2nd Arkab Legion

Insignia of the 2nd Arkab Legion, ca. 3039
Second Arkab Legion
Formed early 2500s
Nickname Defenders of the Faithful[1]
Affiliation Draconis Combine
Parent Command Arkab Legion

History[edit]

Formation[edit]

The Second Arkab Legion was originally a planetary militia regiment that the Draconis Combine failed to conquer. The Arkab Legions were integrated into the DCMS command structure but had to purchase and maintain their own equipment, and the equipment they purchased from the Procurement Department were typically older Star League models but were still serviceable. Even during the nadir of the Succession Wars, the Second Arkab was able to keep their advanced technology in good use.[1]

To keep an eye on these troops who consider the Dragon an ally rather than a master, the ISF attached a Regimental Liaison Team to each Arkab Legion. In 2765 the Second was stationed on Jeju.[2]

Third Succession War[edit]

In 3025 the unit was stationed on Tannil.[3]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

The Second Arkab Legion sat out the Fourth Succession War.[citation needed]

War of 3039[edit]

Fellanin II[edit]

Fellanin II was successfully conquered by two of the Eridani Light Horse regiments, forcing the 4th Proserpina Hussars to engage in guerrilla actions. The AFFS sent word for the ELH to move on to their next target, and one regiment left the world while one remained behind. The Second Arkab Legion was assigned to reinforce the Proserpina Hussars regiment. When the Legion arrived, they pinned the ELH forces in their defensive positions while the Hussars struck them. The DCMS troops eventually forced the mercenaries out of their base and into a chase. The Legion and Hussars captured nearly three companies of the Light Horse, and the other two battalions left the world before they could rescue their comrades.[4][5]

Clan Invasion[edit]

The Second managed to keep Star League BattleMechs in working order long after losing the technology to create them and employed them against the Smoke Jaguars on Hyner when that world was invaded in November 3051. The Azami inflicted heavy casualties using their advanced Hussar and Mercury BattleMechs, using hit-and-run tactics against the Clan in Trent's Glen, and shot Loremaster Edmund Hoyt's 'Mech out from under him before being scattered by a determined Jaguar attack. Despite being forced to retreat, over half of the Legion managed to escape Hyner.[1][6]

A few members of the Second were left behind after the retreat. Dubbing themselves "Kat Killer Five", they conducted guerrilla attacks on the Smoke Jaguar garrison for over three years with the support of the local population. They were finally brought to bay and destroyed in February 3055 thanks to a plan devised by Star Captain Trent.[7]

Operation Bulldog[edit]

After Operation Bulldog ended, the Second Arkab Legion was the first DCMS unit to serve under the command of Clan Nova Cat. The Second Legion served in the Irece Prefecture as part of Alpha Galaxy through all of 3065.[8]

FedCom Civil War era[edit]

In 3065 the Second was transferred for two years to Clan Nova Cat's Alpha Galaxy, as part of the integration process between the DCMS and Clan Nova Cat touman. The trial exchange was considered a success by both parties.[9][8]

Jihad[edit]

On February 12, 3071 several asteroids struck Arkab.[10] The Second Arkab Legion left their duty station and returned to Algedi to assist in humanitarian relief efforts on the Azami worlds.[11] The Second only took this action after the Arkab leadership wasn't able to get any help from the Draconis Combine leadership. Kanrei Kiyomori Minamoto sent several demands and threats to the 2nd Legion and all Arkab leaders, but the Legions refused to leave their homeworlds.

