Editing VI Legio

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image = [[File:Legio VI logo.png|150px]]
| Designation = VI Legio ''Ripariensis''
| Formed = [[3063]]
| Disbanded = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname = The ''Caesar''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Cavalry
| Affiliation = [[Marian Hegemony]]
| Parent Command = [[Marian Hegemony Armed Forces]]
| Sub-Command = 
}}

==History==
===Formation===
The origin of '''VI Legio''' lies in the conquest of the [[Illyrian Palatinate]] by ''[[Caesar of the Marian Hegemony|Caesar]]'' [[Julius O'Reilly]] in [[3063]]. The Palatinate had retained two mercenary units to defend itself with against the [[Marian Hegemony]]; the [[Arms of Thor]] and [[Cavanaugh's Cavalry]]. Invading with the better part of three full legions behind him, ''Caesar'' O'Reilly gave the Illyrian mercenaries the opportunity to recant their contracts and enter his service as a part of his legions. Feeling that they had little choice, Cavanaugh's Cavalry agreed to switch allegiance to the [[Marian Hegemony Armed Forces]].<ref name="FM:Pp82">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 82: "VI Legio Ripariensis: The Caesar's Cavalry"</ref>

Having turned traitor, the Cavalry remained largely on the sidelines until the final three days of the campaign on [[Illyria]] itself. As the Arms of Thor launched attacks in an attempt to break through the Marian lines and destroy the ''Caesar''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s headquarters, the Cavalry decided that the Arms of Thor were clearly doomed, and chose to act. Entering the Illyrian capital in the guise of being friendly forces, the Cavalry promptly captured the city in the name of ''Caesar''. The Arms of Thor launched one final attack in an attempt to reach ''Caesar'' O'Reilly but failed, and two hours after the capture of their capital city, the Illyrians surrendered. Cavanaugh's Cavalry then accompanied a triumphant ''Caesar'' back to [[Alphard (MH)|Alphard]], where Julius commissioned the former mercenaries as VI Legio.<ref name="FM:Pp82"/>

''Caesar'' then added additional numbers to the nucleus of VI Legio by incorporating veteran [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]], trusted officers from [[II Legio]] and a number of recent graduates from the Marian ''[[Collegium Bellorum Imperium]]'', bringing VI Legio up to a full [[cohort]] by equipping the inductees with equipment drawn from the vanquished Arms of Thor. A few months later the ''Caesar'' added a second cohort.<ref name="FM:Pp82"/>

VI Legio then spent the remainder of 3063 on Alphard alongside [[I Legio]]; while this posting was ostensibly for training purposes, ''Caesar'' was clearly waiting to determine the loyalty of his newest legion and its commanding ''[[Colonel#Marian Hegemony|Prefect]]''. With the former mercenaries heavily outnumbered by warriors of proven loyalty to the ''Caesar'' and veteran and reserve volunteers, it was considered unlikely that the thirteen survivors of the Cavalry would pose any threat to ''Caesar'' or the Hegemony, although ''Prefect'' [[Jared Cavanaugh]] rapidly built himself a reputation as a cavalier and selfish individual who would gladly seize on any opportunity to enrich himself, complete with allegations of selling former Arms of Thor equipment on the black market.<ref name="FM:Pp82"/>

===Marian Hegemony/Circinus Federation War===
When ''Caesar'' O'Reilly launched his invasion of the [[Circinus Federation]] in [[3066]], VI Legio was one of the four legions used in the initial assault on the worlds of [[Blantleff]] and [[Maximillian]]. [[President of the Circinus Federation|President]] H.R. "Little Bob" McIntyre retaliated by dispatching troops disguised as [[IV Legio]] to attack the Marian forces. As the masquerade was uncovered, the disguised troops landed on Blantleff and attacked VI Legio, who promptly surprised friend and foe alike with the determined ferocity with which they counterattacked. Within two weeks VI Legio had defeated the disguised Federation forces and begun rebuilding their losses using the equipment they captured, remaining alert for any further Federation military actions.<ref name="FM:Up195">''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 195: "VI Legio Ripariensis"</ref>

