Always Faithful

Insignia of Always Faithful
Always Faithful
Formed 2786[1]
Disbanded 3069[2]
Affiliation Mercenary
Parent Command Independent
Sub-Command(s) Alpha Regiment
Bravo Regiment (disbanded)
Charlie Regiment (disbanded)

History[edit]

The unit was formed in the wake of the Liberation of Terra from a mixture of soldiers of the Rim Worlds Republic and the SLDF, the Always Faithful were initially a Brigade-sized unit.

During the First Succession War, Always Faithful were employed by the Capellan Confederation and fought against the Free Worlds League. These engagements cost the unit most of their more sophisticated equipment. The next contract brought them into the employ of the Draconis Combine and into the company store trap. Constantly increasing levels of debt to the Combine forced the mercenaries to undertake hazardous assignments, finally managing to settle their accounts and leave for greener pastures after capturing a haul of Federated Suns JumpShip parts. It was during the Second Succession War that Always Faithful had to sell their JumpShips and DropShips due to the strain that their financial difficulties had imposed on their support infrastructure.[3]

Always Faithful saw extensive service during the Third Succession War under contract to the Lyran Commonwealth. They were deployed against both the Draconis Combine and the Free Worlds League even though Always Faithful had been reorganized into a single regiment at the start of the war. Although the regiment was involved in heavy fighting around Tamar,[3] Always Faithful left Lyran service at some point during the war. Hiring Always Faithful again was one of the steps taken by Alessandro Steiner to improve the military strength of the Lyran Commonwealth after he became Archon in 2980.[4] During 3026, Always Faithful acted as a bodyguard unit for the planet Summer, but they were unable to save Duke Aldo Lestrade from being successfully assassinated by an alleged Kuritan operative.[5]

Although Always Faithful spent the first half of the Fourth Succession War on Summer, the officer commanding Operation HOLDUR (General Spire) viewed Altair as the prize of the operation. General Spire enlisted the help of Archon Katrina Steiner in committing both Always Faithful and the 17th Skye Rangers to the world, deploying both units as full Regimental Combat Teams against the elite 18th Dieron Regulars - against the express wishes of Duke Aldo Lestrade. Although the battle for Altair was ultimately unsuccessful, Always Faithful were directly responsible for the 2nd Battalion of the 18th Dieron Regulars being destroyed during the battle for Hehiro City. A lance from Always Faithful managed to hold up the 2nd Battalion as they attempted to break out between the two Lyran RCTs. Although the Always Faithful lance was destroyed, they held the line long enough for combined forces from the rest of the Lyran units to engage and destroy the enemy battalion.[6]

With the expiry of their contract with the Lyran Commonwealth in 3028, Always Faithful took up an undisclosed number of contracts with the Free Worlds League where they saw extensive service under Duncan and later Thomas Marik. Based on Vanra in 3028, Always Faithful were deployed on Iknogoro in 3032 and Mosiro in 3035.[7] Always Faithful were in the employ of the Lyran Commonwealth during the War of 3039 but did not actively participate on the Draconis Combine front. Always Faithful left the employ of the LCAF after the war.[8]

By 3039 Always Faithful were fighting as a combined arms regiment, but the fighting on Andurien against first the 6th Defenders of Andurien (with additional forces from the 1st Defenders of Andurien) changed that; months of grueling city fighting at Baroda cost Always Faithful almost all of their armor and infantry.[9]

By 3050, Colonel James Burrill Riel had become the command officer of Always Faithful. Immediately prior to the Clan invasion they were stationed on Conquista under contract with the Free Worlds League.[10] Always Faithful were still there in 3054, but that would soon change.[11]

Always Faithful were one of a number of units loaned out to the Capellan Confederation for operations in the Sarna March during Operation Guerrero. The unit was deployed on Caph in 3059[12] and were still there when the Word of Blake arrived and began the process of turning the world into a Blakist protectorate. By this time the mercenary unit had already taken a battering during the extensive factional conflict for the world.[3]

