1st St. Ives Lancers

Stivesamoredcav1st.png
First St. Ives Lancers
Formed 2300s[1]
Nickname Steadfast Alabaster (2765)[2]
Ascendant Star
Affiliation Capellan Confederation
St. Ives Compact (previous)
Parent Command St. Ives Armored Cavalry

The First St. Ives Lancers are an elite unit in the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces that also briefly served under the St. Ives Military Command after the Fourth Succession War.

History[edit]

Formation[edit]

The First St. Ives Lancers were raised as a part of the St. Ives Mercantile Association's army. They formed the core of the St. Ives Lancers brigade from their inception. Once the Mercantile Association joined the Capellan Confederation their skill and tactical acumen quickly made them a highly valued part of the CCAF. The Lancers were primarily drawn from the household guards of the St. Ives Commonality, and they never wanted for supplies or equipment. The First typically received the most skilled MechWarriors. In the Star League Era they rarely operated outside their Commonality. In 2765 they were stationed on Atlas.[2]

Succession War era[edit]

The First Lancers were almost destroyed twice during the early Succession Wars - first in the defense of Bethel against the Syrtis Fusiliers in 2760 and again during the defense of Spica against the Ceti Hussars in 2857. The unit also had a number of notable achievements during this period - the First Lancers' Crusaders were involved in a highly successful diversion raid against Redfield in 2832, and the unit's destruction of six Davion Marauders without suffering any losses during the occupation of Mira.[3]

The First Lancer's service as one of the most decorated units within the Capellan Armed Forces continued during the final decades of the Third Succession War, with the Lancers capturing a valuable Marik DropShip during the attempted invasion of Wei in 3001, followed by the command assisting Wilson's Hussars in successfully repulsing a concerted Davion attack against Highspire in 3012.[3]

This string of victories was tarnished when the First St. Ives Lancers were called upon to defend their own homeworld of St. Ives against the Avalon Hussars in 3014. While the unit was successfully able to drive off the Davion invaders with little damage to the planet's industrial assets, the First Lancers suffered horrendous losses after the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns eliminated the Capellan air cover early in the engagement, the Lancers losing more than half their men and equipment to the Avalon Hussars' Griffins. As of 3025 the rebuilding command was licking its wounds, eager for another round with the forces of House Davion.[3]

Being stationed on St. Ives during the Fourth Succession War it defected to the newly formed St. Ives Compact.

Andurien/Canopus Invasion[edit]


War of 3039[edit]


Operation Bulldog and the Great Refusal[edit]

The First Lancers was the Compact's first choice for Task Force Serpent, the reborn Star League's assault on the Clan Smoke Jaguar homeworld of Huntress, but it was deemed more important to keep the First and its commander Kai Allard-Liao visible in the Inner Sphere.[4]

The unit fought the Smoke Jaguars on Schuyler during Operation Bulldog before accompanying Victor Steiner-Davion's task force to the Clan Homeworlds. When the Great Refusal was arranged on Strana Mechty, Victor assigned Kai Allard-Liao and a company of the Lancers to face Vlad Ward and his Wolves, whom Victor considered the most dangerous opponent.[5] In the ensuing battle the two sides fought to a draw.[6][7]

Xin Sheng Campaign[edit]

During the Xin Sheng Campaign, the First Lancers conducted extensive raids on the Capellan Confederation. Five years of fighting wouldn't have been possible except the First took the time to establish a strong support network that kept them in the fight.[7]

At the end of the Capellan-St. Ives War, the unit partially rebuilt its aerospace wing by taking in survivors of the destroyed St. Ives Cheveau-Légers.[7]

FedCom Civil War[edit]

Kai Allard-Liao took a battalion of the First Lancers to meet Victor Steiner-Davion on Thorin and assisted him in deposing his sister. The Lancers fought on Tikonov and New Avalon. Once the fighting had concluded they served as the garrison unit for Tikonov until the permanent garrison arrived.[8]

Jihad[edit]

In 3069 the First fought the Twelfth Vegan on Jaipur.[citation needed]

The First fought against the AFFS forces deployed in Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE. Due to those actions they weren't present on St. Ives when the Word of Blake struck, but they later raided Zion and Genoa in retaliation.[1]

Republic Era[edit]

In 3081 the First was ordered to attack Genoa. After driving away the Dragonfang Cluster, the unit received orders to attack Terra Firma. Kai Allard-Liao refused the order because Terra Firma had never been part of the Capellan Confederation. The soldiers under his command mutinied against him, and he barely escaped with the help of a few loyal troops. This betrayal by their leader and the need to fight their comrades led the First Lancers to low morale and bitterness. The Strategios has implemented plans to rebuild the unit on St. Ives.[9]

Dark Age[edit]

The First has rarely seen combat since its last major combat operation, capturing Kittery during the Victoria War. Other than sporadic offensive actions against the RAF and AFFS over the past decade, they have largely stayed on their home of St. Ives.[10]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the First St. Ives Lancers
Colonel Simone Devon 3025[3]
Colonel Caroline Seng 3050 - 3054[11][12]
Duke Kai Allard-Liao [7]
Colonel Adele Tsang 3060[13]
Sang-shao Tristan Bothel 3063[7]
Jiang-jun Kai Allard-Liao 3067[14]
Sang-shao Rebecca Ling 3085[15]
Sang-shao Mingyan He-Liao 3145[16]

Tactics[edit]

Known for being very mobile, despite fielding large numbers of heavy and assault elements.[7]

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

First St. Ives Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical))[2]

Note: At this time the unit was stationed on Atlas.

