Wilson's Hussars

Emblem of Wilson's Hussars
Wilson's Hussars
Formed 3007
Disbanded 3076
Previous Designation(s) Lafarge Hussars
Affiliation Mercenary

Federated Suns (formerly)


Capellan Confederation (formerly)

Parent Command Independent

Wilson's Hussars, aka Wilson's Wimps, (2996–3067) and Wilson's Winners (3067–3076) was the quintessential hard-luck mercenaries of the thirty-first century.[1]

History

Foundation

Originally a Capellan battalion, the Lafarge Hussars, the unit which would one day become Wilson's Hussars started as a proud and celebrated unit, faithfully serving House Liao for countless years in numerous battles under the command of near-legendary Major Alexander Floyd. This all ended on the contested planet Battle of Burroughs in 2996, when the Federated Suns 6th Syrtis Fusiliers crushed them. Over a third of the unit's MechWarriors died in the short but savage fight, as well as Major Floyd, when a drop pod crushed his Warhammer. The rest of the battalion surrendered and were allowed to retain their equipment in exchange for swearing fealty to House Davion, becoming a regular militia attached to their victors.[2]

They remained in service to House Davion for many years, giving faithful if not exemplary service. Finally, shorted by three months of back pay, Major Jennifer Langstrom led the fully restored Hussars battalion out of Davion service for the mercenary life. She believed it would prove more profitable than the garrison duties they were drawing from their Federated Suns masters. Taking service with House Kurita in 3007, they did at first excel, defending successfully New Samarkand, which netted them with a lance of 'mechs and a Leopard DropShip. The Hussars seemed destined for greatness.[2]

After their initial successes came a series of less successful missions and the Hussars left Kurita service for more glory and the hopes of a restored reputation in the service of House Liao. Though initially the unit served well and was successful, their luck ran out in 3014 on the planet St. Ives. Defending against a House Davion raid Major Langstrom lost her life when armored units destroyed her BattleMaster. Her brother Michael Langstrom then took command, leading to an era of disaster and deterioration for the once storied Hussars.[2]

Under Michael Langstrom's uninspired leadership, though only lasted two years, the unit's morale deteriorated. His command style caused near mutiny and his inability to effectively lead led to disaster after disaster, culminating on Ingersol, where, due to incompetence and panic, he caused most of the Hussars to be destroyed in the crash of the DropShip he ordered into danger to save him.[2] Though Langstrom did survive the initial crash, his 'Mech was soon destroyed by energy weapon fire. His assistant, Captain David Wilson, which had killed him, succeeded Michael as leader of the now called Wilson's Hussars, and led the remnants of the unit to safety on their remaining DropShip.[2]

The Periphery Years

In 3018, a corrupt Kurita official framed the Hussars for bribery, and successfully sued in the MRB courts to withhold payment for their victorious raid on Suk II. They launched a counterraid on Kobe, but were badly beaten.[2] By 3021 Wilson's Hussars had officially gone rogue, based on the Periphery world of Butte Hold and in the employ of the Bandit King Redjack Ryan. Ryan tasked the Hussars with raiding the Draconis Combine world of Kimball VI. Kimball VI had a population of just 100,000, and relied on the small planetary militia and the Laws Flight mercenary unit for defense; Ryan envisaged an easy raid, securing him mining and ore processing equipment in the face of little resistance.[3] Sheila Bannock, the unit's Executive Officer (and close friend of Captain Wilson) had recently been killed in a bar brawl, however, and Wilson's grief had compromised his usual tactical skill.[4]

The Hussars landed thirty kilometers south of a mountain range with active mines and moved north in company strength. By the time the Hussars reached the foothills they had been targeted by the mercenary garrison, who proceeded to ambush and harass the Hussars using their Warrior H-7 Attack Helicopters. The Hussars couldn't close with the fast VTOLs after the initial ambush against the Hussars' Recon Lance, but Wilson insisted on trying, leading his entire company in pursuit of the mercenaries. That pursuit ended in an ambush in a box canyon, where the waiting planetary militia dropped SRMs and Infernos on the luckless Hussars. After losing 3 'Mechs Wilson called for a general retreat, and his surviving 'Mechs were harassed constantly by the mercenary helicopters all the way back to their drop zone.[3]

