1st Kearny Highlanders

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1st Kearny Highlanders
First Kearny Highlanders
Formed 2362
Disbanded c. 3137[1]
Affiliation Republic of the Sphere;
Mercenary (formerly)
Parent Command Northwind Highlanders

History[edit]

Early History[edit]

The First Kearny Highlanders were the oldest and longest lived of the Northwind Highlanders formations. The regiment was originally formed by volunteers from the mining settlement of Kearny on Northwind. The unit fought early battles for various Great Houses, including the Capellan Confederation. Its career in these early times was checkered with victories and defeats.[citation needed]

The unit's first notable conflict was during the First Andurien War, where the unit fought for the Confederation. The unit was nearly routed on Lopez by elements of House Marik's Oriente Hussars. This route nearly cost the unit its career.[citation needed]

  • 2761 - First Kearny redeem themselves by successful occupation of the Davion world of Demeter with odds against them.[citation needed]

Succession Wars[edit]

  • 2802 - The unit fought and lost to elements of the DCMS on Lincoln, losing their command battle standard. The standard was presented back to the Highlanders as a gift of goodwill by Omi Kurita in 3058.[2]
  • 2865 - First Kearny returned to Northwind to defend the world from House Marik regulars and their mercenary support units. The First Kearny was able to drive off the invaders. They inflicted heavy damage on the fleeing units, including the mercenary force known as the Jal's Jaegers but lost half of its men and equipment in the effort. The unit resolved to rebuild itself with heavier equipment, so it restricted itself to raiding until it fully rebuilt.[citation needed]
  • 2866 to 2880 - First Kearny conducts a number of raids on Free Worlds League holdings for 'Mechs and supplies. Recovering large quantity of medium BattleMechs to allow the regiment to fully recover.[citation needed]
  • 3028 - Stationed on Highspire the First Kearny departed, after news reached them of the negotiation between the clan elders and the Federated Suns, to their new home on Northwind.[citation needed]

War of 3039[edit]

During the War of 3039 the First Kearny Highlanders remained stationed on Northwind throughout the conflict.[4]

Clan Invasion[edit]

In 3056 the First was hired by the Federated Commonwealth to recover stolen Clan technology from the Dragonslayers on Mogyorod.[5][6] A rift with the Federated Commonwealth coincided with Operation GUERRERO and resulted in the loss of exclusivity contracts with that realm.[7]

Civil War[edit]

In 3067 the First was under contract to the Draconis Combine.[8] In September 3067 the First invoked their emergency escape clause and returned to Northwind.[9][10]

Jihad[edit]

Dark Age Era[edit]

The First Kearny was the sole Highlanders regiment to remain in service after the founding of the Republic of the Sphere.[11]

Early Republic Era[edit]

At the Jihad ended, the First Kearny Highlanders were stationed on Northwind in Prefecture III of The Republic of the Sphere.[12] The Northwind Highlanders leadership negotiated with Republic government, where they would broker a deal to join the Republic Armed Forces while preserving the Highlanders legacy. In the end the First Kearny was elected to remain intact, while rest of the regiment would eventually be absorbed into the RAF losing their identities as Highlanders. While rebuilding from Operation SCOUR in 3078, the First Kearny would end up detaching a battalion of its forces to help rebuild the Third Republic Auxiliaries after the fighting during Operation: Golden Dawn.[13]

After the initial conflicts Republic had during the 3090s, the First Kearny would remain on Northwind as a garrison for the Northwind Military Academy. After years assigned to this duty, the regiment would be reinvented and tasked themselves as a troubleshooting force. As independent unit, the Highlanders would end up not being utilized during the Capellan Crusades of 3112–3113.[14][15]

The First Kearny Highlanders made a combat drop against Black Dragon pirates, when Colonel Emil Wallace suffered a BattleMech malfunction, and it was Tara Campbell (daughter of a former Highlander Commanding Officer) who step up into command of the operation with a masterful strategy that saved his life, threw the pirates off Sadalbari and crushed an entire company of the pirates, even capturing one of their DropShips.[16][17]

