''First Succession War'', p. 36: "Those Left Behind"</ref> the survivors among the remaining reserve population of the 238th — less the battalion who had deserted a dozen years before, and become the pirate band known as [[Charon's Children]] — were approached by agents acting on behalf of the Lyran Commonwealth. Those agents were hoping to persuade elements of the former 238th to defect to the [[Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces]], but the Lyran approaches exacerbated tensions within the survivors, leading to an explosion of violence within their ranks. By the time the violence ended, a battalion of the surviving [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] from the 238th had been imprisoned by their fellow survivors.<ref name="FSWp111"/>

The senior officer imprisoned among those who were willing to consider the Lyran offer was [[Colonel]] [[David Cline]], and he was approached by the Lyrans, who offered to work to see the prisoners released in exchange for pledges to join the [[LCAF]]. Cline accepted the offer on behalf of the prisoners, and the Lyrans approached the prisoners' captors to negotiate their release. The offer to effectively "buy" the survivors provoked further conflict among the remaining survivors, who were divided in their opinions. The senior officer within the Mechanized infantry contingent, Colonel [[Lionel Schaffer]], was a staunch Kerensky loyalist, as were those following him, and refused to even consider such an offer. Others among the survivors, headed up by Colonel [[Lacey McGill]], were more tempted, and met with the Lyran agents in secret. McGill proposed a new agreement with the Lyrans; in exchange for the money originally offered, plus a retainer contract for her and her troops — a battalion in strength — and the loan of some LCAF 'Mechs, McGill offered to lead a prison break. She argued that by launching a prison break to free the prisoners, the Lyrans would gain the services of both the prisoners and a second battalion in the form of McGill's newly ordained mercenary command, and Schaffer and his followers would feel that their own honor had been satisfied in resisting the breakout attempt.<ref name="FSWp111"/>

While the Lyrans accepted McGill's offer, it turned out that McGill had underestimated the depth of feeling among Schaffer and his loyalist forces. The prison attempt escalated quickly into a full-scale firefight that saw McGill's troops take damage, and by the time the prisoners had been extracted, two companies of loyalist mechanized infantry and a company of loyalist 'Mechs had been killed. The survivors among the loyalists followed Kerensky on the [[Operation Exodus|Exodus]]; McGill and her followers became the [[Iron Raven Mercenary Group|Iron Raven Mercenary Command]], while Cline and his supporters were adopted into the LCAF as the core of the reactivated Eighth Lyran Regulars.<ref name="FSWp111"/>

[[Archon]] [[Jennifer Steiner]] was not entirely trusting of the ex-SLDF personnel, but agreed that if they acquire their own equipment, they be allowed to join her Armed Forces. The defectors were be dispatched to Free Worlds League world of [[Stewart]], with equipment the LCAF could spare, in order to raid a former SLDF depot for 'Mechs. The mission was unconventional, where over course of a month they conducted a series of unusual incidents ranging from "spiking" the base's water supply to using demolition charges to make fake minor earth quakes, flooding the base by changing course of nearby river and impersonating voodoo priests to try to panic local population. The unconventional tactics were effective; the MechWarriors took three hundred BattleMechs from the depot. In light of their success, the Archon rewarded these MechWarriors with commission in LCAF, designating them as the Eighth Lyran Regulars. Through their antics and the unusual methods used to get their newly acquired 'Mechs, the Archon's brother, General Paul Steiner, would give them their nickname, The Mad Hatters.<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 90: Unit's origin reveal and how they got their nickname, the Mad Hatters</ref>

===The Succession Wars and War of 3039===
The unit would consider its tradition of using unconventional tactics through the Succession War era. They would be known to be at odds with the establishment. Their excellent combat skills would keep the unit from being removed from service, despite their attitudes towards High Command. During the [[Third Succession War]] they would gain their affinity for pirate hunting. By doing so, they would be at odds with Archon [[Alessandro Steiner]]. Years after his reign would end, they would turn down the offer by Archon [[Katrina Steiner]] to be reassigned. When the Commonwealth conducted its operations against the Draconis Combine in the [[Fourth Succession War]], the Regiment would remain at their post on [[New India]] during the conflict.<ref>''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1'', p. 44: Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG - 4th Lyran Regulars remain on New India</ref>

