Difference between revisions of "Gordon's Armored Cavalry"

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{{infoBoxMercUnit
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{{Cleanup|reason=review needed|date=September 2023}}
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| image     = [[Image:Gordonsarmoredcavalry.png]]
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| year      = 3067
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{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
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| commander = Colonel Nicholas Gordon
+
| image         = [[File:Gordon's Armored Cavalry.jpg|150px]]
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| jumpships = no
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| Designation    = Gordon's Armored Cavalry
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| dropships = no
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| formed        =  
−
| aero      = yes
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| Disbanded      =  
−
| armor    = yes
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| Previous Designation =  
−
| infantry  = yes
+
| Nickname      =  
 +
| Affiliation    = Mercenary
 +
| Parent Command = Independent
 +
| Sub-Command    =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
 +
==History==
 +
=== Formation ===
 +
In the early years of the 3020's [[House Liao]] found themselves in an untenable military position. Surrounded by enemies, they attempted to bolster their front-line forces by exercising a little known or regarded clause in many of their [[mercenary]] contracts that allowed them to strip away all rights to battlefield salvage. All affected mercenary commands grumbled about it, though larger units were able to tolerate the shortfall due to the higher base pay they commanded. It was hardest felt in many of the smaller mercenary companies who lived and died by what they could salvage from the fields of battle.<ref name=MCSII-37/>
 +
 +
When all attempts at compromise between these smaller concerns and the [[Capellan Confederation]] failed, many of these smaller units banded together under the leadership of [[Captain]] [[Nicholas Gordon]] to form a new, larger mercenary company. So was Gordon's Armored Cavalry born from conflict with [[House Liao]].<ref name=MCSII-37/>
 +
 +
=== The Succession Wars ===
 +
The first and pivotal action of the nascent Armored Cavalry was to up planet and defect en masse to the [[Taurian Concordat]] where the new mercenary concern found immediate employment. At first stationed on the border facing House Liao, their former employer, the Cavalry was soon moved away from the temptation to get their pound of flesh from the Confederation and was assigned garrison duties on worlds bordering the [[Federated Suns]] and known pirate holdings in the [[Periphery]]. Though disappointed by the lack of action against the Capellan Confederation the Cavalry followed orders and remained loyal throughout the following years.<ref name=MCSII-37>''Mercenaries Supplemental II'', p.37</ref>
 +
 +
=== The Trinity Alliance ===
 +
This changed with the forming of the [[Trinity Alliance]], with Captain Gordon an outspoken critic of the Alliance, especially regarding the [[3060]] deployment of Concordat forces into the [[St. Ives Compact]], going so far as to threaten to go rogue if his unit was ordered to aid the Capellan Confederation in any way. As their contract was up for renewal at the time, Gordon refused to even come to the table unless it was explicitly stated that under no circumstances were the Cavalry to be sent to fight for the Capellan Confederation. Though extremely unhappy with these stipulations [[Protector of the Realm|Protector]] [[Grover Shraplen|Shraplen]] needed the veteran unit and the contract was signed. The Cavalry was assigned offensive duties against the breakaway [[Calderon Protectorate]] and were directed to probe the renegade state for any signs of weakness. <ref name=MCSII-37/> It was during this period that the Cavalry fought on [[Gaul]], supporting the Taurian [[V Corps (Taurian Concordat)|V Corps]] against forces from the [[Second Taurian Pride]] and the supporting [[Lennox's Light Horse]] mercenary [[company]].<ref name="TGR">''The Gulf of Reason''</ref>
 +
 +
Though they did as they were instructed during 3060s, the Cavalry was not happy with their assignment. By [[3068]] there was talk in the unit of not renewing their agreement with the Concordat. In response to this a 'Special Liaison' from the Concordat's [[Word of Blake]] allies arrived to "reason" with the command staff of the mercenary unit. The message to [[Colonel]] Gordon was clear. Behave or face the consequences. With active fighting between the Concordat and the Calderon Protectorate, the Cavalry found themselves at the very bottom of resupply priority, with Taurian Quartermasters routinely ignoring requests of resupply from the mercenary company even though they proved themselves, having repulsed many of the Protectorates raiders. They were assigned to garrison duty with their repeated requests for offensive assignments falling on deaf ears.<ref name=MCSII-37/>
 +
 +
=== The Jihad ===
 +
The Cavalry's Blakist keepers began feeding information to the unit regarding intelligence of large supply depots on the Federated Suns world of [[Lothair]] that was reportedly guarded by a vanguard legion of troops battered by the [[FedCom Civil War]]. Though worried about Taurian reprisal, the supply situation continued to worsen and Colonel Gordon, after consulting with his senior officers, planned for a raid of the Lothair stockpiles in mid [[3070]].<ref name=MSCU-56>''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'',p.56</ref>
 +
 +
The raid was a success. The Legion that was supposed to be on planet had rotated out to face the Capellan offensive on [[New Syrtis]] leaving a very capable but outnumbered militia to defend the world. Though the fighting was fierce, causing losses to both the defenders and the Cavalry, the militia finally withdrew, making the raid a successful planetary assault. When he heard an infuriated Protector Shraplen ordered the mercenaries to abandon their conquest, stating that the Concordat did not have the resources to garrison the captured world. The Cavalry complied with their orders to return to [[Amber Grove]], though not without some grumbling and ill feelings for the loss of their conquest.<ref name=MSCU-56 />
 +
 +
Again facing a shortfall of supplies the Cavalry launched another unsanctioned raid into Federated Suns space in [[3071]].  Drawing on the same intelligence sources used before the mercenaries raided the undefended [[Brusett]] system. Again the raid was successful and again they were ordered to relinquish their conquest, this time under threat of immediate contract termination. Though Colonel Gordon and the Cavalry immediately complied to the orders their recent history of rogue actions caused some to question their reliability in defense of the Taurian nation and its peoples.<ref name=MSCU-56 />
 +
 +
According to the FedSuns recon reports, the Cavalry found a hidden [[Star League]] cache dating back to the [[Reunification War]] on Brusett and plundered it to outfit and upgrade as many of their machines as possible. This report explains the recent surge of new and refurbished equipment Colonel Gordon has been able to field, despite a poor relationship with the [[Taurian Defense Force]] quartermasters. Only the desperate need for veteran units, with two fronts now at war, has prevented the Concordat from immediately labeling the unit as rogue. The Cavalry has, since the last raid into FedSuns space, remained as ordered on Amber Grove, though their [[JumpShip]]s have been commandeered to prevent any more unsanctioned actions on their part.<ref name=MSCU-56 />
  
