Editing Green Ghosts

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| Designation = Green Ghosts
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| Affiliation = [[Pirate]]
| Parent Command = Independent 
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==Description==
The so-called '''Green Ghosts''' are an enigmatic and highly unusual warband. They began raiding the [[Lyran Commonwealth|Lyran]] (coreward and anti-spinward) [[periphery]] border, i.e. the general area of the former [[Rim Worlds Republic]], in [[3060]] and continued their operations at least through [[3089]]. Notably, their raids seem to focus on archaeological sites of religious or cultural significance, old [[Star League]] sites, and [[Lostech]]. As a result, [[Interstellar Expeditions]] (IE) and their contractors have come under attack from them particularly often. There were 310 recorded attacks by the Green Ghosts between [[3060]] and [[3089]].<ref name=ISP3-94>''Interstellar Expeditions: Interstellar Players 3 '', pp. 92-94</ref>

Adding to the overall mystery are their elite skills and strange battlefield conduct, combined with their well-maintained cutting edge equipment (including recent 'Mech designs, Clan technology, several [[JumpShip]]s with [[Lithium-Fusion Batteries]] and reportedly even a small [[WarShip]]) that suggests superior education and a massive secret support base.

The origin, organization, leadership or motivation of the Green Ghosts is unknown. They take great pains to cover their tracks, to the point of killing their own and destroying their equipment when they cannot be extracted from a raid. Several distinct sub-units seem to exist, including elements of [[Clan]] and [[Word of Blake]] origin. There is evidence the group may have undergone some change around ca. [[3080]], when a distinct sub-group started to appear.<ref name=ISP3-94/>

==History==
===Possible prelude===
In 3060, four [[JumpShip]]s with sixteen [[DropShip]]s from the [[Seventh Crucis Lancers]], carrying some 11,000 personnel and their equipment, vanished without a trace after being sent to the periphery system [[Savarin 223-74]] for exercises.<ref>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 73</ref> It was later noted that this happened just before the Green Ghosts first appeared, fielding many [[BattleMech]]s typical for an [[AFFC]] [[Regimental Combat Team]]. However, there is no actual evidence linking the Green Ghosts to this incident and the Green Ghosts were not encountered in the region where the 7th Crucis Lancers were operating.<ref name=ISP48>''Interstellar Players'', p. 48</ref>

===First raids===
Between ca. 3060 and December [[3062]], elements of the [[Ninth Lyran Regulars]] clashed on at least five occasions with a pirate group that had been attacking world after world in the [[Lyran Alliance]] and near periphery and taking (only) historical and archeological items and records. Said pirates had been unearthing old Star League sites in at least two instances while fending off opposition. The Regulars' forces were driven off or wiped out in all five encounters.<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 91</ref>

In early [[3066]], unknown aggressors attacked several worlds in the Lyran Alliance's [[Melissia Theater]]. Piloting 'Mechs including classic [[Star League]] designs like the ''[[Highlander]]'' but also recent designs such as the ''[[Falconer]]'' and ''[[Stealth]]'', and Clan [[OmniMech]]s, they went after archeological sites.<ref name=FCWp164>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 164–165</ref> The [[Quanatir MTM]] tracked them to [[Khartoum]] by late May, where they were apparently unearthing the remains of a 600-year-old settlement. In the ensuing battle, the Green Ghosts, fielding three companies of 'Mechs, vanquished two militia battalions of mixed 'Mechs and tanks and captured a dozen 'Mechs and some two dozen militiamen.<ref name=FCWp164/>

Elements from [[Gabhardt's Carabineers]]–a [[mercenary unit]] in Lyran employ and based out of [[Timbuktu]]–had repeatedly clashed with the Green Ghosts by 3067 on various worlds, invariably suffering defeat.<ref>''Mercenaries Supplemental II'', p. 34</ref>

Frequently working for IE in the periphery, the mercenary [[Periphery Star Guard]] had suffered significant damage at the hands of the Green Ghosts in several encounters by [[3068]], though no details were given.<ref>''Blake Documents'', p. 70</ref><ref name=JC30>''Interstellar Players 2: Jihad Conspiracies'', p. 30</ref><ref>''Mercenaries Supplemental II'', p. 54</ref><ref>''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 95</ref> During one mission in the [[Deep Periphery]] in or shortly before 3066, the Periphery Star Guard worked together with the [[Devil's Brigade]] (also in IE employ),<ref>''Mercenaries Supplemental II'', p. 30</ref> who was also later mentioned as having survived at least one encounter with the Green Ghosts.<ref name=JC30/>

===Tomans battles===
On 1 August [[3068]], the Green Ghosts attacked Grant Station Tango, Interstellar Expeditions' main research complex on [[Tomans]], concurrently with a [[Clan Jade Falcon]] force. [[Gannon's Cannons]] were stationed at the site in what was supposed to be an R&R assignment, and prevailed against both attackers in a three-sided fight. The Ghosts pressed their attack and destroyed around a third of the buildings before being driven back.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'', pp. 157–158</ref><ref>''Total Chaos'', p. 65</ref> Green Ghosts conscript [[Trenton Calooph]] was captured alive after a building collapsed on the APC he was in,<ref name=ISP3-94/> but he could not offer significant new insights into the group due to his mental condition.

