Difference between revisions of "2nd Sword of Light"
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==Composition==
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==Composition History==
  
 
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Revision as of 03:04, 13 November 2010

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Representing the Pillar of Steel, or the military, in Combine society, the Second Sword of Light was one of the most prestigious unit in the DCMS. The elite Second took part in some of the most notable Combine military actions, but also had been involved in some of their darkest moments, including the Kentares Massacre and an attempted coup against the Coordinator that led to the unit being disbanded.


History

Formation


Age of War

In 2475, the first use of BattleMechs by the Draconis Combine against another BattleMech force was a failure of spectacular proportions. After this defeat, the Second was issued the Combine's first "modern" BattleMech, the Von Rohrs, and assigned to the command of Colonel Ibis Von Rohrs.

Succession Wars

In the second decade of the 30th century, the Second Sword, along with the 20th Dieron Regulars and 4th Proserpina Hussars, headed a massive multi-regiment assault on the Tamar Pact, under the overall command of General Tugima Travison.[1]

As a young officer, future Coordinator Takashi Kurita rose to fame in the Second Sword with his leadership and battlefield prowess, inspiring the already elite unit to even greater heights. Takashi eventually rose to command the regiment's heavy assault battalion prior to his promotion to the Otomo in 3000.[2]

The Second Sword was one of the more notable units to take part in the Third Battle of Mallory's World in 3013, eventually being driven back after the death of First Prince Ian Davion.[3] Upon learning Prince Hanse Davion was pinned down during his attempted escape from Halstead Station, Takashi personally led the Second Sword in an attempt to capture or kill his honored foe.[4]

The Second while under the command of Lord Yorinaga Kurita, returned to Mallory's World in 3016, with 36th Dieron Regulars. Tai-sa Kurita attempted to avenge himself on Colonel Morgan Kell for stoping him from taking body of Ian Davion three years earlier. During the assault, the 36th Dieron managed pin down the first battalion of the Hounds, while Lord Kurita lead the Second Sword to attempt to destroy Morgan Kell's Second Battlion. After discovering his location in a defensive fortification, Kell challenged him to samuari's duel. Honor bounded by such act, Tai-sa Kurita complied. The battle two dueled and then Kurita was defeated by Colonel Kell using rules of duel against him forcing him to withdraw.[5]

4th Succession War

In late 3021 The Second suffered severe casualties assisting in the defense of the Kurita world of Dromini VI against large scale operations by the Wolf's Dragoons mercenary unit employ of House Steiner. During the fighting, a light Kurita scout lance led by Tai-i Minobu Tetsuhara encountered Jaime Wolf himself, whose BattleMech (an Archer painted in blue and gold) was seriously damaged and overheated. Following the warrior code of Bushido, Tetsuhara allowed the respected enemy to withdraw instead of finishing him off in an uneven battle[6].

War of 3039


Ronin Wars


Clan Invasion

In late 3051, the unit was assigned to help defend the district capital Alshain against Clan Ghost Bear during the Fifth Wave of Operation Revival. Using mobile tactics, the Second was able to do severe damage to the invading forces, and made successful use of several traps, at one point nearly destroying the 3rd Bear Guards. Ultimately, they were forced to retreat off-world, but did so in good order. [7]

Operation Bulldog

The Second Sword partipated in Operation Bulldog in 3059, where it retook the world of Hyner from Third Jaguar Cavaliers. The unit then moved to garrison the world of Albiero.

Dominion War

In 3062, the 2nd Sword was relieved by the heavily damaged 22nd Dieron Regulars from garrison duty on Albiero, to participate in war against the Clan Ghost Bear. The Second Sword struck the 283rd Battle Cluster on Garstedt with only half its forces., as the other half was used to strike the Ghost Bear Dominion's world of Constance, in order to lure some of Ghost Bear units back from the Combine. Elements of the Second on Garstedt braved the Clan's onslaught until the Tenth Ghost Regiment arrived to assist in the fighting. Though extremely damaged, tradition kept the unit from being decommissioned[8].

