1st Somerset Strikers
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Template:InfoBoxStateUnit The 1st Somerset Strikers was an independent BattleMech Company operating from the Draconis Combine Jumpship Katana with the intention of liberating the planet Somerset from Clan Jade Falcon.
Contents
Unit History
The genesis of the Strikers stems from its overall commander Adam Steiner. A member of the cadet line, descended from Simon Borge-Steiner, who refused the Archonship in 2914 in favor of his more capable sister Tatyana Steiner, Adam was born on Somerset, attending the Military Academy of Somerset as a MechWarrior. Graduating with honors, while many attributed it to his famous last name, the untried Adam quickly secured the rank of Major and a position as an instructor at the famed Nagelring on the basis of his tactical and strategic acumen in 3049. [1] [2]
Appalled upon learning of the fall of his homeworld to Clan Jade Falcon during the opening waves of the Clan Invasion, Adam successfully convinced the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth that he be allowed to launch a reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines to gain valuable intelligence on the invaders. Leading an ad-hoc, seven member multi-national unit which was dubbed the 1st Somerset Strikers, Adam's unconventional unit would take an indirect route to Somerset and, against all odds, succeed in defeating the second-line forces in control of it and retake the world for the Federated Commonwealth in November of 3050. Unfortunately, with Somerset now so far behind the Clan line of advance, the AFFC refused the Strikers' pleas for reinforcements to hold the world and ordered the Strikers to retreat back to FedCom space, with a bitter Adam forced to watch as the Falcons effortlessly recaptured Sommerset during their fifth invasion wave.[3] [2]
Unbowed, in early 3052 Adam was able to successfully convince the AFFC high command to let him lead another behind the lines raid, this time aimed at Barcelona. Leading a larger body of troops based around the core of the original Strikers, Adam built upon his lessons of his previous success and succeeded in recapturing the planet for the Federated Commonwealth. [2] The Strikers would be disbanded the inital invasion. [1]
Fictional Counterpart
Shortly after the Battle of Tukayyid, the Tharkad Broadcast Company would release a semi-fictionalized holoseries based on Adam's exploits during the invasion, mixing in the battles on Barecelona into his initial raid and recapture of Somerset. Intended as a morale boosting exercise, the poorly reviewed series would successfully help to instill national pride in the Lyran youth and sell trillions of S-Bills of merchandise in the process. [1] [2]
Officers
Organization
- Major Adam Steiner, Commanding Officer. (Pilots Axman and Awesome)
- Rachel Specter, Intelligence and Tactical Officer.
- Captain Zachary Miles Hawkins, MechWarrior. (Pilots Mauler)
- Lieutenant Ciro Ramirez, MechWarrior. (Pilots Wolfhound)
- Valten Ryder, MechWarrior. (Pilots Centurion and Bushwacker)
- Cadet Katiara Kylie, aerospace pilot
- Franklin Sakamoto, All trades. (Pilots Awesome and Hatamoto-Chi)[citation needed]
Canonicity
The 1st Somerset Strikers' largest source of information is the 1st Somerset Strikers sourcebook, which is considered to be an apocryphal reference on BattleTechWiki, not suitable for citing in regards to canon events and characters, as it details the (real world) BattleTech: The Animated Series cartoon. Catalyst Game Labs has declared the sourcebook, while an official product, non-canon, as the events of the cartoon are presumed to be presented to a target audience of BattleTech universe children, and not necessarily a factual representation of actual canon events (as discussed in-character above). This article, however, does discuss the canon & official history of the unit, using canon citations, as noted in the References section below.