Santander's Killers

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Template:InfoBoxStateUnit Santander's Killers were a short-lived but infamous pirate band based on the periphery world of Santander V, also known as "Santander's World"[1]. Their repeated raids earned the special enmity of House Kurita.

History

The unit was founded by Helmar Valasek, a minor Davion officer who mutinied and fled the AFFS with his command in 3003. They raided worlds belonging to the Outworlds Alliance, Draconis Combine, and Federated Suns on their way to the Periphery, gaining a reputation for miraculous escapes over their 16-year exodus. In 3019, the band settled on Santander V and assumed the name "Santander's Killers"[1].

At some point in the early 3020s, Valasek's raids against the Draconis Combine drew multiple reprisal attacks. The Killers ambushed one of the Kurita forces with several platoons of Scorpion light tanks. Kurita's forces were ultimately victorious, but at high cost to both sides. In the aftermath, Valasek scaled down his raids against the Combine for a time, but gained an invaluable store of 'Mech salvage from the Kurita casualties in exchange for his stolen - and replaceable - tanks[2][3].

During the same period (~3023-3028), the Combine withdrew the Black Widow Company of Wolf's Dragoons from the Davion front to perform another reprisal attack on the Killers. Leaking information to a known informant of Valasek, the Widows ambushed Roger "The Tiger" Tregarth and his company of "Valasek's finest" on Thule. The Widows' Command Lance pinned Tregarth's force while their Fire and Scout lances flanked it. Although the exact outcome is not described, the Killers did use the harsh weather on Thule to their advantage in the hard-fought battle which followed[4].

In 3024, the unit raided Susquehana, using Kurita-developed bad weather tactics to defeat the defenders and steal several drop-ships full of grain[5].

In August or September of 3049[6], the Killers were one of the first organized Inner Sphere forces to engage the Clans - in this case, Smoke Jaguar. Like many Inner Sphere commanders to follow, Valasek abused the Jaguar's bid and lured them into an ambush. First detonating several dropships packed with explosives, he then led the Jaguar forces on a merry chase through minefields and days of guerilla attacks. The incensed Jaguars slaughtered nearly all of the Killers over the following weeks (at the cost of their initial bid of nine OmniMechs and a Star of Elemental infantry, as well as many of the Jaguar reinforcements). Valasek himself escaped off-world, using his personal BattleMaster as a decoy[7].

Although it took several years for news of the Killers' fate to reach ComStar and the rest of the Inner Sphere, they ceased to exist as a fighting force with Valasek's escape. While he always dreamed of re-establishing his pirates and taking the battle to the Clans once more, that dream died in obscurity with Valasek himself. ComStar would later speculate that the aggressive and dishonorable (if effective) tactics of the Killers helped prejudice the Jaguars against all Inner Sphere forces.[citation needed]


Officers


Tactics

Unlike most pirate bands, the Killers earned their keep as hired assassins and kidnappers. On raids, they preferred to attack for grain, 'Mech and vehicle parts, and especially water - not for money[1][10][3]. They were known for using Kurita tactics on offensive raids into Kurita space. In bad weather, they used pairs of smaller 'Mechs to lure heavier units into unstable terrain until they bogged down.[5] They also fought well under blizzard conditions[4].

Valasek favored deception and ambushes on the defense.


Composition History

3025

Santander's Killers (Batallion)[1]

3049

Santander's Killers (Battalion)[11]


Rules

Game Rules

Santander's Killers have never been given official unit special rules.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Periphery, pg. 153
  2. TRO: 3026, pg. 22
  3. 3.0 3.1 TRO:3039, pg. 34
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Tales of the Black Widow Company, "The Lady and the Tiger"
  5. 5.0 5.1 The Periphery, pg. 66
  6. Era Report: 3052
  7. Invading Clans, ppg. 53-54
  8. TRO:3025, pg. 110
  9. TRO:3039, pg. 158
  10. TRO: 3026, pg. 22
  11. Invading Clans Sourcebook, pg. 153

Bibliography