Prior to the [[War of 3039]], the unit would be remain assigned to Loric in [[3038]]. They would remain stationed there as the war with the Draconis Combine would unfold and end in stalemate for the newly formed [[Federated Commonwealth]].<ref>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 137: Deployment table for War of 3039. From 3038 to 3040</ref>

A detachment of the Eighth Lyran Regulars brought to justice the [[Nickel's Boys]] in 3038. All of them were executed after being convicted by tribunal for crimes against humanity.<ref name=Nickel_Boys>''Memory of Attack Still Vivid''</ref>

===The Clan Invasion through to the FedCom Civil War===
The unit would remain at its garrison throughout the [[Clan Invasion]] ([[3050]] to [[3052]]) remaining at its garrison post hunting Pirates. By [[3062]], the unit was well known for deploying across the Inner Sphere to hunt down pirates. It was noted for deploying as far as the [[Magistracy of Canopus]] to [[Astrokaszy]] to hunt pirates and gaining its reputation as being among best in hunting pirates. They were noting one pirate band they had been able to hunt down, it was famed [[Red Corsair]]. Among the Lyran Alliance's military bureaucracy, the Regulars would have supports that have kept the unit from being short on supplies. They would be benefit from newly build [[StarCorps Industries|StarCorps]] production site on [[Son Hoa]]. The regiment would receive new equipment on a lend-lease program that would build up addition battalions' worth of equipment.<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 90: History up to 3062</ref>

During the [[FedCom Civil War]], the Regulars would remain neutral throughout the conflict. The commanding officer kept the unit neutral due to her views of General of Armies [[Nondi Steiner]]. The Regulars would be only one of its sister units to remain at full strength, due in part to its association with StarCorps of Son Hoa.<ref>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 171: 8th Lyran Regulars - Unit status and brief fluff on what unit had been doing during the FedCom Civil War years</ref><ref>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 183: Deployment - 8th Lyran Regulars shown to have remained on New India during entire FedCom Civil War</ref>

===The Jihad===
In the early [[Jihad]], the Eighth landed on [[Megrez]] to reinforce the Fourth and Tenth Lyran Regulars. Later they assaulted [[Niihau]] and forced the [[Free Worlds League]] to leave the system. They took moderate losses.<ref>''Field Report: LAAF'', p. 13</ref>

In March [[3074]], the Eighth Lyran Regulars were part of a task force of coalition forces deployed to liberate [[Coventry]] from the control of the [[Word of Blake]]. The Regulars, while teamed with the [[4th Falcon Striker (Clan Jade Falcon)|Fourth Falcon]] [[Cluster]], [[7th Donegal Guards|Seventh Donegal Guards]], and elements of [[ComStar|ComStar's]] [[4th Army (ComStar)|Fourth Army]], waged a four-day battle to defeat the Word of Blake forces.<ref>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', pp. 24–25, 66: Operation: Steel Hammer, Devlin Stone: The Mission, Eighth Lyran Regulars listed among liberating forces of Coventry</ref>

===The Dark Age era===
The Eighth Lyran Regulars were assigned to [[Inarcs]] in [[3085]], both as a garrison unit and as a reconstruction force.<ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 102</ref>

The unit was assigned to [[Operation HAMMERFALL]] as a reserve unit in [[3137]].<ref>''Fire at Will'' - Unit noted as a reserve unit during the operation</ref> They later participated in HAMMERFALL and seized several pieces of equipment from their opponents in the [[Free Worlds League]].<ref>''Technical Readout: 3145 Free Worlds League'', p. 36</ref> During Operation HAMMERFALL they were assigned to block any reinforcements from the [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]. As part of this they raided several League and independent worlds including Midkiff and Coriscana. After [[Clan Wolf]] turned against the Commonwealth, the Eighth found itself deep in enemy territory. They were able to escape the Wolf-held area and return to [[Bolan]], but only after raiding some of the Wolf-held worlds for supplies.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 128</ref>