On 13 July [[3069]], the [[Star Seeds]] mercenary unit captured the ''[[Silhouette]]'', a Green Ghosts ''[[Overlord]]''-class DropShip, in the [[Tomans]] system on its return leg from the planet after another fracas between the Green Ghosts and Clan Jade Falcon. They reportedly kept their boarding DropShip between the ''Overlord'' and the Green Ghosts' ''[[Magellan (JumpShip class)|Magellan]]''-class [[JumpShip]], thus preventing the ''Magellan'' from bringing its weapons to bear, eventually ramming the ''Silhouette'' and ripping its bay doors open.<ref>''Twisting in the Vacuum''</ref><ref name=MSU>''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 109</ref> There was no mention of Green Ghost survivors.

===The 3070s===
A ''[[Peregrine (WarShip class)|Peregrine]]''-class [[WarShip]] serving with the Green Ghosts was reportedly recorded in the Deep Periphery "in the early 3070s" in one instance.<ref name=ISP3-94/>

In early [[3071]], the [[8th Scorpion Grenadiers (Clan Goliath Scorpion)|8th Scorpion Grenadiers]], together with the [[1st Eridani Lancers (Clan Goliath Scorpion)|1st Eridani Lancers]], went looking for Rim Worlds Republic remnants on the far side of the [[Clan Jade Falcon Occupation Zone]]. In a system known to the Scorpions as [[T-892]] the three JumpShips encountered a hostile ''Peregrine'' (context suggests this was the same ship that was associated with the Green Ghosts in the other report), and escaped via emergency jump. One JumpShip, the ''[[Whisper (Individual JumpShip)|Whisper]]'', suffered crippling damage to its [[KF Drive]] from the jump and had to be abandoned with its cargo. When [[Clan Goliath Scorpion]] forces returned to the ship's position in [[3077]], it was nowhere to be found.<ref name=WoR58>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 58</ref>

Also in 3071, the remnants of the shattered [[121st Hellion Lancers (Clan Ice Hellion)|121st Hellion Lancers]] were one jump from the [[Dark Nebula]] (coming from [[Bensinger]]) when contact was lost, after a last report that they were being overrun by a Green Ghosts marine assault on their spacecraft.<ref name=WoR159>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 159</ref> After that, 'Mechs and [[Elemental (Battle Armor)|Elementals]] bearing the markings of the 121st Hellion Lancers attacked several [[Clan Hell's Horses]] and [[Clan Ghost Bear]] worlds in [[3076]].<ref name=WoR159/>

In [[3079]], [[Clan Diamond Shark]] forces on [[Nyserta]] rebuffed a Green Ghost attack against one of their facilities that was situated at an old colony site, and destroyed the attackers' DropShip. One attacker was captured alive; his genetic coding matched [[Star Colonel]] [[Irt Bragg]] (formerly of the 121st Hellion Lancers), though his facial features had been altered. At least two destroyed 'Mechs had Ice Hellion manufacturing marks. However, there was no mention of an interrogation or any further intelligence gained.<ref name=WoR159/>

===Stotzing battles===
On 8 April [[3087]], an archeological dig on [[Stotzing]] came under attack from the Green Ghosts, who deployed from a ''[[Colossus (DropShip class)|Colossus]]''-class DropShip<ref name=DDD>''Dig, Defend, or Die''</ref> and were after an old dig site. The Stotzing Militia and the [[1st Marik Protectors]], who were present to train the militia, moved to defend the site.<ref name=DDD/> After raiding the archeological site the Green Ghosts began their retreat to their DropShip. The Marik forces were determined to not allow them to successfully escape. Near the Green Ghost landing zone the forces came together for their final clash.<ref name=DDD/>

==Composition==
According to the (unreliable) accounts of Trent Calooph, the Green Ghosts as of 3068 seem to comprise of elements from lost Rim Worlds Republic colonies, Word of Blake soldiers and crewmen, along with some warriors and technicians Clan Goliath Scorpion and Ice Hellion origin.<ref name=ISP3-94/>

