Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery

The Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (DCMS) is the military arm of the Draconis Combine. The warriors of the DCMS live by the tenets of bushido, the code of the samurai.

Command Structure

Coordinator

The Coordinator of the Draconis Combine is the titular head of the DCMS, although a significant amount of authority can be delegated to a Gunji-no-Kanrei.

Gunji-no-Kanrei

The post of Gunji-no-Kanrei (Deputy of Military Affairs) was resurrected after the Fourth Succession War by Coordinator Takashi Kurita to oversee the rebuilding and restructuring of the DCMS, reporting only to the Coordinator himself.

Military District Commanders

The military districts that make up the Combine are ruled by a Tai-shu (Warlord) who is in command of all military forces in the district.

Units of the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery

Otomo

The Otomo are the Palace Household Guard of the Draconis Combine. Slightly more than a regiment in size, their sole purpose is to protect the Unity Palace on Luthien and the Coordinator. Members of the Otomo are taken from Sword of Light regiments and the five military districts. Unit composition is a mix of 'Mechs, armor, and infantry. Only a member of the Kurita family can become commander of the Otomo.

Sword of Light

Circa 3025, the Sword of Light consisted of 5 'Mech regiments made up of the very best. In order to join, one must have 5 years of flawless service in another regiment and pass a series of mental, physical, spiritual, and political tests. Even non-combat staff are tested thusly. Sword of Light regiments receive top priority for supplies, and even have their own dedicated JumpShips and DropShips. One oddity of these regiments is that each one consists of four battallions instead of three. The Sword of Light regiments are not tied to a specific area of deployment, but travel the realm to assist where needed. Their 'Mech paint scheme is usually flat red, with the Kurita crest on the left shoulder.

Ryuken

In 3023 Takashi Kuritaminobu Tetsuharato train a regiment in the tactics and tactical doctrine used by Wolf's Dragoons. With the assistance of Jaime Wolf and his dragoons a regiment of combine soldiers trained with and fought alongside Wolf's Dragoons learning how to fight in the Dragoon's fashion. The original Ryuken regiment succeeded beyond expectations causing Takashi Kurita to order the regiment broken into companie and to train and expand into their own regiments.

In 3027 the Dragoons contract with the DCMS expired and Jaime Wolf sought to leave Combine space.Takashi Kurita did not want to allow the elite mercenary unit to leave his service and ordered several Ryuken regiments to stop them. The newly elite Ryuken regiments met the Dragoons but proved not to be the match of Wolf's Dragoons. Though almost crippled in the conflict the Dragoons decimate four of the Ryuken regiments while leaving Combine space.

Arkab Legion

In 2497, the Combine moved to take control of the planets held by the Azami. However, a virus to which the Azami themselves were immune killed the Kurita forces, leaving the determined natives victorious. After this, the Combine decided to grant the Azami limited autonomy in return for their loyalty and service. This included being able to continue practicing their branch of Islam, which is forbidden in the Combine. To make use of their spirit, they were trained as MechWarriors and granted three regiments worth of light and medium 'Mechs. These forces, known as the Arkab Legions, specialize in lightning-quick reconnaissance and raiding. Their unit colors are desert tan or dark green. They are not required to wear the Draconis Combine crest, due to their partial autonomy. The Legions are normally stationed on their homeworlds, but are expected to go where needed; the Lyran Commonwealth and the Federated Suns have suffered many raids conducted by the Azami warriors.

Military Academies

Dover Institute of Higher Learning

Located on Benjamin, the Dover Institute grew out of the destroyed People's Reconstruction Effort (PRE). The Institute trains MechWarriors to think before they act, and can spend days dissecting a singe simulator battle. Since the military academy is part of a larger, civilian institute; MechWarriors often have a more liberal background in literature and the sciences than graduates of other military training centers.

Dieron District Gymnasium

One of the least prestigious academies in the Draconis Combine, DDG is essentially what its name implies. Cadets have the freedom to take what what courses they desire, which are often hastily assembled and meet in a corner of the massive gym. Once a cadet has accumulated enough class time, he or she can earn a sort of "pass" for simulator time. Once enough sim hours have been logged, they qualify for a live-fire session. Some cadets take their time graduating, while others hurry out as quickly as possible; but all are battle-ready. DDG, which is located on Shionoha, only graduates around fifteen MechWarriors a year, but they are generally the most well-prepared graduates.

Minoru Kurita University

Coordinator Minoru Kurita established this "university" around the fall of the Star League in preparation for the fighting that he believed was to come (and did, in the form of the Succession Wars). MKU is known for churning out infantrymen as fast as possible, with their first battle often serving as their final exam. Due to the exceptionally high rate of failure of this final, MKU boasts few alumni.

Pagoda for Luthien Officers

Located on the capital of Luthien, PLO trains MechWarriors and aerospace fighter pilots. The pagoda mostly caters to nobles who will not see actual combat. It focuses on social niceties rather than military training, though such classes are available for students who wish to pursue them. It is the rare student who avails him- or herself of all of the resources at the academy to earn a real education. The highest ranking of the pagoda's alumni is Isoroku Kurita, who was one such cadet.

Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy

Located on the original capital of New Samarkand, SZMA is especially notable in that it graduates the most MechWarriors per year of any training facility in the Inner Sphere, over 400. SZMA also has an aerospace fighter pilot program. It is often considered the most prestigious military academy in the Draconis Combine and all of its graduates receive a daisho. SZMA boasts Theodore and Hohiro Kurita among its alumni.

Sun-Tzu School of Combat

The school of combat instructs all of its cadets in combined-arms warfare, no matter their specialty. STSC is notable in that it is the only school to award a daisho to graduates in all modes of study. Hohiro Kurita attended STSC before completing his training at SZMA, as his father Theodore believes in STSC's approach to warfare.

University of Proserpina

Located on the border world of Proserpina, UP is one of the centers of advanced technology in the Draconis Combine. Infantry crews, MechWarriors, and pilots are all trained at UP, which was one of the first military training facilities to offer a battle armor program.

Wisdom of the Dragon

Wisdom is more akin to a finishing school or an officer school than a traditional military academy. In fact, only officers and officer candidates may take part in the program. It is not uncommon for seasoned officers to attend the school for refreshers. Regardless of whether an individual received one elsewhere or not, all graduates are given a daisho.

Military Ranks

Enlisted Ranks

• Hojuhei: Recruit
• Heishi: Private
• Gunjin: Lance Corporal
• Go-sho: Corporal
• Gunso: Sergeant
• Shujin: Master Sergeant
• Kashira: Talon Sergeant
• Sho-ko: Sergeant Major

Officer Ranks

• Chu-i: Lieutenant
• Tai-i: Captain
• Sho-sa: Major
• Chu-sa: Lieutenant Colonel
• Tai-sa: Colonel
• Sho-sho: Major General
• Tai-sho: General
• Tai-shu: Warlord

References

House Kurita Sourcebook