−
==History==
+
In February [[3075]] the Cavalry were garrisoning the recently-conquered world of [[Hyalite]] when the Federated Suns launched a counteroffensive against the worlds captured by the Concordat. When the mercenary unit [[Hansen's Roughriders]] attacked Hyalite they bombarded the Cavalry with fuel-air bombs, shattering the Cavalry and easily recapturing the world.<ref name="JHS:Tp14">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 14, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp53">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 53, "The Jihad In Review"</ref>
−
Formed from smaller company sized units in the [[3020]]s and stationed in the [[Taurian Concordat]] at the border to the [[Capellan Confederation]].
+
 
−
The Concordat moved them to various systems along the border to the [[Federated Suns]]. The Cavalry have critise the formation of the [[Trinity Alliance]], because their troublesome past with the Confederation. [[Protector]] Shraplen assigned them for offensive duties against the [[Calderon Protectorate]].
+
=== The Dark Age ===
 +
It was reported that as a result of the combat seen during the extended war with the Federated Suns and then in [[Operation MATADOR]] Gordon's Armored Cavalry had been reduced to less than a quarter of their established strength by mid-[[3081]].<ref name="J:FRp115">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 115, "Taurian Concordat"</ref>
 +
 
 +
Gordon's Armored Cavalry returned to Taurian service in [[3125]]; considered an elite unit at the time, hiring the Armored Cavalry was a coup, given that the Taurians desperately needed troops after the loss of the [[1st MacLeod's Regiment]] in one of the many costly military actions launched by [[Protector of the Realm|Protector]] [[James Urratia]] against the [[Great House]]s during the [[Dark Age]].<ref name="FM:3145p188">''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 188, "Taurian Concordat"</ref>
  