The Blackout[edit]

In August 3132 the HPG network largely went offline or was attacked during the event later dubbed "Gray Monday".[18] True to their mission, the First Kearny were deployed across Prefecture III aiding in putting down uprisings and newly arisen splinter groups trying to gain power for themselves. Under the direction of Prefecture III's Prefect Tara Campbell, the First Kearny served as a roving troubleshooting force across her and neighboring Prefectures during the early years of the Blackout. The First Kearny along with two newly created sister regiments (the Northwind Fusiliers and shortly after the Republic Guards) would end being spread thin across the Rimward and Spinward portions of the Republic.[citation needed]

Elements of the First Kearny would end up engaged in fighting an invasion of Northwind itself, by Steel Wolves, a Clan-oriented splinter group, twice. Over the course of nine months (first in June 3133 and in February 3134) with minimum resources, Campbell and the elements of the regiment would end up fighting off two takeover attempts by the Steel Wolves and its uncanny leader, Galaxy Commander Anastasia Kerensky. Despite betrayal of Paladin Ezekiel Crow, the Highlanders succeeded, mounted what amounts to a counterattack to stop Steel Wolves from its next destination, which would soon be found out as Terra. The First Kearny with the rest of the available Northwind Highlanders Tara Campbell could muster, end up fighting off Steel Wolves with the Tenth Principes Guards on the fields of former nation of Russia in April.[citation needed]

The regiment would continue to be stretched for a few more months until they would be requested to muster on Skye, where they would face threat of invasion by Clan Jade Falcon. They would need to dig in and help build clever strategies as they faced elements of multiple Galaxies of troops after the Clan had captured a number of Prefecture VIII and IX worlds. The regiment, along with other coalition forces (including Steel Wolves) would manage to repulse the Falcons' first invasion in August 3134, however they would be forced to withdraw from Skye failing to fight off the second attack.[19][20]

DCMS forces took Scheat in June 3135 after engaging and routing elements of the Third Battalion, First Kearny Regiment from Republic Armed Forces.[21]

Absorption into the RAF and legacy[edit]

By 3137 the First Kearny had been absorbed into the RAF. While considered a military necessity the move was met with disquiet by Northwind's inhabitants. To placate them the RAF High Command included a high percentage of Northwind-descended soldiers in the newly raised Twelfth Hastati Sentinels, and the unit itself also fostered a close relationship with the Northwind Military Academy.[1]

IlClan Era and Rebirth[edit]

After the Battle of Terra, the surviving Highlanders returned to Northwind, now an independent world. They dissolved the Twelfth Hastati, to recreate the First Kearny into a full regiment. Mercenaries once more, they hired on with the Duke of Tybalt Loren Hansen ‎, the recently titled commander of Hansen's Roughriders whom also survived Terra. One of the first assignments was to probe border world defenses, ostensibly for an upcoming offensive. At least a company of Highlanders fought the Third Star League's Clan Jade Falcon units on Caph as a result of these reconnaissance-in-force missions.[22][23]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the First Kearny Highlanders
Colonel Timm McDougal 2841[24][25]
Colonel Timothy Senn 3025[26]
Colonel Sandra McPierce 3029[27]
Colonel Edward Senn 30503067[28][29][26][30][31][32][33][8]
Colonel Marshall MacLeod 3085[34]
Colonel Emil Wallace 31243127[16][17]
Colonel Caden Senn 3132[35]
Colonel Robert Ballantrae 3134[11]
Colonel Cadha Jaffray 3151[36]

Other officers[edit]

Tactics[edit]

The First Kearny were known to be the most conservative unit of the Highlanders, refusing to give any ground no matter the cost.[42]

Support[edit]

The naval fleet of the First Kearny contains following JumpShips:

