Band of the Damned
Sarna News
Contents
Unit Description
The Band of the Damn was a Spinward based Periphery Pirate Band.
History
Early Years
They first appeared in 3042, where the Damned raided in Draconis Combine world of Hongor. In this first known raid, the Band had stolen a fortune of platinum. This marked the beginning of series of successful raids by the Damned in Combine and Outworlds Alliance. After stealing grain from Kokpety in 3048, the DCMS dispatched the second battalion of the 7th Pesht Regulars to hunt down and destroy the Damned. Later information showed that Damn was working with 7th Pesht's commanding officer, Tai-sa Kurtis Benzinger[1][2] The Damn's inside man made certain to dispatched a poorly equipped and undertrained battalion to come for them. The 2nd Battalion's commander Sho-sa Vance Rezak had his unit chased down the Pirates through the Draconis Rifts for several months until they corner the Damn. On the planet, the two sides fought a fierce two week battle, which inflicted severe damaged to both sides. During the course of the fight, members of the Damned sabotaged the 7th Pesht's JumpShip. Sho-sa Rezak orders his forces into defensive positions, and broadcasts call for reinforcements. However, after month of fighting, no reinforces had arrived to help Kurita fight the Damned. With supplies running low, Rezak orders all-out assault on the Damned.[3] The assault goes successfully, and Rezak defeats the Damn's Leader. In twist, being fed with betray of the Combine, he declares himself as leader of the Damned and integrates his survivors among the Damned numbers.[4]
Under the leadership of Vance Rezak
After taking command of the Damned, he declared war on Draconis Combine for their betrayal of him and his unit. The Banded begun series of vicious raids into the Combine of the first couple years after Rezak took command. The band's raids reaped everything including slaves and brought them to market on the periphery world of Antallos. The planet's city-state, Port Krin, became the Damn's base of operations. Fortunes that the Damned had reaped, allowed Rezak to establish number of estates there. Over the course of the years, the Damned secretly expanded its operation to a barely inhabitable Coreward world, which they named the Rezak's Hole. Here they've created a staging based with repair facilities to allow better penetration of the Combine's unprotected border. The Damn went through extensive efforts to keep their secret activities hidden from other interested factions. Also, Rezak had created network of spies, in Draconis Combine & Outworlds Alliance to monitor activities.[5]
On Antallos, by 3055 the Damned begun to have clashes with rogue AFFC mercenary company known as the Vinson's Vigilantes. The mercenaries had become the adopted guardians’ city-states of Antallos. The Damned had continued to grown in power on Antallos despite having several more clashes with Vigilantes as of 3063. The unit had captured a company's worth of Combine OmniMechs, and had outfitted lance worth with Clan technology The band had been keep in equipment in top condition and been commented that best support in the Periphery.[6] The unit has also expanded to include a Aerospace Squadron and two Battalions worth of Armored Combat Vehicles. Rezek had developed secret partner ship with the Word of Blake, which had one of its agents become imbedded with unit as it’s second in command, known as "Dicky" Smith. In 3064, the Unit suffered a setback when elements of theClan Snow Ravens discovered Rezak's Hole and wiped out Damned garrison forces including; Company worth of BattleMechs, battalion of armor assets, a Aerospace Squadron, and 2 companies worth of the Blake's troops hidden on planet. The bases with all its forces were destroying base and all its assets. This forced the setup operations on Port Krin, which rogue Vigilantes had finally scrummed to in fighting, joined the Damned in force.[7]
Officers
As of 3049, the Commanding Officer of the pirate band was, Pirate King Vance Rezak.[8]
Tactics
As of 3063, the Pirate King Rezak utilized its the Damned's armor and unsupported assets as lure to position an enemy force into position and then brings in his BattleMech forces to sweep in a flanking attack to wiped the enemy out.[9]
Composition
3058
3064
- Band of the Damned - (BattleMech Battalion) - Elite Skilled - CO: Vance Rezak
- Dark Angels (Aerospace Fighter Squadron) - Regular Skilled - CO: Wing Commander "Smack" Krezejski
- Band of the Damned (Combat Vehicles) - (2 x Armor Battalions) - Regular Skilled - CO: Rudolph Callatano
3067
Notes
Game Notes
3063
The Band of the Damned receives the following Force Specific Rules Abilities when using scenario special enhancements. In the beginning of each battle, when fielding Damned's vehicle, if they are number equal or greater than number of BattleMechs on the field, all Damned's forces then receive +1 to their initiative. For every two vehicles fielded by the Damned, receives a +1 to its initiative upwards to maximum +3. However, for every 2 vehicles removed from the board, the bonus goes down by 1. The Damned receives the ability Overrun Combat when facing Draconis Combine forces of lesser experience. When using MW3 RPG rules, Vance Rezak receives Well Connected trait and also has 1 contact somewhere in the Inner Sphere.[12]
References
- ↑ The Periphery (1996) p. 83 - Vance Rezak's Band of the Damned - Damned working with 7th Pesht's CO, so band could have easy pickins.
- ↑ 20 Year Update p. 42 - Deployment Tables - 7th Pesht Regulars’ CO is Tai-sa Kurtis Benzinger.
- ↑ The Periphery (1996) p. 83 - Some details of the battle with Damned and the 2nd Battalion of the 7th Pesht.
- ↑ Field Manual: Periphery p. 127 - Vance Rezak kills The Damn's original leader and takes the leadership of Damn for himself.
- ↑ Field Manual: Periphery p. 127 - Officers - Rezak has connections and spies across the Inner Sphere.
- ↑ Field Manual: Periphery p. 127 - Band of the Damned (BattleMech Battalion) - Damned has elite battalion including company worth of OmniMechs and some best techs in the Periphery.
- ↑ Field Manual: Updates p. 199 - Pirates / Band of the Damned - Snow Ravens attack in 3064, destroy Damned & secret WoB assets on Rezak's Hole.
- ↑ The Periphery (1996) p. 83 - Date of leadership is based when the 7th Pesht was dispatched to hunt down the Damned in 3048 and eight months fight resulted in Rezak declares himself leader.
- ↑ Field Manual: Periphery p. 127 - Tactics - Methods used by Damned as of 3063.
- ↑ The Periphery (1996) pp. 78 & 84 - Periphery Independent (Deployment as of 3058) & Vance Rezak's Band of the Damned - listing shows where the Pirate banded skill level, the latter page shows it was had a single BattleMech Battalion.
- ↑ Field Manual: Updates p. 204 - Deployment Table - Unit shown to be Regiment strength, no details how it broken up of what type forced used.
- ↑ Field Manual: Periphery p. 155 - Periphery Regiments - Band of the Damned's force specific scenario traits and RPG abilities.