By 3145 they were stationed on [[Abramkovo]] and [[Zdice]].<ref name=FM:3145p132/>

After the formation of the Buena Collective, the Eighth donated a battalion of forces to Task Force Kingbreaker. In 3148 the battalion, supported by a battalion from the [[1st Buena Jaegers|First Buena Jaegers]] and [[1st Bolan Jaegers|First Bolan Jaegers]] landed on [[Ayacucho]]. There they joined with the [[Florida TTM]] and forced half the [[2nd Collective Guards|Second Collective Guards]] to withdraw. The Kingbreaker troops landed on Buena, and quickly moved on Fort Buena, home of the [[War College of Buena]]. There they pinned the [[3rd Collective Guards|Third Collective Guards]] in place alongside the [[Buena Training Battalion]]. To reduce casualties among their countrymen, the Eighth withdrew. As they were withdrawing the Buena Training Battalion attacked the rear of the Third Collective Guards. This forced the Third Collective Guards to retreat into a nearby forest.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', pp. 47–48</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="3" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the Eighth Lyran Regulars'''
|-
|[[Leutnant-General]]||[[William Korsant]]||[[3050]] - [[3054]]<ref name=20Yp28>''20 Year Update'', p. 28: "AFFC Deployment Table"</ref>
|-
|Leutnant-General||[[Cynthia Nelson]]||[[3062]] - [[3067]]<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 90: Commanding Office noted</ref><ref name=FMUp178/>
|-
|Leutnant-General||[[Ramon Schräder]]||[[3085]]<ref name=FM3085p108>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 108: "LAAF Deployment Table - 3085"</ref>
|-
|[[Colonel]]||[[John Nelson (32nd c.)|John Nelson]]||[[3145]]-[[3148]]<ref name=FM:3145p132>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 132: "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces - Timbuktu Province"</ref>
|}

==Tactics==
By 3062, the unit would never employ conventional tactics, unless it's used to throw enemy off its guard.<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 90: Tactics as of 3062</ref>

==Composition History==
=== 2786–2821 ===
'''Eighth Lyran Regulars''' (Regular/Questionable)<ref name="FSWp139">''First Succession War'', p. 139: "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces (LCAF)"</ref>
:- At this point in time the Eighth was a heavy-weight regiment operating at full strength and was based on [[Revivim]].<ref name="FSWp139"/> In 2821 the unit was operating at below two-thirds of full strength and was based on [[Marsalle]].<ref name="FSWp139"/>

=== 2830 ===
'''Eighth Lyran Regulars''' (Regular/Questionable)<ref name="SSWp99">''Second Succession War'', p. 99: "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces (LCAF)"</ref>
:- At this point in time the Eighth was an assault-weight regiment operating at roughly a [[company]] below full strength and was based on [[Loburg]].<ref name="SSWp99"/>

=== 2864 ===
'''Eighth Lyran Regulars''' (Veteran/Questionable)<ref name="SSWp99"/>
:- At this point in time the Eighth had been reduced to barely more than a company in strength, and was based on [[Timbiqui]].<ref name="SSWp99"/>

===3025===
'''Eighth Lyran Regulars''' (Regiment/Green/Reliable)<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 120: "Deployment Table"</ref>
:Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[New India]].

===3040===
'''Eighth Lyran Regulars''' (Regiment/Green/Reliable)<ref name=HWo3039p137/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[New India]].<ref name=HWo3039p137>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 137</ref>

===3050===
'''Eighth Lyran Regulars ''' (Regiment/Green/Reliable)<ref name=20yup28/>
:* CO: Leftenant General William Korsant<ref name=20yup28/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[New India]].<ref name=20yup28>''20 Year Update'', p. 28</ref>

===3054===
'''Eighth Lyrans Regular''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=ORp20/>
:* CO: Leftenant General William Korsant<ref name=ORp20/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[New India]].<ref name=ORp20>''Objective Raids'', p. 20</ref>

