McCarron's Armored Cavalry

This article is about the military unit. For the scenario pack, see McCarron's Armored Cavalry (scenario pack).

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Also known as The Big Mac or simply abbreviated MAC, McCarron's Armored Cavalry used to be one of the largest and most successful mercenary units in existence with an excellent, near legendary reputation. After having spent a large portion of its history in Capellan employ, McCarron's Armored Cavalry joined the CCAF around 3060. In return, the commander received a noble title and each member was granted citizenship. Even as a regular House unit, they remain a semi-independent fighting force.


Overview

The unit is known as restless, being far more comfortable with attacking and raiding than defending. Their command structure is exceptionally loose and informal, which seems to work to their advantage.

Despite their excellent combat record, the Big Mac has a mixed reputation off the battlefield. They are generally perceived as greedy troublemakers.

After the Fourth Succession War they became a veritable cornerstone of the Capellan military, and Archibald McCarron received land grants and a noble title. He also created several successful commercial enterprises in Capellan space.

On the eve of the Capellan-St. Ives War, the Cavalry officially joined the CCAF, ending its mercenary status and becoming a regular House unit. Its members were granted full citizenship in the Capellan Confederation.

History

McCarron's Armored Cavalry is and had been the pride and personal possession of the McCarron family since it was raised by Lord Gamala McCarron on Chesterton in 2930.

The early days

The MAC worked for the Federated Suns, until Lord Gamala McCarron was killed on New Rhodes III in an attack by House Kurita in 2970. His son Castor inherited the unit, and brought it into service for the Lyran Commonwealth. They saw extensive fighting against the Free Worlds League from 2975 until 2991. However, Castor McCarron was dissatisfied with the compensation for his unit's service from House Steiner, which he considered inadequate. Without prior notice to their previous employer, McCarron's Armored Cavalry withdrew from the Free Worlds League and signed up for a tour of duty with the Draconis Combine. House Steiner put a price on Castor McCarron's head for this coup.

Generally, it is held that the MAC had fought for all Successor States, and against all but one, by 2995.

Entering service to Liao

In 2995, McCarron again felt the financial drain of running such a large unit. They left the Combine and entered the service of the Capellan Confederation where they arrived in 2996. Maximilian Liao not only received them with open arms, he also provided them with an extensive support base on Menke to serve as their permanent home. Since that time, McCarron's Armored Cavalry has been in the employ of House Liao, with one brief exception: In 3002, Castor McCarron was killed in a bar fight over a local dancing girl. Following his burial on Chesterton, his younger brother Archibald McCarron struck a secret agreement with the Free Worlds League by which he transferred control of the Cavalry to House Marik in exchange for the head of his brother's murderer. Marik secret service agents delivered the head.

Since 2996 the MAC has essentially served as a strategic reserve to House Liao, to be moved if and when the situation demands.

In 3007, after the CCAF suffered a string of defeats at the hands of House Davion's new Wolf's Dragoons mercenaries. Archibald McCarron, who at the time was young and new to command, felt compelled to strike back, and brought all five regiments on a deep raid into Davion territory, striking at the Dragoons' home world of New Valencia, in an attempt to crush the three Dragoon regiments on-planet. Though they had an advantage in numbers, the Dragoons soon established an effective defensive perimeter against the Cavalry, safeguarding their primary support personnel and dependents and making effective use of combined-arms tactics. The Cavalry, for their part, began trashing and looting the civilian city of Raiteland, and reportedly executed many civilians in their hunt for Dragoon elements. They were soon driven from the planet, however, when the remaining Dragoons as well as the Eridani Light Horse approached. Jaime Wolf soon retaliated, however, sending his elite Seventh Kommando special forces to the Cavalry's homeworld on Menke, where they engaged in a campaign of sabotage and destruction, soon slipping away unharmed. Though McCarron was furious, Maximillian Liao forbade any counter-strikes, realizing "Big Mac" and his hot-headed troops would likely get themselves destroyed.[1]

Their regiments warded off Davion attacks against Highspire in 3012 and against St. Ives in 3014. At some point during this time, they fell out with Wolf's Dragoons, another mercenary unit that was in Liao employ at the time, on the world of Bithinia.

