Kirkpatrick's Invaders

KirkpatricksInvaders.jpg
Kirkpatrick's Invaders
Previous Designation(s) Kirkpatrick's Bandit Killers
Affiliation Mercenary
Parent Command Independent


History

Bandit Killers

As of 3041, Kirkpatrick's Bandit Killers were a relatively unknown mercenary unit described as a "two-bit merc outfit" among the "real dregs" of Galatea, the Mercenary's Star.

Commanded by Major James Kirkpatrick, the unit had a freelance commander slot in 3041. Since Major Kirkpatrick would not give a lance commander position to anyone just so, not even his own son, he staged a trial including his son Damon and Trent Hasseldorf, with the latter prevailing.

The unit's exact composition is unknown, though they are referred to as a battalion. Six 'Mechs take part in the duel on Galatea in 3041 (with downpowered lasers and training ammunition), including two BJ-1 Blackjacks (one of them piloted by Damon Kirkpatrick) and a CN9-AL Centurion.

Resurface

Formerly known as Kirkpatrick's Bandit Killers (a 'Mech battalion), Kirkpatrick's Invaders was formed when the unit was reduced to a company. After being left behind on Erewhon during a raid, the Invaders resurfaced on Solaris after two years.[1] The next decade and a half were spent with rebuilding and raids into the Clan Occupation Zone. They took part in Operation Bulldog. On an operation against Clan forces they lost their commander and retreated to Outreach. For unknown reasons they had a rivalry with the 51st Dark Panzer Jaegers. During the FedCom Civil War the unit worked for a noble with a "private little war". After the war they once again joined another tour for the Lyran Alliance.[1]

The Jihad

In 3068, the command joined with Group W for an assault on the planet Togwotee. It took only two weeks to destroy the local militia. The answer from the FWLM came in form of the First Atrean Dragoons. The Invaders retreated in the face of an enemy of this size and devotion. They jumped into the Arcadia system, but quickly left.[2] On Gienah they waited for new orders and made an attempt to rest and refit. While on the planet they destroyed a group of mercenary units in a fight for control of the planet. The natives were angry about the devastation.[3]

During the Free Worlds League's attack on Arcadia in September 3068, a lance from the mercenary unit Donovan's Dark Devils engaged a lance of 'Mechs from the planetary militia near Summerville.[4]

Meanwhile the rest of the mercenary attacked the maglev train carrying the militia's dependents to the safety of Summerville's shelters and destroyed the train during the fighting. Most observers believe this was done intentionally.[4]

The final assault against the Militia was a disaster for the mercenaries. They found unbridled fury and the Militia tore through them. Only the unit's DropShip was able to retreat, with Captain Donovan killed during the battle.[5]

But as Kirkpatrick's Invaders withdraw, there were left in an untenable position, and they were unable to stand against the remaining regular Marik forces and thus surrendered.[5]

Kirkpatrick's Invaders remained in Lyran employ as the Jihad drew to a close; while other mercenary units contracted to the LAAF were merging together or even accepting formal entry into the LAAF, the Invaders were continuing to maintain a more traditional employer–mercenary unit relationship. As of 3079 the Invaders were stationed on Virtue.[6]

The Dark Age

During 3136 Kirkpatrick's Invaders targeted several worlds of the Inner Sphere.

Moore

A two-lance force of 'Mechs forced back a company of Moore local security troops while specially equipped battle armor troops dug up a casket on the outskirts of a cemetery dedicated to victims of Moore's infamous Day of Fire. The site that was robbed, curiously enough, belonged to a couple identified on their grave marker simply as "Stevens".[7]

Augustine

Where they indeed attacked the uninhabited fifth planet in the Augustine system: Gethsemane, battling a force of indeterminate strength that sported what Augustine officials called trademark neo-Blakist livery and organization, employing BattleMechs and vehicles of both Star League and later thirty-first century designs. The battle over and on Gethsemane lasted for almost two hours before the mercenary forces departed, almost as swiftly as they had arrived. A massive nonnuclear explosion at the disused mining facility apparently caught a fair number of the neo-Blakist forces in the blast, and at least one vessel bearing Cult of Apollyon or the Broadsword Brotherhood markings was recovered adrift but abandoned in Gethsemane's orbit.[8]

Promised Land

In 3137 Kirkpatrick's Invaders fought Avanti's Angels on Promised Land.[9]

IlClan Era

At the dawn of IlClan Era, one of the Invaders' officers, Captain Keith Langenhaas defected with about a company of the Invaders, joining the Kell Hounds.[10]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of Kirkpatrick's Bandit Killers
Major James Kirkpatrick 3041[11]
Commanding Officers of Kirkpatrick's Invaders
Colonel Morgana LaFayre 30513061[1]
Lieutenant Colonel Damon Kirkpatrick 30613067[12][1]
Colonel Merlin Kirkpatrick 3145[13]

Other Unit Officers

Tactics

They normally fight at company level and prefer operating in good weather conditions.[1]

Support

Each company has 80% tech support, a Union-class DropShip and a Leopard-class for transport duties. The single Merchant-class JumpShip cannot handle the entire unit at once.

Dragoon Ratings

3067

Dragoon Rating: B[1]

3145

Rating: B[13]

Composition History

3067

Kirkpatrick’s Invaders (Battalion/Veteran/Reliable)[1]

- Every company is supported by an air lance, an infantry platoon, and techs. The JumpShip Pack's Den is held in reserve.

3079

Kirkpatrick's Invaders (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[6]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Virtue. The Invaders were at 70% of full regimental strength and 80% of their equipment featured advanced technology.

3145

Kirkpatrick's Invaders (Veteran/Reliable)[13]

  • CO: Colonel Merlin Kirkpatrick
- As of 3145 the Invaders were at eighty-five percent of full strength, and were split across two systems - Duran and Minderoo.[13]

Unit Scheme

Kirkpatrick's Invaders paint their machines in flat gray with red highlights.[14]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Mercenaries Supplemental, p. 44: "Kirkpatrick's Invaders"
  2. Arcadia, p. 7
  3. Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 78: "Kirkpatrick's Invaders"
  4. 4.0 4.1 Arcadia: Daybreak Fandango, p. 2
  5. 5.0 5.1 Arcadia: Evening Tango, pp. 2–3: "Situation" and "Aftermath"
  6. 6.0 6.1 Field Report: LAAF, p. 18: "Mercenaries"
  7. Dark Age: LinkNet Articles (3136), p. 92: "Mercenaries Raid Moore, Plunder Cemetery"
  8. Dark Age: LinkNet Articles (3136), p. 122: "Major Clash Reported in Augustine System!"
  9. Technical Readout: 3145 Mercenaries, p. 40
  10. Tamar Rising p. 70
  11. Growing Up
  12. 12.0 12.1 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 214
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Field Manual: 3145, p. 182: "Notable Mercenary Forces - Lyran Commonwealth"
  14. Field Manual: Mercenaries Supplemental, p. 44

Bibliography