−
In an effort to bolster their weakening front line forces during the early 3020s, [[House Liao]]
+
The unit didn't simply return to Taurian employ, however; in [[3126]], the Taurian government bought the Armored Cavalry out wholesale, replacing roughly one in four officers and shaking up the Cavalry's command staff. Those officers replaced by the Taurian Defense Force were replaced with Taurian nationals, and the Cavalry was integrated into [[III Corps (Taurian Concordat)|III Corps]], serving alongside the [[Pleiades Hussars]] and [[1st Taurian Lancers|First Taurian Lancers]].<ref name="FM:3145p195">''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 195, "Taurian Concordat"</ref>
−
began exercising a little-known clause in many of their mercenary contracts to strip away salvage
 
−
rights. All of the affected mercenaries grumbled about it, though the larger units
 
−
found it tolerable enough as their pay was high enough to eat such a loss. The smaller,
 
−
company-sized commands, for whom such salvage was a unit’s life blood, however, could
 
−
not. All attempts at a compromise failed, so several bitter units banded together under the
 
−
leadership of then-Captain Nicholas Gordon, creating Gordon’s Armored Cavalry.
 
−
Immediately defecting to the [[Taurian Concordat]], the now-sizeable Cavalry found
 
−
quick employment and was stationed on the border of their former employer. Despite constant
 
−
petitions from the Cavalry to perform punitive raids into Confederation space, the
 
−
Concordat moved them to various systems bordering the [[Federated Suns]] and known pirate holdings.
 
−
Though disappointed, the Armored Cavalry remained a loyal mercenary regiment, following all orders.
 
−
The formation of the [[Trinity Alliance]] changed that. One of the many outspoken critics of the negotiations when [[Sun-Tzu]] started bringing
 
−
in Taurian soldiers in [[3060]], the unit was prepared to go rogue if ordered to head across the border. Their contract came up for renewal
 
−
shortly after, and Colonel Gordon announced that his command would refuse to even come to the table unless their contract explicitly
 
−
stated that under no circumstances were they to be sent to fight for the [[Capellan Confederation]]. Protector Shraplen was reportedly
 
−
furious when he heard the news, but relented, as his military needed the veteran unit. Instead of fighting [[Sun-Tzu]]’s wars, the [[TDF]] reassigned
 
−
the Armored Cavalry to offensive duties against the [[Calderon Protectorate]], to probe their former comrade-in-arms for any weaknesses.
 
−
The insignia for Gordon’s Armored Cavalry is a knight riding atop of a [[Galleon]] light tank. The unit uses a dust brown and white paint
 
−
scheme. <ref>''Mercenaries Supplemental II'', p.37</ref>
 
  
 +
The Cavalry's reputation changed dramatically during the Dark Age; having come to be regarded as a rogue mercenary unit working for the Concordat, after the Concordat takeover the Cavalry became one of the most successful commands in the Taurian Defense Force and the single most popular posting request for those within the TDF seeking transfers.<ref name="FM:3145p195"/>
  
−
Longstanding employees of the [[Taurian Concordat]] with a
+
In the mid-3140s the Cavalry were stationed on [[Midale]], operating alongside the First Taurian Lancers; having assisted the Lancers in harassing Federated Suns units in the past, in [[3145]] the Cavalry found themselves in the unusual position of supporting [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] units and depots stationed within the rapidly-shrinking Victoria Salient region of the [[Capellan March]].<ref name="FM:3145p195"/>
−
decades-old hatred of the [[Capellan Confederation]], Gordon’s Armored
 
−
Cavalry lodged numerous protests with the [[TDF]] High Command since
 
−
the formation of the [[Trinity Alliance]], warding off any suggestion of possible
 
−
relocation to Confederation space. The formation of the [[Calderon
 
−
Protectorate]] alleviated these tensions somewhat by giving the
 
−
Taurian Protector a new threat to worry about, and thus the
 
−
GAC was tasked with probing the newborn Protectorate for
 
−
weaknesses. Still dissatisfied, however, the mercenary command
 
−
dominated by the Gordon family made numerous rumblings
 
−
in [[3068]] about not renewing their contract until a team of
 
−
“Special Liaisons” from the Concordat’s [[Word of Blake]] allies
 
−
arrived in [[3069]] to assist the reinforced mercenary regiment.
 