Monolith-class = Spirit of Edinburgh[33]
Star Lord-class = Queen Anne and Queen Mary[33]
Invader-class = King's Own, Jacoby and Monymusk[33]
Scout-class = Argyll and Princess Louise[33]

Motto[edit]

The First Kearny's motto, as of 3132, was "Our Legacy Is Our Sword."[43]

Composition History[edit]

2366[edit]

First Kearny Highlanders[44]

  • First Battalion
  • First Company
  • Recon Lance
  • Support Lance

2786–2821[edit]

First Kearny Highlanders (Regiment/Elite/Questionable)[45]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Halloran V. In 2821 the command was reduced to 42 percent of its strength and was deployed on Halloran V.[45]

2830[edit]

First Kearny Highlanders (Regiment/Elite/Questionable)[46]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Ilmachna with an operational readiness of 101 percent.[46]

2864[edit]

First Kearny Highlanders (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[46]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Kyrkbacken with an operational readiness of 78 percent.[46]

3025[edit]

First Kearny Highlanders (2 Battalions/Veteran/Reliable)[47]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Highspire.[47]

3029[edit]

First Kearny Highlanders[27]

  • First Battalion
  • First Company
  • Command Lance

3040[edit]

First Kearny Highlanders (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[49]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Northwind.[49]
Contract: AFFC[49]

3050[edit]

First Kearny Highlanders (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[28]

  • CO: Colonel Edward Senn[28]
H/BM/R(r), M/AF/W, CV/B, CI/B "First Gurkhas"[40]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Errai. For Special Command Abilities in this era, see Combat Manual: Mercenaries.[28][40]

3054[edit]

First Kearney Highlanders (/Veteran/Reliable)[50]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Mogyorod.[50]

3059[edit]

First Kearny Highlanders (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[51]

  • CO: Colonel Edward Senn[51]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Northwind. For Special Command Abilities in this era see Era Report: 3062[51][52]

3067[edit]

First Kearny Highlanders (Reinforced Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[33]

Queen's Own Battalion: Major David Lee Senn[33]
78th Highland Battalion: Major Til Honey[33]
Gordon Battalion: Major Evelyn Marks[33]
The regiment contains a vehicle company.[33]
Note: The unit contains 85% upgrades. For Special Command Abilities in this era see Mercenaries Supplemental[33][53]

First Gurkhas (Battalion/Elite/Reliable)[33]

CO: Lieutenant-Colonel Michael McPherson[33]
Sixth Company: Major Charles Ford[33]
Seventh Company: Captain Robert Shay[33]
Tenth Company: Captain Julie Stiles[33]

The unit is elite special forces. The unit now contains full complement of battle armor.[33]

3085[edit]

First Kearny Highlanders (Two Battalions/Veteran/Questionable)[34]

3132[edit]

First Kearny Highlanders (Reinforced Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[11]

Note: The Regiment's Equipment Rating is listed as having access to "B" level tech/equipment.[11]

3151[edit]

First Kearny Highlanders (1 reinforced Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[54]

