1st Royal Guards

Royalguards1st.png
First Royal Guards RCT
Nickname The Pride of Donegal;
The Archon's Own
Affiliation Lyran Commonwealth
Parent Command Royal Guards

From their founding, the First Royal Guards were the personal bodyguards of the Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth and Lyran Alliance. After the destruction of the Fourth Royal Guards, the First became (at least nominally) the personal command of the Archon. Throughout much of its history, the First had been deployed on Tharkad, protecting the Triad itself.[1]

History[edit]

After the assassination attempt to kill Archon Craig Steiner in 2529, the First Royal Guards supplied the pair of Griffin BattleMechs that stood beside the Lyran throne. Victor Ian Steiner-Davion broke with the tradition and, in 3056, replaced the Griffins with a Crusader and a Marauder, 'Mechs common in the former AFFS. His sister, Katherine Steiner-Davion replaced those 'Mechs with a pair of Hauptmann OmniMechs following her accession.[1]

Though most of the unit's history has been the defense of the Archon, the First has been deployed to the front lines in times of need.[1]

In early 2506 for example, the First deployed to Tamar at the close of the Lyran Civil War. Led by Archon Robert Steiner, the First pursued Duke Gilderoy and Margaret Olson into Tamar City. There they fought the rebel forces for eighteen hours before the rebels surrendered.[2]

The First was stationed on Tharkad in 2765. While there, they skirmished and trained with the 2nd Royal Guards, who had lost several key members due to criminal behavior.[3]

In 3022 the First Royal Guards fought the Battle of Rigil Kentarus. The battle began as a joint exercise between the LCAF unit and Marshal Ran Felsner to work out joint AFFS/LCAF tactics. However, the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery sent in large numbers of troops and the joint LCAF/AFFS forces were hard pressed to prevent the fall of the planet. They prevailed however, and Rigil Kentarus remained free of the Dragon.[4]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

The First and the mercenary unit Barrett's Fusiliers were deployed to the Isle of Skye during the Fourth Succession War. Both commands acted as mobile reserves. When the Fourth Proserpina Hussars successfully invaded the Lyran world of La Blon during the Lull, both units were dispatched to counterattack during Operation HOLDUR. The First caught the 4th Hussars totally off-guard and captured two strategically important forts. Consequently, the Proserpina Hussars faded away from the Lyran units. At first, the Royal Guards unsuccessfully tried to hunt down the DCMS unit. When the Hussars intercepted a message from the CO of Royal Guards that indicated the bulk of his units had moved out of one of the forts to engage the Hussars, they attacked. However, the message was a trap by the Steiner forces. When the Hussars attacked, the fort was defended by the entire force of the First Royals. The Hussars took grievous damage fighting what they believed to be a token force. After four hours, the few surviving lances of Hussars, retreated only to be ambushed by Barrett's Fusiliers.[5]

After the liberation of La Blon, both units dropped on Dromini VI. Though the suicidal attack of the 10th Lyran Guards damaged many of the JumpShips and destroyed many of the supplies needed for Theodore Kurita's Operation CONTAGION, the planet was still crowded with Kurita units, including both surviving Legion of Vega regiments, as well as elements of the Benjamin Regulars and the Dieron Regulars. Though the Lyran units were outnumbered by the Combine forces, they harassed the DCMS units. Theodore Kurita realized that Lyran reinforcements would likely arrive soon and that he and his forces would be trapped behind enemy lines with little chance to survive. Consequently, he ordered his units to retreat off-planet. When the First Royals realized the retreat of the Kurita units, they attacked the Seventeenth Benjamin Regulars. Both units took heavy losses, but the 17th lost most, more than a battalion of 'Mechs.[5]

FedCom Civil War[edit]

The First Royal Guards were stationed on Tharkad when the Allied task force hit. They fought the Kell Hounds and Clan Wolf-in-Exile's Alpha Galaxy. Though they fought well, the Clan unit eventually smashed them.[6] During the fighting they were led by Nondi Steiner against Peter Steiner-Davion.[7]

Jihad[edit]