Following the disastrous defeat, the Hussars terminated employment with Ryan. They picked up a contract with Helmar Valasek, Bandit King of Santander V shortly thereafter. Valasek assigned some of his own MechWarriors to assist the Hussars in raiding Longbow Mountain in the Taurian Concordat. They had to launch a ground assault against the fortress, while a team of Santander's Killers attacked from the top. The fortress' artillery was formidable, and this raid failed disastrously as well. The Hussars were shattered, and forced to escape to the landing zone, where the Killers rendezvous after them. In fact, the Hussars weren't only a distraction: they also were literally cannon fodder, and ironically, their so called cowardice saved them: the Killers had orders to retreat without them, leaving them behind to die. When the news of their survival reached the Bandit King, he ordered the retreating Hussars to be abandoned in Lushann, on the Outworlds Alliance, where they remained through at least 3025.[4][5]

Return to the Inner Sphere

In 3050, following a possible tangle with the Clans, the Hussars returned to Outreach with just two operational Lances of 'Mechs and (allegedly) the same trashed DropShip that had evacuated them from Ingersoll thirty years previously. While David Wilson was still in command, his daughter Donna (who led their retreat from the Periphery)[6] would assume his mantle by 3056.[7] It seemed the prototypical hard-luck unit had finally hit rock-bottom. On Outreach the Hussars initially scrambled for contracts, willing to accept anything to allow them to continue to exist as a unit.[7] After months of fruitless searching a bit of luck fell their way when a small security force agreed to a merger, bringing with them a company of Drillson tanks and two platoons of infantry as well as much needed support personnel. From there on out things continued to change for the better.[8]

Taking a contract with the Federated Suns in 3056 on the eve of the FedCom Civil War, the unit served admirably, culminating in the defeat of the 17th Arcturan Guards on the planet Small World. The Hussars were tasked with command of an ad hoc unit of many smaller mercenary units in this victory. Afterwards many of the forces they led chose to join the Hussars, increasing their 'Mech assets from two Lances to a full Battalion in strength.[8] With this added strength the Wilson's Hussars once again flirted with greatness. For the first time in a long time, they seemed ready to face the future with at least some chance for victory.[8]

The Jihad

Wilson's Hussars were under a long-term contract for the AFFS when the Word of Blake Jihad broke out. Stationed on the breadbasket world of Nopah, they faced a Blakist assault. A lucky shot of a Hussar's sniper killed the Blakist commander, and the unit used the opportunity to overrun the spaceport and flee in their own recovered DropShip. But their streak of good luck ended when they joined the AFFS as part of a force that landed on Schedar on the 2nd of December 3076. Schedar was one of three worlds to be attacked simultaneously by the AFFS—the other two worlds being Caselton and Mirach—in an attempt to liberate the worlds from the Word of Blake Protectorate.[9][10][11]

Destruction

The battle for Schedar was particularly brutal, and Wilson's Hussars were wiped out completely attempting to blunt the advance of Word of Blake troops counterattacking the AFFS forces. The sacrifice made by the Hussars gave the 2nd Federated Suns Armored Cavalry the opportunity needed to regroup and eventually force the Blakists back.[12]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of Wilson's Hussars
Major Alexander Floyd ??? - 2996[2]
Major Jennifer Langstrom 2996 - 3014[2]
Major Michael Langstrom 3014 - 3016[2]
Captain David Wilson 3016 - 3055[2]
Major Donna Wilson 3056 - 3076[8][12]

Other Officers

Tactics

The Hussars favor up-close-and-personal tactics,[7][8] using 'Mech forces to hammer their opponents at close range while conventional assets wreak havoc in the enemies' rear. The Hussars prefer heavier-weight BattleMechs whenever possible, but rarely have more than a few functioning.[8]

Composition History

3014–3016

At some point during this period, the DropShip Morrow was lost.[14]

3025

Wilson's Hussars (1 Company/Regular/Questionable)[2]

  • CO: Captain David Wilson

- The majority of the equipment of the Hussars is of Salvage or Destroyed quality at best. At this time there are only eight functional 'Mechs in the company.

