Editing Avanti's Angels

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image = [[Image:Avanti's Angels.jpg|Insignia of Avanti's Angels]]
| Designation = Avanti's Angels
| Formed = [[3050]]
| Disbanded = [[3137]] (Destroyed)
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname = 
| Affiliation = [[Mercenary]]
| Parent Command = Independent
| Sub-Command =
}}
'''Avanti's Angels''' was a small [[mercenary unit]] that specialized in offensive hit-and-run operations.

==History==
===Origins===
[[Marcus GioAvanti]] was an independent [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] hired by a small corporation on [[Garstedt]] when he heard rumors of an invasion from the [[Periphery]]. This news was the precursor to [[Clan]] [[Smoke Jaguar]]'s attack on [[Garstedt]] in May of [[3050]].<ref name=IC065>''Invading Clans''. p. 65</ref> GioAvanti was dragooned into the [[DCMS]] as part of a six-strong [[BattleMech]] [[Demi-Company|demi-company]] attached to the [[Third Alshain Regulars]]. This demi-company barely survived the [[Smoke Jaguar]] invasion of the planet.<ref name="FMMp34">''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 34: "Avanti's Angels: In the Path of the Tornado"</ref>

A month later on [[Schuyler]], GioAvanti and the other survivors from the first demi-company were ordered to create another ad hoc unit from nine more MechWarriors who had found themselves volunteered to form another "auxiliary" unit for the Third Alshain Regulars. They were assigned to rearguard and diversionary duty — responsibilities that once again left them with no chance of reinforcement or support. ''[[Tai-i]]'' GioAvanti managed to bring three MechWarriors out alive but only by using every trick or battlefield advantage he could manage.<ref name="FMMp34"/>

Detached from the Third Alshain Regulars, fate repeated itself for GioAvanti's command. Re-formed into a fresh auxiliary unit with more "volunteers" on [[Jeronimo]] in support of the [[Fifth Galedon Regulars]], they were forced off-planet by the [[Clans]] yet again. No matter the defensive preparations taken, the Angels were pushed off planet after planet: [[Hyner]], [[Juazeiro]], [[Asgard]], [[Kanowit]], each planet saw members of other shattered commands joining the nascent Angels and every battle claimed more equipment and lives.<ref name="FMMp34"/>

By the time Avanti's Angels had narrowly avoided total destruction yet again at the hands of [[Clan Smoke Jaguar|Smoke Jaguars]] on [[Labrea]], they had gained considerable combat experience and even gathered a handful of [[Clan|ClanTech]] weapons: a [[Gauss rifle]], six [[ER PPC|ER PPCs]] and several lasers. Avanti's Angels disbanded, leaving the DCMS, and immediately re-formed as a mercenary unit.

In 3058 Avanti's Angels fought in the [[Chaos March]]. At this point in time they consisted of a full company of 'Mechs, supported by a Platoon of infantry, a single [[Savannah Master]] and two DropShips (''[[Union]]'' and a ''[[Fortress]]'').

One contract brought them to the planet [[Arboris]] to fight Capellan forces. Avanti's Angels suffered heavy losses when a traitor sold information about them to the commander of [[Ishara's Grenadiers]]. Shortly thereafter they fought on [[New Home]] alongside the [[30th Lyran Guards|Thirtieth Lyran Guards]], again against Capellan forces. They managed to capture a second Savannah Master and a ''[[JagerMech]]''. Despite their successes, their betrayal soured them on the Chaos March.<ref name=er62p51>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 51</ref>

In early [[3058]] they were hired by the [[Magistracy of Canopus]].<ref name="FMMp35">''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 35</ref> Their mission was to find the planet on which the invading [[Marian Hegemony|Marian]] forces hid their supply depot. Avanti's Angels welcomed this offer as the job included the permission to pillage any enemy supply depot they could capture.

Avanti's Angels were reinforced by a Canopian 'Mech [[Lance]], bringing their total strength to 16 BattleMechs. The plan was to establish a base on [[Marantha]], a planet guarded by 3 Canopian regiments. Blakist forces (posing as their ally, the Marian Hegemony) attacked this position only hours after Avanti's Angels had landed on the planet. Avanti's Angels were outmatched but Marcus GioAvanti managed to trick the Blakist commander into believing that Canopian reinforcements were on the way, convincing him to retreat.

The Angels received intelligence that [[Free Worlds League]] freighters were regularly rerouted to fly through a certain system. The Free Worlds League was also under suspicion by the Canopians for delivering weapons and 'Mechs to the Marians. The only habitable planet within easy jumping range of the League, the Hegemony and the Magistracy was [[Astrokaszy]]: a barbaric planet ruled by warlords and scavenging nomad tribes.

Avanti's Angels departed for Astrokaszy. They were attacked by Blakist forces (again posing as Marians) and had to split into 2 'Mech elements in the hope that some members would somehow have a chance to survive. Avanti's Angels regrouped in the cover of the "Desertwind" tribe and allied with one of the warlords. He promised Avanti's Angels his support to drive the Marians off the planet but, in the deciding moment, his forces did not show up for their would-be flank attack and Avanti's Angels were once again outmatched. They were saved in the very last moment when Canopian and Capellan forces arrived.