−
Distributed among the various subunits, the message to Colonel
 
−
Gordon was clear: behave or face the consequences.
 
−
With fighting breaking out between the Concordant
 
−
and the [[Calderon Protectorate]], the Cavalry quickly found
 
−
itself at the bottom of the Concordat’s priority list for supplies
 
−
and ammunition. Despite valiantly defending against Protectorate raiders, the Taurian quartermasters
 
−
constantly ignored their requests for re-supply or offensive operations, preferring to leave such efforts to more reliable troops after the
 
−
poor showing of other mercenaries like the [[Black Angus Boys]]. Instead, the only support the Cavalry received came from its Blakist keepers, with their liaisons quietly filtering intelligence on a series of large, lightly guarded supply depots on the FedSuns world of [[Lothair]],
 
−
reportedly protected only by the [[Vanguard Legion]], a mercenary force battered by the [[FedCom Civil War]]. Though worried about Taurian
 
−
reprisals, Colonel Nicholas Gordon felt his supply situation was worse, and after consulting his executive officers he decided to load the
 
−
Cavalry up for a FedSuns raid in mid-3070.
 
−
Initially landing unopposed, the GAC fanned out to pin down the Legion forces, but they found local BattleMech-augmented militia
 
−
as their only opposition (the Legion having been recently relocated to face the [[Capellan]] counterassault on [[New Syrtis]]). The militia, however, proved extremely resourceful. Entrenching themselves in a large forest, they set much of the woodlands ablaze, creating thick, black
 
−
clouds of smoke that prevented Gordon’s air support from being able to spot the defending BattleMechs and thus slowing down the
 
−
Cavalry. With a portion of his force devoted to plundering the depots, Colonel Gordon led a BattleMech charge into the forest fire to keep the outnumbered militia occupied. The heavy smoke and area familiarity favored the militia, however, and the close-in combat was fierce.
 
−
After the loss of a company on both sides, the two forces disengaged. Still outnumbered three to one, the militia withdrew under the
 
−
smoky cover and vanished into the countryside, leaving [[Lothair]] to Colonel Gordon and his Cavalry. Though his simple objective raid
 
−
transformed into a successful planetary assault for the Taurian mercenaries, Colonel Gordon was ordered to abandon the system as
 
−
soon as the news reached the Protector, the [[TDF]] citing a lack of regular troops to garrison the world while simultaneously defending
 
−
their hostile borders. Angered at losing its conquest, the Cavalry loaded up the hard-won supplies and returned to [[Amber Grove]].
 
  
−
In September of [[3071]], the Cavalry launched another unsanctioned raid into FedSuns space, this time against the undefended
+
=== ilClan Era ===
−
[[Brusset]] system. Likely drawing on intelligence from their Blakist liaisons once more, the mercenaries made landfall on a sparsely populated continent and remained there quietly for several weeks before any FedSuns reconnaissance arrived to check it out. Less than a
+
The Cavalry played a minor part in the [[Pleiades War]]. After the unprovoked invasion of the Capellan March Duke [[Alexander Hasek]] was defeated, they were one of the units made reprisal raids into Federated Suns space. Then they were stationed on [[Midale]] and attacked Suns worlds nearby.<ref>''Dominions divided'' pp. 51</ref>
−
month later, an enraged [[Grover Shraplen]] reportedly ordered the Cavalry to once again abandon their conquest under threat of immediate
 
−
contract termination. Though Gordon complied, these recent rogue actions have left the mercenaries on very shaky ground with their
 
−
employers. <ref>''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'',p.56</ref>
 
  
 