In 3015, Marcus Barton was put in command of the 2nd MAC Regiment, henceforth known as "Barton's Regiment". Archibald McCarron ordered him to build "the biggest, meanest assault regiment the Inner Sphere has ever seen", and Barton did just that. His first assignment came when Barton's Regiment was sent to relieve the Blackwind Lancers on Elnath in 3015, where the Free Worlds League kept raiding the ammunition and tank factories. Barton discovered that the Marik forces used the Gorndack fortress on Ohrensen as a staging area and resupply base, and immediately struck against the stronghold, breaking the resistance after five hours of intense fighting and securing the fort by the end of the day. His unit suffered heavy losses, but the success (and subsequent similar actions) gave rise to the legend of "Barton the Fort Buster".

Other MAC units stalled the Free Worlds League on Lesalles in 3016. In the following year, the Federated Suns stepped up their attacks on the Confederation and reached an average of one raid per month by 3018. In the constant raiding, the MAC's regiments were split up into battalions and used to garrison potential target worlds where they saw heavy fighting. In 3018, Davion's 42nd Avalon Hussars killed Jordan Brush, one of Archibald McCarron's best friends, in a sneak attack on Purvo. In another notable fight, Smithson's Chinese Bandits (working for House Davion) tried to hit a DropShip repair facility on Necromo, but were repulsed by the third Battalion (Wayne's Wreckers) of Barton's Regiment.

McCarron's Long March

Angered by the frequent Davion raids, and especially by a raid on the capital world of Sian by Smithson's Chinese Bandits in 3022, Maximilian Liao gave the MAC leave for what they longed for: a blanket permission to attack the Federated Suns as they saw fit.

McCarron secretly prepared a highly risky series of three-pronged strikes by placing transports at predetermined rendezvous points, allowing for rapid troop movement but stripping other Capellan troops of their transports and supplies in the process. The rapid movement created the impression of superior numbers when there were none.

The operation, which became known as McCarron's Long March or simply McCarron's War, succeeded beyond all expectations.

First wave

The MAC simultaneously struck against the first three targets: Tawas, where they defeated Tristam's Terrorists, Farwell, where they destroyed several important ore refineries before disappearing as quickly as they had come, and Kathil, where McCarron personally led the 1st and 2nd Regiment against the 42nd Avalon Hussars. McCarron wanted to avenge his friend Jordan Brush, but the Hussars put up a good running fight for several days; when they realized that the MAC was out for blood, they scattered until reinforcements could arrive. McCarron, unwilling to waste time hunting them down, moved on to the next target.

Busting Fort Bourgogne

The next wave hit the twin worlds of McHenry and Muskegon (catching the mercenary unit Mathias's Forlorn Hope on R&R on the former) and, most importantly, Marlette. This was one of five fortress worlds along the Davion-Liao border, used primarily as a resupply base for the Capellan March Militia. The Marlette stronghold, Fort Bourgogne, had not been attacked in over a century and was widely regarded as impregnable. McCarron and "Fort Buster" Barton rode point in the attack and breached the defenses in a three-day battle. Although the victory had come at heavy losses, it was a serious blow to the enemy morale.

Beten Kaitos

The MAC continued their merry romp through the Federated Suns, hitting the 'Mech repair facility on Goshen and raiding Emerson and Smolensk. However, in March 3023 the MAC unexpectedly met Davion's personal guard on Beten Kaitos and a pitched two-day running battle ensued. McCarron's Armored Cavalry was forced to withdraw, but having fought Davion's best and living to tell the tale only boosted their reputation further. They moved back to Liao space, hitting Bristol, Mira and Mesartim on the way, and arrived to a hero's welcome at Tikonov in 3023. Maximilian Liao personally rewarded each unit commander with the highest Capellan military decoration and the promise of landed titles when they retired in recognition of their achievements.

Rebuilding

After their prolonged campaign through the Federated Suns, the MAC needed to rebuild their regiments and kept rather quiet, returning to their previous duty of strategic reserve and fighting off retaliatory raids from the Federated Suns. They did, however, participate in the invasion of Stein's Folly in 3025.