2786–2821[edit]

First St. Ives Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[17]

- At this time the Lancers were a medium-weight regiment operating at full strength and were stationed on Atlas.[17] In 2821 the command was operating at just below half-strength and were stationed on Corella.[17]

2830[edit]

First St Ives Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[18]

Note: At this time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Corella with an operational readiness of 85 percent.[18]

2864[edit]

First St Ives Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[18]

Note: At this time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Dowles with an operational readiness of 23 percent.[18]

3025[edit]

First St. Ives Lancers (3 Battalions/Veteran/ Fanatical)[3]

  • CO: Colonel Simone Devon
Note: At this time the unit was stationed on St. Ives.[19]

3050[edit]

First St. Ives Lancers (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[11]

Note: At this time the unit was stationed on St. Ives.[11]

3054[edit]

First St. Ives Lancers (Veteran/Reliable)[12]

  • CO: Colonel Caroline Seng

3063[edit]

First St. Ives Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Questionable (Fanatical))[7]

  • CO: Sang-shao Tristan Bothel
  • Second Battalion : Sao-shao Stephan Czaban
  • Third Battalion: Sao-shao Valera Tulski

- Two Companies Clan OmniMechs

First Air Lancers (Wing/Veteran/Questionable (Fanatical))[7]

First Lancers Armored Command (Regiment/Veteran/Questionable (Fanatical))[7]

  • Fourth Armored Lancers - Armor Commander: Zhong-shao Daniel Vong
  • Fifth Armored Lancers - Armor Commander: Sao-shao Latimer St. Reginald
  • Thirty-third Armored Lancers - Armor Commander: Sao-shao Kieran Daniels

- The First Lancers Armor Command is currently assigned to the St. Ives Home Guard

Twelfth Armored Grenadiers (Battalion/Veteran/Questionable (Fanatical)[7]

  • Troop Commander: Rebecca Chong

- Formerly a Reinforced Regiment, now reduced to a understrength Battalion

3067[edit]

First St. Ives Lancers (Elite/Questionable)[14]

  • CO: Jiang-jun Kai Allard-Liao

First Air Lancers (Wing/Veteran/Questionable)[14]

  • CO: Sao-shao Xian McCallister

First Lancers Armor Brigade (Veteran/Questionable)[14]

  • CO: Zhong-shao James Ruckson

Twelfth Armored Grenadiers (Regiment/Elite/Questionable)[14]

  • CO: Zhong-shao Tabitha Worrant

3079[edit]

First St. Ives Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[20]

Note: At this time the unit was stationed on Liao.[20]

3085[edit]

First St Ives Lancers (Battalion/Elite/Fanatical)[15]

3145[edit]

First St. Ives Lancers (Elite/Reliable)[16]

  • CO: Sang-shao Mingyan He-Liao

First Air Lancers (Elite/Reliable)[16]

Eighty-fifth Armored Lancers (Veteran/Fanatical)[16]

Twelfth Armored Grenadiers (Elite/Reliable)[16]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Field Report: CCAF, p. 18
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Field Report 2765: CCAF, p. 14
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 88: "Unit Profile"
  4. Twilight of the Clans, p. 9
  5. Prince of Havoc, ch. 6 (PDF version)
  6. Prince of Havoc, chs. 8 and 12 (PDF version)
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 Field Manual: Capellan Confederation, p. 104: "1st St. Ives Lancers Unit Profile"
  8. Field Manual: Updates, p. 29
  9. Field Manual: 3085, p. 25
  10. Field Manual: 3145, p. 37: "St. Ives Armored Cavalry - First St. Ives Lancers"
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 20 Year Update, p. 29: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"
  12. 12.0 12.1 Objective Raids, p. 43: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3054"
  13. Prince of Havoc, ch. 8
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Field Manual: Updates, p. 34: "CCAF Deployment Table - 3067"
  15. 15.0 15.1 Field Manual: 3085, p. 34: "CCAF Deployment Table"
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Field Manual: 3145, p. 46: "CCAF Deployment Table"
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 First Succession War, p. 136: "Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (CCAF)"
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Second Succession War, p. 96
  19. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 105
  20. 20.0 20.1 Field Report: CCAF, p. 18

Bibliography[edit]