Free Worlds League Military

The Free Worlds League Military (FWLM) is exactly what it says it is: the armed forces of the Free Worlds League. With the dissolution of the League in 3078, the FWLM was similarly dissolved.

Organization

For much of its history, the FWLM operated its units independently, but the Fourth Succession War and Andurien Secession taught them the value of using combined-arms tactics. To that end, different types of units were organized into one unit and ordered to work together. While this did not result in the teamwork of the Defenders of Andurien or the sheer numbers and tactical flexibility of a Regimental Combat Team, it was better than what came before.

Command

Parliament

According to the original charter of the Free Worlds League, command of the FWLM rests with Parliament. In times of war, Parliament was meant to give temporary command to a Captain-General. In practice, the only control Parliament has had over the military since the onset of the Succession Wars was through funding allocation.

Captain-General

Practical command of the FWLM has rested with the Captain-General for centuries. Originally a position that was purely military power, the position of Captain-General has accumulated power since the creation of the League. Originally, a Captain-General was appointed by Parliament to command the military during a war, and power returned to Parliament during peacetime. Disastrous command of the FWLM by individuals who were not of House Marik led to the right of first refusal being bestowed upon the Mariks. With a hereditary claim on the position, House Marik cemented its importance by ensuring that only a Marik Captain-General would be recognized as the legal representative of the Free Worlds League on the Star League Council, giving the position political power for the first time.

The position of Captain-General was later made permanent by Resolution 288. After the fall of the Star League, with the onset of the First Succession War, Resolution 288 was passed, which enabled the Captain-General to stay in power "for the duration of the emergency." With no definition of "the emergency," the position has even outlived the Free Worlds League, with no less than three different successors laying claim to the title.

Militarily, the Captain-General is the titular head of the FWLM. He or she is allowed to direct the military as seen fit, although Parliament has passed legislation to restrict the Captain-General's activities. In fact, the power of the Captain-General has waxed and waned since the onset of the Succession Wars.

League Central Coordination and Command

The League Central Coordination and Command (LCCC) is the military bureaucracy that is responsible for the FWLM. Composed of seven individuals and headquartered on Marik, the LCCC controls logistics, planning, and captured territories. While some of the responsibilities of the members of the LCCC have changed over the years, positions include the Minister of Defense, Director of Military Intelligence, Chief Armorer, and Quartermaster General.

Marshals

Border regions are commanded by Marshals. There are four border regions of varying sizes. Unless otherwise directed by the Captain-General or LCCC (and even then, in some cases), Marshals command the regions with which they have been entrusted.

Units

The various brigades of the FWLM are classified as either "League" units or "provincial" units. League units are beholden only to the Captain-General and are supported directly by the LCCC. Provincial units often report to the leader of their home province, though they must also answer to the Captain-General. Provincial units are generally supported by their home province, though the LCCC provides some support. Links to units (existant as of 3059) are provided.

League Units

Atrean Dragoons

Insignia of the Atrean Dragoons

The Atrean Dragoons are a command of the Free Worlds League Military.

The Atrean Dragoons consist of three regiments:

• 1st Atrean Dragoons
• 11th Atrean Dragoons
• 12th Atrean Dragoons

Atrean Hussars

The Atrean Hussars were formed as a experiment by Captain-General Samuel Marik to try and get around the restrictions of the Home Defense Act. Despite their direct loyalty to the Captain-General, their relatively young age and the poor performance of the Atrean Hussars have led to the unit being close to disbandment for most of its existence.

Free Worlds Guards Long considered the premier units of the FWLM, the Guards jealously guarded that reputation following the creation of the Knights of the Inner Sphere.		Unit	Information
		50x50px 1st Free Worlds Guards
		2nd Free Worlds Guards
		3rd Free Worlds Guards

File:Free Worlds Legionnairesa.jpg Free Worlds Legionnaires Created from the ashes of the Defenders of Andurien after the Andurien Secession, the Free Worlds Legionnaires' were carefully vetted to ensure loyalty to the Free Worlds League as a whole. They also inherited the tradition of combined-arms warfare from the Defenders.		Unit	Information
		50x50px 1st Free Worlds Legionnaires
		50x50px 2nd Free Worlds Legionnaires
		50x50px 3rd Free Worlds Legionnaires
		50x50px 4th Free Worlds Legionnaires
		50x50px 5th Free Worlds Legionnaires
		50x50px 6th Free Worlds Legionnaires
		50x50px 7th Free Worlds Legionnaires

