Ryuken-go

(Redirected from 113th Benjamin Infantry)
Ryuken-go logo.png
Ryuken-go
Formed 3026
Nickname Spirit of Steel Edge[1]
Affiliation Draconis Combine
Parent Command Ryuken

The Ryuken-go are masters of piloting, with each new recruit practicing for hours to learn to manipulate their machines' hands or turrets with exquisite skill. Graduates of the Benjamin District Academy, often trained in Zen philosophy, are particularly prized by the -go. Becoming 'one with their machine' and instinctive combat is expected of every warrior.[2]

History[edit]

Formation[edit]

In 3026 Takashi Kurita ordered the creation of a BattleMech unit trained in the tactics of the Wolf's Dragoons mercenary unit. Takashi later ordered that the Ryuken were to be split into several companies and each was to expand to regimental size. The Ryuken-go, or Ryuken Five in Japanese, was one of the units formed.[3]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

War of 3039[edit]

Ronin War[edit]

Clan Invasion[edit]

After the Battle of Luthien, the Ryuken-Go, along with the rest of the Ryuken Brigade, were ordered to the world of Wolcott, which by that point was a Combine-held oasis deep behind enemy lines. There, they engaged in a policy of constant raids which aimed to resupply partisans fighting against the Clan occupations of conquered worlds and destroy or disrupt the fragile supply networks of Clans Smoke Jaguar and Nova Cat.[4]

Operation Bulldog[edit]

During Operation Bulldog the Ryuken-go regiment attacked Garstedt and faced the 17th Jaguar Regulars. They suffered heavy losses.[5]

Federated Suns Incursion[edit]

The Ryuken-go was deployed alongside the Fifth Sword of Light in the DCMS reprisal against the Federated Suns incursion during the FedCom Civil War. The Ryuken-go attempted to claim the Davion world of Cassias, but poor coordination led to the Davion defenders maintaining control of the planet.[6] Hauptmann-General Kev Evans, the Commanding Officer of the defending Seventeenth Avalon Hussars RCT, managed to end five months of mobile defensive actions against the Fifth Sword and Ryuken-go on the 12th of November 3065, taking up a defensive line at the base of the Romen Mountains. The center of Evans' defensive position was the Callas Line, a series of entrenched fortifications that had been constructed in the past by a combination of the planetary militia and the Third Crucis Lancers.[7]

After the initial DCMS attack on Evans' position had been thrown back, Tai-sa Davis Shotoku of the Ryuken-go led elements of his command on a flanking attack that led them into direct combat with the Third Battalion of the Seventeenth. The Commanding Officer of the Third Battalion, Major Chad Thomas, was killed in the first few minutes of the battle, and Captain Sarah Blair assumed command of the battalion from the cockpit of her Bushwacker. Sarah's leadership led to the Third throwing back repeated attacks by the Ryuken-go, and gun camera footage from the engagement showed Blair trading fire with Shotoku's Hatamoto-Chi.[7]

The heavy losses taken by the DCMS forces in what was known as the Battle of Callas changed the campaign for control of Cassias, allowing Evans to inflict further losses over the next several weeks as the RCT applied pressure to the Fifth Sword and the Ryuken-go. With the prospect of defeat looking, Shotoku assembled two companies of volunteers for an all-out attack on the Seventeenth, an attack he launched on the 31st of January 3066. Shotoku's 'Mech was downed during the resulting battle, and recordings of the battle showed that while Shotoku was engaged by three different Hussars 'Mechs, it was Sarah who was responsible for the final blow, her accurate ranged strikes felling Shotoku. The Combine forces subsequently gave up the battle for control of the planet on the 6th of February.[7]

Ryuken-go began defending Matsuida from Federated Suns forces in early 3068. The High Command wasn't able to transfer any reinforcements to the world, however, and the unit was destroyed by the end of 3068.[8]

Following the destruction of the Ryuken-go, some of the few survivors went on to band together with remnants of other destroyed DCMS commands such as the Sixteenth Legion of Vega and the Third Dieron Regulars to form the mercenary unit known as the Kouki no Otakebi.[9]

Republic Era[edit]