At the end of their campaign for the Magistracy of Canopus in 3058, Avanti's Angels were reduced to about eight 'Mechs but they did have a chance to salvage several heavy 'Mechs. These 'Mechs served them well for their next contract: Supporting [[SLDF]] forces in the assault on [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]].<ref name="MSUp26">''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 26</ref><ref name=er62p51/>

===FedCom Civil War===
The Angels officially took no sides during the [[Federated Commonwealth Civil War]], but Marcus GioAvanti took a small group of Angels to [[Skye]] to assist his family. Interestingly, this small unit fought against both pro-Katrina and pro-Victor forces.

===Word of Blake Jihad===
Immediately prior to the [[Jihad]] the Angels had returned to the Magistracy and were on-planet when the [[Word of Blake]] struck. The Blakists were determined to destroy any unit that was part of the [[Allied Mercenary Command]] and inflicted serious damage on the Angels. However the Angels persevered and destroyed the Blakist unit. The actions of the local government forced the Angels to break their contract, and with the Magistracy under an [[Interdiction]], they were unable to contact the [[Magistracy_Armed_Forces#Structure_of_the_MAF|Magistracy Command Center]] to explain their actions. In [[3068]] the Angels relocated to [[New Home]] to assist an old colleague. They have since completed two contracts.<ref name="MSUp26"/>

In 18 May [[3069]] the ''[[Union]]''-class [[Heaven Sent]] was used to rescue [[Raphael Shienzé]], Baron Shienzè's son after Avanti's Angels rescued him from a Word of Blake [[Level I]].<ref name="Guardians">''Guardians''</ref>

The unit helped to free a number of "political prisoners" from one of the Blakist reeducation camps in New Earth on 12 November [[3072]] along other partisans from Baron Shienzè forces and [[ComStar]]-backed insurgents when they managed to briefly disrupt the Blakist government. They rescued [[Fritz Donner]], former commander of the [[Black Warriors]] and others.<ref name="JHS3076p23">''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 23: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp51">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 51: "The Jihad In Review"</ref>

===Dark Age Era===
By [[3137]] the Angels were on [[Promised Land]] during the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] invasion of the former [[Free Worlds League]], and were vanquished by the Lyran-employed [[Kirkpatrick's Invaders]] on 12 November.<ref name=TRO3145Mp40>''Technical Readout: 3145 Mercenaries'', p. 40: "Jade Hawk"</ref><ref name=ER3145p20>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 20: "History"</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 Avanti's Angels'''
|-
| ||[[Marcus GioAvanti]]||[[3058]] - [[3069]]<ref name="FMMRp40">''Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised'', p. 40: "Avanti's Angels"</ref>
|}

==Tactics==
In their battles against the [[Clans]], Avanti's Angels learned that offense is the key to victory. Accordingly they never accept missions that include defending positions or installations. They are specialized in hard attacks with a quick retreat (e.g. hostage rescues and such).<ref name="FMMp35"/><ref name="FMMRp40"/>

Learning from their collective experiences during the [[Clan]] invasion, the Angels refuse to sign away their command rights.<ref name="FMMp34"/> They have also learned to salvage quickly and while on the run. Every pilot in the Angels is taught to crudely tear salvageable items from fallen [[BattleMech|BattleMechs]] for use by the Angels' techs. This includes not just individual items but also limbs, heads or even chunks of torso.<ref name="FMMp35"/><ref name="FMMRp40"/>

The Angels will often lay down minefields via [[Thunder LRM|Thunder]] missiles to hold up enemy advances, which are followed up by high-speed passes performed by hovercraft from the Angels Special Assault Force. One of these hovercraft is fitted with a C<sup>3</sup> slave, allowing a supporting [[BattleMech]] [[lance]] to make accurate long-range attacks against the enemy.<ref name="FMMp34"/>

The Angels train extensively in configurations ranging from single [[BattleMech|'Mech]]-on-[[BattleMech|'Mech]] combat up to six [[BattleMech|'Mech]] lances and can switch configuration in mid-combat.<ref name="FMMp34"/> The Angels are constantly remixing the composition of their [[BattleMech|'Mech]] [[company|companies]] to prevent their style and tactics becoming predictable.<ref name="FMMp35"/><ref name="FMMRp40"/>

The Angels Special Assault Force veteran infantry have trained extensively in areas such as recon, anti-[[BattleMech|'Mech]] tactics, and general fire support.<ref name="FMMp35"/><ref name="FMMRp40"/>

==Dragoon Ratings==

===3059===
'''Dragoon Rating: B+'''<ref name="FMMp35"/>

===3067===
'''Dragoon Rating: B+'''