Knights of the Inner Sphere Main article: Knights of the Inner Sphere Created by Captain-General Thomas Marik in 3055, the Knights of the Inner Sphere were meant to reintroduce chivalry to the Inner Sphere. Becoming the most prestigious unit in the League during the False Thomas' reign, the Knights boasted both some of the most elite troops in the FWLM and high levels of advanced equipment, including a number of new 'Mech designs reserved exclusively for their use only. Both regiments were wiped out during the Jihad.		Unit	Information
		50x50px 1st Knights of the Inner Sphere
		50x50px 2nd Knights of the Inner Sphere

File:Marik Militia.jpg Marik Militia Created along with the Free Worlds League, its largest brigade contains regiments that range from green to elite.		Unit	Information
		1st Marik Militia
		2nd Marik Militia
		4th Marik Militia
		5th Marik Militia
		6th Marik Militia
		9th Marik Militia
		50x50px 10th Marik Militia
		13th Marik Militia
		15th Marik Militia
		18th Marik Militia
		20th Marik Militia
		50x50px 23rd Marik Militia
		25th Marik Militia
		30th Marik Militia
		31st Marik Militia
		50x50px 34th Marik Militia

Provincial Units

Andurien Rangers With the collapse of the League during the Blakist Jihad, the Duchy of Andurien formed their own new provincial force, the Andurien Rangers, around defecting units from the Free Worlds Legionnaires.		Unit	Information
		[[Image:|center|50x50px]] 1st Andurien Rangers
		[[Image:|center|50x50px]] 2nd Andurien Rangers
		[[Image:|center|50x50px]] 3rd Andurien Rangers

Defenders of Andurien The Defenders of Andurien were the original provincial military force of the Duchy of Andurien, eliminated following the end of the Andurien Secession. Some former members of the Defenders formed the core of the Free Worlds Legionnaires, ensuring the Defenders emphasis on combined-arms operations lived on.		Unit	Information
		[[Image:|center|50x50px]] 1st Defenders of Andurien
		[[Image:|center|50x50px]] 2nd Defenders of Andurien
		[[Image:|center|50x50px]] 3rd Defenders of Andurien
		[[Image:|center|50x50px]] 4th Defenders of Andurien
		[[Image:|center|50x50px]] 5th Defenders of Andurien
		[[Image:|center|50x50px]] 6th Defenders of Andurien

Fusiliers of Oriente The Fusiliers of Oriente are the more prestigious of the Grand Duchy of Oriente forces.		Unit	Information
		Ducal Guard
		1st Fusiliers of Oriente
		2nd Fusiliers of Oriente
		3rd Fusiliers of Oriente
		4th Fusiliers of Oriente
		5th Fusiliers of Oriente

Marik Guard The provincial force of the Marik Commonwealth, the Marik Guard was destroyed during the Fourth Succession War.		Unit	Information

80px Oriente Hussars The Hussars are the less prestigious of the Oriente military forces.		Unit	Information
		1st Oriente Hussars
		2nd Oriente Hussars
		50x50px 3rd Oriente Hussars
		4th Oriente Hussars
		5th Oriente Hussars
		50x50px 6th Oriente Hussars

Orloff Grenadiers The provincial regiments of the Duchy of Orloff, the Grenadiers are synonymous with competence. Orloff takes great pride in its troops, with an initiation ritual that binds them together. Ironically, theirs was one of the loudest voices against Thomas Marik's attempts to centralize power and unify the FWLM because it would have meant giving up many of their traditions.		Unit	Information
		1st Orloff Grenadiers
		6th Orloff Grenadiers
		8th Orloff Grenadiers

100x100px Protectorate Guard The provincial forces of the Border Protectorate. Not to be mistaken for the Protectorate, loyal to Anton Marik.		Unit	Information
		50x50px Iron Guard
		50x50px Steel Guard

