42nd Shadow Division

Insignia of the 42nd Shadow Division
Forty-second Shadow Division
Disbanded 3074
Nickname Belial's Angels of Chaos[1][2]
Affiliation Word of Blake
Parent Command Shadow Divisions


History[edit]

The Forty-second assisted the Blakist Twenty-ninth Division's assault on the Draconis Combine world of Pesht in early February 3071, devastating the defenders with biological and nuclear weaponry.[1]

Arriving on Luthien in May of 3071, the largely veteran Forty-second originally served as support and security forces for the Ninth Division.[2]

On June 19 3072, a task force identified by Clan Nova Cat as belonging to the Word of Blake (but superficially marked as though from the Draconis Combine) damaged the SLS Vision Quest over Irece and attacked the capital, both with nuclear weaponry. The Forty-second Shadow Division was identified as the closest Word of Blake unit and most likely to have undertaken the assault.[3][4]

The Forty-second became more embroiled in the battle for Luthien when the Nova Cat's Xi Galaxy arrived in July 3072 and declared a Trial of Annihilation against the unit. During their assault, they engaged Clan Nova Cat forces within the Nagasaki community zone, of the Crane district on Luthien on 21 August, 3072. Demi-Precentor Eric Hughes engaged a Nova Cat OmniMech, an SM1 hovercraft and a Binary of troops embedded in a mechanical shop.[5] While Belial's troops and the Ninth Division both suffered heavy losses, the Forty-second managed to devastate the Nova Cats through both orbital and ground attacks supported by tactical nuclear strikes.[2]

On 23 August 3072, the Forty-second took part in an unsuccessful defense of a large Blakist supply base within the Kyoto Zen Arcology Project against the two-pronged attack of the Nova Cat Xi Galaxy and the DCMS-aligned Izanagi Warriors and Otomo. The DCMS flanking maneuver was intended to sow confusion within the Blakist defenses, and though deflected, did just that. A Star was able to breach the rear of the base and set off an enormous chemical explosion, resulting in the destruction of multiple units on both sides and a significant loss to the Blakist ammunition supply.[6]

In February 3073, the Thirty-second Division arrived on Luthien in order to assist the Forty-second and Ninth Divisions in defending the Imperial City, following the departure of the Sathen's Snipers mercenary unit due to battle fatigue.[7]

On March 14th 3074, the Word of Blake ROM had leaked information regarding the presence of Buda Weapons Chief Researcher Hideoshi Yamika and his prototype Large X-Pulse Laser to the Kokuryu-kai as a means of wearing down Loyalist defenders in Skytower City. The resulting battle ended with Yamika and his prototypes being hustled aboard a Blakist DropShip.[8]

In December of 3074, Clan Ghost Bear's Alpha, Omega, and Rho galaxies struck Luthien. The Forty-second managed to inflict heavy damage on both Alpha and Rho, but the unit was reportedly destroyed by three to five clusters of Ghost Bear troops.[9] No evidence surfaced to suggest Precentor Belial or his command Level II were among the dead.[2] Later intelligence would confirm that the Forty-second had been destroyed on Luthien.[10][11]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 42nd Shadow Division
Precentor Belial 3071[2]

Tactics[edit]

The Forty-second were experts in Urban Combat.

Composition[edit]

Unknown.

Notes[edit]

The presence of the Forty-second in orbit of Irece in June 3072 is unconfirmed, as Nova Cat personnel only determined the Forty-second was the closest Word unit and the most likely to undertake the attack.

Rules[edit]

Game Rules[edit]

During the Battle of Luthien, the 42nd's skill at identifying a building's weak points was demonstrated by the unit having the opportunity to cause the building's collapse result in greater damage to adjacent units.[2]

Gallery[edit]

Reference[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 36, "Stepping Stone"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, p. 7, "42nd Shadow Division"
  3. Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 76, "Agents Provocateurs"
  4. ''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 96, "Drake News Flash – 24 July 3072": In spite of the "dropped link" suggesting destruction over Irece, the SLS Vision Quest was active less than a month later over Luthien.
  5. Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, p. 1, "Manifest Destiny"
  6. Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, p. 9, "Feline Ferocity"
  7. Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, p. 7, "32nd Division [Word of Blake]"
  8. Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, pp. 10-11, "Light Machine"
  9. Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 104, "42nd Shadow Division"
  10. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 132
  11. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 125, "Shadow Divisions Status"

Bibliography[edit]