8th Sword of Light

Sword of Light 8th logo.png
8th Sword of Light
Nickname The Jade Dragon
Affiliation Draconis Combine
Parent Command Sword of Light

The Eighth Sword of Light regiment was known as "The Jade Dragon" and represented the economy of the Draconis Combine.

History[edit]

Star League Era[edit]

Prior to the 2740s, the Sword of Light brigade consisted of a dozen BattleMech and conventional regiments. Coordinator Takiro Kurita reorganized the brigade into five reinforced regiments, reinventing them as the "soul of the DCMS". It is unclear if the Eighth Sword of Light was still an active regiment after the Age of War and prior to Takiro's reforms, but the Eighth was an inactive command throughout the remainder of the Star League era.[1]

Succession Wars[edit]

First Succession War[edit]

The Eighth Sword of Light was reactivated during the First Succession War.[2] The Fourth Sword of Light had represented the Jade Pillar during the Star League era,[1] but was disbanded in 2785;[2] it may be at this point that the Eighth came to represent the Jade Pillar.

In 2787 the Eighth Sword of Light participated in Operation BROKEN BLADE.[3] They served alongside the 5th Sword of Light, 18th Dieron Regulars, and mercenary unit Fifty-second Heavy Assault Regiment.[4] Heavy Lyran WarShip and Assault DropShip defenders forced the ground forces to scatter on their landings, and later cover hundreds of kilometers to get to the factory locations on Hesperus II. However, they had not anticipated the four defending LCAF assault regiments and the extensive fortifications the Lyran Commonwealth had established. After fighting for a few weeks, the First Battle of Hesperus II was over, and the two Sword of Light regiments, the only survivors, withdrew.[5]

They also participated in the battle of Tyrfing, along with the Black Sharks mercenary unit. They felt this was an appropriate assignment since they had failed to take Hesperus II.[6] They were able to secure two lances of BattleMechs from Arco-Mine Terminus J-38.[7][8]

Second Succession War[edit]

The exploits of the 8th Sword of Light in the Second Succession War are currently unknown. However, as they were stationed on Stanzach at the beginning and end of the war, it can be safely assumed they were engaged one the Lyran Commonwealth front.[9]

Third Succession War[edit]

A raid on the Federated Suns world of Errai in 2901 went wrong for the Eighth Sword of Light when their dropping 'Mechs were attacked by defending AFFS fighters. The DCMS forces had to withdraw from the system.[10]

The Eighth Sword of Light and 4th Proserpina Hussars fought the Davion Heavy Guards in 3002's Third Battle of Harrow's Sun. The Federated Suns ultimately prevailed but not before the Eighth had inflicted serious losses.[11]

In 3025 the unit was stationed on Delacruz.[12]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

In 3028, they took part in the Battle of Misery against Wolf's Dragoons. Though they took serious losses, they were perhaps the only Kurita unit to remain relatively intact and combat worthy. They were late to the main fighting on the Opdal Glacial Fields because they were fighting at the Voss Gap. Their late arrival forced the Dragoons to evacuate the Glacial Fields.[13] It was later discovered they were intentionally held back by Warlord Grieg Samsonov so that he could eventually claim the credit for destroying the Dragoons after the nascent Ryuken regiments softened them up, a strategy that ultimately failed.[14] The Eighth lost a battalion of troops to Epsilon Regiment[15] and Zeta Battalion crushed most of their rearguard during a fighting withdrawal from the world, but the better part of the regiment was able to withdraw intact.[16] Several officers from the Eighth were transferred to less-prestigious units, like the 27th Dieron Regulars.[17]

Ronin War[edit]

The Eighth Sword of Light played no active role in the Ronin War of 3034.[18] A battalion did conduct a raid on Tishomingo in 3034, however.[19]

War of 3039[edit]

Prior to the outbreak of the War of 3039, the Eighth was stationed on Delacruz. With responsibilities to patrol and defend the extensive borders between the Outworlds Alliance, the Federated Suns and the Combine, most of the 8th was off world on a regular basis. Thus it was that only one battalion of the Eighth was on world when the Third Lyran Regulars and the 42nd Avalon Hussars attacked on May 19, 3039. Against such overwhelming odds, the elements of the Eighth fought bravely, but were overcome within 4 days.[20]

On August 3, 3039, the remaining elements of the Eighth returned to Delacruz, along with the Second An Ting Legion and Fourth An Ting Legion. With a direct assault on Third Lyran Regulars defending the island of Goi-pa, they drove the Lyrans from their defenses. Then they drove off the 42nd Avalon Hussars by the first week of September after a nearly three week island hopping campaign.[21]

Clan Invasion[edit]

Operation REVIVAL[edit]

During the Clan Invasion the DCMS High Command held the Eighth Sword of Light in reserve because the unit was so tactically flexible. They were ready to repel the sixth wave of invaders, but the Battle of Tukayyid rendered that moot. The Eighth was then called upon to rebuild other Sword of Light regiments by transferring half their forces. The Eighth rebuilt with new academy graduates.[22]