Since advanced technology was hard to come by, Archibald McCarron increasingly relied on the "open" (black) market to obtain needed equipment and technology. One dealer, Simon Kincaid, decided to take the money and split instead of risking capture by House Steiner for moving a huge order sometime around 3027. This left the MAC out several million C-Bills in needed supplies. Enraged, McCarron sent Barton's Regiment to raid the main manufacturing plant of Kincaid's Defiance Industries on Hesperus II in a quick and narrow objective raid. Although engaged by the Blackhearts and the 26th Lyran Guards and under relentless aerospace fighter attack, the raid was a success, and losses were even lower than usual for Barton's Regiment.

Fourth Succession War

Although the Capellan Confederation at large was utterly defeated in the Fourth Succession War, the MAC lived up to expectations and fared somewhat better. Unsure about the defenses of Sarna, Davion had sent a large attack force in May 3029 that was centered around the Fifth Syrtis Fusiliers RCT ("The Evil Eye") together with two regiments of the Crater Cobras and the Second Regiment of the Screaming Eagles. Davion intelligence had erroneously placed the MAC on Palos when in fact four MAC regiments were defending Sarna. Eager to prove his unit's worth in battle, General Hartstone had his Syrtis Fusiliers approach the planet ahead of the other forces at 2.5 Gs. By the time their mercenary backup arrived two days later, the Fusiliers were no more. The MAC then pinned down the mercenaries who had to stay their ground, unable to send a message off-planet. Only the arrival of the Davion Light and Heavy Guards RCTs seven months later forced the MAC to withdraw. In one little regarded battle that was described as actually one of the most brutal engagements of that war, the MAC managed an orderly retreat from Sarna under attack from the Screaming Eagles and the Crater Cobras, largely again due to the actions of Barton's Regiment who lost almost half of its 'Mechs, but reduced the attackers by two thirds in return.

Barton's second-in-command, Parick Hart, was among the casualties on Sarna.

Rebuilding again

Despite their above-average combat record, the losses from the war were a blow to the MAC. After returning to Menke, Archibald McCarron temporarily passed command to Marcus Baxter and went with Marcus Barton and Ian MacPhearson to create a web of trading companies in nearly all Successor States, even the Commonwealth half of the Federated Commonwealth and the Taurian Concordat. By 3032, Barton and MacPhearson had recruited and trained personnel to replace their losses and McCarron had established a profitable interstellar trading company, the MTC, Inc., which supplied his unit with technology and was also put to use in expanding the garrison facilities on Menke.

In the brief war with the Duchy of Andurien, Barton and MacPhearson were sent to relieve Betelgeuse. The Anduriens had dug in their defensive positions, but "Fort Buster" Barton stubbornly broke through in a two-week assault. Following this victory, the MAC intelligence pegged the enemy resupply and staging area on the planet Prix and launched an attack that returned to Betelgeuse fully loaded with booty after another three weeks of intense fighting. The Anduriens had lost two major supply depots and repair facilities, and Barton's Regiment and Leo's Demons moved to fight the Andurien's allies, the Magistracy of Canopus, next. In 3036, elements of the 4th Regiment struck Canopus itself in retribution for their involvement in the fighting. They caught the defenders by surprise but were eventually driven off. [2] Over the course of the hostilities, the 1st Regiment (The Nightriders) lost a veteran company to a DropShip crash.

In 3037, Archibald McCarron assumed command of the Cavalry again and formed a sixth Regiment under Marcus Baxter, Baxter's Brawlers. Using equipment captured from the Anduriens, the Menke repair facilities were expanded and also revamped to assemble 'Mechs.

The War of 3039 was another opportunity for McCarrons Armored Cavalry to strike at FedCom worlds near Menke in fast "grab and move" raids, correctly assuming that the war had drained their defenses. They were successful in the case of Kathil and Alcyone, among others. On Addicks, however, Barton's Regiment was fought to a standstill by the elite Davion Guards, and retreated with no booty. A Davion counterattack smashed the Cavalry's base on Menke and destroyed the nascent sixth regiment.[3] The MAC fought on their own behalf, but Theodore Kurita found their actions helpful enough for his own war efforts to send Archibald McCarron a brand new CGR-3K Charger as a gift in 3043.

