2nd Marik Militia

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2ndmarikmilitia.jpg
Second Marik Militia
Nickname The Fates
Affiliation Free Worlds League
Parent Command Marik Militia


History[edit]

Formation[edit]

The Marik Militia brigade was formed in the early twenty-third century as the primary offensive and defensive brigade of the newly-formed Free Worlds League. The Second Marik Militia would serve the League for centuries. Like the other regiments of the brigade, the Second was dedicated to serving and defending the people of the League, rather than serving the Captain-General, a distinction that separated the Militia from other federal formations such as the Atrean Dragoons and Free Worlds Guards.[1]

Reunification War[edit]

Active within the Free Worlds League Military during the Age of War and Reunification War, the Second Marik Militia was one of six regiments chosen to serve in the 2nd Marik Auxiliary Corps formed in 2581[2] to support the Star League Defense Force when the Star League decided to intervene in the civil war that had been raging inside the Rim Worlds Republic since 2575.[3]

The 2nd Marik Auxiliary Corps incorporated the Second Marik Militia and a sister regiment, the Sixth Marik Militia, as well as the Second Regulan Hussars, Second Defenders of Andurien and the First and Second Brigades of the Fusiliers of Oriente. The 2nd Marik Auxiliary Corps was one of a number of Corps that made up Task Force MAILED FIST, the military component of Operation MAILED FIST, the Star League operation within the Rim Worlds Republic between 2581 and 2596.[2][4]

The Second Marik Militia sent the bulk of Operation MAILED FIST operating alongside the Sixth Marik Militia and the First Brigade of the Fusiliers of Oriente; together, the three regiments would conduct campaigns in the Star's End system in 2581, on Stirling in 2583, Viborg in 2588, Marisura in 2589, Barcelona in 2591, Götterdämmerung in 2592, Bensinger in 2594 and Crellacor in 2595. The only campaign conducted by this ad hoc formation that the Second missed was the campaign on Kladnitsa in 2584; the Second remained on Stirling while the Kladnitsa campaign was fought by the Sixth and the Fusiliers of Oriente.[2][4]

The Star's End campaign was one of the first systems to be designated as a target for the Star League forces; still considered a newly-colonized system in the late twenty-sixth century, the population of the Star's End system numbered less than five thousand but was considered a strategically significant system. As a result, it merited a strong garrison, and during the early years of the civil war within the Rim Worlds Republic that garrison was a battalion from the Fifth Amaris Fusiliers. The Fifth were considered to be loyal to First Consul Gregory Amaris but with no idea of how these loyalist forces would react, Task Force MAILED FIST was forced to treat the Fusiliers with suspicion.[5]

The Second Marik Militia and the other FWLM units entered the Star's End system in May 2581. Unsure of what resistance to expect, if any, the Free Worlds League forces were surprised to find no visible military presence when they entered the system. The colonies had all been established on various asteroids along with the military garrison, all of which had gone dark to evade detection; with no charts of the system to draw on, the SLDF forces were forced to survey the system for themselves, a long, laborious fourteen-month task. Despite the difficulties in surveying the system, the Star's End system was declared to be secure in June or July, and the SLDF began to establish a fleet base in the system that ironically became the single biggest customer for the local mining colonies. The SLDF also established a supply depot on Novo Cressidas, the one habitable world in the system.[5]

In addition to facing the Fifth Amaris Fusiliers at Star's End, the Second Marik Militia would also come into conflict with the Third Amaris Fusiliers on Viborg, the Seventh Amaris Fusiliers on Marisura and the Third Amaris Legionnaires on Stirling.[6][7] While many of the campaigns were fought against local militia and partisan forces rather than line regiments from the Rim Worlds Army, the Second Marik Militia found that the overall campaign became increasingly difficult after the atrocities performed by the Draconis Auxiliary Corps when they captured Nightwish in mid-2584 resulted in a massive increase in resistance from local forces and partisans and increasingly rebellious populations.[8]

The Second Marik Militia and their companion units from the 2nd Marik Auxiliary Corps operated largely independently of the other units within Task Force MAILED FIST; the exceptions to this were on Marisura, where they operated alongside the First Arkab Legion and the Fourth Proserpina Hussars from the Draconis Auxiliary Corps, on Barcelona where the forces of the Lyran Auxiliary Corps and the Thirty-First Armor Division were also deployed - with the FWLM forces being on the periphery of the event known as the Day of Rage - and lastly on Bensinger, where the Second fought alongside the Seventeenth Royal Division.[2][4]

Star League Era[edit]

When the Star League Council issued the Council Edict of 2650 limiting the size of the military maintained by each Great House the Second was one of nineteen active regiments within the Marik Militia. Like the other regiments of the Militia, the Second remained a popular unit with both the commoners within the League and the peerage because of their public dedication to the people of the League, and like the other regiments of the Militia often acted as training grounds for troops across the League. A significant number of the personnel serving in other more prestigious federal units and various provincial forces within the League had actually begun their careers in the Second or another of the Marik Militia regiments.[1]