==Officers==
 
==Officers==
−
The oldest of five siblings and the father of eight kids, [[Colonel]] Nicholas Gordon tries to run the Cavalry like he does his own family;
+
{| class="wikitable"
−
with a lot of love, time, and effort. Though publicly citing historical issues about fighting for the Capellan Confederation, he is privately
+
|-
−
concerned about unneeded casualties in all of [[House Liao]]’s recent fighting. The last thing he wants is one or more of his family members
+
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Rank
−
being sent home in a coffin, as Gordon’s Armored Cavalry is one of the few regiments with full-arms support that has a single family
+
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
−
in all command officer slots.<ref>''Mercenaries Supplemental II'', p.37</ref>
+
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Command
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of Gordon's Armored Cavalry'''
 +
|-
 +
| [[Colonel]]||[[Nicholas Gordon]]||[[3025]] - [[3085]]<ref name=PryBk1stEdp81/><ref name=MSCU-56/><ref name=FM:3085p161/>
 +
|-
 +
| Colonel||[[Helge Gordon]]||[[3145]]<ref name=FM:3145p201>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 201, "III Corps"</ref>
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
==Tactics==
 
==Tactics==
−
As a lighter unit the Cavalry prefers quick, mobile battles, thhey uses their air assets for ground support to divide the fire of the enemy.
+
As a historically lighter unit the Cavalry prefers quick, mobile battles.  They uses their integral air assets for ground support and to divide the fire of the enemy.<ref name=MSCU-56 />
  
 +
==Dragoon Ratings==
 +
===3067===
 +
'''Dragoon Rating: D''' <ref name=MSCU-56 />
 +
 +
==Composition History==
 +
===3025===
 +
'''Gordon's Armored Cavalry'''<ref name=PryBk1stEdp81 >''Periphery 1st Edition'', p.81 </ref>
 +
*CO: Colonel Nicholas Gordon
 +
 +
'''Quinn's Lancers''' (Veteran/Reliable) 
 +
*CO: [[Subaltern]] Mariette Quinn
  
−
According to the FedSuns recon reports, the Cavalry found a hidden [[Star League]] cache dating back to the [[Reunification War]] on
+
'''Cristoph's Chasseurs''' (Veteran/Reliable) 
−
[[Brusset]] and was plundering it to outfit and upgrade as many of their machines as possible. This report explains the recent surge of new
+
*CO: Subaltern Charles Cristoph
−
and refurbished equipment Colonel Gordon has been able to field despite a poor relationship with [[TDF]] quartermasters. Only the desperate
 
−
need for veteran soldiers, with two fronts now at war, has prevented the Concordant from immediately labeling the unit as rogue.
 
−
The Cavalry has since remained in place on [[Amber Grove]], this time with their JumpShips commandeered to prevent any more straying.<ref>''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'',p.56</ref>
 
  
−
==Dragoon Ratings==
+
'''Browne's Banshees''' (Elite/Fanatical) New Vandenberg
−
===3067===
+
*CO: Subaltern Gareti Browne
−
'''Dragoon Rating: D'''
+
 
 +
===3059===
 +
'''Gordon’s Armored Cavalry ''' (Regiment/Veteran/Questionable) <ref name= FMMercsp112/>
 +
:* CO: Colonel Nicholas Gordon  <ref name = FMMercsp112 >'' Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 112</ref>
  
−
==Composition==
+
===3067===  
−
===3067===
+
'''Gordon’s Armored Cavalry''' (1 [[Regiment]]/Veteran/Questionable)<ref name=MSCU-56/>
−
'''Gordon’s Armored Cavalry'''(1 [[Regiment]]/Veteran/Questionable)
+
* CO: Colonel [[Nicholas Gordon]]
−
* CO: Colonel Nicholas Gordon
+
:* XO: [[Major]] Serina Gordon
−
* XO: [[Major]] Serina Gordon
 
  
−
'''Gordon’s Air Cav'''(1 [[Wing]]/Green/Reliable)
+
'''Gordon's Air Cav''' (1 [[Wing]]/Green/Reliable)<ref name=MSCU-56/>
 
