4th Tau Ceti Rangers

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Formerly a top-rated mercenary command with roots in the original Star League Defense Force's 81st Mechanized Infantry Division, the 4th Tau Ceti Rangers accepted permanent Capellan sponsorship and became the first unit in the Citizens' Honored Division. The homeworld of the 4th Tau Ceti Rangers is Krin.

History

Formation

Star League Era

In 2764, the 4th Tau Ceti Rangers were assigned, as a part of the 81st Mechanized Infantry Division, LVIII Corps, Seventh Army, to District 3 within the Capellan Confederation Military Region, transferred to an undisclosed district within the Periphery by 2765, where it suffered heavy losses. The 81st was disbanded by 2766. While it is unknown as to what happened to the 4th in the interim, by 2784 they had been absorbed by the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces.

Succession Wars

One of the oldest units in the Capellan armed forces, the Rangers entered Liao service shortly after the departure of Aleksandr Kerensky. Among its many battle honors, the Rangers took part in the attacks on the Marik worlds of New Delos and Galloway VI and later saw considerable action against House Kurita, repeatedly disputing ownership of the planets Caph and Northwind in the late 29th century.

In the ill-fated Capellan attack on Emerson at the onset of the Second Succession War, the Rangers lost over half its effective strength and over two-thirds of its BattleMechs. Reformed as a single strong battalion under the command of Major Hamilton Branderberg, the Rangers have retained a hereditary line of Branderbergs as commanding officers and have grown to two strong battalions.

Between 2832 and 2834, as part of the task group assigned to defend the Tikonov Commonality against attacks by House Davion, the 4th captured numerous Davion Marauders. The flexibility and mobility of this design particularly impressed Colonel Branderberg, and since then, the unit’s commanders have sought to acquire as many of these Mechs as possible.

With the outbreak of the Third Succession War, the Rangers were transferred to the Liao-Marik border, where its high proficiency made it ideal as a quick-reaction force against Marik raiders. It has remained in this fire-brigade role throughout the war, participating in the valiant defense of Les Halles in 2952.

At the close of the century, the Rangers returned to duty along the Tikonov Commonality borders, finding action again on Rio in 2980 against House Davion. At present the 4th is one of the more stable units in the Capellan armed forces. Though much of its equipment has been salvaged many times over, the esprit of the officers and men remains remarkably high, and the unit is capable of giving a good account of itself.

4th Succession War

The units 1st battalion took heavy casualties in the failed defense of Tikonov and retreated to Highspire. Later it raided Axton as the only successful raid of Operation Riposte and gathered informations about another NAIS research facility on Bethel, they also took a heavy toll on the 1st NAIS Cadet Cadre.

In April 3029 the 1st, together with the 2nd battalion, had not seen any fighting until now, were used in Operation Intruders Communion as a distraction force landing on Bethel on the 9th of April. Though the unit took heavy losses, from the Davion Light Guards' reinforced delta company, the unit successfully distracted the defending forces to allow the Maskirovka agents to raid their target and withdraw. The unit returned to Sian with the agents.

Shortly afterwards the 1st battalion was driven off Remshield after failing to successfully defend the planet.

On September 7th, 3029, the 2nd battalion was dispatched with the Death Commandos to raid the Davion world of Kathil. The unit was assigned to attack the Median Power Company. The Rangers faced elements of the newly formed 1st Kathil Uhlans. In a desperate battle the unit was ultimately defeated by the Uhlans. The unit's own DropShips surrendered as well and in exchanged for their repatriation to Tikonov they gave service to Morgan Hasek-Davion in his raid on Sian.

Xin Sheng Campaign

After the ejection of Isis Marik, Free Worlds League the border became the main hotspot for the Confederation. The 4th was assigned to the region to shield Sian from incoming League raids. In 3060 a border skirmish occurred; the 4th was then deployed from their base on Krin. They spread themselves to multiple planets, making it appear to the enemy that they were garrisoning three different worlds. Which kept the League from seeing any tempting targets to raid. Mikhail Zul-Lee earned the Grand Cordon of Merit for his strategic plans in guiding the Rangers while they were spread-out on multiple worlds.

Officers

As of 3025, the Commanding Officer was Colonel Altman Branderberg

As of 3050, the Commanding Officer was Colonel Jacoby Jax

As of 3063, the Commanding Officer was Sang-shao Shelly Jax.

Composition History

3025

• 4th Tau Ceti Rangers (2 BattleMech Battalions)
  • 1st Battalion CO: Major Willemina Sum
  • 2nd Battalion CO: Major Jacoby Jax

3050

'Mech

• 4th Tau Ceti Rangers (1 Battalion)

3063

'Mech

• 4th Tau Ceti Rangers (1 Regiment)
  • XO/ 1st Battalion: Zhong-shao Daniel Jax
  • 2nd Battalion: Zhong-shao Ernesto "Big Ernie" Hollyfeld
  • 3rd Battalio: Zhong-shao Mikhail Zul-Lee

Aerospace

• Tau Ceti Hard Air (1 Wing)
  • Wing Commander: Kong-zhong-shao Tara Michell

Armor

• Tau Ceti Heavy Cavalry (1 Company)
  • Armor Commander: Sao-Shao Angela Albright

3067

• 4th Tau Ceti Rangers (1 Regiment) - CO: Zhong-shao Daniel Jax
• Tau Ceti Hard Air (1 Wing) - CO: Kong-zhong-shao Gary Simpson
• Tau Ceti Heavy Cavalry (1 Company) CO: Sao-Shao Marcus Gabrielle

Gallery

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• Camoliao4thtaucetilancer.png

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Notes

• Originally, it seems there was at least one other Tau Ceti Rangers regiment in the CCAF, the 1st Tau Ceti Rangers. That unit was dissolved in 3007. Many of its former soldiers when on to form the Waco Rangers Mercenary company. It is unclear whether there were ever any other Tau Ceti Rangers regiments.

Bibliography

• 20 Year Update
• Field Manual: Capellan Confederation
• Field Manual: Mercenaries
• Field Manual: Update
• House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)
• NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1
• NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2
• The Star League
• Warrior: Riposte
• Warrior: Coupé