The Ryuken-go was re-formed in 3099. They faced elements of the Black Dragon Society on Awano. They were successful. They spent the next forty years raiding the Federated Suns Draconis March.[10] When Wolf's Dragoons were hired by the Combine in 3139, they renewed their relationship with Ryuken-go. The two units quickly formed a good working relationship.[11]

Dark Age[edit]

Ryuken-go was present on Misery for fighting that took place in 3139.[12] They also fought alongside the Dragoons on Marlowe's Rift and Wapakoneta.[13] Small teams of the Ryuken-go would raid worlds in advance of the Dragoons' arrival.[14]

The Ryuken-go during the invasion of the Federated Suns participated in the Combine's assault on Robinson, killing Duke Corwin Sandoval in the process.[15][16] Later they only took only moderate losses wiping out the Third Ceti Hussars on Deshler, and finally ending up on Marduk which fell in short order.[17]

The Ryuken-go returned to Robinson during the Republic of the Sphere's successful liberation of that world for the Federated Suns. Elements of the Ryuken-go were redeployed alongside the First Ghost to reinforce the Seventh Sword of Light stationed at Bueller and being savaged by two lances of fearsome Marauder IICs drawn from the Eleventh and Twelfth Principes. Though the combined Ghost and Ryuken forces were able to defeat half the attacking Marauder IICs, it came at the cost of fifteen Seventh Sword 'Mechs, and the remaining RAF forces held the line long enough for additional Republic forces to arrive and smash the Combine flanks.[18]

During Operation ERUPTIO, Ryuken-go and the First Ghost Regiment were stationed on Ozawa. They faced The Republic of the Sphere's Second Army Group. The XI Principes Guards and XII Principes Guards fought the two regiments. The Twelfth was heavily damaged during this fighting, but the two Republic units were able to stay long enough to get reinforcement from the First Army Group. This forced the two DCMS units to retreat in the last week of April.[19]

The Ryuken-go and First Ghost relocated to Robinson to reinforce the 7th Sword of Light. After a distracting attack by the First Ghost, the Ryuken-go and Seventh Sword of Light forced their way through the XI Principes Guards. They inflicted losses, but Republic reinforcements later crushed the Seventh Sword. This marked a turning point for Robinson, and by November 3149 all the DCMS troops had left Robinson.[20]

Officers[edit]

Officers of the Ryuken-go are often practitioners of meditation and self-contemplation, with many studying the teachings of the likes of Sun-Tzu.[2]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Ryuken-go
Tai-sa Angel Ochoa 3039 – 3050[21][22]
Tai-sa Davis Shotoku 3059[2]
Tai-sa Wesley Smith 3067[23]
Tai-sa Axl Johnson 3099[10]
Tai-sa Tori Ishihara 3139[10]
Tai-sa Reynaldo Zapata 3145[10][24]

Other Unit Members[edit]

Tactics[edit]

During the Battle of Misery, this improved piloting skill allowed the warriors of Ryuken-go to make physical attacks more effectively.[30] Every MechWarrior is skilled in the operation of his machine. This allowed the unit to perform complex maneuvers. The command prefers open field warfare to use combined arms to its best. The conventional forces play an important role.[2] Every warrior of the unit takes to heart the regimental motto: "There is no combat without movement."[1]

Composition History[edit]

3040[edit]

Ryuken-go (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[31]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Fellanin II.[31]

3050[edit]

Ryuken-go (light 'Mech Regiment/Regular/[1]Questionable)[22]

  • CO: Tai-sa Angel Ochoa[22]
Note: At this point in time, the unit was stationed on Fellanin II.[22] Half of the 'Mechs that made up the unit were light-weight, and the remainder a quarter medium and heavy weight. Support units included a heavy aerospace fighter wing and a regiment each of combat vehicles and conventional infantry.[1]

3054[edit]

Ryuken-go (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[32]

3059[edit]

Ryuken-go (1 Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[2]

- The unit contains 36 OmniMechs and received many upgrades also.

