Clean Kill

History

Since the days of its formation in the 3050s, Clean Kill was long driven by the egotism and force of personality of its founder, Major Phormes Bullard, whose leadership created an aggressive fighting force—but one that often suffered from internal rivalries and strained relations with its employers. In fact, in late 3067, shortly after accepting a contract with the Calderon Protectorate (before their Taurian Concordat contract had even expired) the Kill almost came to blows with the Concordat’s Second Taurian Guard when, while pursuing bandits on Althea's Choice, Captain Helen Narbon of the Kill’s Bludgeon Company ran her Charger through the planetary governor’s mansion. After an intense standoff and shaky negotiations, Captain Narbon was arrested to face multiple manslaughter charges, and the Calderon Protectorate—in a rare show of support for its estranged countrymen—subsequently canceled its contract offer. With Narbon’s swift conviction, the loss of one of his closest confidants reportedly drove Major Bullard to heavy drinking. Meanwhile, the termination of their new contract and imminent end of their stay in Concordat space prompted increasing bouts of internal squabbles among the rest of the mercenaries. On 21 January 3068, everything came crashing down when Bullard was found dead in his bunker, apparently from an overdose of sleeping pills and Aldebaran whiskey. The lack of a successor tore the Kill apart as all four of the command’s company leaders claimed the role for themselves. The divided commands promptly withdrew from their base, each seizing a chunk of the command’s supplies, and soon began sniping at one another, heedless of the surrounding countryside. Only when the Headquarters Company’s Sniper lance defected with its commander, CWO Michael Board, to join his lover, Captain Kailynn O’Reilly, and her Crush Company, did the balance of power finally shift. With most of the Kill’s artillery assets under her control, O’Reilly made a final push against the other companies. Captain Charles Stanworth and his Assassin Company ran to ground in the town of Hamford, only to be crushed by Captain Narbon’s replacement, Captain Shahna Richman, and the skilled city fighters of her heavier Bludgeon Company. Reportedly, while trapped in the city, Richman cornered Stanworth and implored him to surrender but was forced to kill the Assassin Company commander when he refused. With Standworth’s death, however, Richman managed to convince most of Assassin Company to join her command. Despite lacking the firepower of O’Reilly’s command, Richman’s forces held the advantage of both mobility and surprise, and they managed to use both to good effect when she threw the remains of Assassin Company in a strike at the remnants of Headquarters and Crush Companies. In the ensuing fighting, the assault ’Mechs of Headquarters Company attempted to close with the Assassins while Crush Company tried to pull back and use its artillery against the larger units. After an hour of prolonged conflict, both forces were heavily battered when Richman’s Bludgeon forces showed up. Unable to defend against the fresh troops, O’Reilly and the remainder of Headquarters Company surrendered rather than die fighting. With the cessation of hostilities, the Kill agreed to reunite under the command of now-Major Richman, with Captain O’Reilly as the unit’s XO. Newly promoted Captains Jennifer Rettig and Brent Potter now lead Assassin and Bludgeon Companies, respectively. Though the Kill’s technicians managed to restore much of the damage to the command’s materiel, the savage fighting and collateral damage prompted the Taurian government to order the Kill expelled from Concordat space. Hasty and desperate negotiations by O’Reilly saved the day, offering a compromise of reparations to the Althea's Choice government in exchange for a renewed contract. Citing the Concordat’s thin border defenses and the assured end of the Clean Kill’s internal troubles, O’Reilly managed to keep the Kill employed and off the Wanted lists.

Officer

Major Phormes Bullard was a leader with a colorful taste in clothing.

Thanks to a combination of expert negotiations and a strong but firm hand, Major Richman has turned the Kill around enough to recover from its near destruction. These same efforts and the resourcefulness of the command’s support staff have even made it possible to recover their full strength in the two years since the dispute. CWO Board and his artillery forces have been folded into O’Reilly’s Crush Company, forging it into a purely vehicular force, while the Crush’s Catapults have been moved into Headquarters Company to produce an all-’Mech force, like Assassin Company. Crush Company now serves the Kill as the anchor force of the battalion, while Headquarters Company serves as mobile support, and Assassin scouts for Bludgeon.

Tactics

The command uses every possible trick (long range bombardment with mass fire) regardless of civilan casualties. Close combat is another preferred tactic .

Support

The unit have enough techs for the daily repairs and have sufficient DropShip support.

Dragoon Ratings

3067

Dragoon Rating: F

Composition

3067

Clean Kill(1 Mixed Battalion/Regular/Reliable)

• CO/Headquarters Company: Major Phormes Bullard
• Assassin Company: Captain Charles Stanworth

- A sole 'Mech company designed for fast strikes and scout missions.

• Bludgeon Company: Captain Helen Narbon

- The Ontos lance and the heavy 'Mechs (75 – 85 tons) are used for brute force

• Crush Company: Captain Kailynn O'Reilly

- 4 Catapults with Arrow IVs + 4 'Mechs + 4 combat vehicles as cover unit.

Bibliography

• Mercenaries Supplemental Update
• Field Manual: Mercenaries Revised