Editing Steel Wolves

{{Update Needed|[[Era Report: 3145]]|[[Era Digest: Dark Age]]|[[Turning Points: Irian]]}}
{{refimprove}}
{{InfoBoxFactions
| crest = [[Image:Steel Wolves logo.png|right|250px]]
| factionname = Steel Wolves
| timeperiod = Early 3130s – Present
| classification = Splinter faction Mercenary
| systems = 1 (formerly)
| capital = [[Tigress]] (formerly)
| rulertitle = [[Galaxy Commander]]
| military = [[Steel Wolves Touman|Steel Wolves ''Touman'']]
| secretservice = 
}}
==Overview==
Under the leadership of former Prefect of [[Prefecture IV]], [[Kal Radick]], the '''Steel Wolves''' were one of the factions to break away from the [[Republic of the Sphere]] in the early 3130s following the widespread collapse of the [[HPG]] network. They had been operating within the Republic's territories as opportunists (and some consider them pirates) up to the time leading up to and immediately following the Republic's partial collapse.<ref>''Era Digest: Dark Age'', pp. 18–19: Steel Wolves Profile - Basic setup of history</ref>  During that same time period, the Steel Wolves split up into several smaller factions following their new leader, [[Anastasia Kerensky]]'s decision to reform them into a [[mercenary unit]] called the [[Wolf Hunters]]. However, the biggest faction retained the original name... but, ironically, also became a mercenary unit too.

== History ==
=== Early history ===
Before Kerensky's assumption of the leadership of the Steel Wolves, their leader was a [[Clan Wolf]] [[trueborn]] by the name of [[Kal Radick]]. He had formed the Steel Wolves out of warriors from both [[Arc-Royal]] and the "Crusader" factions of the Clan, with the professed intention of reclaiming [[Terra]] for the Clans. However, Kal Radick for the most part merely conducted raids on backwater Republic worlds for the goal of gaining more war matériel for the expected drive on Terra. He also cultivated personal loyalty to himself, in an effort to cement his grip on the command of the Steel Wolves.

The first serious objectives of the Wolves were the planets [[Ronel]] and [[Achernar]], the only ones in [[Prefecture IV]] with an operating HPG. Radick wanted to take both to use the HPG to build his own intelligence network, and to potentially obtain Achernar's 'Mech factories. But Ronel didn't fall, due not only to the opposition of Republic troops, but also the intervention there of Dragon's Fury forces, with the same objectives. On Achernar, the Wolves forces, led by [[Torrent Wolf]], were outnumbered by the unlikely alliance of Republic's militia, the [[Swordsworn]] forces (also planning to take the planet) and even a Steel Wolf, named [[Tassa Kay]]. The Wolves forces were defeated; with Torrent killed and the perceived destruction the HPG, the Steel Wolves forces retreated, now under the command of Kay.

=== Kerensky's takeover ===
However, Kal Radick's authority would be shattered by the arrival of Anastasia Kerensky. A trueborn from [[Arc-Royal]], she joined the Steel Wolves following a battle against them in which she took part as "Tassa Kay", a freelance [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]]. With the Wolves, she served (disgruntled) under Kal Radick alongside fellow Star Colonels [[Marks Wolf|Marks]] and [[Ulan Wolf|Ulan]], up until his announcement of a raid against the planet of [[Small World]]. Sensing an opportunity, she decried his failings as a leader and visionary, and challenged him to a [[Trial of Possession]] for the command of the Steel Wolves. Kerensky won easily, and immediately switched the intended target from Small World to the manufacturing and provincial capital of [[Northwind]].

=== Northwind Campaign ===
Kerensky started her invasion of Northwind with an attack on an isolated part of the planet which happened to be the home of a large number of oil rigs. With the Wolves, she attacked one of them and took it over as her base of operations; the [[DropShip]]s she brought landing underwater. From her secure base, she launched a full attack on the capital of Tara, against the rival leader Countess [[Tara Campbell]].

The Steel Wolves, early in the campaign, avoided any large confrontations with the defending [[Northwind Highlanders]], instead sending their units through a single mountain pass around the defenders to try to take the capital. However, their plan was discovered, and, at the Battle of Red Ledge Pass, the Highlanders destroyed a portion of Kerensky's tank forces. Kerensky, fuming over her defeat, retreated with the Wolves back to her headquarters on the oil rig.