In April 3072 two battalions of the Second Legion were destroyed on Algedi by Davy Crockett class tactical nuclear weapons employed by DEST commandos.[12] The DEST teams were deployed to recover DCMS and DCA troops that were taken prisoner by the Arkab Legions when the DCS Siriwan was destroyed after performing an orbital bombardment mission.[13] The Siriwan itself had acted on orders from the Kokuryu-kai rebels.[14]

Republic era[edit]

As of 3085 the Second had been posted on Arkab. There they continue to focus on rebuilding their world and dealing with the aftereffects of the asteroid strike.[15]

Dark Age[edit]

In 3145 the Second fought with the First Drakøn Cluster on Orestes. What was intended as a routine raid turned into a major engagement as the Drakøns sought revenge for the loss of Port Moseby. Despite this, the Drakøns took heavier losses than the Second as they departed.[16]

In 3150 the Second fought the First Drakøns again, this time when the latter raided Camlann. During the fighting Drakøns Star Captain Ivo Forrester took out an Arkab Wendigo and three vehicles with his Rime Otter.[17]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 2nd Arkab Legion
Brigadier General Cho Sok 3025[3]
Tai-sa Marissa Groh 3039[18]
Tai-sa Basis Ojima 3050 - 3054[19][20]
Tai-sa Sahalli Odessa 3059 - 3067[1][21]
Tai-sa Cora Schultheiss 3085[22]
Tai-sa Jaffar al Qatari 3145[23]

Other Officers[edit]

Tactics[edit]

In 3025 the unit is specialized in fast attacks.[25]

The unit is specialized in several different mobile tactics:[1]

  • All members use the terrain for hidden relocation and prefer landscapes with several possible exits when necessary.
  • Another tactic is to attack in full force and when the opponents show strength, the command breaks into smaller subunits and retreats.
  • Sometimes the retreating unit regroups and devastates the pursuing enemies piece by piece.
  • Should the opponent follow only one subunit, a trap awaits them.
  • As a last resort, the retreat can be turned into a tactical withdrawal.

At the onset of the Clan Invasion, the Second Legion contained no assault-weight machines, 1 in 5 were heavy-weight, and the remainder split between light and medium machines.[26]

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

Second Arkab Legion (Regiment/Elite/Reliable)[2]

Note: At this point in time the Legion was supported by an aerospace fighter wing, three regiments of armor and three infantry regiments, and was stationed on Jeju.[2]

2786–2821[edit]

Second Arkab Legion (Regiment/Elite/Reliable)[27]

Note: At this point in time the Legion was a medium-weight regiment, operating at full strength and stationed on Jeju.[27] In 2821 the unit was operating at below two-thirds of full strength and stationed on Cussar.[27]

2830[edit]

2nd Arkab Legion (Regiment/Elite/Reliable)[28]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Arkab with an operational readiness of 122 percent.[28]

2864[edit]

2nd Arkab Legion (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[28]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Arkab with an operational readiness of 51 percent.[28]

3025[edit]

Second Arkab Legion (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[29]

Note: The 2nd Arkab Legion is a medium 'Mech unit.[25] At this point in time the unit was stationed on Tannil.[3]

3040[edit]

Second Arkab Legion (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[30]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Tannil.[30]

3050–3054[edit]

Second Arkab Legion (medium 'Mech Regiment/Veteran/[26]Reliable)[19][20]

  • CO: Tai-sa Basis Ojima[19]
Third Battalion, Recon Company: Tai-sa Omar Akbani

Hard Air (medium aerospace fighter Wing)

Note: Exclusive medium fighters.[26]

Second Arkag Armor (light combat vehicle Regiment)

Note: The Second Armor is made of entirely fast hovercraft and light tanks.
Note: At this point in time (3050) the unit was stationed on Tannil[19] and attached support units include a conventional infantry regiment.[26]

3059[edit]

Second Arkab Legion (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[1]

Note: The unit possesses 3 lances of light Inner Sphere OmniMechs.

Hard Air (Wing/Veteran/Reliable)[1]

Note: The unit is skilled in providing air superiority, reconnaissance, and even close air support when necessary.

Second Arkab Armor (Battalion/Regular/Reliable)[1]

Second Arkab Infantry (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[1]

Note: The unit includes 3 companies of anti-'Mech trained infantry.