In 3067 anti-Capellan factions on Hsien had banded together and hired Always Faithful as an attempt to resist an anticipated takeover by forces of the 4th Division and the Blakist-employed Hsien Hotheads who had been stationed on the planet. In January of 3069 the Wanderers III-iota and the Keepers of the Gates III-beta combined with the Hsien Hotheads and successfully destroyed Always Faithful during a local uprising organized by the Commanding Officer of the Hsien Hotheads, Brenn Twohy.[2]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of Always Faithful
Colonel Louise Pound 3025[13]
Colonel James Burrill Riel 3050 - 3069[10][11][12][3]

Tactics[edit]

Following the losses inflicted during the Andurien Secession, Always Faithful used mobile components to pin an enemy in place and then the heavy components to deliver the final blow. The exception to this was the 7th Striker Battalion which preferred a much more mobile style that allowed them to avoid a head-on confrontation while continuing to erode the enemy strength from the flanks.[3]

Support[edit]

The command had few support assets (50% technical support) and no transport assets.[3]

Mercenary Rating[edit]

3059[edit]

Dragoon Rating: B-[12]

3067[edit]

Dragoon Rating: B-[3]

Composition History[edit]

2786 - 2821[edit]

Alpha (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[14]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Aodh. In 2821 the command was reduced to 46 percent of its strength and was deployed on Aodh.[14]

Bravo (Regiment/Elite/Reliable)[14]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Carbonis. The unit was destroyed during the war.[14]

Charlie (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[14]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Bithinia. In 2821 the command was reduced to 29 percent of its strength and was deployed on Campertown.[14]

2830[edit]

Always Faithful: Alpha (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[15]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Aodh with an operational readiness of 75 percent.[15]

Always Faithful: Charlie (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[15]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Campertown with an operational readiness of 92 percent.[15]

2864[edit]

Always Faithful: Alpha (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[15]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Pell with an operational readiness of 20 percent.[15]

Always Faithful: Charlie (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[15]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Campertown with an operational readiness of 26 percent.[15]

3025[edit]

Always Faithful (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[16]

  • CO: Colonel Louise Pound[16]

In 3025 Always Faithful were a heavy BattleMech regiment supported by a medium aerospace fighter contingent and infantry, but with no Armor, DropShip or JumpShip support at this point in time. Additionally they were in debt to the Lyran Commonwealth. Always Faithful were based on Alarion along with the 19th Lyran Guards.[17][13]

3028[edit]

Always Faithful (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[18]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Vanra.[18]

3029[edit]

Always Faithful (1 Regiment/Regular)[19]

3038[edit]

Always Faithful (1 Regiment/Regular)[8]

3040[edit]

Always Faithful (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[20]

3050[edit]

Always Faithful (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[10]

  • CO: Colonel James Burrill Riel
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Conquista.

3054[edit]

Always Faithful (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[11]

  • CO: Colonel James Burrill Riel

3059[edit]

Always Faithful (1 Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[12]

  • CO: Colonel James Burrill Riel
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Caph.[21]

3067[edit]

Always Faithful (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[3]

At the end of 3067, Always Faithful were operating at 75% strength following the conflicts within the Chaos March, but 40% of the unit were upgraded to Star League levels of technology.[22]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. First Succession War, p. 35: "Those Left Behind (Continued)"
  2. 2.0 2.1 Mercenaries Supplemental Update, pp. 11, 72"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised, p. 38: "Unit Profile"
  4. House Steiner: The Lyran Commonwealth, p. 77
  5. Warrior: Coupé
  6. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, pp. 74–75
  7. Historical: Brush Wars, pp. 87–88
  8. 8.0 8.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 140
  9. Historical: Brush Wars, pp. 81–82
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 20 Year Update, p. 57
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Objective Raids, p. 39
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 110
  13. 13.0 13.1 House Steiner: The Lyran Commonwealth, p. 82
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 First Succession War, p. 136
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 Second Succession War, p. 96
  16. 16.0 16.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 118: "LCAF Deployment Table"
  17. House Steiner: The Lyran Commonwealth, p. 120
  18. 18.0 18.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 87
  19. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 45
  20. Historical: War of 3039, p. 140
  21. Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 110
  22. Field Manual: Updates, p. 183
  23. Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised, p. 128: "Force-Specific Rules"

Bibliography[edit]