The Highlanders, now on the offensive, began a campaign to try to find the Steel Wolves' base before Kerensky could launch a second offensive against them. Eventually, after weeks of searching, one of their patrols got a tip-off that a Clan fighter plane was seen flying out into the ocean towards the oil rig that Kerensky was on. Once they learned that their base was compromised, Kerensky and the Wolves fled in their DropShips and began to fly towards Tara once more. Once there, they proceeded to fight a bloody battle in which their total victory was only stopped by the blowing up of their symbolic prize, the ancestral castle of [[Tara Campbell]], and the subsequent burial of many of the Steel Wolf combat units. The Wolves fled once more, this time to try to attack [[Terra]].<ref>''Field Report: 3145'', p. 23: Timeline 3132-3145 - Steel Wolves Invades attempts on Northwind and Terra in 3133-3134</ref><ref>''Era Digest: Dark Age'', pp. 8–9: Breaking Point - Northwind campaign tidbits mentioned in 3134 section</ref>

=== Assault on Terra ===
The Steel Wolves attacked Terra from a remote landing zone in what was Russia. Fighting was fierce, but the Steel Wolves were outclassed and forced to retreat; this time with less available war matériel than after the Northwind retreat. Fighting the Steel Wolves on Terra was Tara Campbell's Northwind Highlanders, [[Tenth Principes Guards]], with the unexpected third-party antagonist of the ex-Paladin [[Ezekiel Crow]].<ref>''Era Digest: Dark Age'', p. 8: 3134: Breaking Point - brief info on the Battle on Terra, which also included the Tenth Principes Guards</ref>

=== Chaffee ===
In [[3134]] a small task force of [[Clan Jade Falcon]], escorted by the [[Emerald Talon]], launched an attack against the Republic of the Sphere after traveling first through Commonwealth space. The task force, ostensibly aimed at destroying what the Falcons termed the [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile|false wolves]], pledged not to attack the Lyran state, but then landed attack forces on [[Porrima]] and Chaffee. Chaffee, was completely overrun, and it was there that Falcon forces slaughtered 50,000 inhabitants in the city of Hamilton — a savage and heavy-handed action that has outraged billions across the [[Inner Sphere]] and prompted calls for war against Jade Falcon.

The [[Hamilton Massacre]] came to light soon after the liberation of Chaffee by the [[Stormhammers]], a pro-Commonwealth faction within the Republic of the Sphere, who acted in conjunction with the Steel Wolves to rout Jade Falcon there last November. Whether the successful campaign was accomplished with the direct support of the Commonwealth government remains unclear at this time, but it has become a rallying cry for many who feel the current administration is failing to deal with the more immediate threat Jade Falcon represents, even as tensions mount on Republican and League borders.<ref name=DA3135PDAJp193>''Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals'', p. 193: "09 June 3135"</ref>

=== Battle of Skye ===
Following the attack on Terra, the Steel Wolves retreated to lick their wounds and rebuild the unit. Facing increasing dissatisfaction with her leadership, Anastasia Kerensky was forced to fend off numerous Trials of Grievance from disgruntled Steel Wolf warriors. However, with the Jade Falcons' approach towards the world they were hiding by, they assumed they were the subject of a Trial of Annihilation.  They readied themselves for war, but the Falcons were actually attacking Skye.  The Northwind Highlanders appeared to protect the world, and fought the invaders, but were losing ground.  Anastasia demanded amnesty until she was out of system if she helped.  Tara Campbell granted it, and got the help she was needed.  The two warriors finally met after being rivals for so long.  The Wolves chased the Falcons off planet, and the Wolves left the planet soon after.

===Dissolution===
In the aftermath of the failed Skye defense, Kerensky took the Wolves to [[Galatea]]. There she made the highly unorthodox change of turning the Steel Wolves into an elite mercenary unit to be known as the [[Wolf Hunters]] in [[3135]]. This move was met with great hostility when it was discovered that she had registered the Wolves as a mercenary unit. Kerensky announced that all those who did not agree with the move may leave.

Over the course of a week, many warriors, Binaries, Stars, Novas, and entire Clusters, took her offer and left, many joining or forming their own mercenary units. The biggest of these last are the "Steel Wolf Corps", led by Star Colonel Nikola Demos. This force, a Cluster mainly composed by armor and infantry, with his own DropShips and JumpShips, was later fighting to crush a rebellion on Laiaka.

The largest portion of these perceived this as the destruction of the Clan way of life and formed a "loyalist" faction under the command of one of the Steel Wolves' high-ranking officers.

=== Steel Wolves after Kerensky ===
Star Colonel [[Varnoff Fetladral]] and [[Star Colonel]] [[Xera Wolf|Xera]] pulled together their two Clusters to reform the Steel Wolves. Varnoff declared himself as the Galaxy Commander.