Operation BULLDOG[edit]

During Operation BULLDOG the Eighth (along with allied forces) drove Clan Smoke Jaguar troops off of Byesville and Outer Volta. After the fighting ended, they were stationed on Luzerne.[23]

Civil War Era[edit]

First Combine-Dominion War[edit]

The Eighth launched raids on Jezersko and Last Frontier, both of which were garrisoned lightly by second-line troops. The damage the Eighth did to these units helped dissuade the Ghost Bears from launching a second wave of attacks.[23]

DCMS Incursion[edit]

The Eight did not participate in the DCMS incursion of the Federated Suns during the FedCom Civil War.[24]

Jihad[edit]

During the Jihad the Eighth Sword of Light assisted the 7th Sword of Light in the attack on Albiero. After that they spent the rest of the Jihad harassing the Federated Suns Draconis March. They used many tactics that would be considered dishonorable, including repainting their units to look like other DCMS commands. In 3079 they were assigned to Harrow's Sun.[25] They were still in the Albiero Prefecture in 3085 but they were conducting a "show the flag" goodwill tour of the Prefecture. This also allowed them to be ready to respond to a Ghost Bear incursion.[26]

Dark Age[edit]

Second Combine-Dominion War[edit]

The Eight played no significant part in the Second Combine-Dominion War.[27]

The Invasion and Occupation of Robinson[edit]

The Eighth Sword of Light participated in the assault on Robinson in 3144.[28] They fought against the 20th Avalon Hussars and alongside the 7th Sword of Light.[29] The Eighth lost 30% percent of their BattleMech regiment, their aerospace regiment lost 90% of its fighters, their infantry regiment was reduced to just a company, and their tank regiment lost an entire Battalion in the fighting.[30]

In July 3147, Federated Suns workers at the Robinson Standard BattleWorks' Atlas production line seized four half-finished Atlases and held a portion of the industrial complex hostage. This was the most extreme case of work stoppages and riots that were commonplace on Combine occupied worlds. Elements of the Eighth used well-placed fire to disable the partially armed 'Mechs and a battalion of infantry went through the complex eliminating the workers inside, whether or not they were involved in the incident.[31]

The Eighth was still stationed on Robinson in October 18, 3149 when Task Force ERUPTIO from the Republic of the Sphere jumped in-system. They, plus Ryuken-ni, were tasked with defending the Robinson Standard BattleWorks' against the X Hastati Sentinels, X Principes Guards and the X Triarii Protectors. The Ryuken were attacked from multiple sides and wilted under the assault, but the members of the Eighth fought like the Coordinator herself until their leader, Tai-sa Lincoln Marovitch, was downed. The Eighth then conducted a fighting withdrawal that heavily damaged the Tenth Principes. By November 25th, the Eighth and its sister units were driven from Robinson[32]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 8th Sword of Light
Tai-sa Hector Fushimi 2788[6]
Sho-sho Jagawen Torisobo 3025 - 3028[33][34]
Tai-sa Wendall Boutri 3050[35]
Tai-sa Kevin Awano 3059 - 3067[22][36]
Tai-sa Dorotheus Bai 3085[37]
Tai-sa Lincoln Marovitch 3144 - 3152[38][39]

Tactics[edit]

The Eighth Sword of Light was one of the busiest DCMS regiments. They have performed garrison duty, participated in large assaults and small raids, and stopped rebellions. For this reason they have no particular tactical specialty, they simply perform well in all environments.[22] They were able to maintain their high level of skills by deploying in battalion-level formations.[40]

The regiment reorganization in 3011 destroyed any specialty they got.[41]

Composition History[edit]

2786[edit]

Listed as not yet formed.[2]

2821[edit]

Eighth Sword of Light (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[2]

- At this point in time the Eighth Sword was a medium-weight regiment operating at four-fifths of full strength and was stationed on Stanzach.[2]

2830[edit]

8th Sword of Light (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[42]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Stanzach with an operational readiness of 135 percent.[42]

2864[edit]

8th Sword of Light (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[42]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Stanzach with an operational readiness of 74 percent.[42]

3025[edit]

8th Sword of Light (1 Expanded Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[34]

  • CO: Sho-sho Jagawen Torisobo[43]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Delacruz.[12] This unit was composed of two medium and two assault battalions.[41]

3040[edit]

8th Sword of Light (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[44]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Delacruz.[44]

3050[edit]

8th Sword of Light (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[35]

  • CO: Tai-sa Wendall Boutri[35]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Delacruz.[35]

3054[edit]

8th Sword of Light (2 Battalions/Regular/Fanatical)[46]

  • CO: Tai-sa Kevin Awano

3059 to 3067[edit]

8th Sword of Light (Expanded Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[22][36]

  • XO: Tai-sa Moki Nagoya
  • 2nd Battalion: Chu-sa Uroga Breshnot
  • 3rd Battalion: Chu-sa Chin Sung Lee
  • 4th Battalion: Chu-sa Toshido Harotoga

- The 36 OmniMechs provide the unit with a great flexibility. All machines are upgraded with advanced technology.