Federated Suns Incursion


Jihad

See also: Battle of Luthien (Jihad)

Li Sak To became embittered by what he perceived as a lack of support from the DCMS during the Combine-Ghost Bear War and he tolerated sentiments propagated by the Black Dragon Society within the unit. In December 3067 and under the direction of the Society, To initiated a coup on Luthien, with the support of a majority of the 2nd Sword. Tai-sa Kiko Samohira led almost a battalion's worth of Loyalist MechWarriors and support crews in a mutiny against To's authority. Very few Loyalists survived through the battle's conclusion in 3074, due to their exuberance in seeking retaliation against the Black Dragons of the unit. [9]

By the end of the fighting on Luthien in early 3075, over 90% of the regiment has been destroyed. The remaining Black Dragon sympathizers surrendered and were executed without trial shortly thereafter. The Coordinator then took the unprecedented move of permanently striking the dishonored 2nd Sword of Light from the rosters of the DCMS, forming in its place the 9th Sword of Light around the handful of Loyalist survivors.[9][10]


Officers

Tactics

The "Steel Dragon" preferred open set actions.


Composition History

3050

  • 2nd Sword of Light (Expanded Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)

3059[14]

  • 2nd Sword of Light (Expanded Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)
Of the 72 OmniMechs, many are heavies with a few lighter units for scout missions. Through the 'first salvage' right after each battle, many 'Mechs feature clan weapons.

3067[15]

  • 2nd Sword of Light (Expanded Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)
  • 43rd Aerospace Wing: Striking Serpents (2 Wings/Elite/Reliable)
    • Attached Aerospace support.
  • 3rd Luthien Guard: The Stormwalkers (2 Armor Battalions/Elite/Fanatical)
    • Attached Armor support.
  • 71st Mechanized Infantry (Battalion/Elite/Fanatical)
    • Attached Infantry support.

Notes

Homeworld: Buckminster

All Sword of Light regiments used a flat red paint scheme in the field and on parade. The Second Sword used a steel colored Kurita crest to denote their regiment, painted on each BattleMech's left shoulder. The symbol of the regimental division, a blazing sword, appeared on every 'Mech's back and on the front of the right leg.

In addition to the House Kurita crest and regimental symbol, the Second Battalion of the Second Sword of Light wore the flag of Kentares IV on its 'Mechs. Ever since the Second Battalion's participation in the long-ago Kentares Massacre, its MechWarriors had painted the flag of Kentares IV on the back upper-right torso of their BattleMechs as a reminder of their predecessors' willingness to sacrifice their own honor in service to House Kurita and the Draconis Combine[14].


Rules

  • The Black Dragon Society followers of the unit (during the Battle of Luthien) enjoy a modifier to all initiative rolls and when they outnumber their opponents, they always win initiative.
  • During the Luthien campaign, the Loyalists get modifiers in all Ranged Combat and Physical Attacks when facing a Black Dragon member of the unit.


References

  1. ↑ House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 81
  2. ↑ House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 87
  3. ↑ House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 89
  4. ↑ House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 90
  5. ↑ Warrior: Coupé p. 62: Yorinaga retells story of his battle with Colonel Morgan Kell during the Fourth Battle for Mallory's World
  6. ↑ Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook), p. 27
  7. ↑ Invading Clans (sourcebook) pp. 27-28
  8. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 111, "2nd Sword of Light" unit profile.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, pp. 6-7, "Combatants"
  10. ↑ Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, p. 29, "The Dragon's Teeth: Key Military Commands - Sword of Light"
  11. ↑ Warrior: Coupé, pp. 62-64: Yorinaga tells his son of his battle against Morgan Kell, while in command of the 2nd Sword of Light
  12. ↑ House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 137
  13. ↑ 20 Year: Update, p. 41: Benjamin District, Baldur Prefecture - unit listing.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 85 "2nd Sword of Light" unit profile. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "FM-DC85" defined multiple times with different content
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Field Manual: Updates, p. 118, Pesht Prefecture listed unit deployment.


Bibliography

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