* CO: Major Dominick Gordon
 
* CO: Major Dominick Gordon
−
* XO: [[Captain]] Larry Gordon
+
:* XO: [[Captain]] Larry Gordon
  
−
'''Gordon’s Groundhogs'''(1 [[Company]]/Veteran/Questionable)
+
'''Gordon's Groundhogs''' (1 [[Company]]/Veteran/Questionable)<ref name=MSCU-56/>
 
* CO: Captain Grant Gordon
 
* CO: Captain Grant Gordon
−
* XO: [[Lieutenant]] Miguel Ramirez
+
:* XO: [[Lieutenant]] Miguel Ramirez
−
- The unit posses 2 hover tank lances and 1 attack [[VTOL]]s.<br />
+
- The unit possesses 2 hover tank lances and 1 attack [[VTOL]]s.<br />
  
−
'''Gordon’s PBI'''(1 [[Battalion]]/Regular/Reliable)
+
'''Gordon's PBI''' (1 [[Battalion]]/Regular/Reliable)
 
* CO: Major Samantha Gordon
 
* CO: Major Samantha Gordon
−
* XO: Captain Margaret Bethany
+
:* XO: Captain Margaret Bethany
−
- The infantry is either motorized or jump-pack equipped. They uses support machine guns or portable flamers.
+
- The infantry mobile, either motorized or jump-pack equipped. They are armed with either support machine guns or portable flamers.
 +
 
 +
===3085===
 +
'''Gordon's Armored Cavalry''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM:3085p161>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 161, "Major Periphery States - Taurian Concordat"</ref>
 +
* CO: Colonel Nicholas Gordon
 +
 
 +
===3145===
 +
'''Gordon's Armored Cavalry''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM:3145p201/>
 +
* CO: Colonel Helge Gordon
 +
:- At this point the Armored Cavalry were operating at just twenty percent of full strength.
  
−
==Notes==
 
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
 +
==Bibliography==
 +
* ''[[Dominions Divided]]''
 +
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
 +
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
 +
* ''[[The Gulf of Reason]]''
 +
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
 +
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
 +
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental II]]''
 +
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental Update]]''
  
−
==Bibliography==
+
[[Category:Mercenary Commands]]
−
*''[[Mercenaries Supplemental II]]''
 
−
*''[[Mercenaries Supplemental Update]]''
 
−
[[Category:Mercenary Commands|{{PAGENAME}}]]
 

Revision as of 19:48, 18 September 2023

Gordon's Armored Cavalry.jpg
Gordon's Armored Cavalry
Affiliation Mercenary
Parent Command Independent

History

Formation

In the early years of the 3020's House Liao found themselves in an untenable military position. Surrounded by enemies, they attempted to bolster their front-line forces by exercising a little known or regarded clause in many of their mercenary contracts that allowed them to strip away all rights to battlefield salvage. All affected mercenary commands grumbled about it, though larger units were able to tolerate the shortfall due to the higher base pay they commanded. It was hardest felt in many of the smaller mercenary companies who lived and died by what they could salvage from the fields of battle.[1]

When all attempts at compromise between these smaller concerns and the Capellan Confederation failed, many of these smaller units banded together under the leadership of Captain Nicholas Gordon to form a new, larger mercenary company. So was Gordon's Armored Cavalry born from conflict with House Liao.[1]

The Succession Wars

The first and pivotal action of the nascent Armored Cavalry was to up planet and defect en masse to the Taurian Concordat where the new mercenary concern found immediate employment. At first stationed on the border facing House Liao, their former employer, the Cavalry was soon moved away from the temptation to get their pound of flesh from the Confederation and was assigned garrison duties on worlds bordering the Federated Suns and known pirate holdings in the Periphery. Though disappointed by the lack of action against the Capellan Confederation the Cavalry followed orders and remained loyal throughout the following years.[1]