In 2775 Captain-General Kenyon Marik deployed the Second to Connaught, in a blatant attempt to secure the Terran Hegemony world for the Free Worlds League. Under the guise of "providing relief to the overextended Star League Defense Force", the Second made an attempt to take control of the Kong Interstellar Corporation plant on the planet. the Kong Interstellar plant was a key military supplier that was rebuilding to pre–Civil War production levels, and was considered an important piece of infrastructure by the SLDF. The SLDF had no intention of simply giving up the plant, and a standoff between the Militia and the SLDF troops began, broken when shots were fired. In the resulting skirmish two companies of the Militia were destroyed, and the SLDF disarmed the remainder of the regiment and interned the personnel. Initially held on Connaught, the regiment was subsequently shipped to an interment camp on Talitha that Commanding General Aleksandr Kerensky ordered built specifically to hold the Second.[9]

Kenyon Marik demanded the release of the Second, as well as compensation for the damage the Militia had been taken, while FWLM regiments attempting to occupy four other recently-liberated Hegemony worlds issued ultimatums to the SLDF garrisons, demanding that they leave the worlds in the hands of the Free Worlds League forces. The SLDF responded by forcibly disarming and deporting each of the four regiments, although the SLDF troops allowed the aid workers who had traveled with them to remain; hostile communications between Kenyon Marik and Aleksandr Kerensky were exchanged for some time, causing Kerensky to commit more troops to defending worlds on the Free Worlds League border than he had originally planned. The personnel from the Second were repatriated, with most of the regiment back in Free Worlds League space by August, but five members of the regiment were tried and convicted for crimes against the SLDF. This included Colonel Lisl Stephenson, the Second's Commanding Officer. Those convicted received sentences of between eight and thirty years each.[9]

Third Succession War[edit]

The Second Militia took years to recover from a botched raid on the Lyran world of Algorab in 3020 which cost them over half the Regiment. The Second's main strike unit, the Ridge Riders, survived the battle, as did the Second's command staff, but after three years of rebuilding the Second was still fielding a lot of green recruits. Appleton's Fire Battalion - also known as the "Fender Benders" - had almost two full companies of raw recruits and had managed to survive largely thanks to the instincts of the unit commander, whilst the recon battalion had barely more experience.[10] Transferred to the Capellan front in 3024, it was able to go on the offensive more, albeit at the cost of increased casualties. This led to a continuous cycle of raw recruits joining the unit, making it difficult for the Second to grow in experience.[11]

Anton's Revolt[edit]

The Second didn't see any combat in Anton Marik's Revolt. Instead they reinforced worlds that were likely to come under attack or had been recently liberated by forces loyal to Janos Marik. In 3014 and 3015 they moved from their homeworld of Wasat to garrison Avellaneda and Oceana[12] before taking up duty stations on Keystone, where they would spend the rest of the conflict.[13]

Fourth Succession War[edit]


Andurien Secession[edit]

In late 3032 the Second Marik Militia raided the Federated Commonwealth world of Second Try. Even though the raid cost the Second quite a bit of equipment, the information they gathered about the FedCom's response and tactics was crucial to the LCCC's planning department.[14]

War of 3039[edit]

In 3038, in conjunction with the Fourth Marik Militia, the Second staged a successful series of raids that were intended to help both units gain experience. It worked, with the Second going on to carry out several more raids against both the Federated Commonwealth and Capellan Confederation over the next decade.[11]

However, the unit's luck turned bad again in 3049, when faulty intelligence caused the Second to grossly underestimate the defenders on Sarna. Hammered by both the Third FedCom RCT and the Sarna Martial Academy Cadre, the LCCC was forced to send in the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons to extract the Second.[11]

Operation Guerrero[edit]

The Second Marik Militia didn't participate in Operation Guerrero.

Operation Bulldog[edit]

The Second Marik Militia didn't participate in Operation Bulldog, but during this same time period they did rebuild to full strength.[15]

Jihad[edit]

Though largely left alone by the horrors of the Jihad, the Second Marik Militia landed on Vosloorus in 3077 to oppose the occupation of the world by forces from the Principality of Regulus.[16] They were later relocated off the world, which was then taken by Regulan troops.[17]

The Second was stationed on Manihiki and Alterf.[18]

The dissolution of the Free Worlds League hit the members of the Second Militia very hard. Only about half of their troops came from the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth, and the "foreign-born" troops continue to serve simply because they don't know what else to do. The unit's morale is very low at this time, with bitterness and disappointment roiling just below the surface. To overcome this, Colonel Gierke has established an aggressive training schedule to keep the regiment occupied.[19]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Secind Marik Militia
Colonel Lisl Stephenson 2775[9]
Colonel Philip Ortega 3025[20]
Colonel Alva Gierke 3050 - 3085[21][22][11][23][24]

