4th Capellan Chargers

History

Tracing its origins back to the Capellan Hegemony Armed Forces, the Fourth Capellan Chargers were amongst the premiere offensive formations of the Capellan Hegemony and, later, the Capellan Confederation. Maintaining the traditions and ideals of the Capellan state, the Fourth Chargers were active throughout the Age of War, with the cavaliers of the Third often being found in the midst of the thickest fighting during Capellan offensives, operating as a part of the armored core of the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces.

The Capellan Chargers were one of the first Capellan brigades to receive BattleMechs, and while the Chargers were never the largest of brigades, the various regiments maintained high standards of excellence in combat and proper decorum. The Fourth Chargers were deactivated during the formation of the Star League Defense Force, with many of the personnel from the Fourth transferring into the service of the Star League where they served with distinction.

Only two regiments of Chargers were maintained as active regiments during the early Star League era, but after the repeal of the Council Edict of 2650 by the Star League Council in 2752 the CCAF began expanding rapidly, and both the Fourth Chargers and a sister regiment, the Third Capellan Chargers, were reactivated.

By 2765 more members of the Lorix Order were serving in the Capellan Chargers than in any other brigade within the CCAF, a reflection in part of the high standards demanded of the Chargers. The commanding officer of the Fourth, Colonel Erica Bagliani, took this a step further than any of the other regiments within the brigade; Bagliani, a Knight Commander of the Lorix order, made full membership of the Lorix Order a prerequisite for joining the ranks of the Fourth. That decision made the Fourth Chargers the single largest assmblage of Lorixian MechWarriors anywhere, with every member of the regiment a proven and skilled fighter when it came to one-on-one fights. Bagliani's decision also worked against the Fourth, however; despite the excellent performance of her soldiers when fighting as individuals, the regiment was hamstrung by a combination of the sense of personal honor each MechWarrior maintained and the inflated sense of bravado that went with it.

Without active combat to test themselves in, the MechWarriors of the Fourth had begun taking to duelling, both within the Fourth and against other CCAF MechWarriors, as a means of letting off steam. Heavily indoctrinated with the brigade mythos of the apparent invincibility of the Capellan Chargers, the Fourth ran the risk that their attitudes could potentially become a critical flaw in combat.

First Succession War

As one of the premier regiments serving the Capellan Confederation at the start of the First Succession War, the Capellan Chargers won many battles against opponents of equal strength or better. However, their unwillingness to retreat or surrender made them vulnerable to nuclear weapons and overwhelming odds. The unit was destroyed by the end of the First Succession War.

The Strategios decided not to rebuild the regiment as their combat philosophy resulted in wasted resources for not enough gain.

Reformation

The Fourth Capellan Chargers was reformed sometime during Operation GREAT FLOOD as one of the Hidden Lion regiments resurrected by Chancellor Daoshen Liao using stockpiled equipment. The new Capellan Chargers used the Augmented Regiment formations commonly found in the CCAF by 3145. They were a front-line regiment of the Capella Commonality.

Operation CELESTIAL REWARD

The Fourth Capellan Chargers were assigned raiding duties during Operation CELESTIAL REWARD. Moving from system to system in the Capellan March, they harassed local militias and attacked infrastructure like drop ports, transit lines and storehouses. They engaged the First Brockton Training Batallion on Lee and the Fifth Avalon Hussars on Cammal but avoided open battles with them.

Officers

2765

The commanding officer was Colonel Erica Bagliani.

3145

The commanding officer was Sang-shao Selena Koros.

Tactics

2765

The MechWarriors of the Fourth were highly skilled at engaging opponents one-on-one.

3145

The Fourth Capellan Chargers are adept in capturing enemy equipment. They are trained to target an enemy BattleMech's legs or the tracks of enemy tanks.

Unit Emblem

3145

A copper and green Maltese cross.

Composition History

2765

Fourth Capellan Chargers

The Fourth Chargers were a regular regiment of fanatical loyalty and were based on the world of Aer.

3145

4th Capellan Chargers (Regular/Reliable)(60% Strength)

• CO: Sang-shao Selena Koros

2nd Capellan Gryphons (Regular/Reliable)(55% Strength)

• CO: Kong-zhong-shao Filips Riga

Knights' Armored Lancers (2 Battalions/Green/Questionable)(75% Strength)

• CO: Zhong-shao Wai Choi Wong

Beta Phalanx (Regular/Questionable)(70% Strength)

• CO: Zhong-shao Luc Hunsinger

Notes:

The unit had an "A" Equipment Rating. They had numerous Assassins and Firebees. They were an Augmented Regiment.

Rules

Game Rules

The Fourth prefers to disable enemy units rather than destroying them outright, both to capture additional equipment, and to leave the vanquished crews alive to spread word of their prowess. Instead of attacking normally in the Weapon Attack Phase, any Fourth Chargers unit may elect to fire only a single weapon. If the weapon hits, the controlling player may opt to reroll any torso result against a ’Mech or any result against a vehicle that does not generate a roll on the Motive System Damage Table. If the new die result indicates an location blocked by partial cover, the hit is lost.

Bibliography

• Field Manual: 3145
• Field Report: Capellan Confederation 2765