Return to Fort Bourgogne

Following the War of 3039, House Davion sought to fortify its borders. In 3044 they rebuilt Fort Bourgogne on Marlette, which the MAC had left in ruins twenty-two years earlier, virtually daring the MAC and especially Marcus Barton to tear it down again. Baxter's Brawlers were sent on a probing raid, but when they discovered that Barton's sworn enemy, General Lester J. Otto, was commanding the Fort's garrison, Barton included his own regiment in the raid as "tactical advisers". The MAC command let him have his way, and once again "Fort Buster" Barton lived up to his reputation. He took the opportunity to exact revenge on Otto whom he killed personally. Otto had piloted a brand-new prototype 'Mech (a DVS-2 Devastator) and the wreckage fell into the hands of the MAC as combat salvage, adding insult to injury.

Afterwards, the MAC regiments were dispersed to garrison Capellan worlds along the Davion front and barely one battalion remained on Menke for some time. Seeking revenge for the attack on Marlette, Hanse Davion ordered his elite Fox's Teeth (McKinnons Company, aka McKinnon's Raiders, of the Seventh Crucis Lancers RCT) to deliver a suitable response and in late 3045 they struck at Menke. In a week-long rampage of hit-and-run raids, they destroyed MAC property including supply dumps, repair facilities and a golf course and savaged Kitagawa's pursuing company through repeated ambushes, then withdrew before a furious Marcus Baxter could make planetfall with two regiments.

By 3050, McCarron's Armored Cavalry had six active regiments and a seventh training regiment on Menke, usually on rotating duty with one active regiment serving elsewhere. Archibald McCarron spent most of his time on MTC, Inc., and Marcus Baxter was groomed as his heir apparent.

The death of Archibald McCarron

In 3050, Archibald McCarron died in an unfortunate training accident. The close-knit group elected Colonel Marcus Baxter to become their interim commander. He adopted McCarron's twins, Rhamses and Faith McCarron, and later married his widow. As their stepfather, he is expected to hand command over to them eventually. Until then, he is Mandrinn of Menke and Mitchel.

Integration

On the eve of the Capellan-St. Ives War that began in 3060, Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao offered the Big Mac the honor of being the first mercenary unit to be added to the rolls of the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces. Baxter agreed, becoming a member of the barduc and gaining citizenship for himself and his men. The worlds of Menke and Mitchel became their landholds.

As a House unit, the commands answers to the local jiang-jun but follow the orders of Marcus Baxter when needed. They can act of their own, this circumstances give them the freedom to react to any military treat.

The MAC remains a semi-independent fighting force with fearsome reputation even afterwards, and well into the 3130s. The brigade fields some of the best equipment of the entire CCAF owing to their possession of their own factories. They have retained their own support and training infrastructure from their mercenary days.

Units of the McCarron's Armored Cavalry

Color Scheme and Insignia

  • Camomercsmccarronsarmoredcav.png

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Notes

  • Since 3035, McCarron's Armored Cavalry counted Ning-Ti Liao among their ranks. The enstranged son of a wealthy merchant dynasty, he is also a distant relative of the ruling Liao family, and they sometimes call on his diplomatic and social skills, especially to answer questions about their military actions to the Liao high command. He initially piloted an Archer, but was later switched to a Marauder.
  • As of 3025 the MAC fielded some 'Mech designs that were notable for their rarity or had been thought extinct, including the Falcon (with the 4th Regiment) and unusual (in Capellan space) Commando (with the 1st and 2nd Regiments).[4] In 3044 they fielded a STY-3C Starslayer on Marlette, reportedly recovered from a small Star League depot that they had found while enlarging and rebuilding the facilities on Menke and in 3048 they were rumoured to field the SPR-5F Spector, again alledgedly recovered from an old cache.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook), p. 10
  2. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 67, 138
  3. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 123 - "The Mac Attack"
  4. ↑ House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 95
  5. ↑ McCarron's Armored Cavalry (scenario pack)


Bibliography

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