Head Hunters

Insignia of the Head Hunters
Head Hunters
Affiliation Mercenary
Parent Command Independent

History

Succession Wars

The Head Hunters were once a regiment sized unit. After fighting with the Black Warriors in 2914, they were reduced to a battalion sized unit. With help from the Free Worlds League (Orloff Military Academy) they retrained and re-equipped. During the Marik Civil War they fought as a loyalist unit against Anton Marik's forces. They fought on Sophie's World, but retreated when the 1st Atrean Dragoons were savaged by Wolf's Dragoons Alpha and Delta regiments.[1] They later partnered with the Home Guard regiment to inflict heavy losses on the 5th Regulan Hussars on Holt.[2] The Head Hunters savaged the Hussars' command company, forcing the unit to leave the world. They then pursued the 3rd Marik Militia to Park Place. Along with the Home Guard and 15th Marik Militia the Head Hunters forced the Third Militia to surrender.[3]

They showed their reliability again in the Andurien Secession under Duncan Marik, fighting on Xanthe III. Landing on Xanthe, they faced the 3rd Defenders of Andurien and 5th Defenders of Andurien. Fortunately they were joined by the loyal 10th Marik Militia and the 15th Marik Militia. They were not held in high regard by the regular forces, but they were the largest command after several strikes by the Defenders of Andurien.[4] The Andurien campaign cost them half of their force. Once reinforcements arrived on Xanthe, the Head Hunters relocated to Vanra to rebuild.[5]

The LCCC misunderstood the gift of the Duke of Orloff to the Head Hunters in form of refit kits. The FWLM accused them of theft, claiming they stole the equipment but the Duke protected them in offering contacts to their new employee. These charges caused the Head Hunters to leave in the mid-3060s, ending a century and a half of loyal service. The Marian Hegemony signed the unit to a contract.[6]

The Hegemony tasked them with the defense of Lummatii[7], a former Lothian League planet. Initially they were assigned to protect the world against pirates. On this world a well-supplied rebel force made life difficult for the Head Hunters. The mercenaries were ill-equipped to handle an insurrection, and suffered heavy losses from ambushes. The MAF were unhappy with this situation and accused the command of not fighting hard enough. The Head Hunters contended that the insurrection must have received help from off-world sources, and they weren't equipped to deal with the insurgents anyway. They requested a MAF Special Forces unit be assigned to the world to deal with the insurrection.[8]

Dark Age Era

The Dark Age Era found the Head Hunters still working for the Hegemony. The invasion of the Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey found them in 3147on on Lahti, were two of the Hunters' companies were captured by Camacho's Caballeros. The status of the captives and the rest of the unit is unknown.[9]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of Head Hunters
Alexander Chu late Succession Wars period[6]
Major Bruce Chu 3025[10]
Major Ester Schold 3050[11]
Major Sharon Karasek 3067[6]
Major Rosina Cowley 3145[12]

Notes

Every unit member was a student of the Orloff Military Academy.[6]

Tactic

The Hunters are experts in small unit combat and prefer urban terrain (offensive/defensive) for combat.[6]

Support

They possess no DropShip transports and cover 60% of their maintenance needs with their own technicians.[6]

Composition History

3025

Head Hunters (Green/Questionable)[10]

  • CO: Major Bruce Chu

3028

Head Hunters (Regiment/Green/Questionable)[13]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Uhuru. [13]

3050

Head Hunters (Battalion/Green/Reliable)[11]

  • CO: Colonel Ester Schold[11]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Uhuru. [11]

3067

Head Hunters (1 Battalion/Green/Questionable)[6]

  • CO/Able Company: Major Sharon Karasek
  • XO/Bravo Company: Captain Jack Sterling
  • Charlie Company: Captain Jacob Best

The smallest segment is a section of two 'Mechs for mutual support. A company usually contains two demi–companies or six sections. Many fast designs of medium weight are employed.

3145

Head Hunters (1 Battalion/Regular/Questionable)[12]

  • CO: Major Rosina Cowley[12]
- As of 3145 the Head Hunters were an "E"-rated mercenary command, operating at eighty percent of full strength. The Head Hunters were based in the Reykavis system.[12]

3147

Head Hunters (at least more than two companies).[14]

Gallery

References

  1. Historical: Brush Wars, pp. 23-24
  2. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 30
  3. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 32
  4. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 74
  5. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 89
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Mercenaries Supplemental, p. 38, "The Head Hunters Profile"
  7. Mercenaries Supplemental, p. 69
  8. Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 68, "The Head Hunters Profile"
  9. Shattered Fortress, pp. 89
  10. 10.0 10.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 109
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 20 Year Update, p. 57, "Free Worlds League Deployment Table"
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Field Manual: 3145, p. 182, "Notable Mercenary Forces - Marian Hegemony"
  13. 13.0 13.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p.87
  14. Shattered Fortress, pp. 89

Bibliography