Due to the severe damage the unit suffered during the FedCom Civil War, the Jihad the First Royal Guards and their sister unit, the 2nd Royal Guards fell apart during the attack of the Word of Blake forces. The Archon, Peter Steiner-Davion, referred to anyone who fought in the Tharkad resistance as a "Royal Guard" despite being the only living member of the unit on several occasions.[8] After the Blakists were driven off of Tharkad, the First Royal Guards were rebuilt by adding a battalion of troops from the Alekseyevka TTM and Florida TTM. This has led to some tension between the survivors and the new arrivals.[9]

In June 3083, the First Royal Guards were deployed to Inarcs to arrest Duchess LaRue for treason. The First Royal Guards arrived with the Second Bolan Guards LCT and quickly landed on the world. The Royal Guards quickly marched on Utopia, the capital city, and surrounded the Blackstone Highlanders with their armor. The Guards' 'Mech and battle armor forces quickly smashed the Highlander positions and forced them to surrender.[10] The First Royal Guards then accompanied Duchess LaRue to Tharkad, where she stood trial for treason.[11]

In 3085, the First Royal Guards were stationed on Gibbs.[12]

Dark Age[edit]

In 3104, the First Royal Guards were deployed to Gacrux to assault the last of the Brotherhood of Cincinnatus' strongholds. They used updated King Crab BattleMechs as a distraction while the rest of the task force assaulted the rear of the fortress.[13] Adam Steiner led the First Royal Guards and the Fourteenth Lyran Guards personally in their assault against the Brotherhood's forces during the five-hour battle on Gacrux.[14]

The First Royal Guards were ordered not to attack Duke Brewer while he was "Acting Archon," but despite this the First belief that it failed to protect Archon Melissa Steiner from Brewer's coup. The new Archon, Trillian Steiner, did not hold this "failure" against them, but the First began drilling constantly in bodyguard duties to insure that they would never fail again. The First also faced several Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Wolf units when they attacked Tharkad, and gained valuable experience.[15]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 1st Royal Guards
General Paul Steiner 2750 – 2761[16]
Archon Katrina Steiner 3025[17]
Archon Melissa Steiner-Davion 3050[18]
Archon-Prince Victor Ian Steiner-Davion 3054[19]
Leutnant-General Gionavva Mellandra 3062 – 3067[1]
Archon Peter Steiner-Davion 3067[20]
Archon Adam Steiner 3085[21]
Hauptmann General Markus Clarkston 3145[22]

Other Officers[edit]

Tactics[edit]

Because of their posting within the Triad and even within the Lyran throne room, the unit drills extensively at close quarters fighting, and short ranged combat. Members are exceptional marksmen and are skilled at maneuvering. Despite its urban defensive prowess, the First Royal Guards are best renowned for parade and drill routines.[1]

Recruitment[edit]

Posting to the prestigious First Royal Guards is only possible by invitation. Though the recruitment policies were relaxed during the Federated Commonwealth, the First represents the Protectorate of Donegal and therefore mainly recruits from units raised only in this state. Though approximately one third of the First Royal Guards are nobles, postings are based on merit, with at least five years of experience required. Only the Archon can make exceptions.[1]

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

First Royal Guards (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[3]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Tharkad.

2786–2821[edit]

First Royal Guards (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[24]

Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on Tharkad. In 2821 the command was reduced to 52 percent of its strength and was deployed on Tharkad.[24]

2830[edit]

First Royal Guards (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[25]

Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on Tharkad with an operational readiness of 102 percent.[25]

2864[edit]

First Royal Guards (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[25]

Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on Tharkad with an operational readiness of 65 percent.[25]

3025[edit]

First Royal Guards (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[17]

  • CO: Archon Katrina Steiner
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Tharkad.