243rd Aerospace (Persuasion of Greater Wisdom) (1 Wing/Veteran/Fanatical)[22][36]

  • Wing Commander: Sho-sa Jeremy Kiyama

- The unit is organized like normal Inner Sphere air forces and not like the standard DCMS scheme.

3079[edit]

8th Sword of Light (Reinforced Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[47]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Harrow’s Sun.[47]

3085[edit]

8th Sword of Light (Veteran/Reliable)[37]

243rd Aerospace (Wing/Elite/Fanatical)[37]

3145[edit]

8th Sword of Light (Veteran/Reliable)[38]

  • CO: Tai-sa Lincoln Marovitch

243rd Aerospace (Regular/Reliable)[38]

77th Armor (Veteran/Fanatical)[38]

Savage Dragons (Veteran/Reliable)[38]

Rules[edit]

First Succession War[edit]

  • Between 2786 and 2807, the composition of randomly generated lances from the Eighth Sword of Light are determined using a single roll on the Random Unit Assignment Tables per lance, with all of the lance 'Mechs being the resulting type. Between 2808 and 2819, the lance composition is determined using two rolls on the Random Unit Assignment Tables per lance, and from 2820 lance composition is determined using one roll per 'Mech per lance.[48]
  • When generating Eighth Sword of Light forces using Random Unit Assignment Tables during the First Succession War, the Sword of Light receives a +4 modifier to each roll on the appropriate table.[49]

Combat Manual: Kurita[edit]

  • In Alpha Strike games the Eighth Sword of Light can use the Tactical Adjustments special combat ability.[40]

Tyrfing[edit]

  • On Tyrfing the Eighth may use the Banking the Initiative, Sharp Shooters, and Tactical Specialization (Attack) special command abilities.[6]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Field Report 2765: DCMS, p. 8: "Sword of Light"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 First Succession War, p. 137: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (DCMS)"
  3. Broken Blade
  4. First Succession War, p. 49
  5. First Succession War, p. 50
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Turning Points: Tyrfing, p. 9
  7. Turning Points: Tyrfing, p. 15
  8. First Succession War, p. 110
  9. Second Succession War, p. 97: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (DCMS) - Deployment Table"
  10. Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 134
  11. Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 104
  12. 12.0 12.1 House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 133
  13. Wolf's Dragoons, pp. 37–38
  14. Wolves on the Border, p. ??[citation needed]
  15. Historical Turning Points: Misery, p. 13
  16. Historical Turning Points: Misery, p. 15
  17. My Father's Sword, p. 3
  18. Historical: Brush Wars, pp. 120–121: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (March-June 3024) and (July-October 3034)"
  19. Technical Readout: 3039, p. 244
  20. Historical: War of 3039, pp. 52–53: "Delacruz (May–July)"
  21. Historical: War of 3039, pp. 105–106: "Delacruz (August-September)"
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 88: "8th Sword of Light Unit Profile"
  23. 23.0 23.1 Field Manual: Updates, p. 111
  24. FedCom Civil War, p. 184: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery"
  25. Field Report: DCMS, p. 13
  26. Field Manual: 3085, p. 44
  27. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era
  28. Technical Readout: 3145 Federated Suns, p. 12
  29. Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine, p. 44
  30. Field Manual: 3145, p. 58: "Eighth Sword of Light"
  31. Shattered Fortress, p. 34: "The Dragon's Response"
  32. Shattered Fortress, pp. 76–77: "The Heart of the Draconis March"
  33. Historical Turning Points: Misery, p. 9
  34. 34.0 34.1 House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 134: "Deployment Table"
  35. 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 20 Year Update, p. 41: "DCMS Deployment Table"
  36. 36.0 36.1 36.2 Field Manual: Updates, p. 119: "8th Sword of Light"
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 Field Manual: 3085, p. 51: "DCMS Deployment Table - 3085"
  38. 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 38.4 Field Manual: 3145, p. 65: "DCMS Deployment Table - 3145"
  39. Dominions Divided, p. 97
  40. 40.0 40.1 Combat Manual: Kurita, p. 80
  41. 41.0 41.1 House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 142: "8th Sword of Light: The Teak Dragon"
  42. 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 Second Succession War, p. 97
  43. House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 133: "DCMS Deployment Table"
  44. 44.0 44.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 139
  45. 45.0 45.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 53
  46. Objective Raids, p. 28
  47. 47.0 47.1 Field Report: DCMS, p. 13
  48. First Succession War, p. 147: "Force Compositions"
  49. First Succession War, p. 147: "RAT Die Roll Modifiers by Combat Command Table"

Bibliography[edit]