Amphigean Light Assault Group
Sarna News
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| Amphigean Light Assault Group | |
| Formed | 2811 (as Amphigean Security Group) 2952[1] |
| Previous Designation(s) | Amphigean Security Group[1] |
| Affiliation | Draconis Combine |
| Parent Command | DCMS |
The Amphigean Light Assault Group is a long-term mercenary force contracted to the DCMS. Since their inception as a light 'Mech-equipped corporate security group, to their rebirth as mercenaries and quasi-House unit status, they have generally served as high-speed shock troops with a pack mentality to combat. They specialize in swarm tactics, in spirit if not in exact detail, and were exempt from Coordinator Takashi Kurita's Death to Mercenaries order due to their long-term and perpetual contract to the DCMS.[1]
Contents
History[edit]
The Amphigean Light Assault Group has its roots in corporate security for Amphigean Agriculture Inc. as the Amphigean Security Group. At the outset of the Succession Wars, and with a network of holdings across the Inner Sphere, outside mercenary costs had skyrocketed, and so the AAI board of directors wished to maintain private contractors.[2] Economically restricted to lighter and cheaper BattleMechs, the ASG protected the company's holdings throughout the Combine. As they were useful in incidentally protecting other sites, the DCMS allowed the ASG to expand and operate outside their direct oversight.[1]
Second War[edit]
With the onset of the Second Succession War, Coordinator Jinjiro Kurita dragooned private forces as well as undesirables into his Chain Gang Missions. These three regiments of criminals, Unproductives, and failed officers were given barely functioning 'Mechs and sent in small strike teams to enemy systems to sow chaos.[3] A few regiments of shock troops were also raised to soften up any enemies,[4] taken from private forces including the ASG. The ASG were highly skilled, though, and their pack mentality overwhelmed their enemies and allowed the ASG to attack rear areas in precision strikes. Following successful attacks on Strawn, Kessel, and Kobe, the ASG troops were dubbed the "Amphigean Light Assault Groups". Commanders found the ASG forces useful for tasks that bushido did not allow the samurai of the DCMS to perform.[1][4]
Those who survived the Chain Gang Attacks returned to corporate service, which AAI rebuilt as mercenaries to contract to other corporations, even outside of the Combine, with Ceres Metals as the first.[2] They were careful, though, never to deploy inside the Lyran Commonwealth or Federated Suns.[1]
Third War[edit]
Amphigean Light Assault Group[edit]
By 2952, the ASG numbered six battalions, in addition to the smaller units at individual AAI sites, and AAI received 21 percent of its revenues from ASG contracts.[2] That year, the DCMS approached AAI to hire the ASG as long-term mercenary support. The First and Second Amphigean Light Assault Groups were supplied by the DCMS, but staffed with AAI pilots, while the Third and Fourth Groups were formed from the ASG and remain fully in AAI service.[1]
Elements of the "mercenary" Amphigean Light Assault Group fought on Sevren in 2990. The Assassin 'Mechs they fielded ran low on ammunition, leaving them with pitiful capabilities in the rear areas of the 15th Lyran Guards. Only two of the ALAG 'Mechs returned.[5]
Sometime during the last decades of the Third Succession War, a "House Liao-employed mercenary company" Amphigean Light Assault Group was sent to the planet Thestria to combat Federated Suns military build-up in the area and take part in an assassination attempt against Ian McKinnon.[6]
Jihad[edit]
In the wake of the Jihad as the DCMS rebuilt from the losses taken, the Amphigean Light Assault Group found themselves falling somewhere between the second and third tier of units when it came to replacements and supplies. Because of the smaller size of the Amphigean brigade compared to the Regulars, the Amphigean units found themselves a lower priority for rebuilding than the Regulars but were accorded considerably more support than the Ghost Regiments or the Legions of Vega.[7]
As of 3085, they were condensed into only one regiment with slightly less than two battalions and little hope of obtaining replacements.[8] They would soon rebuild and by 3145, they were able to field 2 regiments again.[9]
Chain of Command[edit]
The Amphigean Light Assault Group was originally assigned to the Dieron Military District as their history of results over strict adherence to bushido more closely aligned with the Warlord. Their success, though, raised concern among the other Warlords, and the Amphigeans were assigned as Free-Floating Regiments.[4]
Officers[edit]
| Rank | Name | Command | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commanding Officers of the Amphigean Light Assault Group | |||
| Karl Gramenov | bef. 3039[10] | ||
Tactics[edit]
Different per Unit. All Amphigean units are treated as corporations unto themselves. Commanders are expected to turn a profit with their deployments, with quotas and bonuses used to reward and punish behavior. Privately-held machines are not allowed, and MechWarriors are contractors, not noble knights-errant as depicted in many holovids. The Amphigean Groups promote from within, noted as a rarity. Work in the ALAG stands apart from the class-dominated DCMS and is well regarded if not inside some corners of the DCMS itself, then outside at least.[2]
Units of the Amphigean Light Assault Group[edit]
Notes[edit]
- The 2nd Assault Group was destroyed in 3051,[1] but then re-formed in the Dark Ages.
- The 5th Assault Group was formed about the time of the first mercenary contracts (though is listed on DCMS rolls during the First Succession War)[11] and destroyed in 3051.[1]
- The 6th Assault Group was raised following the War of 3039. It was a smaller ASG battalion in the mold of the Third and Fourth Groups.[1]
- The 7th Assault Group was formed after the destruction of the Second and Fifth ALAG during the Clan Invasion, and destroyed in October 3069.[12]
Color Scheme and Insignia[edit]
The Amphigean Light Assault groups rely on camouflage schemes that change from planet to planet. When forced to participate in public parades, they adopt their "junkyard camo", painting their vehicles a combination of flat gray highlighted with rust-brown splotches and black scorch marks.[13]
Early Amphigean LAG unit insignia, pre-3058
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Combat Manual: Kurita, p. 54 "Amphigean Light Assault Group"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Galtor Campaign, p. 59 "Amphigean Light Assault Group"
- ↑ Combat Manual: Kurita, p. 39 "Chain Gangs"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Field Manual: Draconis Combine, pp. 94–96: "Alternate Paths - Amphigean Light Assault Groups: Pack Mentality"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 34, "ASN-21 Assassin"
- ↑ The Fox's Teeth, pp. 16-17: "A Stab in the Back"
- ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 88, "...And Threats Without"
- ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 48, "First Amphigean Light Assault Group"
- ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 62, "Alternate Paths"
- ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 113: "Breed"
- ↑ First Succession War, p. 136: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (DCMS)"
- ↑ Field Report: DCMS, p. 18, "Alternate Paths"
- ↑ Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 94