The unit consisted of Varnoff's mostly 'Mech Cluster, limited infantry units, and Xera's aerospace Cluster, which consisted of two DropShip carriers, a number of [[JumpShip]]s, and many fighters.

Varnoff began by launching raids, in a bid to build up the faction's strength, so they would be able to retake their former homeworld of [[Tigress]]. However, Xera began to be suspicious of his ways. Many times, Varnoff was not abiding by Clan ways and traditions. He began separating loyal people from Xera along the course of their campaign.  After capturing a DropShip crew defending [[Wasat]], they learned that Anastasia's Wolf Hunters would be going to [[New Canton]].

Meeting Kerensky in October of [[3136]], she offered a [[Trial of Grievance]] between them to resolve their differences once and for all. Varnoff told her he agreed, but prepared to betray her and destroy the Wolf Hunters.  After the sabotage and rescue of Kerensky's DropShip over New Canton, Xera learned of Varnoff's true intentions. Xera contacted him and confronted him with his agenda to betray Kerensky. Varnoff boasted that she was not worthy of a Trial and he was going to betray her anyway.  Xera informed him that she had been broadcasting, openly, the entire conversation and declared that by Varnoff's own testimony, that ''all'' his Trials and oaths were based on treachery.

With Varnoff's treachery fully known publicly, Xera announced that the Steel Wolves would be leaving in a week's time and any warriors remaining on New Canton were declared not Wolves, including Varnoff. She became the new Galaxy Commander of the Steel Wolves.
Although Xera purged Varnoff's loyalists, the group lacked direction: unable to reclaim Tigress, now controlled by the [[Federated Suns]], they jumped back to [[Prefecture VII]], expecting to find a world to reclaim. Unable to do so, for several years, fleeing from the Capellan advance in the region, they wandered from world to world, trrading or raiding for supplies.

The steel Wolves were catched in the region by Clan Wolf [[Operation HAMMERFALL]]. Some members of the group saw it as an opportunity to rejoin their original Clan, and attempted to do so... in vain: the Wolves saw them as ''dezgra'', killing several of the Steel Woloves' Stars outright, making Xera realize they should find another way.<ref>''Unit Digest: Steel Wolves'' p. 64</ref>

=== Mercenary Unit ===
In [[3145]], the Wolves, a [[Cluster]] strong, have become a [[mercenary]] group. Still under the command of Galaxy Commander Xera, and were under contract of the reborn [[Free Worlds League]], on [[Halt]].<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 182</ref> The year [[3146]] found the Steel Wolves in the reborn [[Free Worlds League]], fighting the [[Regulan Fiefs]] invasion of Marik space, where they crushed the Regulans on [[Emris IV]].<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 21</ref> 
Ironically, the only stain on the Steel Wolves' performance happened when they were fighting alongside [[Purifier Cluster (Clan Protectorate)]]. A duel between [[Angus Drummond]] and [[Kyria Wolf]], herself a former [[Spirit Cat]] left both badly wounded, and their commanders had to segregate both units.<ref>''Unit Digest: Steel Wolves'' . 65</ref>

In [[3148]], the Wolves took part on the League's invasion of the [[Regulan Fiefs]], fighting alongside [[Clan Sea Fox]] on [[Avior]], crushing the defenders, the [[Fourteenth Regulan Hussars]], dividing the captured equipment between the groups.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 53</ref> On 2 April of the same year, the Wolves took part on the League's invasion of [[Regulus]], but this time do not see any battle, as the Regulans negotiated surrendered peacefully.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 54</ref>

===IlClan Era===
The beginning of the [[IlClan Era]] found the Steel Wolves still in service to House Marik. In March of [[3151]], the LCCC rotated them to the planet [[New Hope]], to free the [[Silver Hawks]] to launch raids against [[Wolf Empire]] territory.<ref>''Empire Alone'', p. 28</ref>

After the liberation by guerrillas of the planet [[Stewart]], the Steel Wolves were redeployed there to protect it from Wolf counterattacks. On 23 February 3152, the attack arrived, but not from Wolf Clan forces; the [[Clan Protectorate]]'s [[Purifier Cluster (Clan Protectorate)|Purifier Cluster]] arrived to reclaim the world for [[Clan Wolf]]. They were expecting to find only the Steel Wolves, but the planet had been reinforced by the [[30th Regulan Hussars|Thirtieth Regulan Hussars]]. Despite being former enemies, together, both units defended the New Edinburgh Palace. The Wolves defeated every thrust of the Purifiers toward the palace until March, when the Protectorate forces were forced to retreat offworld, defeated.<ref>''Empire Alone'', pp. 66–67</ref>