===The Jihad===
In early February [[3071]],<ref name="WTM">Whatever The Mess You Are, You're Mine</ref> elements of [[VI Legio|VI Legio ''Ripariensis'']] who came to [[Niops V]] to plunder the world's Star League–era technology found defending the [[Black Heart Roses]]. As the Legio approached the warehouses, they discovered that it was defended by two companies of Niops Association Militia troops. The Legio's commander, ''[[Legatus]]'' [[Onufry Sopaczak]], attempted to marshal his troops. However, Colonel Heart-Rose launched a surprise attack with her battalion of BattleMechs into the rear of his formation. Rose's Briar Patch Guards, newly equipped with advanced Mk XXII Nighthawk Battle Armor, attacked the spread-out Marian troops. The Nighthawks of the Guard were noted for their takedown of VI Legio commander's ''[[Starslayer]]'', the Marian troops breaking at the sight of their commander being defeated by mere infantry.<ref name=MSU-33/><ref>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 12: "Nighthawk Mk. XXII" - unit's not named but actual armor used noted</ref>

During the [[Jihad]] and the breakup of the [[Free Worlds League]], the new ''Caesar'' of the Marian Hegemony, [[Cassius O'Reilly]], drove the [[Word of Blake]]–backed Circinus Federation forces out of the Hegemony and then took advantage of the chaos within the former League to attack a number of former League worlds. The invasion was brought to a halt when [[II Legio]] took heavy damage after they were hit by nuclear weapons on [[San Nicolas]]. With the invasion stalled, VI Legio remained on the newly conquered world of [[Huntington]] until at least [[3079]].<ref name="FR:Pp23">''Field Report: Periphery'', p. 23: "Marian Hegemony Region Deployment Map - August 3079"</ref><ref name="FR:Pp23">''Field Report: Periphery'', p. 23: "Marian Hegemony Region Deployment Map - August 3079"</ref><ref name="FR:Pp15">''Field Report: Periphery'', p. 15: "Marian Hegemony"</ref>

Having been relegated to garrison duty on Huntington, when II Legio was forced to withdraw VI Legio acted without orders, launching a surprise raid on [[Atzenbrugg]] to ensure that the [[Free Worlds League Military]] was kept too busy to pursue II Legio, before returning to Huntington.<ref name="FM:3085p144">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 144: "VI Legio Ripariensis"</ref>

=== The Dark Age ===
Despite being far from Alphard and unable to recover losses easily, VI Legio continued to stand ready to renew the Marian campaigns of conquest, in defiance of the bitter disappointment they were left with as the Jihad ended. Based out of Huntington, [[Hazeldean]] and Illyria in the Illyrian District, VI Legio continued to actively raids on non-Marian planets almost constantly at least until the end of [[3085]].<ref name="FM:3085p144"/>

The ''[[Ordo Vigilis]]'' made an unfortunate discovery in the early 3120s - the former Free Worlds League had more than a dozen spies active within VI Legio. The result was a purge of VI Legio and a further investigation, one which revealed widespread corruption, even amongst seemingly loyal citizens. ''Caesar'' [[Lucian O'Reilly]] had VI Legio redeployed to the opposite side of the Hegemony, well away from the border with the former League; VI Legio would stay on the rimward border for twenty years, honing their combat skills against raids from pirates and the Magistracy of Canopus alike, but even by [[3145]] their morale hadn't recovered.<ref name="FM:3145p196">''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 196: "VI Legio (Ripariensis)"</ref>

In March 3150 a cohort from VI Legio took control of [[Thraxa]]. The rest of VI Legio landed on [[Gambilon]] and [[Marantha]]. Marantha [[Battle of Marantha (3150)|fell]] quickly, but on Gambilon the [[1st Magistracy Highlanders]] forced the Legio to [[Battle of Gambilon (3150)|fight]] for several weeks before evacuating the world.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 88</ref>

