13th Marik Militia

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Template:InfoBoxStateUnit The Thirteenth Marik Militia was a BattleMech regiment serving in the Free Worlds League.

History

Formation

The Thirteenth debuted during the First Succession War and performed as the vanguard of the FWLM's operations, successfully striking the Aldebaran shipyards in the Capellan Confederation as a part of the first Free Worlds League offensive of the War.[1] The Militia continued to receive favorable recognition throughout the war. Following near-destruction on a failed raid on Hesperus II[when?], the unit was completely reconstituted utilizing the remnants of other forces devastated in the just-concluded ComStar War (2837-2838). Following a decade of stellar performance, the Thirteenth regained its previous reputation.[2]

Third Succession War

In June 3012 two mercenary units in the employ of the LCAF, Snord's Irregulars and the Kell Hounds launched a joint attack on Castor. The mission was to find and destroy a rumored stockpile of old nuclear weapons, and to give the Kell Hounds some combat experience in the process (their first combat mission in fact);[3] Cranston Snord also intended to try and acquire a collection of Fabergé eggs believed to be on Castor, and to have the Irregulars humiliate the Thirtieth Marik Militia. According to subsequent commentary from Captain Jonathan Taylor, Thirteenth Marik Militia, Second battalion, First company, Cranston Snord personally destroyed his Centurion during that joint raid, indicating that at least elements of the Thirteenth Marik Militia were involved in the fighting.[4] The attackers managed to identify and destroy the weapons cache just before the defenders could use the nuclear weapons on the attackers with the intent of framing them for using them. By lucky chance, Cranston Snord, while looking for the Fabergé eggs, apprehended Colonel Nage of the Thirteenth Marik Militia in the open market of Alfagemini City and also ultimately managed to secure nine Fabergé eggs for the Irregulars' museum on Clinton.[5]

Anton's Revolt

Prior to the outbreak of the Marik Civil War (3014-3015), the Thirteenth was stationed on Dieudonne, from where they first engaged the rebel forces in November 3014, sustaining light casualties.[6][7]

Fourth Succession War

In 3029 during the Fourth Succession War, the Thirteenth saw action once more against Snord's Irregulars, unsuccessfully defending against a raid on Bordon.[8][2]

Andurien Secession

By 3028, the Thirteenth Marik Militia was stationed on Irian.[9] In 3033, during the Andurien Secession, the Thirteenth took part in operations on the world of Wasat. This wasn't a serious attempt to take the world, but rather a way for Thomas Marik to gain political support at home and disrupt the Sarna March by interrupting the Lyran Commonwealth's attempts to absorb the world.[9][10] In 3036 the Thirteenth Marik Militia led forces loyal to Duncan Marik onto Andurien soil by attacking Ingonish. They were supported by the Third Free Worlds Guards and the Iron Guard regiments against a few rebel regiments.[11][12][2]

Clan Invasion

In 3047, the Militia saw action against the Seventeenth Arcturan Guards RCT.[13] By 3050, the Militia was stationed on Irian again.[14] They were still on Irian as of 3054.[15]

Operation GUERRERO

During Operation GUERRERO the Thirteenth Militia returned to Wasat, this time accompanied by the Fourth Oriente Hussars, Second Sirian Lancers, and Twenty-first Centauri Lancers. They captured the world, destroying the Second Republican in the process. Following two weeks of combat, they provided a company to perform security operations due to the ramping up of tensions between the near-mutinous Lancers and the LCCC.[2] After these events they returned to their homeworld, Irian.[16]

In 3059, SAFE rated the loyalty of the Thirteenth as "questionable", primarily due to the twenty-years previous support for Duncan Marik but also for the lack of political support many members showed to Captain-General Thomas Marik due to his overtures of peace to neighboring states. Their view tended towards the expansionist during what was seen as a time of opportunity to do so.[2] By 3067 SAFE maintained this "questionable" rating, though with the caveat of their complete loyalty when it came to the FWL overall.[17]

Jihad

As of 3067 the Thirteenth were still guarding Irian BattleMechs Unlimited on Irian.[17] At some point during the Jihad the Thirteenth joined the Word of Blake. Stationed on Chara in September and October 3077 alongside the Fourth Free Worlds Legionnaires and the Steel Guard, the Thirteenth faced off against Clan Wolf in Exile's Beta Galaxy when the Free Worlds League front of Operation SCOUR deployed Group IV to seize Chara. The Thirteenth inflicted serious losses on the Wolves before the coalition forces retreated off-world.[18]

Officers

Tactics

The Militia was adept in covert-landings and small-unit operations behind enemy lines, as well as liberation missions, siege operations and riot control.[2][22]