===3071===
'''Dragoon Rating: A–''' (under review)<ref name="MSUp26"/>

==Composition History==

===3059===
'''Avanti's Angels''' (2 [[Company|Companies]]/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name="FMMp35"/>
* CO/First Company: Marcus GioAvanti
* XO/Second Company: Charlene Boske
:* Comm Officer: Ki-Lynn Tanaga

'''Angels Aerospace''' ([[Lance]]/Regular/Reliable)<ref name="FMMp35"/>
* Element Commander: Nathaniel Keppler

'''Angels Special Assault Force''' (Mixed Company/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name="FMMp35"/>
* Force Commander: [[General]] Hanford Lee

Although listed as Veteran, the [[BattleMech|'Mech]] [[company|companies]] were actually just shy of elite status in [[3059]]; more than half of the [[BattleMech|'Mechs]] in the unit are older models, but two full lances of [[BattleMech|'Mechs]] were [[3055]]- or [[3058]]-era designs and this combined with the sixty or so tons of Clantech weapons salvaged and incorporated into the Angels gave them a relatively high level of technology compared to many other mercenary units.<ref name="FMMp35"/>

===3067===
'''Avanti's Angels''' (2 Companies/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name="FMMRp40"/>
* CO/First Company: Marcus GioAvanti
* XO/Second Company: Charlene Boske

'''Angels Aerospace''' (2 [[Lance|Lances]]/Regular/Reliable)<ref name="FMMRp40"/>
* Lance Commander: Nathaniel Keppler

'''Angels Special Assault Force''' (1 Mixed Company/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name="FMMRp40"/>
* Force Commander: General Hanford Lee

In [[3067]] the Angels [[BattleMech|'Mech]] companies were still riding the line between veteran and elite status; only misfortune and battlefield attrition stopped them crossing the line once and for all. The 'Mech companies still included just two lances of post-[[3055]] designs at this point, and the amount of Clan technology remaining within the command had dropped from sixty tons to forty.<ref name="FMMRp40"/>

===3069===
'''Avanti's Angels''' (Mixed [[Battalion]]/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name="FM:Up184">''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 184</ref>
* CO: [[Colonel]] Marcus GioAvanti
Stationed on [[Joppa]] at the end of [[3069]], the Angels were only at 90% strength, but were heavily upgraded, with 65% of the unit equipped with [[Star League]]–era technology, 10% equipped with [[Clan]] technology and 10% equipped with Omni technology.

==Unit Profile==
The unit contained (among others) the following 'Mechs: ''[[Warhammer]]'' (Clan [[PPC]]s), ''[[Marauder]]'' (Clan PPCs), ''[[BattleMaster]]'', ''[[Caesar]]'' (Clan Gauss and Clan PPC), ''[[Archer]]'', ''[[Enforcer]]'', ''[[Phoenix Hawk]]'', ''[[Jenner]]'', ''[[Wasp]]'', ''[[Valkyrie]]''.

The unit contained 2 [[Savannah Master]]s, one of them equipped with a [[Target Acquisition Gear|TAG]].

The infantry has experience in Anti-BattleMech tactics.

The unit has 2 DropShips: The ''[[Heaven Sent]]''<ref name="FMMp34"/> (''Union''-class) and the ''[[Head of a Pin]]'' or ''Pinhead''<ref name="FMMRp40"/> (''Fortress''-class). The family members of the staff live aboard the ''Pinhead''. Additionally the unit has an uncertain amount of civilian hover vehicles aboard the ''Pinhead''.

Avanti's Angels also has its own one-person intelligence unit. He regularly travels apart from the rest of the unit and is said to have friends on almost every planet.

==Rules==
<div class="gamerules">
* Any mercenary unit fighting against the Angels must inform the Angel commander of any specialties possessed by that unit; the commander of the Angels has two options: take a +2 Initiative bonus for the Angels, or take a +1 bonus for the Angels ''and'' force the opposing unit to accept a 1 point penalty to any special ability they possess that generates a modifier.<ref name="FMMp124">''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 124</ref><ref name="FMMRp128">''Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised'', p. 128</ref>
* If the Angels have lost more than half of their starting units, rounded down, the Angels have been forced into a defensive position, and lose all bonuses; they also suffer a –2 Initiative penalty, which is cumulative with any bonuses the enemy unit receives.<ref name="FMMp124"/><ref name="FMMRp128"/>
</div>
==Color Scheme==
The Angels utilize white with gold highlights as a part of their unit.<ref name="FMMRp40" /><ref>''Field Manual: Mercenaries''</ref>
<gallery>
Image:Camomercavantisangels.png|A ''[[Grasshopper]]'' in Avanti's Angels colors.
Image:Camomercsavantiangels1.png|A [[Thunderbolt#Variants|TDR-7SE ''Thunderbolt'']] in Avanti's Angels colors.
</gallery> ‎

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Double-Blind]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Era Report: 3062]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Guardians]]'' (short story)
* ''[[Invading Clans]]''
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental Update]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3145 Mercenaries]]''

[[Category:Mercenary Commands|Avanti's Angels]]