Federated Commonwealth Corps

FedCom Corps -Brigade logo.png
Federated Commonwealth Corps
Formed 3028
Disbanded 3067
Nickname FedCom Corps
Affiliation Federated Commonwealth
Parent Command AFFC/AFFS

Outfitted with the finest equipment and with personnel from all parts of the Federated Commonwealth, the Federated Commonwealth Corps represented the first new units belonging solely to the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth. The fortunes of the FedCom RCTs have mirrored those of their nation: the collapse of the Federated Commonwealth and the bitter and divisive role the Corps played in the following FedCom Civil War led to their disgrace and ultimate disbandment.

History[edit]

The Federated Commonwealth Corps's origins stem from the initial spirit of joint cooperation that led to the founding of the Federated Commonwealth in 3055. Their first unit, originally titled the First Federated Commonwealth BattleMech Regiment, was created from Melissa Steiner's wedding gift to Hanse Davion of a regiment of BattleMechs. It was a mixed unit of both Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth academy graduates, and soon saw action during the later days of the Fourth Succession War.

By 3057, the FedCom Corps had formed enough new units to reach a total of twelve complete RCTs.[1] Unfortunately, the Marik-Liao Invasion of 3057 and Katherine Steiner-Davion's secession from the Federated Commonwealth to form the Lyran Alliance shattered the Corps. Those FedCom RCTs stationed in Lyran space were either disbanded to bolster other units such as the Alliance Jaegers or rechristened as the Alliance Guards.[2] With Katherine's rise to power, the units' joint Lyran and Suns heritage began to put stress on their cohesion. Their loyalties fragmenting, the Federated Commonwealth Corps quickly polarized into pro-Katherine and pro-Victor camps, and they were consequently involved in some of the bitterest fighting of the FedCom Civil War. The actions of the 8th FedCom RCT in particular are remembered as the first flashpoint that led to active warfare in that conflict.[1]

At the end of the FedCom Civil War, the Federated Commonwealth Corps lay shattered and destroyed. Of the twelve initial RCTs, five had been absorbed into the Lyran Commonwealth's armed forces, four had been completely destroyed, and two had been folded into Federated Suns mercenary and armed forces units as reinforcements. In a twist of irony only the First FedCom RCT, the very wedding gift that had spurred the creation of the Corps, remained intact. Although its loyalty was held in question for years to come, the unit was renamed the 1st Federated Suns Lancers and integrated into the AFFS, marking the end of the Federated Commonwealth Corps.

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Federated Commonwealth Corps
Marshal James Sandoval 3030 - 3037[3]
Marshal Alistair Venger 3037[3] - 3062[4]

Tactics[edit]

Different for each unit.

Units of the Federated Commonwealth Corps[edit]

Color Scheme and Corps Insignia[edit]

The parade colors of the Federated Commonwealth Corps were navy blue with gold banding on the arms and legs. The gold was also used to create a checkerboard patterned highlight on select panels on the torsos of 'Mechs and the turrets of armored vehicles. In an attempt to invoke the spirit of unity in which the Corps was created, their insignia is an amalgamation of both Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth imagery: the Davion sword is laid over the Steiner mailed fist, which rests on the traditional Federated Sunburst.[3]

Unit Insignia[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Field Manual: Updates, p. 130: "Federated Commonwealth Corps"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, pp. 44–47: "Alliance Guards"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Field Manual: Federated Suns, pp. 90–96: "The Federated Commonwealth Corps"
  4. Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 135: "Federated Suns Forces"
  5. Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 17
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 FedCom Civil War, pp. 51–53, 58–59, 95
  7. Isle of the Blessed, Book 1, ch. 6: "The Book of Lilith"

Bibliography[edit]