11th Legion of Vega

Brigade Insignia of the Legion of Vega
Eleventh Legion of Vega
Formed 3011[1]-3025[2]
Disbanded 3069 (destroyed)[3]
Nickname The Looters (3025-3050);[1][4]
Swiftness of Wind (3058)[5]
Affiliation Draconis Combine
Parent Command Legion of Vega

History[edit]

Formation[edit]

From its beginnings, the Eleventh was faced with the lack of supplies and pay expected in the Legion of Vega. This led the unit to partner with civilian commercial interests on Vega. They used these relationships to obtain equipment outside the typical supply lines, as the Legions of Vega are not a high-priority unit for new matériel.[5]

Third Succession War[edit]

In 3025, the Eleventh Legion of Vega were stationed on Marfik.[2]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

In late August 3028, the High Command of the LCAF launched Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG, a massive offensive against the Draconis Combine; as part of this action the Fourth Skye Rangers engaged the Eleventh on the world of Marfik.[6]

Ronin War[edit]

War of 3039[edit]

Alrakis was a target in the first wave of the Federated Commonwealth attacks on the Lyran front of the War of 3039. In mid-April, the first of two major units assigned to attack the world, the Twenty-third Arcturan Guards RCT dropped onto the planet. Landing on the 16th of April under the command of Leutnant-General Jacqueline Fincher, the intention in taking Alrakis was twofold; firstly, it would act as a stepping stone to worlds further into the Combine interior, and secondly, it presented the opportunity for a victory over a unit personally associated with Theodore Kurita.[7]

The decisive, aggressive drop by the Twenty-third caught the Eleventh Legion by surprise, quickly forcing them out of their barracks and onto the back foot. Even as the advance contingent of the 23rd was pushing the more numerous Legion back, a second contingent landed on the shores of Lake Carantha and seized Sigmundrac, the planetary capital. The Eleventh didn't take long to regroup; the commanding officer of the Legion, Tai-sa Esau Olivares, was well-known for his resourcefulness and determination, and had fought alongside the Kanrei during the Fourth Succession War on Marfik. Olivares counterattacked in an attempt to gain the initiative, forcing the Twenty-third into a bloody series of battles. Sensing that Olivares was striking from a weak position, Fincher and the Twenty-third launched their own offensive, pushing and harrying the Legion back and attempting to pin them against the Caradhradene Mountains. On Marfik in the previous war, Olivares had personally led the rearguard action that allowed Theodore Kurita to escape; acting with the same insight, Olivares knew that to be trapped against the mountains would result in the destruction of the Legion, and he ordered a retreat to save as many of his troops as possible.[7]

The Legion evacuated Alrakis shortly after.[7] Key to the Legion's defeat on Alrakis was a battle on the morning of the 17th of April, where the lead company of the Twenty-third's Second Battalion managed to seize the Talumac Bridge system, the last clear bridge network crossing the Carantha River and a major route into Sigmundrac. If the Legion had retained control of the bridges, it might have been able to keep the Twenty-third out of Sigmundrac.[8]

Coorporate Partnerships[edit]

Following the War of 3039, the Looters contracted with the Cosby Myomer Research Firm on Vega to alleviate their supply issues. In return for replenishment, the Eleventh agreed to find markets for the firm in less-than-legitimate areas the Second Legion was willing to reach.[5]

Clan Invasion[edit]

In the 3050s, their partnership was expanded to get CMRF post-Clan Invasion advanced technical supplies and allowed the firm to develop the No-Dachi BattleMech. In exchange for half of the production and rights to prototype the 'Mech, the Eleventh backed the endeavor and offered the 'Mech to the DCMS. The DCMS expanded the program at the renamed Cosby 'Mech Research Firm.[5]

Operation BULLDOG[edit]

The Legions of Vega were assigned to take back Turtle Bay from the Smoke Jaguars. The Second, Eleventh, and Sixteenth were all assigned.[citation needed]

From at least 3057 through at least 3059, the Eleventh Legion was active on Rockland. In 3057, a small unit with one BattleMech, the First Edo Company, deserted from the Legion. Two years later, the deserters, breaking down under a rogue Smoke Jaguar bioweapon attack, requested help from the Eleventh. The Eleventh Legion found the remnants of the deserters, took custody of (at minimum) their infected doctor, and studied the gene-targeted parasite.[9]

Dominion War[edit]

Federated Suns Incursion[edit]

Jihad[edit]

During the Jihad, the Word of Blake attacked Vega. The Eleventh Legion was based on the world, but when the Word struck in 3069 the combination of a lightning-fast ground attack and orbital bombardments from Pocket WarShips proved too much for the Legion. Only two warriors survived.[3]

