Editing 8th Bear Cuirassiers (Rasalhague Dominion)

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image = 
| Designation = Eighth Bear Cuirassiers
| Formed = 
| Disbanded = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname = The Blinding Drive
| Affiliation = [[Rasalhague Dominion]]<br>[[Clan Ghost Bear]] (previous)
| Parent Command = [[Delta Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|Delta Galaxy]]
| Sub-Command = 
}}

==History==
=== Operation Revival ===
The Eighth Bear Cuirassiers fought on the following worlds during the invasion of the [[Inner Sphere]].

====Wave One====
The 34th Striker [[Trinary]] of the 8th was assigned to taken the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] world of [[Damien]] during the Ghost Bears' first invasion wave in March [[3050]]. Supposedly defended by the [[Black Omen]] [[mercenary unit]], the 34th Trinary instead were disappointed to discover the mercenaries had disappeared, leaving a leaving a small garrison before moving on after six days of fruitless searching. Recognizing they had little chance against frontline [[Clan]] troops, the Omen however had gone into hiding and waited, emerging to overrun the small Clan force the Ghost Bears left behind two months later.<ref name=FMM-38>''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 38 "The Black Omen"</ref> <ref name=MSII-24>''Mercenary Supplemental II'', p. 24 "The Black Omen"</ref> <ref name=IC-30>''Invading Clans'', p. 30 "Clan Ghost Bear Occupation Zone (As of July 3052) - First Wave - Damien (FRR)"</ref> <ref name=ER3052-41>''Era Report: 3052'', p. 41</ref><ref>''The Tools We Serve''</ref>

Enraged by the mercenaries' treachery, the Eightth Cuirassiers joined with [[Beta Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|Beta Galaxy]] to retake Damien during their second wave, offering no mercy to the forces of the Black Omen. Engaging in unorthodox tactics, including wrapping their [[BattleMech]]s in huge swathes of burlap before submerging their 'Mechs in an ice lake to mask their initial counterattack against the arriving Bears, the Omen gave as good they got, taking heavy losses but surviving until the arrival of a [[DCMS]] task force responding to a distress call offering Clantech salvage allowed them to escape offworld.<ref name=FMM-38/> <ref name=MSII-24/> <ref name=IC-30/> <ref name=ER3052-41/> <ref name=FMWC-90>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 90 "Delta Galaxy: The Blitzkrieg"</ref><ref>''The Tools We Serve''</ref>

====Wave Five====
While not initially among the [[cluster]]s of Delta bid by [[Khan]] [[Bjorn Jorgensson]] to take the [[Draconis Combine]] world of [[Thessalonika]], when the defending [[12th Sun Zhang Academy Cadre]] and [[8th Alshain Regulars]] proved tougher than expected the Eighth Cuirassiers were eventually called down to overwhelm the [[DCMS]] troops. Though the 12th and other conventional elements were easily crushed, the Eighth Alshain proved frustratingly elusive until one of Delta's WarShips by chance discovered a small research station on one of the world's moons which had been relaying the Bears' troop movements. Once the station was captured, depriving the DCMS unit with its source of intel, the Eighth Alshain finally fell.<ref name=IC-26> 26-27 "Wave Five: The Roaring Bear"</ref> <ref name=FMWC-90/>

====[[Tukayyid]]====
As part of Delta Galaxy, the 8th Bear Cuirassiers were among the Clusters to see action during the [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]]. Assigned to take the secondary objective city of Luk together with Beta Galaxy, Delta's advance was checked when the [[91st Division (ComStar)|91st]] and [[12th Division (ComStar)|Twelfth Divisions]] managed to trap Delta's [[20th Polar Bear Attack (Clan Ghost Bear)|20th Polar Bear Attack Cluster]] and inflict heavy losses. This action forced Beta and Delta to withdraw and try to reinforce Alpha Galaxy's drive on Spanac. <ref name=T-48>''Tukayyid'', pp. 48-56 "Campaign: Clan Ghost Bear"</ref> <ref name=IC-29>''Invading Clans'', p. 29 "Tukayyid: World of Fate"</ref> <ref name=FMWC-82>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 82 "The Roaring Bear"</ref> <ref name=FMWC-90/>

The combined forces of [[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Ghost Bear)|Alpha]], Beta and Delta striking at the primary target of Spanac forced the [[Com Guards]] to withdraw from the city. Beta and Delta were left to garrison Spanac while an unsuccessful Alpha attempted to take Luk. <ref name=T-48/> <ref name=IC-29/> <ref name=FMWC-82/>