==Officers==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Rank
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Command
|-
! colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | Commanding Officers of the Steel Wolves Galaxy
|-
| [[Galaxy Commander]] || [[Kal Radick]] || [[3132]] – [[3133]]
|-
| Galaxy Commander || [[Anastasia Kerensky]] || 3133 – [[3135]]
|-
| Galaxy Commander || [[Varnoff Fetladral]] || 3135 – [[3136]]
|-
| Galaxy Commander || [[Xera]] || 3136 - Onward
|-
|}

===Other Unit Officers===
* [[Star Colonel]] [[Dorn]].<ref name=SftDc12>''Service for the Dead'', ch. 12</ref>

==Tactics==
Different per unit.

==Units of the Steel Wolves==
* [[File:Wolfkin Keshik (Steel Wolves) logo.png|100px|Wolfkin Keshik]] [[Wolfkin Keshik (Clan Wolf)|Wolfkin Keshik]]

* [[File:Crusaders Cluster (Steel Wolves) logo.png|100px|Crusaders Cluster]] [[Crusaders Cluster]]

* [[File:Wolf Lancers (Steel Wolves) logo.png|100px|Wolf Lancers]] [[Wolf Lancers]]

==Color Scheme==
The Steel Wolves employ silvery steel and brown. The silver is added to show the elite status among warriors. The more silver added, the more skilled the warrior is. Sometimes technicians add fur patterns to the brown portions to create the effect of prey animal skins.<ref> MWDA: Miniatures</ref><ref>''Unit Digest: Steel Wolves''</ref>

=== 3145 ===
'''Steel Wolves''' (Cluster/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name="FM:3145p182">''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 182: "Notable Mercenary Forces"</ref>

*CO: Galaxy Commander [[Xera]]<ref name="FM:3145p182"/>
:As of 3145 the Steel Wolves were an A-rated mercenary command operating at seventy-five percent of full Cluster strength and under contract to the Free Worlds League. The Steel Wolves were based on [[Holt]].<ref name="FM:3145p182"/>

=== 3151 ===
'''Steel Wolves''' (Cluster/Veteran/Reliable)
*CO: Galaxy Commander Xera.
: As on 3151, the Steel Wolves fielded 2 BattleMech Trinaries, 1 Vehicle trinary, 1 Battle Armor/Infantry Trinary and full DropShip and JumpShip support.<ref>''Unit Digest: Steel Wolves'' p.63</ref>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Blood of the Isle]]''
* ''[[A Call to Arms]]''
* ''[[Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals]]''
* ''[[Empire Alone]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Flight of the Falcon]]''
* ''[[Service for the Dead]]''
* ''[[A Silence in the Heavens]]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/dark_age_10.pdf Steel Wolves Kriya Wolf's Dossier]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/dark_age_14.pdf Steel Wolves Lisabet Wolf's Dossier]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/dark_age_19.pdf Steel Wolves Daneel Wolf's Dossier]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/dark_age_34.pdf Steel Wolves Sadia Wolf's Dossier]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/dark_age_9.pdf Steel Wolves Kendrick Fetladral's Dossier]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/counterassault_11.pdf Steel Wolves Geoff Bekker's Dossier]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/counterassault_25.pdf Steel Wolves Cecile Wolf's Dossier]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/death_from_above_10.pdf Steel Wolves Seka Ward's Dossier]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/death_from_above_30.pdf Steel Wolves Inova Wolf's Dossier]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/death_from_above_5.pdf Steel Wolves Jeni Wolf's Dossier]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/fire_for_effect_17.pdf Steel Wolves Mikos Wolf's Dossier]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/fire_for_effect_2.pdf Steel Wolves Shin Wolf's Dossier]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/fire_for_effect_22.pdf Steel Wolves Broll Wolf's Dossier]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/liao_incursion_17.pdf Steel Wolves Jamal Wolf's Dossier]''
* ''[http://cf.sarna.net/docs/mwda_dossiers/liao_incursion_3.pdf Steel Wolves Chin Wolf's Dossier]''
* ''[[Truth and Shadows]]''
* ''[[Steel Wolves|Unit Digest: Steel Wolves]] in [[Shrapnel Issue 12]]''
* ''[[Wolf Hunters (novel)|Wolf Hunters]]''

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[[Category: Mercenary Commands|Steel Wolves]]
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