Crescent Hawks

(Redirected from Air company)
Insignia of the Crescent Hawks
Crescent Hawks
Affiliation Mercenary
Parent Command Kell Hounds

The Crescent Hawks were a small mercenary unit often employed by the Lyran Commonwealth.

Overview[edit]

Frequently referred to as "Katrina Steiner's personal lance", the initial Crescent Hawks were a small unit loyal to the Lyran Commonwealth, created by Katrina Steiner as an elite group for covert operations and therefore presumably part of the Commonwealth military.

In 3028 they refocused as a guerrilla force, working for Steiner, on Chara III (Pacifica) following an invasion by House Kurita, and went on to become an independent unit aligned with House Steiner, working with the famous Kell Hounds.

Based on the permission from the Archon to act independently, and on their cooperation (and eventual merger) with the Kell Hounds, the Crescent Hawks can arguably be classed as a mercenary unit despite having originally been a House military unit.

Canonicity[edit]

The Crescent Hawks as such have been integrated into BattleTech Canon, as has been much of their backstory. However, it remains unclear just how much of their backstory was canonized as well and how much remains apocryphal.

They were originally introduced to the BattleTech universe in the 1988 computer game, BattleTech: The Crescent Hawks' Inception. A 1990 sequel game, The Crescent Hawks' Revenge, picks up the story in 3028, shortly after first game ended, and continues up until the Clan Invasion.

Computer games are not generally considered Canon. However, the IP owners stated that they are "not in total denial about these sources either" and also that fluff from certain official, licensed products (namely certain computer games including those produced by Infocom) "can be assumed to be part of the shared universe as long as it is not directly contradicted, and makes sense." The two computer games featuring the Crescent Hawks are looked upon particularly favorably in terms of canonicity. Many aspects from these games' storylines were later written into canon proper through other publications, including the Crescent Hawks unit, Jeremiah and Jason Youngblood and the Crescent Hawks' connection to the Kell Hounds. It could thus be argued that the games' storylines should be regarded as canonical at least in broad strokes. The Crescent Hawks and Youngblood are directly cited in the novel Blood Legacy.

History[edit]

Re-formation[edit]

In 3072, the Kell Hounds were contacted for needed assistance by contacts of Chandrasekhar Kurita. They decided to reactivate their independent company, the Crescent Hawks; as the Crescent Hawks were described as having seen more combat than the Kell Hounds it is possible that the sub-unit had been secretly (or unofficially) re-formed prior to 3072 already, or that it was formed from the Kell Hounds' most experienced veterans.

Jason Youngblood, the last commander of the Crescent Hawks, declined to command the unit but suggested his son, Jeremiah Youngblood. In February, the unit deployed a full company of BattleMechs for a destination not disclosed to the public.[1] Among their members was Awesome pilot Rodney Klatt.[2] In July of the same year, they fought the Word of Blake on Ruchbah.[3][4]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Crescent Hawks
Captain Jeremiah Youngblood 3028
Captain Jason Youngblood 3051
Captain Jeremiah Youngblood II 3072[5]
Captain Jezebel Youngblood 3144[6]

Other Unit Members[edit]

Tactics[edit]

The Crescent Hawks were known for favoring mobility over raw firepower, most of their members piloting more agile 'Mechs.

One tactic favored by the Hawks was known as the Fertile Crescent. In this maneuver, the mobile elements of the Hawks would sweep behind the enemy formation in a scything motion while support elements assaulted the opposite flank.[13]

Composition History[edit]

3039[edit]

Command Lance[14][15]

Pursuit Lance[14][16]

Striker Lance[14][17]

Air Company ("Crimson Hawks")[14][18]

3072[edit]

Command Lance[3][4]

Striker Lance[3][4]

Pursuit Lance[3]

They also have three DropShips (likely Leopards) and six aerospace fighters including at least one flight of Stingray fighters. [citation needed] All of the Crescent Hawks were once Kell Hounds and, since the days of the Red Corsair, the Hawks had seen more constant action than their parent unit.[19]

3076[edit]

Command Lance[14][20]

Pursuit Lance[14][21]

Striker Lance[14][22]

Air Company ("Crimson Hawks")[14][23]

Support Vessels[24]

3144[edit]

Command Lance[14][25]

Pursuit Lance[14][26]

Striker Lance[14][27]

Air Company ("Crimson Hawks")[14][28]

Support Vessels[24]

Color Scheme[edit]

The Crescent Hawks color their equipment in dark blue and gray with yellow highlights.[29] They also are noted for painting their 'Mechs in fitting camouflage to reflect the local terrain of their expected environs whenever possible to do so, though they will choose on occasions where intimidation of an opposing force or bolstering of an allied force is a viable option to adopt the unit's parade colors of gray and blue with yellow highlights.[24]

The dress uniform for the Crescent Hawks is a utilitarian Gray with blue epaulets. Rank insignia varies depending on role in the unit, with a single gold bar denoting MechWarrior, a bar with a ruby for a Lance Commander, and an enameled gold hawk's head for the captain. Since its presentation to Jason Youngblood in 3052 after the Battle of Luthien, one warrior is chosen to wear Youngblood's Bushido Blade, usually the most seasoned warrior in the unit who will serve as the unit's conscience. The fighter pilot with the most kills wears the Crimson Eagle - a half-cape of red feathers similar to the ceremonial gear of Clan Jade Falcon. Crimson Hawks pilots keep meticulous track of their kills in order to gain the honor, which often switches owners after a battle.[30]

Notes[edit]

  • The first game does not provide dates for its story-line, but conjectural information from the second game indicates that the Kurita attack on Pacifica must have occurred just prior to the Fourth Succession War that was launched on 20. August 3028. The story-line of the sequel game begins in October 3028, and refers to the "recent" Kurita attack on Pacifica for the events from the first game. Jeremiah Youngblood had been captured "six months ago" when he was rescued on Dieron; assuming that he was rescued in April 3029 this indicates that his capture in the initial attack against Pacifica took place in October or possibly September 3028 which in turn means the story-line of the first game was only meant to cover 1 or 2 months. This date can be verified through reading the newspaper in the Mayor's Hut in the original BTI game.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 113: "Crescent Hawks fly again!"
  2. ↑ Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 84
  3. ↑ a b c d Eclipse, ch. 1
  4. ↑ a b c A Crescent Hawk's Scenario: Cornered Prey
  5. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 4
  6. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 5: "Jezebel Youngblood"
  7. ↑ MechWarrior Pilot Deck: Heroes of the Clan Invasion, "Edward Mata Pilot Card"
  8. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 11, p. 10: "Phoenix Hawk"
  9. ↑ BattleTech: Mercenaries, Edward Gilebrist Pilot Card
  10. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 5
  11. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 13, p. 10: "Glass Spider (Galahad)"
  12. ↑ BattleTech Crescent Hawk Training Vid - Kell Hounds
  13. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 3
  14. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 6
  15. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 10
  16. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 11
  17. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 12
  18. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 13
  19. ↑ Eclipse, ch. 3
  20. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 14
  21. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 15
  22. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 16
  23. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 17
  24. ↑ a b c Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 3: "Force Composition"
  25. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 18
  26. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 19
  27. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 20
  28. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 21
  29. ↑ Combat Manual: Mercenaries, p. 108
  30. ↑ Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks, p. 3: "Uniforms and Insignia"

Bibliography[edit]

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