The Trinity Alliance

This changed with the forming of the Trinity Alliance, with Captain Gordon an outspoken critic of the Alliance, especially regarding the 3060 deployment of Concordat forces into the St. Ives Compact, going so far as to threaten to go rogue if his unit was ordered to aid the Capellan Confederation in any way. As their contract was up for renewal at the time, Gordon refused to even come to the table unless it was explicitly stated that under no circumstances were the Cavalry to be sent to fight for the Capellan Confederation. Though extremely unhappy with these stipulations Protector Shraplen needed the veteran unit and the contract was signed. The Cavalry was assigned offensive duties against the breakaway Calderon Protectorate and were directed to probe the renegade state for any signs of weakness. [1] It was during this period that the Cavalry fought on Gaul, supporting the Taurian V Corps against forces from the Second Taurian Pride and the supporting Lennox's Light Horse mercenary company.[2]

Though they did as they were instructed during 3060s, the Cavalry was not happy with their assignment. By 3068 there was talk in the unit of not renewing their agreement with the Concordat. In response to this a 'Special Liaison' from the Concordat's Word of Blake allies arrived to "reason" with the command staff of the mercenary unit. The message to Colonel Gordon was clear. Behave or face the consequences. With active fighting between the Concordat and the Calderon Protectorate, the Cavalry found themselves at the very bottom of resupply priority, with Taurian Quartermasters routinely ignoring requests of resupply from the mercenary company even though they proved themselves, having repulsed many of the Protectorates raiders. They were assigned to garrison duty with their repeated requests for offensive assignments falling on deaf ears.[1]

The Jihad

The Cavalry's Blakist keepers began feeding information to the unit regarding intelligence of large supply depots on the Federated Suns world of Lothair that was reportedly guarded by a vanguard legion of troops battered by the FedCom Civil War. Though worried about Taurian reprisal, the supply situation continued to worsen and Colonel Gordon, after consulting with his senior officers, planned for a raid of the Lothair stockpiles in mid 3070.[3]

The raid was a success. The Legion that was supposed to be on planet had rotated out to face the Capellan offensive on New Syrtis leaving a very capable but outnumbered militia to defend the world. Though the fighting was fierce, causing losses to both the defenders and the Cavalry, the militia finally withdrew, making the raid a successful planetary assault. When he heard an infuriated Protector Shraplen ordered the mercenaries to abandon their conquest, stating that the Concordat did not have the resources to garrison the captured world. The Cavalry complied with their orders to return to Amber Grove, though not without some grumbling and ill feelings for the loss of their conquest.[3]

Again facing a shortfall of supplies the Cavalry launched another unsanctioned raid into Federated Suns space in 3071. Drawing on the same intelligence sources used before the mercenaries raided the undefended Brusett system. Again the raid was successful and again they were ordered to relinquish their conquest, this time under threat of immediate contract termination. Though Colonel Gordon and the Cavalry immediately complied to the orders their recent history of rogue actions caused some to question their reliability in defense of the Taurian nation and its peoples.[3]

According to the FedSuns recon reports, the Cavalry found a hidden Star League cache dating back to the Reunification War on Brusett and plundered it to outfit and upgrade as many of their machines as possible. This report explains the recent surge of new and refurbished equipment Colonel Gordon has been able to field, despite a poor relationship with the Taurian Defense Force quartermasters. Only the desperate need for veteran units, with two fronts now at war, has prevented the Concordat from immediately labeling the unit as rogue. The Cavalry has, since the last raid into FedSuns space, remained as ordered on Amber Grove, though their JumpShips have been commandeered to prevent any more unsanctioned actions on their part.[3]

In February 3075 the Cavalry were garrisoning the recently-conquered world of Hyalite when the Federated Suns launched a counteroffensive against the worlds captured by the Concordat. When the mercenary unit Hansen's Roughriders attacked Hyalite they bombarded the Cavalry with fuel-air bombs, shattering the Cavalry and easily recapturing the world.[4][5]

The Dark Age

It was reported that as a result of the combat seen during the extended war with the Federated Suns and then in Operation MATADOR Gordon's Armored Cavalry had been reduced to less than a quarter of their established strength by mid-3081.[6]