===Dominion War===
As of [[3061]], the Eighth Cuirassiers were stationed on the [[Ghost Bear Dominion]] world of [[Toffen]]. <ref name=FMWC-163>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 163 "The Warden Clans (Deployment as of 17 January 3061) - Clan Ghost Bear - Delta Galaxy"</ref>

During the [[Combine-Ghost Bear War]], the Eighth faced the newly formed [[44th Dieron Regulars]] on [[Najha]], obliterating the green unit completely.<ref>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 107</ref> The Eighth returned to Toffen after the war's conclusion. <ref name=fmu77/>

===Jihad===
As part of Delta Galaxy, the Eighth Cuirassiers supported Beta Galaxy's actions on [[Pesht]]. The Eighth then participated in taking [[Eltanin]], [[Alya]], [[Kervil]], [[Sabik]] and [[Skondia]].<ref>''Field Report: Clans'', p. 9</ref> Though successful, these operations reduced the Eighth to less than half their prewar strength.<ref>''Field Report: Clans'', p. 11</ref> The Black Wing was totally destroyed in the fighting over [[Skondia]], but their sacrifice allowed the ground forces to arrive safely. Since that time, every 'Mech and vehicle of the Cluster has a black wing painted on the right shoulder or flank.<ref name=er3145/>

=== The Dark Age ===
After the Jihad ended, the Eighth Bear Cuirassiers became part of Alpha Galaxy and garrisoned [[Tinaca]]. The unit had rebuilt to 55% of its pre-Jihad strength.<ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 127</ref>   In [[3098]] they were the first Dominion unit to proceed across the [[Draconis Combine]] border. They assaulted [[Mualang]], and inflicted heavy losses on the defending [[Nova Cat Hussars]] in two days. The Hussars eventually withdrew, but the Eighth had inflicted so many losses the Nova Cat unit was disbanded. The Eighth remained on Mualang for almost two years, but were ordered to assault [[Asgard]] with the rest of Alpha Galaxy. The Eighth, and the rest of Alpha, fought hard but couldn't take the world from the defending Nova Cats. A ceasefire in [[3101]] allowed Alpha to withdraw, and the Eighth returned to garrison Mualang.<ref name=er3145>''Era Report: 3145'', pp. 72-73</ref>

In 3098 the Eighth landed on [[Yamarovka]] with the express goal of killing [[Khan]] Santin West. They landed and sprinted directly for the Nova Cat enclave near the city of Chita. They arrived and surrounded the enclave, only to be hit from behind by the Cat's Eye Cluster and Nekoryu Keshik Supernova. After fighting for two hours, they breached the enclave's walls. West was killed in this conflict.<ref>''Historical: Wars of the Republic Era'', p. 19</ref> In December of that same year, the Eighth landed on [[Mualang]] and destroyed all the military facilities on the world. They also smashed the Nova Cat Hussars.<ref>''Historical: Wars of the Republic Era'', p. 26</ref> In August 3099 the Eighth were still on Mualang when the [[DCMS]] sent the [[17th Benjamin Regulars]] and the [[Dragonscales Cluster]] to retake the world. The Eighth instead inflicted heavy losses on the Nova Cats, then drove the Seventeenth offworld.<ref>''Historical: Wars of the Republic Era'', p. 37</ref>

The Eighth Bear Cuirassiers continued to serve as a part of Alpha Galaxy throughout the [[Dark Age]]. Alpha Galaxy continued to be the lead Galaxy for the [[Rasalhague Dominion]], and as such spent a considerable amount of time protecting Alshain, the cultural heart of Clan Ghost Bear. Given that Khan [[Dalia Bekker]] regarded the [[Republic of the Sphere]] with reverence it was a foregone conclusion that Alpha Galaxy would be sent to secure the worlds of [[Alrakis]] and [[Konstance]] as the Inner Sphere began to erupt into widespread warfare again. Having deployed in [[3135]], Alpha Galaxy only remained in place until Omega Galaxy secured [[Vega]].<ref name="FM:3085p162">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 162, "Alpha Galaxy"</ref>

Although Alpha Galaxy wasn't around for subsequent events leading up to the formation of the [[Vega Protectorate]], many in Alpha came to feel that steps should have been taken to prevent Omega Galaxy from "going native" at the time, and given Khan Bekkar's conservative views there was a building sense of expectation that Alpha would be called on to remove Omega's taint.<ref name="FM:3085p162"/>