===3062===
'''Eighth Lyran Regulars''' (Reinforced BattleMech Regiment)<br>
CO: Leutnant General Cynthia Nelson<br>
Unit Note: BattleMech regiment was reinforced upwards to four [[Battalion]]s of 'Mechs. These would include full companies of ''[[Emperor]]'' and ''[[Highlander]]'' assault BattleMechs.<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 90: 'Mech regiment receives a company's worth of old Star League designs</ref>

'''Fourteenth New India Fighter Wing''' (aerospace fighter [[Wing (Military Unit)|wing]])<br>
CO: Kommandant Luka Schoner<br>

'''Ninth New India Heavy Armor''' (Reinforced [[Combat Vehicle|Armor]] Regiment)<br>
CO: Colonel Gutierrez Ramon de Jesus Smith<br>
Unit Note: The regiment was reinforced to five battalions' worth of Combat Vehicles. The Fourth Battalion would be exclusively consist of [[VTOL]] type vehicles, while the Fifth Battalion was staffed with [[Mechanized Infantry]] companies.<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 90: 9th New India's components types</ref>

Unit Note: The Eighth Regulars would be considered as of 3062 as Reliable in their loyalty and Regulars with their skills.<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 125: Unit deployment and status as 3062 from Deployment lists</ref> They would be listed for the time with Equipment Rating of "D".<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 133: Standard Equipment rating for the unit in 3062 from Rules Annex</ref>

===3067===
'''Eighth Lyran Regulars''' (Reinforced BattleMech Regiment)<br>
CO: Leutnant General Cynthia Nelson<br>

'''Fourteenth New India Fighter Wing'''<br>
CO: Kommandant Luka Schoner

'''Ninth New India Heavy Armor''' (Reinforced Regiment)<br>
CO: Colonel Gutierrez Ramon de Jesus Smith<br>

Unit Note: The Combat Vehicle Regiment consisted of 3 Armor battalions, 1 VTOL/hovercraft battalion, and 1 mechanized infantry battalion. The BattleMech regiment consisted of 4 'Mech battalions, instead of the 3 usually assigned. It would be assigned to the [[Timbuktu Theater]] of the Lyran Alliance as of 3067. They would be considered Veterans, but with Questionable loyalty. Its support forces would be rated as Regulars, but considered to be reliable in loyalty. While 'Mech and Armor reinforce regiments would at full strength, its Aerospace Wing was listed as 95% of capacity.<ref name=FMUp178>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 178: "Deployment Table - 3067"</ref>

===3079===
'''Eighth Lyran Regulars ''' (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)<ref name="frlcaf13">''Field Report: FWLM'', p. 13</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Loric]].<ref name="frlcaf13"/>

===3085===
'''Eighth Lyran Regulars''' (Regular/Questionable)<ref name=FM3085p108/><br>
CO: Leutnant General [[Ramon Schräder]]<br>

'''Fourteenth New India Fighter Wing''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FM3085p108/><br>
CO: Colonel [[Rochus Sabbadin]]<br>

'''Ninth New India Heavy Armor''' (Green/Questionable)<ref name=FM3085p108/><br>
CO: Colonel [[Gerfrid Fortuyn]]

===3145===
'''Eighth Lyran Regulars''' (Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=FM:3145p132/><br>
CO: Colonel John Nelson<br>

==Notes==
* Rules for the Eighth Lyran Regulars can be found in ''[[Field Manual: Lyran Alliance]]''.<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 133: Rules Annex special rules</ref>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[List of Solaris Broadcasting Co. articles#Memory of Attack Still Vivid|BattleCorps Solaris Broadcasting Co., 24/08/3071: "Memory of Attack Still Vivid"]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Lyran Alliance]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Field Report: LAAF]]''
* ''[[Fire at Will]]'' (novel)
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)|First Succession War]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]''
* ''[[Objective Raids]]''
* ''[[Second Succession War (sourcebook)|Second Succession War]]''
* ''[[Shattered Fortress]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3145 Free Worlds League]]''


[[Category:Lyran Commands|Lyran Regulars, 008th]]
[[Category:Federated Commonwealth Commands|Lyran Regulars, 008th]]