3067[edit]

Second Arkab Legion (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[21]

  • CO/1st Battalion: Tai-sa Sahalli Odessa

Hard Air (Wing/Veteran/Reliable)[21]

  • Wing Commander: Chu-sa Bapu Kingsley

Second Arkab Armor (Battalion/Regular/Reliable)[21]

  • Armor Commander: Chu-sa Srin Odin

Second Arkab Infantry (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[21]

  • Troop Commander: Tai-sa Emil Balama

3079[edit]

Second Arkab Legion (3 Mixed Regiments/Veteran/Questionable)[31]

Note: On paper, the Second was composed of three battalions of mixed unit types; the Second was actually operating at roughly 55% of its nominal strength from its home base on Algedi, although 40% of the unit's equipment featured upgraded technology and the Legion was considered to be a veteran unit.[31] In common with the other Arkab Legions at the time, the 2nd operated as a combined-arms unit; only a third of the Legion's full strength consisted of 'Mech forces, while the remainder was comprised of conventional and infantry forces.[32]

3085[edit]

Second Arkab Legion (Veteran/Questionable)[22]

Hard Air (Wing/Veteran/Questionable)[22]

Second Arkab Armor (1 Battalion/Regular/Questionable)[22]

Second Arkab Infantry (Veteran/Questionable)[22]

3145[edit]

Second Arkab Legion (Veteran/Reliable)[23]

  • CO: Tai-sa Jaffar al Qatari

Third Camlann Aerospace (Wing/Regular/Reliable)[23]

Second Arkab Armor (Veteran/Questionable)[23]

Seventeenth Camlann Guard (Regular/Reliable)[23]

Color Schemes and Insignia[edit]

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The brigade paint scheme for the Arkab Legions is desert tan and dark green. Given the mutual distrust, the three Arkab Legions are not required to show the crest of the Draconis Combine, though the tai-sa of the Legion paints the Kurita Dragon on the upper left arm of their 'Mech. This Draconis crest is removed in times of withheld support from the Combine until amends are made. The insignia of the Arkab Legions is a six-pointed star against a half-yellow and half-black background.[25][26][1][33]

The Second Arkab uses the Legion insignia, not a customized crest. However, they do paint inspirational messages in Arabic on the left side of their BattleMechs, combat vehicles, and fighter fuselages.[1]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 101: "Second Arkab Legion Unit Profile"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Field Report 2765: DCMS, p. 9: "Arkab Legions"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 135: "Mech Unit Deployment Table (as of 3025) Continued"
  4. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, pp. 89–90: "Fellanin II (August-September)"
  5. ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 295: "TDR-5S Thunderbolt - Notable MechWarriors"
  6. ↑ Invading Clans, p. 68: "Hyner"
  7. ↑ Exodus Road, chs. 7–13 (PDF version)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Field Manual: Updates, p. 113: "Second Arkab Legion"
  9. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 96
  10. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 36: "Death from the Heavens"
  11. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 52: "Azami Return Home"
  12. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 75: "The Dragon's Benevolence"
  13. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 74: "Death from the Heavens - Again"
  14. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 53: "Council of Gems"
  15. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 48: "Second Arkab Legion"
  16. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 62: "Second Arkab Legion"
  17. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 19, p. 4: "Star Captain Ivo "The Forester" Forrester"
  18. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 90
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 20 Year Update, p. 42: "DCMS Deployment Table - 3050"
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Objective Raids, p. 27: "DCMS Deployment Table - 3054"
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 Field Manual: Updates, p. 116: "Deployment Table - 3067"
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 Field Manual: 3085, p. 49: "DCMS Deployment Table - 3085"
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 Field Manual: 3145, p. 63: "DCMS Deployment Table - 3145"
  24. ↑ First Succession War, p. 160: "SHD-2D/2K Shadow Hawk"
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 145: "The Arkab Legions"
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 Combat Manual: Kurita, p. 55: "Second Arkab Legion"
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 First Succession War, p. 136: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (DCMS)"
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Second Succession War, p. 96
  29. ↑ House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 137: "Deployment Table - 3025"
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 139
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Field Report: DCMS, p. 20: "Irregular Force Status"
  32. ↑ Field Report: DCMS, p. 19: "Arkab Legions"
  33. ↑ "2nd Arkab Legion". CamoSpecs Online. Retrieved 2025-04-09. Per FM: Draconis Combine, pages 100 and 101.

Bibliography[edit]

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