==Officers==
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Rank
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Command
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of VI Legio'''
|-
| ''[[Prefect (rank)|Prefect]]''||[[Jared Cavanaugh]]||[[3064]]<ref name="FM:Pp82"/>
|-
| ''Prefect''||[[Albert DeVereaux]]||[[3067]]<ref name=FMU202-203>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 202-203: "Marian Hegemony Armed Forces Deployment Table - 3067"</ref>
|-
| ''Prefect''||[[Tirto Klerken]]||[[3085]]<ref name=FM3085p151>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 151: "Marian Hegemony Deployment Table - 3085"</ref>
|-
| ''Prefect''||[[Lazaro McNeill]]||[[3145]]<ref name=FM:3145p202>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 202: "Marian Hegemony Armed Forces"</ref>
|-
|}

===Other Officers===
* ''[[Legatus]]'' [[Onufry Sopaczak]], in early February [[3071]].<ref name="WTM">Whatever The Mess You Are, You're Mine</ref><ref>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 12: "Nighthawk Mk. XXII" - unit's not named but actual armor used noted</ref><ref name=MSU-33>''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 33: "Force Briefs Updates - Black Heart Roses"</ref>

===Notes===
As of [[3064]], an independent observer to the unit was attached by the ''Caesar'': ''Principes'' [[Rudolf Kess]]. Within the Legio, the thirteen former members of Cavanaugh's Cavalry occupied higher ranks than the Marian-born officers later added to the Legio.<ref name="FM:Pp82"/>

==Tactics==
VI Legio used a combination of its small number of artillery pieces combined with a charge from the lighter elements within the Legio to turn each fight into disorganized chaos; in the resulting free-for-all, VI Legio then picked off enemies in a piecemeal fashion.<ref name="FM:Pp82"/>

==Composition History==
===3064===
'''VI Legio''' (Regular/Questionable)<ref name=FMP143>''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 143</ref>

:'''''Prima Cohors''''' (1 [[Cohort]]/Veteran/Questionable)<ref name="FM:Pp82"/>
::* CO: ''Legatus'' Douglas Gilbody
  
:'''''Secunda Cohors''''' (1 Cohort/Regular/Reliable)<ref name="FM:Pp82"/>
::* CO: ''Legatus'' Joakim Boalt
::- At this point ''Secunda Cohors'' was understrength by a number of machines, and as a result was operating in four-position centuries rather than the standard five-position.

:'''''Auxilia Comitatensis''''' (1 Legion/Green/Reliable)<ref name="FM:Pp82"/>
::* CO: ''Prefect'' Lucius Corelli
::- At this point the ''Auxilia Comitatensis'' had yet to operate as a full unit.

===3067===
:'''VI Legio''' (Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=FMU202-203/>
:* CO: ''Prefect'' Albert DeVereaux

:'''''Prima Cohors''''' (1 Cohort/Veteran/Questionable)<ref name=FMU202-203/>
::* CO: ''Legatus'' Rudolf Kess

:'''''Secunda Cohors''''' (1 Cohort/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMU202-203/>
::* CO: ''Legatus'' Joakim Boal

:'''''Tertia Cohors''''' (1 Cohort/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=FMU202-203/>
::* CO: ''Legatus'' Anchor Wu

:'''VI ''Auxilia'' Legio''' (1 Legion/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMU202-203/>
::* CO: ''Prefect'' Lucius Corelli

:'''VI ''Caelum''''' (1 [[Wing (Military Unit)|Wing]]/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=FMU202-203/>
::* CO: ''Legatus'' Davis Polem

===3085===
'''VI Legio''' (Veteran/Reliable)<ref name="FM:3085p151">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 151: "Illyria District"</ref>
:* CO: ''Prefect'' Tirto Klerken

:'''''Prima Cohors''''' (Elite/Reliable)<ref name="FM:3085p151"/>
::* CO: ''Prefect'' Satarina Maharet Ichmal
::- ''Prima Cohors'' was the largest of the ''cohortes'' at this point in time, operating at 95% of full strength and with 30% of their equipment featuring advanced technology. ''Prima Cohors'' was based on Illyria alongside ''Quinta Cohors'' and VI ''Caelum'' Wing.

:'''''Secunda Cohors''''' (Veteran/Reliable)<ref name="FM:3085p151"/>       
::* CO: ''Prefect'' Michiko Zeeger
::- ''Secunda Cohors'' was based on Huntington alongside VI ''Auxilia'' Legio at this point in time, and was operating at 80% of full strength. 22% the equipment used by ''Secunda Cohors'' featured advanced technology.