==Officers==
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Rank
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Command
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the 8th Bear Cuirassiers (Clan Ghost Bear)'''
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the 8th Bear Cuirassiers (Ghost Bear Dominion)'''
|-
| [[Star Colonel]]||[[Dana Vishio]]||[[3062]] - [[3067]]<ref>''Invading Clans'', p. 40</ref><ref name=fmu77>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 77</ref>
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the 8th Bear Cuirassiers (Rasalhague Dominion)'''
|-
| Star Colonel||[[Mika Kabrinski]]||[[3145]]<ref name="FM:3085p172">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 172, "Alpha Galaxy (The Golden Bears)"</ref>
|}

==Tactics==
The Eighth use intensive air strikes to soften an enemy up, born in part from its five [[Star]]s of [[OmniFighter]]s, including a full Star of the massive ''[[Kirghiz]]'' known as The Black Wing. <ref name=FMWC-90/>

==Composition History==
===3050 - 3058===
'''8th Bear Cuirassiers'''
*[[Trinary]] Command
:*[[Star Captain]] [[Trudy Devon]]
:;*Alpha Command Star (10 OmniFighters)
:;Bravo Command Star (10 OmniFighters)
:;Charlie Command Star (10 OmniFighters)
*286th Assault Trinary
:*Star Captain [[Dimon Bekker]]
:;Alpha Assault [[Star]] (5 [[OmniMechs]])
:;Bravo Assault Star (5 OmniMechs)
:;Charlie Assault Star (5 OmniMechs)
*90th Striker Trinary
:*Star Captain [[Della Ortiz]]
:;Alpha Striker Star (5 OmniMechs)
:;Bravo Striker Star (5 OmniMechs)
:;Charlie Striker Star (5 OmniMechs)
*56th Elemental Support Trinary
:*Star Captain [[Tamm Hakimi]]
:;Alpha Elemental Star (25 [[Elementals]])
:;Bravo Elemental Star (25 Elementals)
:;Charlie Elemental Star (25 Elementals)
*47th Fighter [[Binary]]
:*Star Captain [[Endo Kabrinski]]
:;Alpha Fighter Star (10 OmniFighters)
:;Bravo Fighter Star (10 OmniFighters)

===3061===
'''8th Bear Cuirassiers''' (Veteran/Reliable)<ref name= FMWC163 >''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', 163</ref>
:*CO:
:* 5 Trinaries (includes 5 Stars of OmniFighters)
: Note: At this time the unit was stationed on [[Toffen]].<ref name= FMWC163 >''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', 163</ref>

===3062===
'''8th Bear Cuirassiers'''
*Stalking Bears Trinary
:* Star Captain [[Angela Bekker]]
**Command Star
**Striker Star        
**Sweep Star

===3079===
'''8th Bear Cuirassiers ''' (Veteran/Reliable) <ref name =“frc11“>'' Field Report: Clans'' , p. 11</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Hermagor]].<ref name =“frc11“/>

=== 3145 ===
'''8th Bear Cuirassiers''' (Veteran/Reliable)<ref name="FM:3085p172"/>
:- At this point in time the Eighth was stationed on Mualang, and was at ninety percent of full strength; almost ninety percent of the Guards were equipped with [[OmniMech]]s.<ref name="FM:3085p172"/>

==Notes==
* The Eighth's insignia is a soldier mounted on a running bear, against a background of snow and lightning.<ref name=FMWC-90/>

<div class="gamerules">
==Game Rules==
===Dark Age===
The Eighth Bear Cuirassiers are one of the most skilled units in the Dominion ''touman''. They receive a +2 Initiative bonus against opponents. (This bonus is increased to +3 when fighting Nova Cats.) The Eighth's controlling player may choose one unit from the Dominion RAT for each Star instead of rolling a random unit.<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 166</ref>
</div>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Era Report: 3052]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Warden Clans]]''
* ''[[Field Report: Clans]]''
* ''[[Historical: Wars of the Republic Era]]''
* ''[[Invading Clans]]''
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental II]]''
* ''[[Roar of Honor]]'' (novel)
* ''[[The Tools We Serve]]''
* ''[[Tukayyid (scenario pack)]]''

[[Category: Rasalhague Dominion Commands|Bear Cuirassiers, 008th]]