1st Atrean Dragoons

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History

Early Years

The First Atrean Dragoons were originally founded in the twenty-third century as a part of the armed forces of the Marik Commonwealth, with the brigade being founded during the early days of the Free Worlds League. The Atrean Dragoons would continue to serve as the provincial forces of the Marik Commonwealth until the League had expanded to the point that the forces of the Free Worlds Guards were insufficient to garrison the League's borders; when that point was reached, the League Parliament applied pressure to the Marik Commonwealth to loan a portion of the Dragoons to the League to for the purposes of federal defense.[1]

Age of War

The relationship between the Atrean Dragoons and the Free Worlds League Military was formalised in 2528, when Captain-General Albert Marik made the loan permanent in response to the eruption of the Second Andurien War between the Free Worlds League and the Capellan Confederation. Albert Marik attached a single stipulation to the formal transfer; the First and the other regiments of the Dragoons were required to honor their roots in the Marik Commonwealth by continuing the tradition of recruiting graduates from the military academies on Atreus. The First took heavy damage during the Andurien Wars and had to rebuild extensively - this would not be the first time that the First skirted close to having to be completely rebuilt as a result of damage taken on operations.[1]

The Star League

While the First remained federal troops the entire brigade was loyal to the office of the Captain-General, allowing whichever member of House Marik was holding the office at the time to employ the Dragoons for his or her own purposes. These purposes - officially all undertaken in the interest of federal security, but often either of a federal or personal nature - included those that might have caused other federal units to hesitate, and with the increased tension between the Free Worlds League and the Star League following the Marik Civil War Captain-General Ewan Marik wasn't above using the Dragoons as a martial extension of his belligerant and antagonistic policies towards the Lyran Commonwealth, although the First had to be extensively rebuilt again before it coud be tasked as it had taken heavy damage during the Civil War. Ewan Marik's son, Captain-General Kenyon Marik, continued to use the Atrean Dragoons to make life difficult for Star League Defense Force garrisons in the Free Worlds League.[1]

Anton's Revolt

The First Atrean Dragoons were deployed on Sophie's World to delay the forces loyal to Anton Marik during his revolt. At that time the First Dragoons were a heavy regiment that specialized in defensive tactics.[2] Alongside the 6th Marik Militia and the Head Hunters mercenary regiment, the First Dragoons faced the rebel 3rd Marik Militia as well as Wolf's Dragoons Delta and Epsilon regiments.[3] This action by the First Atrean Dragoons was nothing more than an attempt by Janos' forces to buy time for a counterattack. After tying down forces loyal to Anton for several months, Jaime Wolf reassigned his Alpha regiment to support Delta and Epsilon. The First Atrean Dragoons tried to break out past Alpha regiment, but were unsuccessful. The Delta regiment smashed into the Atrean Dragoon's rear, and the Atrean Dragoons were forced to surrender. The survivors were rounded up and sent to prison camps on New Delos.[4]

Andurien Secession

During the Andurien War, the First Atrean Dragoons was one of several units used to interdict supplies to the rebellious Duchy. Although they raided Shiro III and Conquista, they remained in reserve for the rest of the war.[5][6]

Operation Guerrero

Deployed to Asuncion during the Zion Crisis, the First ran into considerable resistance, including the murder of an entire infantry Squad which was patrolling the capital. The 'Mechs of the Dragoons were deployed in response, and the rebels escalated their attacks accordingly, until a mob stormed the Dragoons' compound on March 2, 3058, overrunning the infantry, and continuing despite numerous warning shots fired by the 'Mech Regiment. Eventually, two MechWarriors panicked, firing into the crowd, resulting in over two hundred civilian deaths. This incident became known as the Herat Massacre, and resulted in the First being rapidly pulled off the world.[6]

Despite being cleared of wrongdoing, the multiple investigations that occurred after the Herat Massacre resulted in very low morale for the entire unit. Tension between the First Dragoons and their supporting unit, Pfeister's Furies, led to increased friction between the two units.[7]

Jihad

The First Atrean Dragoons attacked Zebebelgenubi in 3068, but were forced offworld in 3069.[8] They later assaulted Arcadia.[9]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 1st Atrean Dragoons
Colonel Alicia Denichuk 3025[10]
Colonel John Orzehoskie 3050 - 3067[11][12]

Tactics

The First Atrean Dragoons prefer to engage enemy forces at long range, via LRMs, Arrow IV missiles, or artillery bombardments.[6]

Composition History

2765

First Atrean Dragoons (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[13]

- At this point in time the First was stationed on Atreus.[1]

2786 - 2821

1st Atrean Dragoons (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical) [14]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Atreus (FWL). In 2821 the command was reduced to 50 of its strength and was deployed at Atreus (FWL). [14]

2830

1st Atrean Dragoons (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical) [15]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Atreus with an operational readiness of 97 percent. [15]

2864

1st Atrean Dragoons (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical) [15]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Atreus with an operational readiness of 62 percent. [15]

3025

First Atrean Dragoons (Regular/Fanatical)[10]

  • CO: Colonel Alicia Denichuk

3050

First Atrean Dragoons (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[11]

  • CO: Colonel John Orzehoskie
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on McKenna.

3059

First Atrean Dragoons (1 Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[6]

- A heavy regiment, two lances of Ravens used as scouts and spotters

First Atrean Dragoons Air Wing (Ogonodov's Defenders) (1 Wing/Veteran/Fanatical)[6]

- Extensive use of heavy aerospace fighters

Pfeister's Furies (1 Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[6]

  • Armor Commander: Colonel Kathryn Pfeister

- Formerly a mercenary unit, retains original organization including an armor Regiment, a Mechanized Infantry Battalion and two Lances of 'Mechs

Ninety-second League Security Battalion (1 Battalion/Veteran/Fanatical)[6]

  • Troop Commander: Lt. Colonel Kurt Ondrusky

Notes

The unit's motto is "Decus et tutamen" (Honor and Defense).[6]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Field Report 2765: FWLM, p. 9, "Atrean Dragoons"
  2. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 23
  3. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 23
  4. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 24
  5. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 70
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 50, "1st Atrean Dragoons Profile"
  7. Field Manual: Updates, p. 147
  8. Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 30
  9. Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 78
  10. 10.0 10.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 108, "FWL Deployment Table"
  11. 11.0 11.1 20 Year Update, p. 56, "FWLM Deployment Table"
  12. Field Manual: Updates, p. 147
  13. Field Report 2765: FWLM, p. 9, "Regimental Status"
  14. 14.0 14.1 ’’ First Succession War’’, p. 138
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 ’’ Second Succession War’’, p. 98

Bibliography