Tactics[edit]

The Second makes extensive use of scout VTOLs and drone systems for reconnaissance. They're also more experienced in combined arms operations than many Marik Militia units.[11]

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

Second Marik Militia (Regiment/Green/Reliable)[25]

- At this point in time the Second was stationed on Sierra.[25]

2786–2821[edit]

Second Marik Militia (Regiment/Green/Reliable)[26]

- At this point in time the Second was a medium-weight regiment operating at full strength and based on Van Diemen IV.[26]In 2821 the unit was operating at just over half-strength, and was located on Dalcour.[26]

2830[edit]

2nd Marik Militia (Regiment/Green/Fanatical)[27]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Dalcour with an operational readiness of 85 percent.[27]

2864[edit]

2nd Marik Militia (Regiment/Green/Fanatical)[27]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Circinus with an operational readiness of 33 percent.[27]

3025[edit]

Second Marik Militia (Green/Reliable)[20]

  • CO: Colonel Philip Ortega[10]
  • Ridge Riders Battalion: Lieutenant Colonel Barton "Black Bart" Burton[10]
  • Appleton's Fire Battalion: Graham "Fuzzy" Karker[10]
  • Recon Battalion[10]

3028[edit]

2nd Marik Militia(Regiment\Green\Reliable)[28]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Park Place.[28]

3050[edit]

Second Marik Militia (Regiment/Green/Reliable)[21]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Hassad.[21]

3054[edit]

Second Marik Militia (Green/Reliable)[22]

  • CO: Colonel Alva Gierke

3059–3067[edit]

Second Marik Militia (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable)[11][23]

  • CO/First Battalion: Colonel Alva Gierke

- Split in 3 specialized battalions
- Appleton's Fire Battalion equipped with the most heavy 'Mechs
- Ridge Raiders contains medium class 'Mechs

Second Marik Aerospace (1 Wing/Regular/Reliable)[11][23]

Ninth Orloff Armored Brigade (The Green Machine) (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable)[11][23]

161st Artean Rifles (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable)[11][23]

3079[edit]

Second Marik Militia (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) [29]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Manihiki and Alterf. [29] The low intensity conflict with the Regulan Hussars reduced the Second by 20%. The remaining 80% was still able to garrison their assigned worlds, however.[18]

3085[edit]

Second Marik Militia (Regular/Reliable)[24]

  • CO: Colonel Alva Gierke

Second Marik Aerospace (Wing/Regular/Green)[24]

Second Marik Armor Brigade (Regular/Reliable)[24]

161st Atrean Rifles (Regular/Fanatical)[24]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Field Report 2765: FWLM, p. 10: "Marik Militia"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Historical: Reunification War, p. 152: "Rim Worlds Republic Front (Jump-off - 2587)
  3. Historical: Reunification War, p. 131: "False Starts (2579-81)
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Historical: Reunification War, p. 153: "Rim Worlds Republic Front (2588-2596)"
  5. 5.0 5.1 Historical: Reunification War, p. 132: "Persistence, Treeline, Star's End and Black Earth (May-December 2581)"
  6. Historical: Reunification War, p. 154: "Rim Worlds Republic Front (Jump-off - 2587)
  7. Historical: Reunification War, p. 155: "Rim Worlds Republic Front (2588-2596)"
  8. Historical: Reunification War, p. 134: "Arlina to Viborg (December 2584 - September 2588)"
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2, p. 32: "Don't Fight It"
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 91: "2nd Marik Militia"
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 55: "2nd Marik Militia Unit Profile"
  12. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 33
  13. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 35
  14. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 64
  15. Field Manual: Updates, p. 148: "2nd Marik Militia"
  16. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 46
  17. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 52
  18. 18.0 18.1 Field Report: FWLM, p. 8
  19. Field Manual: 3085, p. 82
  20. 20.0 20.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 108: "FWLM Deployment Table"
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 20 Year Update, p. 56: "FWLM Deployment Table - 3050"
  22. 22.0 22.1 Objective Raids, p. 38: "FWLM Deployment Table - 3054"
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 Field Manual: Updates, p. 160: "FWLM Deployment Table - 3067"
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 Field Manual: 3085, p. 91: "FWLM Deployment Table - 3085"
  25. 25.0 25.1 Field Report 2765: FWLM, p. 10: "Regimental Status"
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 First Succession War, p. 138: "Free Worlds League Military (FWLM)"
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Second Succession War, p. 98
  28. 28.0 28.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 86
  29. 29.0 29.1 Field Report: FWLM , p. 8

Bibliography[edit]