3040[edit]

First Royal Guards RCT (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[26]

  • CO: Archon Katrina Steiner
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Tharkad.[26]

3050[edit]

First Royal Guards RCT (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[27]

  • CO: Archon Melissa Steiner Davion[27]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Tharkad.[27]

3054[edit]

First Royal Guards RCT (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[28]

  • CO: Archon Melissa Steiner Davion[28]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Tharkad.[28]

3062–3067[edit]

First Royal Guards (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[1][20]
CO (3062): Archon Katherine Steiner
CO (3067): Archon Peter Steiner-Davion
Aide: Leutnant General Gionavva Mellandra

First Royal Guards Aerospace Brigade[1][20]
CO: Colonel Paolo Duranti
- First Royal Guards Wing
- Second Royal Guards Wing

First Royal Guards Armor Brigade (3 Regiments/Regular/Fanatical)[1][20]
CO: Colonel Uwe Dahrendorf
Aide: Leutnant Colonel Gill Davis
- First Royal Tharkad Panzer Regiment - Colonel Liesbeth Tennant
- Second Royal Tharkad Panzer Regiment - Colonel Noel Seaton
- First Royal Tharkad Light Tank - Colonel Damien Banbridge

First Royal Guards Infantry Brigade (5 Regiments/Regular/Fanatical)[1][20]
CO: Colonel Austin Graves
Aide: Leutnant Colonel Leon Jodrell
- Second Royal Tharkad Light Infantry Regiment - Colonel Holly Tenn
- Fourth Royal Tharkad Light Infantry Regiment - Colonel Jona Kork
- First Royal Tharkad Mechanized Regiment - Colonel Galeazzo Halder
- Second Royal Tharkad Mechanized Regiment - Colonel Kerry Bracher
- First Royal Tharkad Battle Armor Regiment - Colonel Harold Carter

3079[edit]

First Royal Guards (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[29]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Tharkad.[29] The 1st Royal Guards were nearly destroyed on Tharkad. To rebuild the unit rapidly they received two battalions of Timbuktu Theater Militia forces. This brought them to 80% of their pre-Jihad strength.[9]

3085[edit]

First Royal Guards RCT (Veteran/Fanatical)[21]
CO: Archon Adam Steiner

First Royal Aerospace (Elite/Fanatical)[21]
CO: Kommandant Winston Abello

First Royal Armor Brigade (Veteran/Reliable)[21]
CO: Colonel Purdie Huang

First Royal Infantry Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[21]
CO: Colonel Asher Wood

3145[edit]

First Royal Guards RCT (Elite/Fanatical)[22]
CO: Hauptmann General Markus Clarkston

First Royal Aerospace (Elite/Fanatical)[22]
CO: Colonel Jane Long

First Royal Armor Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[22]
CO: Colonel Fred Evans

First Royal Infantry Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[22]
CO: Colonel Lori Rodriquez

Notes[edit]

Reference[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 95: "1st Royal Guards Unit Profile"
  2. ↑ Era Report: 2750, p. 52
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Field Report 2765: LCAF, p. 17: "Royal Guards" - Regimental Status
  4. ↑ House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 189
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised, p. 42: "Barrett's Fusiliers: The Light Musketeers"
  6. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 69
  7. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 172
  8. ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Tharkad, p. 6
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Field Report: LAAF, p. 14
  10. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 104
  11. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 95
  12. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 108
  13. ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Lyran Commonwealth, p. 46
  14. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 119: "Reconstruction"
  15. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 124
  16. ↑ Era Report: 2750, p. 79
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 121 (PDF version): "Unit Deployment Table - 3025"
  18. ↑ 20 Year Update, p. 29: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"
  19. ↑ Objective Raids, p. 21: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3054"
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 Field Manual: Updates, p. 178: "LAAF Deployment Table - 3067"
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 Field Manual: 3085, p. 108: "LAAF Deployment Table - 3085"
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 Field Manual: 3145, p. 133: "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces - Donegal Province"
  23. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 25, p. 6: "Demolisher Heavy Tank (Cell) - Notable Vehicles and Crews"
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 First Succession War, p. 139
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 Second Succession War, p. 99
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 138
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 20 Year Update, p. 29
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Objective Raids, p. 21
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Field Report: FWLM, p. 14
  30. ↑ Era Report: 2750, p. 142

Bibliography[edit]

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