The equipment fielded by the Green Ghosts has always been notably advanced and well-maintained. It included [[Lithium-Fusion Batteries]] for jump drives,<ref name=ISP3-94/> [[C3i]] networks,<ref name=ISP3-94/> a ''Peregrine''-class WarShip (observed only once in the early 3070s),<ref name=ISP3-94/> at least five different JumpShips of unspecified type, three of them with drive signatures matching "missing" ComStar vessels;<ref name=ISP3-94/> a ''Magellan''-class JumpShip;<ref name=MSU/> and a ''Colossus''-class DropShip.<ref name=DDD/>

===Named Members===
* [[Velena Andropolous]] - Archeologist and former Word of Blake ROM 'Mech pilot; assigned to the Green Ghosts around mid-Jihad (i.e. around 3074), she transferred her loyalty to the Green Ghosts after the fall of the Word of Blake.<ref name=DDD/>
* [[Irt Bragg]] - [[Clan Ice Hellion]] [[Star Colonel]], whose [[Nova (Formation)|Nova]] was overrun and evidently captured by the Green Ghosts in a space battle in 3071. He was captured alive as a Green Ghost MechWarrior in 3079.<ref name=WoR159/>
* [[Trent Calooph]] - Mentally handicapped periphery citizen from [[Gabenstad]] with mental and emotional capacities of a 12-year-old. Pressed into service by the Green Ghosts, left behind alive in the 3068 raid on Tomans. First Green Ghosts insider to be interrogated, but considered a highly unreliable witness. Died in 3077.<ref name=ISP3-94/>
* [[Susan Cherlander]] - The Green Ghosts' principal organizer and cargomaster; has been raiding with them since ca. 3070.<ref name=DDD/>
* "Gregor" - Green Ghosts rifle instructor mentioned as "mean" by Calooph; circumstantial evidence suggests a Clan Goliath Scorpion warrior.<ref name=ISP3-94/>
* [[Trapezius Konow]] - Volunteered with the Green Ghosts when they raided his homeworld, [[Blantleff]].<ref name=DDD/>
* "Mikal" - Green Ghosts member with "yellow eyes that could see in the dark" mentioned by Calooph; circumstantial evidence suggests a Word of Blake member, possibly with cybernetically enhanced eyes.<ref name=ISP3-94/>
* [[Neil Sagan]] - A native from the desolate former RWR world of [[Scauld|Austerlitz]] in the Periphery who voluntarily signed up with the Green Ghosts at some point (prior to 3089).<ref name=DDD/>

==Camo scheme==
They typically use a flat green paint scheme, with up to two units in an engagement bearing a white snake entwining the unit (called "commanders mark"). Green Ghost formations seem to be centered around such commanders' units, which are always the first and last units on the battlefield.<ref name=ISP3-94/> After about 3080, a distinct subgroup started appearing who were marked with a flaming sun disc featuring a teardrop shape and a scorpion; these "blood disk" units usually work together as a cohesive (sub-)unit and leave no survivors.<ref name=ISP3-94/>

==Tactics==
In the field, the Green Ghosts have been seen using standard Inner Sphere formations, Clan formations, and ComStar/Word of Blake formations.<ref name=ISP3-94/> They were never observed to utilize artillery, and only minimal aerospace support from light and medium [[aerospace fighter]]s doing bombing runs.<ref name=ISP3-94/> While they frequently employ combined arms forces, with BattleMechs typically at the core of their formations, [[battle armor]] (usually [[Fenrir]], [[Infiltrator]], or [[Purifier]]) is relatively rare.<ref name=ISP3-94/>

==Notes==
* The Green Ghosts raided [[Blantleff]] at some point prior to April 3087, as "Ted" Konow (a member as of 8 April 3087) had joined the unit during a raid on Blantleff.
* The ''FedCom Civil War'' sourcebook says they were "scouring the worlds for archeological sites"{{sic}}, though this may be a typo and meant to read "scouting".

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[Dawn of the Jihad]]''
* ''[[Dig, Defend, or Die]]'' (World Wide Event 2018)
* ''[[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)|FedCom Civil War]]'' (sourcebook)
* ''[[Field Manual: Federated Suns]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Lyran Alliance]]''
* ''[[Interstellar Expeditions: Interstellar Players 3 ]]''
* ''[[Interstellar Players]]''
* ''[[Interstellar Players 2: Jihad Conspiracies]]''
* ''[[Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents]]''
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental II]]''
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental Update]]''
* ''[[Total Chaos]]''
* ''[[Twisting in the Vacuum]]'' (short story)
* ''[[The Wars of Reaving]]''
{{div col end}}

[[Category:Pirate Commands]]