53rd Battle (Clan Jade Falcon)

Fifty-third Battle Cluster
Nickname	The Cat Snatchers
Affiliation	Clan Jade Falcon
Parent Command	Zeta Galaxy

Unit History

Nova Cat Abjuration

The Cluster had a long-standing feud with Clan Nova Cat. In 3059 it was stationed on Gatekeeper which was also home to a Nova Cat garrison force. Star Colonel Koga took every opportunity to raid the Nova Cat enclave. Disgusted by the Nova Cat's collusion with the Inner Sphere during Operation Bulldog, only the lack of quality troops prevented the enraged Star Colonel from attempting a full assault against Nova Cat targets.

However, on April 27th 3060, the Grand Council of the Clans voted for the Abjuration of the Nova Cats who were given a month's time to leave the Clan worlds. The Fifty-third Battle Cluster declared the Nova Cats on Gatekeeper dezgra, not even worthy of a Trial of Possession. They soon fought the Nova Cat enclave for control of the planet. Fighting without honor, the Fifty-third ripped into the Nova Cat defenders who fought desperately to prevent the Falcons from entering their major population centers. As the last of the Nova Cat warriors fell, the Fifty-third prevented the majority of the Nova Cat civilian caste from escaping the planet.

Jihad

During the Jihad the Fifty-third was assigned to Delta Galaxy.

After the formation of The Republic of the Sphere they returned to the Jade Falcon Occupation Zone. The Fifty-third and First Falcon Striker Clusters took part in an assault on Graus led by saKhan Uvin Buhallin. This assault turned into a quagmire, taking losses from heavy aerospace fighter defenses. Once the two units were down, saKhan Buhallin let the defenders retain the initiative. Militia units used air strikes and artillery bombardments to force holes in the Falcon lines. These gaps were exploited by Rubinsky's Light Horse, a mercenary unit that killed the saKhan and command staff for both Clusters. With their command structure in tatters, the two Clusters withdrew from the world.

They were stationed on Maxie's Planet in 3085 to rebuild.

Dark Age

In 3137 the Fifty-third fought a Trial of Possession against Clan Hell's Horses for the Feltre system. The Fifty-third was outmaneuvered and drawn into an artillery bombardment by Horse Hadur hovercraft. The Falcons were granted hegira and withdrew, leaving the Horses in command of Feltre.

The Fifty-third later tried to regain some honor by attacking Jabuka which was defended by the Second Bear Regulars. During this assault the Fifty-third brought two Naga OmniMechs with them, and used them to inflict heavy losses on the defending Bears. However these two 'Mechs were lost when the Second Regulars' commander and his Starmates engaged them at close range.

Unit Insignia

The 53rd Battle Cluster's insignia is a Jade Falcon soaring over a bloody corpse of a Nova Cat.

Officers

Rank	Name	Command
Commanding Officers of the 53rd Battle
Star Colonel	Fyona Koga	3059
Star Colonel	Jakob	3067
Star Colonel	Malcom Hazen	3085

Tactics

Unknown.

Composition History

3059

• 5 Binaries - Veteran Skilled, Stationed on Gatekeeper.

3067

53rd Battle Cluster (Veteran/Reliable)

Note: At this time the unit was stationed on Gatekeeper with an operational readiness of 95 percent.

Notes

Game Notes

The unit does not receive any specific Force Specific abilities for scenarios.

Bibliography

• The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky
• Field Manual: 3085
• Field Manual: Crusader Clans
• Field Manual: Updates
• Technical Readout: 3145 The Clans