Katyusha Keshik
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| Katyusha Keshik | |
| Affiliation | Grand Council |
| Parent Command | Independent |
The Katyusha Keshik is the unit that protects Katyusha City and its surroundings. It is both a defense force and paramilitary police force.[1]
Contents
Overview[edit]
The Katyusha Keshik is made up from personnel raised from the warrior caste of all Clans, with command-ranked members of the Keshik often handpicked for the honor by the Clan Councils who nominate them.
The post is technically an honor, but most of the warriors serving there do not see it this way. Warriors past their prime with the best service records end up here instead of solahma assignments.
All members are clad in white field uniforms.
History[edit]
Star Colonel Bispham, the unit's commanding officer in 3062, and several of his warriors were involved in a conspiracy with Inner Sphere ambassador Kapten Oystein Tannerbaum and a Dark Caste element named Varsus to strike a blow into Strana Mechty and inflame the tensions to restart the war between the Clans and the Inner Sphere just one year after the Great Refusal.
The plan failed prior to setting a bomb against the Master Genetic Repository. Star Colonel Bispham was stopped by a group of Clan members and detained by the Ebon Keshik, though Oystein Tannerbaum and Varsus escaped.[1]
In February 3076, an unknown force was activated, the same day the McKenna's Pride had just returned to Strana Mechty after annihilating Clan Steel Viper. On the 5th of April, Operation SPATHA II and PILUM were launched. The Wraiths' 'Mechs left for the first and last time. They left the secret Wolf cache where they had been training and, after walking to the outskirts of Katyusha City, submerged into the Andery River. Undetected, they reach the center of the capital with no one suspecting their presence until a foot patrol saw them emerge from the water and head to the north side of the city. Immediately, Dark Caste observers executed Operation ARCHER and blew up the three major bridges across the Andery River to delay the arrival of reinforcements. The Wraiths divided into three teams and headed to their targets.
The first opposition that the Wraiths faced was a Star of the Katyusha Keshik, composed of a Hellfire, a Glass Spider, a Stalking Spider, a Grizzly, and a Flashman. They never had a chance; the Wraith command Star combined their fire on them and destroyed them in seconds before continuing their advance.[2]
Later on, the two remaining Stars of the Katyusha Keshik Command Trinary engaged the Wraiths, but both were destroyed without downing even a single Wraith 'Mech. IlKhan Hannibal Banacek sent all available reinforcements to the area, but they were minutes away from arriving.
After the almost complete destruction of the Keshik Trinary, there was no more opposition in the Wraiths' way. They proceeded to attack their targets, and even the buildings' defenses could not delay them. Taking care to preserve their ammunition, they destroyed all the communication systems and set the buildings ablaze. As Spatha II had already boarded and taken the McKenna's Pride, the Wraiths had succeeded, and they gathered to make a last stand in a little park near the Ebon Keshik's destroyed HQ. For half an hour, they suffered the full might of both Clan Star Adder's Keshiks and the remnants of the Katyusha Keshik Guard, being attacked from all sides.
One after another, they fell, until only seven Wraith 'Mechs stood. Stas, after destroying a Timber Wolf, received an offer of rendition to be taken alive for interrogation from ilKhan Banacek. Stas only laughed at the offer, and told the ilKhan why the Wraiths hated the Great Council so much.
The next assault was the last for the Wraiths: one after another, they fell, until only Stas' 'Mech was on foot. He destroyed a Night Gyr, his last prey, before suffering the concentrated firepower of the attackers.
Stas was the last Wraith to die.[3]
Officers[edit]
| Rank | Name | Command | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commanding Officers of the Katyusha Keshik | |||
| Star Colonel | Bispham | 3061 - 3062[1] | |
| Star Colonel | Savill Truscott | 3076[4] | |
Other Unit Officers[edit]
- Star Captain Steven Zeira of Katyusha Keshik.[5]
- Star Commander Randall ofClan Coyote in 3061.[1]
- Star Captain Ingria Riaz of Katyusha Keshik.[4]
- Star Commander Brunhild Mannix of Katyusha Keshik.[4]
Composition History[edit]
Katyusha Keshik[1]
- The Katyusha Guard defends the city and it is composed of five Trinaries of mixed Combat Vehicles and BattleMechs. Four Trinaries are based near the city's DropPorts at the end of each of the city quarters. The last Trinary (usually the Command one) is stationed in the Central Sector, defending the Genetic Repository, the hyperpulse generator and the Keshik headquarters.
- The Katyusha Keshik Troopers is a paramilitary police and is formed mainly by Elemental and conventional infantry, with a force of around ten Trinaries, with outposts through the city.