3050

Wilson's Hussars (1 Company/Veteran)[6]

  • CO: Captain David Wilson
  • Command Lance (Medium-Heavy) (Includes 1 Catapult with Clan Double Heat Sinks)
  • Unknown Lance (Light-Medium)

Aerospace Assets

3059

Wilson’s Hussars (2 Lances/Veteran/Questionable)[15]

  • CO: Major Donna Wilson)[15]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Outreach.[15]

3067

Wilson's Hussars (1 Battalion/Veteran/Questionable}[8]

  • CO: Major Donna Wilson
    • XO: Captain Kern Verrick

Murphy's Wrath (Mixed Armor/Infantry Company/Regular/Reliable)[8]

  • Able Platoon - Captain Malcolm Kavanaugh
  • Baker Platoon - Lieutenant Scott Walker
  • Mighty Mighty Drillsons - Lieutenant Daniel Jarra

- Note: 12 Drillson Tanks in 6 Lances

3076

Wilson's Hussars' (1 medium 'Mech battalion, 3 armor lances (Drillsons), 2 infantry platoons)[16]

Aerospace Assets

Support

3025

The unit's support is "bleak", with only two Techs, a tiny stockpile of generic parts, no weaponry, and the majority of the Company's 'Mechs destroyed or barely operational. Only Wilson's Marauder is in good repair, and more than half of the 'Mechs are damaged beyond recovery.

3050

No tech support, other than the MechWarriors themselves.[6]

3059

The unit is seeking contracts that pay in parts and tech support, with one advanced weapon (an ER PPC) and no Techs.[7]

3065

Minor repairs can be handled by the integral support staff, MechWarriors and crews, but major repairs, updates and overhauls need additional support from external sources[8]

Color Scheme

The Hussars use a patchwork of white and purple on their 'Mechs and vehicles; a vast improvement on what they've had over the decades.[17]

Gallery

Notes

  • The most recent canon source, Combat Manual: Mercenaries, states that the dropship the Hussars used to return to Outreach was the same ship on which they evacuated Ingersol. Mercenary's Handbook, however, claims that they sold the ship (the Red Eagle) to purchase transport from House Liao to the Periphery. It is plausible that the Hussars renamed a purchased or stolen ship after her, causing confusion in the MRB on their return, or even repurchased the lost ship. Mercenaries Supplemental, however, names the Dropship as the Union-class Raconteur.
  • Field Manual: Mercenaries (In-universe date 1 Oct 3059) gives information that directly conflicts with the dates and unit strengths given in the more recent Mercenaries: Supplemental (referencing the unit's FedCom Civil War performance and the period 3056–3060). This data is deliberately omitted.

References

  1. Mercenary Handbook, p. 65
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Mercenary's Handbook, p. 93
  3. 3.0 3.1 Technical Readout: 3026, p. 18; Technical Readout: 3026, Revised Edition, p. 20: "Warrior H-7 Attack Helicopter"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Mercenary's Handbook, p. 94
  5. After Action Report: Longbow Mountain in Shrapnel#11, pp. 183–184
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Combat Manual: Mercenaries, p. 70
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 94
  8. 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 Mercenaries Supplemental, p. 65: "Wilson's Hussars Profile"
  9. 'Unit Digest: Wilson's Hussars
  10. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 23: "Timeline of the Jihad"
  11. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 56: "The Jihad In Review"
  12. 12.0 12.1 Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, pp. 18–20: "AFFS Reclaims Three Worlds"
  13. The Mercenary's Handbook, p.97
  14. Mercenary's Handbook, p. 93
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 114
  16. 'Unit Digest: Wilson's Hussars
  17. Mercenaries Supplemental, p. 65

Bibliography