Gordon's Armored Cavalry returned to Taurian service in 3125; considered an elite unit at the time, hiring the Armored Cavalry was a coup, given that the Taurians desperately needed troops after the loss of the 1st MacLeod's Regiment in one of the many costly military actions launched by Protector James Urratia against the Great Houses during the Dark Age.[7]

The unit didn't simply return to Taurian employ, however; in 3126, the Taurian government bought the Armored Cavalry out wholesale, replacing roughly one in four officers and shaking up the Cavalry's command staff. Those officers replaced by the Taurian Defense Force were replaced with Taurian nationals, and the Cavalry was integrated into III Corps, serving alongside the Pleiades Hussars and First Taurian Lancers.[8]

The Cavalry's reputation changed dramatically during the Dark Age; having come to be regarded as a rogue mercenary unit working for the Concordat, after the Concordat takeover the Cavalry became one of the most successful commands in the Taurian Defense Force and the single most popular posting request for those within the TDF seeking transfers.[8]

In the mid-3140s the Cavalry were stationed on Midale, operating alongside the First Taurian Lancers; having assisted the Lancers in harassing Federated Suns units in the past, in 3145 the Cavalry found themselves in the unusual position of supporting Armed Forces of the Federated Suns units and depots stationed within the rapidly-shrinking Victoria Salient region of the Capellan March.[8]

ilClan Era

The Cavalry played a minor part in the Pleiades War. After the unprovoked invasion of the Capellan March Duke Alexander Hasek was defeated, they were one of the units made reprisal raids into Federated Suns space. Then they were stationed on Midale and attacked Suns worlds nearby.[9]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of Gordon's Armored Cavalry
Colonel Nicholas Gordon 3025 - 3085[10][3][11]
Colonel Helge Gordon 3145[12]

Tactics

As a historically lighter unit the Cavalry prefers quick, mobile battles. They uses their integral air assets for ground support and to divide the fire of the enemy.[3]

Dragoon Ratings

3067

Dragoon Rating: D [3]

Composition History

3025

Gordon's Armored Cavalry[10]

  • CO: Colonel Nicholas Gordon

Quinn's Lancers (Veteran/Reliable)

Cristoph's Chasseurs (Veteran/Reliable)

  • CO: Subaltern Charles Cristoph

Browne's Banshees (Elite/Fanatical) New Vandenberg

  • CO: Subaltern Gareti Browne

3059

Gordon’s Armored Cavalry (Regiment/Veteran/Questionable) [13]

  • CO: Colonel Nicholas Gordon [13]

3067

Gordon’s Armored Cavalry (1 Regiment/Veteran/Questionable)[3]

Gordon's Air Cav (1 Wing/Green/Reliable)[3]

  • CO: Major Dominick Gordon

Gordon's Groundhogs (1 Company/Veteran/Questionable)[3]

  • CO: Captain Grant Gordon

- The unit possesses 2 hover tank lances and 1 attack VTOLs.

Gordon's PBI (1 Battalion/Regular/Reliable)

  • CO: Major Samantha Gordon
  • XO: Captain Margaret Bethany

- The infantry mobile, either motorized or jump-pack equipped. They are armed with either support machine guns or portable flamers.

3085

Gordon's Armored Cavalry (Elite/Fanatical)[11]

  • CO: Colonel Nicholas Gordon

3145

Gordon's Armored Cavalry (Elite/Fanatical)[12]

  • CO: Colonel Helge Gordon
- At this point the Armored Cavalry were operating at just twenty percent of full strength.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Mercenaries Supplemental II, p.37
  2. ↑ The Gulf of Reason
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Mercenaries Supplemental Update,p.56
  4. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 14, "Timeline of the Jihad"
  5. ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 53, "The Jihad In Review"
  6. ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 115, "Taurian Concordat"
  7. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 188, "Taurian Concordat"
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Field Manual: 3145, p. 195, "Taurian Concordat"
  9. ↑ Dominions divided pp. 51
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Periphery 1st Edition, p.81
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Field Manual: 3085, p. 161, "Major Periphery States - Taurian Concordat"
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Field Manual: 3145, p. 201, "III Corps"
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 112

Bibliography

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