:'''''Tertia Cohors''''' (Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name="FM:3085p151"/>        
::* CO: ''Legatus'' Kalyana Davidovic
::- The smallest of the ''cohortes'', operating at just 60% of full strength, ''Tertia Cohors'' was based on Hazeldean alongside ''Quarta Cohors''. Despite the small size of ''Tertia Cohors'', it still had enough upgraded technology to equip 13% of the ''cohors''<nowiki>'</nowiki> forces.

:'''''Quarta Cohors''''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name="FM:3085p151"/>        
::* CO: ''Prefect'' Quirinus Verhoeven
::- ''Quarta Cohors'' was the only ''cohors'' within VI Legio to not deploy any advanced technology at this point.

:'''''Quinta Cohors''''' (Veteran/Reliable)<ref name="FM:3085p151"/>
::* CO: ''Legatus'' Aviyah Jonckersen
::- ''Quinta Cohors'' was operating at 70% of full strength at this point, but only fielded enough advanced technology to upgrade 8% of their equipment.

:'''VI ''Auxilia'' Legio''' (Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name="FM:3085p151"/>
::* CO: ''Legatus'' Vilhelmiina Phan
:::- Fielding 43% of their equipment with upgraded technology, VI ''Auxilia'' Legio had more advanced equipment in the field than any other ''cohors'' within VI Legio. It was also operating at 80% of full strength.

:'''VI ''Caelum'' Wing''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name="FM:3085p151"/>
::* CO: ''Prefect'' Stig Brankovic
::- Like ''Quarta Cohors'', VI ''Caelum'' Wing fielded no advanced technology; it was operating at 85% of full strength at this point, however.

===3145===
'''VI Legio''' (Veteran/Questionable)<ref name=FM:3145p202/>
:* CO: ''Prefect'' [[Lazaro McNeill]]

:'''''Prima Cohors'' (Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=FM:3145p202/>
::* CO: ''Prefect'' [[Dominic Brinkman]]

:'''''Secunda Cohors''''' (Veteran/Questionable)<ref name=FM:3145p202/>
::* CO: ''Prefect'' [[Fredric Gilmore]]

:'''''Tertia Cohors''''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FM:3145p202/>
::* CO: ''Prefect'' [[Oswaldo Jude]]

:'''''Quarta Cohors''''' (Veteran/Questionable)<ref name=FM:3145p202/>
::* CO: ''Legatus'' [[Tuan Hilliard]]

:'''''Quinta Cohors''''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FM:3145p202/>
::* CO: ''Legatus'' [[Jonas Haskins]]

:'''VI ''Prima Auxilia'' Legio''' (Veteran/Questionable)<ref name=FM:3145p202/>
::* CO: ''Prefect'' [[Kenneth Hannah]]

:'''VI ''Secunda Auxilia'' Legio''' (Regular/Questionable)<ref name=FM:3145p202/>
::* CO: ''Legatus'' [[Claud Engel]]

:'''VI ''Caelum'' Wing''' (Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=FM:3145p202/>
::* CO: ''Legatus'' [[Gus Dowell]]
:- At this point in time VI Legio was based across the worlds of Algenib, Islington and [[Marius' Tears]] and only ''Prima Cohors'' was at full strength; the other ''cohortes'' and ''legiones'' were at between fifty-five and eighty percent of full strength.

==Notes==
* Although ''[[Field Report: Periphery]]'' and ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]'' describe VI Legio ''Ripariensis'' as being involved in the conquest and occupation of [[Lahti]], maps in both texts and ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]'' do not show Lahti as a Marian world, nor do the maps show VI Legio as having been deployed on Lahti at any point; in each instance where VI Legio is shown deployed, it is on Huntington, not Lahti. It was [http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,25100.msg565686.html#msg565686 confirmed by a Line Developer that the maps are correct.]
* Special rules for VI Legio can be found in ''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 153 and ''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 210.

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Periphery]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Field Report: Periphery]]''

[[Category:Marian Hegemony Commands|Legio, 06]]