Fidelis

Revision as of 16:42, 19 October 2013 by Dark Jaguar (talk | contribs) (Note about future timeline)
The Fidelis
Faction Profile
Time period: post-Jihad
Dark Age era
Classification: Inner Sphere
Capital world: New Earth
Ruler title: Custos
Secret Service: Unknown

Born of the survivors of Clan Smoke Jaguar, the Fidelis were a secretive group of elite soldiers who fought for Devlin Stone during the Word of Blake Jihad and afterwards for the Republic of the Sphere.

Overview

The Fidelis are a warrior society where every member is extensively cross-trained in different modes of combat, from piloting 'Mechs to standard infantry duty, as well as combat engineers with technical skills to customise their equipment and bypass security devices.

History

The Fidelis keep their history to themselves. This is more than tradition to them; it is their law and their creed. The little that is known indicates that they were created during the Jihad and at the time referred to as Stone's Shadows, when the future Fidelis pledged themselves to Devlin Stone until their unspecified debt could be repaid. All are bound by this oath, their lives are forfeit if necessary to fulfil their (unspecified) destiny. Those few in the Republic that knew about them considered that Stone had struck a dangerous bargain with them.[1]

Only a little is known about them, prior to their joining with Stone, although it seem they were betrayed by unspecified individual at some point which caused them to turn to Stone for mutual aid.

The Great Betrayal was a pivotal moment for our people. We had been betrayed and left for dead by those who were our blood. They forgot us, but we refused to die. The Custos ensured our survival. He led us down the road to our home.
- from Surrender Your Dreams
The betrayers came and claimed to be our friends. The Custos knew better. He trusted them only as much as necessary. When we learned of their betrayal, he changed us forever. He taught us that freedom, with rules and guidelines, was the key to our survival. We shed the old ways that held us back. We found The Republic and tied our future to the Great Father – Stone.
- from Surrender Your Dreams

The Fidelis had been on New Earth since the Jihad, on land gifted to them by Stone. Here they had stayed a potent military force, but unused until the crisis that started with the fall of the HPG network and the instigation of Fortress Republic. [2] The Fidelis supplied Andrew Redburn with Battle Group Venator under the leadership of Group Commander Adamans for special operations outside the fortress.

In 3150, the Fidelis were released from their oath pledge to the Republic. [3] [4]

Culture

Their culture is loosely based on that of Clan Smoke Jaguar. They hold the last copy of the Jaguar Remembrance that they call The Unopened Work, the only one to survive the Road of Pain. This has taken on a mystical significance for them and became the centre of many of their ceremonies. [5]

Military

Their military consists of a Century. which is one hundred of their best best warriors plus their augmenting trainees. They always have a century ready for service to the Republic. The Century consists of two Battle Groups, each of three Umbras. An Umbra is described as similar to a Company of Mech forces with combined arms units attached. [6] A Battle Group is commanded by a Group Commander.

Armoured Vehicles crews are known as Jagers while infantry are Superstities .

They also control a warship, the Flatus, of unspecified class.

Rulers

The Custos is the leader, he is described as that and more: the past and future of their people.

References

  1. Surrender Your Dreams, p. 171
  2. Era Report: 3145,p. 12-17
  3. Surrender Your Dreams, p. 291
  4. The last chapter of Surrender Your Dreams were Retrocon due to changes in franchise's plans for the timeline. It is unclear how the events protrayed in the novel in the novel's future will be protrayed. Here the Battletech Line Developer's Battlechat from 20 April 2013 in which reflect's on the novel and original storyline in the franchise's future..
  5. Surrender Your Dreams, p. 234
  6. Surrender Your Dreams, p. 174-5

Bibliography