Composition History

3025

Thirteenth Marik Militia (Regular/Questionable)[19]

3040

Thirteenth Marik Militia (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[23]

3050

Thirteenth Marik Militia (Regular/Questionable)[20]

3059

Thirteenth Marik Militia (1 Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[2]

Thirteenth Militia Aerospace (1 Wing/Regular/Questionable)[2]

Seventeenth Irian Armor (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[2]

  • Armor Commander: Force Commander Leon Schaech
  • Note: the heavy armor of the Seventeenth supports the Thirteenth in on-Irian operations only, as its primary mission is the defense of the Irian BattleMechs Unlimited facility.[2]

Forty-third and Forty-forth Irian Mechanized Infantry (2 Regiment/Green/Reliable)[2]

3067

Thirteenth Marik Militia (1 Regiment/Regular/Questionable/95% strength)[17][21]

  • CO/1st Battalion: Colonel Lloyd Reissing
  • Second Battalion
  • Third Battalion
  • Fourth Battalion

Thirteenth Militia Aerospace (1 Wing/Regular/Questionable/110% strength)[21]

Seventeenth Irian Armor (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable/100% strength)[21]

  • Armor Commander: Force Commander Leon Schaech

Forty-third Irian Mechanized Infantry (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable/95% strength)[21]

  • Troop Commander: Colonel Mykelti Winston

Forty-fourth Irian Mechanized Infantry (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable/100% strength)[21]

Regimental Mech Paint Scheme

Notes

  • The Thirteenth was recorded as having been "decimated during a disastrous raid on the Lyran world of Hesperus" in the years following its First Succession War debut, per Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 61. The unit was then rebuilt following FWLM operations during the ComStar War (2837-38). The Thirteenth Marik Militia unit article in the Field Manual specifically references the decimation as occurring during a 'raid', but that may refer to the Third Battle of Hesperus II of March 2789, where the FWL lost the FWLS Devastator, though no ground units are mentioned in that particular event in House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth). Until further clarification as to the date of the unit's near-destruction, this historical point will be noted here.
  • It should be noted that different years have been given for the 3011/3012 raid on Castor conducted by Snord's Irregulars and the Kell Hounds. The history section of the Kell Hounds sourcebook is ambiguous, noting on p. 5 that the raid was planned in 3011 and then narrating how Snord's Irregulars and the Kell Hounds approached Castor from two directions around 7 June, without stating a year. On page 7, however, it is narrated that the Kell Hounds only returned from the mission in the fall of 3012. In the sourcebook's scenario section, the two scenarios referring to the Clinton battle on pp. 30-31 ("Lowering the Boom") and 56- ("Delta Romeo") are both dated 15 June 3012. Similarly, Cpt. Taylor states he fought the Kell Hounds and Snord's Irregulars on Clinton in 3012.[4] When Lowering the Boom was re-published via BattleCorps in 2008 the timestamp was changed to 7 June 3011; whilst this seems to be an oversight based on p. 5 of the Kell Hounds sourcebook, the reprinted BattleCorps scenario is the more recent publication, and the dates in that source have been given primacy in this article.

References

  1. House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 90, "Marik Militia"
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 61, "13th Marik Militia: Lucky 13th"
  3. The Kell Hounds, p. 5
  4. 4.0 4.1 Rhonda's Irregulars, p. 38 ("Raid on Bordon" sidebar)
  5. 5.0 5.1 The Kell Hounds, p. 5
  6. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 33, "Free Worlds League Military (April-July 3014)"
  7. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 36, "Free Worlds League Military (August-December 3014)"
  8. Rhonda's Irregulars, pp. 38-39, "Raid on Bordon"
  9. 9.0 9.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 86, "Phase One: 3030 - 3034"
  10. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 65, "Wasat and Oliver (October)"
  11. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 88, "Phase Two: 3035 - 3040"
  12. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 72, "Ingomish (January)"
  13. Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 57, "17th Arcturan Guards RCT: The Kezla Rams"
  14. 20 Year Update, p. 56, "Marik Militia"
  15. Objective Raids, p. 38, "Marik Militia"
  16. Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 112, "Marik Militia"
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 Field Manual: Updates, p. 149, "13th Marik Militia"
  18. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 48, "Chara Operational Report"
  19. 19.0 19.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 108, "Marik Militia"
  20. 20.0 20.1 20 Year Update, p. 56, "Marik Militia"
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 Field Manual: Updates, p. 160, "Marik Militia"
  22. Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 130, "13th Marik Militia (D)"
  23. Historical: War of 3039 , p. 140, "Free Worlds League Military"

Bibliography