Regulan Hussars The military of the Principality of Regulus often opposed the Captain-General's control. The Hussars' regiments include the famed Rolling Thunder company.		Unit	Information
		1st Regulan Hussars
		2nd Regulan Hussars
		4th Regulan Hussars
		5th Regulan Hussars
		9th Regulan Hussars

100x100px Silver Hawk Irregulars The Irregulars were the provincial force of the Silver Hawks Coalition. Much like the coalition itself, the regiment's status depended on the world that was responsible for supporting it, with some worlds providing the dregs of society and others their best and brightest. They benefited the most from Thomas Marik's reforms, as their training and equipment was generally upgraded and evened out. The Irregulars were shattered during the Jihad. The Irregulars were resurrected in May of 3137 by Captain-General Anson Marik of the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth to oppose the offensive by the Lyran Commonwealth. They have so far lived up to the "Irregular" part of their moniker by employing irregular tactics against their better-equipped enemies.		Unit	Information
		50x50px Falcons
		50x50px Gryphons|

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Insignia of the Sirian Lancers Sirian Lancers The Sirian Lancers, provincial force of the Sirian Concordance, has had a disproportionate effect on the history of the Free Worlds League since the end of the Fourth Succession War. Janos Marik's decision to preemptively withdraw left the worlds of the Concordance in the hands of the nascent Federated Commonwealth. When Thomas Marik launched Operation Guerrero in 3057, it stopped short of reclaiming those worlds. When an insane ComStar Precentor, Alisendar Gyrn, took control of Sirius and Procyon, the Lancers threatened to invade, with or without support from the LCCC. They decided to aid the three regiments, who liberated the worlds to find "reeducation camps" and other atrocities. Angry at the Captain-General and the LCCC for not liberating their homeworlds sooner, the Lancers all but went their own way. In 3068, the Lancers attacked Skye, sparking the incident that led to war with Skye Province. Soon afterward, the Lancers defected to the Word of Blake Militia.		Unit	Information
		1st Sirian Lancers
		2nd Sirian Lancers
		3rd Sirian Lancers

Stewart Dragoons The military force of the Stewart Commonality.		Unit	Information
		50x50px Home Guard
		50x50px Juggernaut

Military Academies

Allison MechWarrior Institute

Located on New Olympia, within the Marik Commonwealth, cadets of AMI nurture a rivalry with those of the neighboring Lloyd Marik-Stanley Aerospace School. Specializing in training MechWarriors, AMI reserves ten percent of each incoming class for scions of Dispossessed MechWarriors.

Lloyd Marik-Stanley Aerospace School

Fewer than two hundred miles away from the Allison MechWarrior Institute, LMS cadets are fiercely competitive with their ground-bound rivals. In addition to training aerospace pilots, LMS has a supplementary curriculum that trains DropShip and JumpShip pilots as well.

Princefield Military Academy

The premier training center for the Duchy of Oriente, Princefield cadets are cutthroat in their competition due to the fact that only the top twenty percent of each class graduates to MechWarrior training after eighteen months of military history, strategy, and tactics. Despite the fact that it is not in their home province, many members of House Marik graduated from Princefield after Janos graduated in 2979.

Hero Training Institute

Logo of the Hero Training Institute

Founded in 2989 on the planet Maxwell, the Hero Training Institute offers those with no legitimate reason to become a MechWarrior the chance to become such a hero. While the quality of the training is poor, HTI offers a real opportunity to those who would otherwise not have one.

Legionary Training Academy

The Legionary Training Academy was originally the principal training centers for those hailing from the Duchy of Andurien. After Andurien lost its bid to secede in the 3030s, its military academy was taken over by the LCCC and federalized. The graduates of LTA then began to fill the ranks of the Free Worlds Legionnaires.

Military Ranks

FWLM Military Rank Insignia, 3058

Rank	Insignia
Private
Private, First Class
Corporal
Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Master Sergeant
Sergeant Major
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant, Senior Grade
Captain
Force Commander
Lieutenant Colonel
Colonel
General
Marshal
Captain-General

Sources

• House Marik (The Free Worlds League)
• Field Manual: Free Worlds League