42nd Shadow Division
Sarna News
| |
| Forty-second Shadow Division | |
| Disbanded | December 3074 (destroyed)[1] |
| Nickname | Belial's Angels of Chaos[2][3][4] |
| Affiliation | Word of Blake |
| Parent Command | Shadow Divisions |
Unit Description[edit]
The Forty-second Shadow Division was one of the Word of Blake Shadow Divisions, composed of the hyper-elite, cybernetically enhanced Manei Domini. The unit was known for its actions on Luthien during the early Jihad.
History[edit]
The Forty-second assisted the Twenty-ninth Word of Blake Militia Division's assault on the Draconis Combine world of Pesht in early February 3071, devastating the defenders with biological and nuclear weaponry.[3]
Arriving on Luthien in May 3071, the Forty-second originally served as support and security forces for the Ninth Word of Blake Militia Division.[4]
On 19 June 3072, a task force identified by Clan Nova Cat as belonging to the Word of Blake, but superficially marked as if from the Draconis Combine, damaged the Aegis-class WarShip SLS Vision Quest over Irece and attacked the planetary capital with nuclear weapons. The Forty-second Shadow Division was identified as the closest Word of Blake unit and the formation most likely to have undertaken the assault.[5][6]
The Forty-second became more embroiled in the battle of Luthien when Clan Nova Cat's Xi Galaxy arrived in July 3072 and declared a Trial of Annihilation against the Shadow Division. During the Nova Cats assault, they engaged Clan forces within the Nagasaki community zone, of the Crane district on Luthien on 21 August 3072. Demi-Precentor Eric Hughes engaged a Nova Cat OmniMech, a SM1 Tank Destroyer, and a Binary of troops embedded in a mechanical shop.[7] While Belial's troops and the Ninth Division both suffered heavy losses, the Forty-second managed to devastate the Nova Cats through both orbital and ground attacks supported by tactical nuclear strikes.[4]
On 23 August 3072, the Forty-second took part in an unsuccessful defense of a large Blakist supply base within the Kyoto Zen Arcology Project against the two-pronged attack of the Nova Cat Xi Galaxy and the DCMS-aligned Izanagi Warriors and Otomo. The DCMS flanking maneuver was intended to sow confusion within the Blakist defenses, and though deflected, did just that. A Star was able to breach the rear of the base and set off an enormous chemical explosion, resulting in the destruction of multiple units on both sides and a significant loss to the Blakist ammunition supply.[8]
In February 3073, the Thirty-second Word of Blake Militia Division arrived on Luthien in order to assist the Forty-second and Ninth Divisions in defending Imperial City, following the departure of the Sathen's Snipers mercenary unit due to battle fatigue.[9]
On 14 March 3074, Word of Blake's ROM had leaked information regarding the presence of Buda Weapons Chief Researcher Hideoshi Yamika and his prototype Large X-Pulse Laser to the Kokuryu-kai as a means of wearing down Loyalist defenders in Skytower City. The resulting battle ended with Yamika and his prototypes being hustled aboard a Blakist DropShip.[10]
In December 3074, Clan Ghost Bear's Alpha, Omega, and Rho Galaxies struck Luthien. The Forty-second managed to inflict heavy damage on both Alpha and Rho, but the unit was reportedly destroyed by three to five clusters of Ghost Bear forces.[2] No evidence surfaced to suggest Precentor Belial or his command Level II were among the dead.[4] Later intelligence would confirm that the Forty-second had been destroyed on Luthien.[1]
Officers[edit]
| Rank | Name | Command | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commanding Officers of the Forty-second Shadow Division | |||
| Precentor | Belial | 3071 – 3074[4][2] | |
Other Officers[edit]
- Demi-Precentor Eric Hughes, MechWarrior during the Jihad.[7]
Tactics[edit]
The unit specialized in urban combat.[11]
Composition History[edit]
3071[edit]
Forty-second Shadow Division (Division/Elite)[4]
3074[edit]
Forty-second Shadow Division (Division/Elite)[11]
- Note: The exact composition of the unit remained unknown.[2]
Notes[edit]
- Rules for the Forty-second Shadow Division can be found in Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents.[11] Additional campaign-related rules can be found in Jihad Turning Points: Luthien.[4]
- The unit was rated with SD for its Equipment.[11]
- The presence of the Forty-second in orbit of Irece in June 3072 remained unconfirmed, as Nova Cat personnel only determined the Forty-second was the closest Word unit and the most likely to undertake the attack.
Gallery[edit]
A Forty-second Seraph on the cover of TRO:Jihad.
References[edit]
- ↑ a b Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 126: "Shadow Divisions Status"
- ↑ a b c d Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 104: "Forty-second Shadow Division"
- ↑ a b Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 36: "Stepping Stone"
- ↑ a b c d e f g Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, p. 7: "Forty-second Shadow Division"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 76: "Agents Provocateurs"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 96: "Drake News Flash – 24 July 3072"
- ↑ a b Manifest Destiny
- ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, p. 9: "Feline Ferocity"
- ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, p. 7: "Thirty-second Division"
- ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, pp. 10–11: "Light Machine"
- ↑ a b c d Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 142: "Rules Annex"