Ryuken-go Aerospace (1 Wing/Regular/Questionable)[2]

Ryuken-go Armor (1 Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[2]

Ryuken-go Motorized Infantry (1 Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[2]

August 3059[edit]

Ryuken-go - Beta Company, Third Battalion during the fighting on Garstedt[25]

  • Recon Lance
Tai-i Magnus Apella - Daimyo[25]
Chu-i Masako Kanzaki - Blackjack[25]
MechWarrior Sharan Kerr - Owens[25]
MechWarrior Yuko Nogami - Venom[25]
  • Battle Lance
Chu-i Robert Hughes - Panther[25]
Kashira Naomi Shiina - Raptor[25]
MechWarrior Kohyama Murata - Phoenix Hawk[25]
Gunsho Montague Fisher - Daikyu[25]
  • Assault Lance
Chu-i Oliver Murray - Avatar[25]
Kashira Iris Ogu - Black Hawk-KU[25]
MechWarrior Martin Isepp - Strider[25]
MechWarrior Pip Zissimou - Cerberus[25]

3067[edit]

Ryuken-go (Veteran/Regular)[23]

  • CO: Tai-sa Wesley Smith

Ryuken-go Aerospace Wing (Regular/Questionable)[23]

Ryuken-go Armor (2 Battalions/Regular/Reliable)[23]

Ryuken-go Motorized Infantry (2 Battalions/Regular/Reliable)[23]

3139[edit]

Ryuken-go[33]

  • CO/1st Battalion: Tai-sa Tori Ishihara

113th Benjamin Infantry[33]

3145[edit]

Ryuken-go (Elite/Fanatical)[24]

  • CO: Tai-sa Reynaldo Zapata

Ryuken-go Aerospace (Wing/Elite/Fanatical)[24]

Ryuken-go Armor (Veteran/Reliable)[24]

Ryuken-go Infantry (Elite/Reliable)[24]

Color Scheme and Insignia[edit]

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The standard Ryuken paint scheme was charcoal gray,[34] with the accent color of the Ryuken-go a steel blue.[2][35][36]

The regimental insignia is that of an eight-point shuriken with each warrior able to choose the Japanese characters that adorn each point, usually characters representing courage.[2]

‎

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ a b c d e Combat Manual: Kurita, p. 65: "Ryuken-go"
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 130: "Ryuken-go Unit Profile"
  3. ↑ Wolves on the Border, p. ??[page needed]
  4. ↑ "Invading Clans, p. 61: "Luthien"
  5. ↑ Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade, p. 26
  6. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 111: "Sword of Light brigade / Fifth Sword Unit profile"
  7. ↑ a b c Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, p. 136: "BSW-X1 Bushwacker"
  8. ↑ Field Report: DCMS, p. 17
  9. ↑ Field Report: DCMS, p. 20: "Mercenaries"
  10. ↑ a b c d Era Report: 3145, p. 47
  11. ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 22
  12. ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine, p. 6
  13. ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine, pp. 10, 12, 44
  14. ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine, p. 52
  15. ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 34
  16. ↑ a b Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine, p. 4
  17. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 61: "Ryuken-go"
  18. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 6, p. 10: "Marauder IIC"
  19. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 66
  20. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 77
  21. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 114: "Wave Two and Counterattack - Clovis"
  22. ↑ a b c d 20 Year Update, p. 42
  23. ↑ a b c d e Field Manual: Updates, p. 118: "DCMS Deployment Table - 3067"
  24. ↑ a b c d e Field Manual: 3145, p. 64: "DCMS Deployment Table - 3145"
  25. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n The Dragon Roars, p. 48: "Attacker"
  26. ↑ Combat Manual: Kurita, p. 65: "Catmar Lee"
  27. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 5, p. 13: "King Crab"
  28. ↑ Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, p. 114: "Challenger X MBT - Notable Crews"
  29. ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 240: "THE-S Thorn - Notable MechWarriors"
  30. ↑ Historical Turning Points: Misery, p. 9
  31. ↑ a b Historical: War of 3039, p. 139
  32. ↑ Objective Raids, p. 28
  33. ↑ a b Redemption Rift, Part 2, p. 12
  34. ↑ Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 126, "Colors and Insignia"
  35. ↑ Field Manual: Draconis Combine, color plate 7
  36. ↑ "Ryuken-go". CamoSpecs Online. Retrieved 2025-06-17. Per FM:Draconis Combine, page 130.

Bibliography[edit]

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