Known Unit Members[edit]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Eleventh Legion of Vega
Tai-sa Theodore Kurita 30243028[2]
Tai-sa Esau Olivares 3039[7]
Tai-sa Yoshi Yamasaki 30503054[10][11]
Tai-sa Petros Sanvaldez 3059[5]
Tai-sa Tammie Kyoto 3067[12]

Other Members[edit]

Tactics[edit]

In 3025 the unit had not yet developed any specialization.[4]

The Eleventh embraces the combat doctrines of Theodore Kurita. They specialize in urban combat, and use their light lances in flanking and harassing maneuvers.[5]

Composition History[edit]

3025[edit]

Eleventh Legion of Vega (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[2]

  • CO: Colonel Theodore Kurita
Note: The Eleventh Legion of Vega was a heavy 'Mech unit.[4] At this point in time the unit was stationed on Marfik.[2]

3029[edit]

Eleventh Legion of Vega (Regiment)

Eleventh Armored (Armor Regiment)[citation needed]

Fifteenth Armored (Armor Regiment)[citation needed]

Twenty-fifth Light Horse (Armor Regiment)[citation needed]

Thirty-fourth Infantry (Infantry Regiment)[14]

3040[edit]

Eleventh Legion of Vega (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[15]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Alrakis.[15]

3050[edit]

Eleventh Legion of Vega (heavy 'Mech Regiment/Veteran/[1]Questionable)[10]

  • CO: Tai-sa Yoshi Yamasaki[10]
Note: At this point in time, the unit was stationed on Alrakis[10] and support units included a regiment each of medium combat vehicles and conventional infantry.[1]

3054[edit]

Eleventh Legion of Vega (Regiment/Veteran/Questionable)[11]

  • CO: Tai-sa Yoshi Yamasaki

3059[edit]

Eleventh Legion of Vega (Regiment/Veteran/Questionable)[5]

CO/First Battalion: Tai-sa Petros Sanvaldez
XO: Chu-sa Tammie Kyoto
Second Battalion: Sho-sa Achmell Kafydich
Third Battalion: Chu-sa Masayuki Saigo
- The unit possesses 12 medium and 12 heavy Inner Sphere-built OmniMechs, which are supported by a large number of No-Dachis and other upgraded machines of the unit from selling excess No-Dachis to other regiments.[5]

Nineteenth Armor Vega Vandals (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[5]

Armor Commander: Tai-sa Taro Yamioka

Eighty-eighth Vegan mechanized Brigade (2 Battalions/Regular/Reliable)[5]

Troop Commander: Chu-sa Jesus Haciego
- The unit includes, 3 VTOL lances and 3 lances of artillery pieces.

3067[edit]

Eleventh Legion of Vega (Regiment/Veteran/Questionable)[12]

CO/1st Battalion: Tai-sa Tammie Kyoto

Nineteenth Armor: Vega Vandals (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[12]

Armor Commander: Tai-sa Luther Zanaros

Eighty-eighth Vegan Mechanized Brigade (2 Battalions/Regular/Reliable)[12]

Troop Commander: Chu-sa Jesus Haciego

Color Scheme and Insignia[edit]

The Legion of Vega does not have a regimental color scheme, though reds and grays dominate. The Legion's rat insignia, known as "Takashi" during the years of his reign, and known as "Tikki" by 3058, became progressively less disheveled as the Legion's fortunes improved.[16][17]

Notes[edit]

Special Combat Rules for the Eleventh Legion of Vega can be found on page 63 of Combat Manual: Kurita.[1]

References[edit]

  1. a b c d e Combat Manual: Kurita, p. 63 "Legion Of Vega"
  2. a b c d e House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 133
  3. a b Field Report: DCMS, p. 16
  4. a b c House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 147: "Legion of Vega"
  5. a b c d e f g h i j Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 123: "Unit Profile"
  6. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 47
  7. a b c d Historical: War of 3039, pp. 28–29: "Alrakis"
  8. Fall of the Hammer
  9. Vector
  10. a b c d 20 Year Update, p. 40
  11. a b Objective Raids, p. 28
  12. a b c d Field Manual: Updates, p. 117
  13. a b BattleCorps Scenario: Fall of the Hammer, p. 3: "Defender"
  14. Heir to the Dragon, p. 134: the 34th Infantry refuses Olivares' orders
  15. a b Historical: War of 3039, p. 139
  16. Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 121
  17. "11th Legion of Vega". CamoSpecs Online. Retrieved 2025-05-20. Per FM:Draconis Combine, page 121.

Bibliography[edit]