H/BM/R(r), BA/B, M/AF/W[54]
Notes: For Special Command Abilities in this era see Unit Digest: First Kearny Highlanders[54]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Field Manual: 3145, p. 140: "Twelfth Hastati Sentinels"
  2. Impetus of War, p. 35
  3. Wolf's Dragoons, pp. 11–12
  4. Historical: War of 3039, p. 143: "Deployment Table"
  5. Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 65: "The Dragonslayers: Blood Vengeance"
  6. Hotspots, pp. 62 & 63
  7. Mercenaries Supplemental, p. 51: "Northwind Highlanders: A Scottish Legacy"
  8. 8.0 8.1 Field Manual: Updates, p. 183: "Mercenary Employment Roster"
  9. Dawn of the Jihad, pp. 29-30: "Northwind Highlanders Returning Home"
  10. Dawn of the Jihad, p. 38: "Mercenaries Under Fire"
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Era Digest: Dark Age, p. 15: "First Kearny Highlanders"
  12. Field Manual: 3085, p. 186
  13. Field Manual: 3145, p. 183: Independent Units - First Kearny survival and some details of First Kearny's actions during the early days it serving the Republic of the Sphere
  14. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, pp. 86–87: Capellan Crusades Deployment Tables - "Northwind Highlanders are not listed as being deployed as part of the conflict
  15. Era Digest: Dark Age, pp. 15–16: First Kearny Highlanders - "Brief profile gives a basic early history of the First Kearny as garrison unit for the academy and later as troubleshooting unit its later years
  16. 16.0 16.1 Dark Age: Republic of the Sphere, p. 36: "Tara Campbell"
  17. 17.0 17.1 A Silence in the Heavens, p. ??[citation needed]
  18. Era Digest: Dark Age, p. 10: Dark Age Timeline - Gray Monday / HPG Crash listed
  19. Era Digest: Dark Age, pp. 8–10, 15–16: Brief highlights of the combat for Northwind, Terra, and Skye noted
  20. Field Manual: 3145, pp. 14–15: Descend - Campbell and Highlanders effort noted and more details of the Battle for Skye
  21. 21.0 21.1 Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 201: "30 June 3135"
  22. Unit Digest: First Kearny Highlanders in Shrapnel#11, p. 78-79
  23. Chaos Theory
  24. No Dawn on the Horizon
  25. Northwind Highlanders, pp. 20-21: "Darkest Hour"
  26. 26.0 26.1 Northwind Highlanders, p. 47
  27. 27.0 27.1 Northwind Highlanders, pp. 24-25: "Homecoming"
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 20 Year Update, p. 19
  29. Main Event, ch. 2
  30. Chaos March, pp. 44-45: "Northwind"
  31. Impetus of War, ch. 2
  32. 32.0 32.1 Field Manual: ComStar, p. 99: "Colonel Neil Campbell"
  33. 33.00 33.01 33.02 33.03 33.04 33.05 33.06 33.07 33.08 33.09 33.10 33.11 33.12 33.13 33.14 33.15 33.16 Mercenaries Supplemental, p. 52: "First Kearny Highlanders: Tradition's Weight"
  34. 34.0 34.1 34.2 Field Manual: 3085, p. 186: "RAF Deployment Table - 3085"
  35. MechWarrior: Dark Age - Dossiers and Pilot Cards, p. 10: "Caden Senn profile"
  36. Unit Digest: First Kearny Highlanders in Shrapnel#11, p. 78
  37. 37.0 37.1 Technical Readout: 3025, p. 146: "TR-7 Thrush"
  38. 38.0 38.1 Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 150: "TR-7 Thrush"
  39. 39.0 39.1 MILSPEC: Thrush
  40. 40.0 40.1 40.2 Combat Manual: Mercenaries, pp. 58-59: "Northwind Highlanders"
  41. Unit Digest: First Kearny Highlanders in Shrapnel#11 p. 77
  42. Era Report: 3062, p. 143: "First Kearny Highlanders"
  43. Highlanders Faction Dossier
  44. Northwind Highlanders, p. 13: "Rebirth - Attacker"
  45. 45.0 45.1 First Succession War, p. 136
  46. 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 Second Succession War, p. 96
  47. 47.0 47.1 House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 105
  48. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 81: "First Kearny Highlanders Unit Profile"
  49. 49.0 49.1 49.2 Historical: War of 3039, p. 141
  50. 50.0 50.1 50.2 Objective Raids, p. 22
  51. 51.0 51.1 51.2 Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 114
  52. Era Report: 3062, p. 143: "First Kearny Highlanders"
  53. Mercenaries Supplemental, p. 76: "First Kearny Highlanders"
  54. 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 54.4 Unit Digest: First Kearny Highlanders in Shrapnel#11, p. 77

Bibliography[edit]