Pike's Pikemen
Sarna News
| Pike's Pikemen | |
| Affiliation | Mercenary |
| Parent Command | Independent |
History[edit]
Pike's Pikemen was a small mercenary command that specialized in cadre and garrison duties. They were frequently employed by Periphery powers including the Magistracy of Canopus, Taurian Concordat, and Fronc Reaches. They were valued for their skill in training militia commands as well as their fighting skills.[1]
In 3066 Pike's Pikemen faced off against pirates raiding Novo Tressida in the Magistracy of Canopus. They successfully drove the pirates off-world. The pirate baned were known as the Crimson Sabres, and were actually funded by a noble from Novo Cressida. Among those who had fallen victim to the attacks from the Sabres was Duke Tremain Garson, and it was Tremain's death that led to the Pikemen being hired to protect Novo Cressida and the new Duke, Cornel Garson.[2]
When Cornel announced that he was going to visit a number of new farming communities, the man behind the Crimson Sabres, decided it was an excellent opportunity to arrange to have the Sabres ambush Cornel's party and kill the new Duke. The motivation behind this was simple; the Sabres' backer was Baron Keith Garson, Cornel's cousin and second-in-line for Tremain Garson's title. The Sabres attacked Carson and his escorts on the 6th of July 3066 near Farming Station 134. The Sabres deployed a company of 'Mechs for the mission, and battled a lance of 'Mechs, a lance of tanks and a squad of battle armor from the Pikemen as well as a company of infantry from the Ducal Guard and a transport platoon of four Ducal Guard mixed VTOLs. The Ducal Guard forces lost half their numbers, including two Warrior H-7C VTOLs, and two of the Pikemen's tanks were immobilised while three of their 'Mechs were heavily damaged. In exchange, the combined Pikemen and Ducal Guard troops managed to down seven Sabre 'Mechs and captured Hanson Toliver, the senior Sabre officer on the field, who quickly revealed the name of his employer. While the Duke was grateful towards the Pikemen (and paid them a bonus) Baron Garson managed to evade capture and vanished from Novo Cressida.[2]
Officers[edit]
| Rank | Name | Command | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commanding Officers of Pike's Pikemen | |||
| Major | Roland Pike | 3066 – 3070 | |
Notes[edit]
The commanding officer of Pike's Pikemen was Major Roland Pike. The unit's executive officer was Roland's wife, and the aerospace contingent was commanded by Roland's daughter. The armor unit was commanded by Roland's son-in-law. Despite this seeming nepotism, the unit functioned well together and no one thought they were getting a raw deal.[3] The unit is a family business.[citation needed]
Tactics[edit]
Specialists in training, defensive, and anti-'Mech/anti-vehicle tactics.
Composition History[edit]
A full organisational table for Pike's Pikemen in 3066 is not available; however, the following units fought against the Crimson Sabres on the 6th of July:[2]
Command Lance, The Pikemen
- Major Roland Pike, MAD-5A Marauder II[2]
- Sergeant Dutch Harwell, BLR-3M Battlemaster[2]
- Mechwarrior Vladimir Parsons, WHM-7S Warhammer[2]
- Mechwarrior Tammy "Slammy" Quinn, QKD-4G Quickdraw[2]
Beta Lance, The Lancemen
- Lieutenant Simon Cleff, Schrek PPC Carrier[2]
- Sergeant Dana Pike-Cleff, Demolisher[2]
- Sergeant David Balsome, Zhukov[2]
- Sergeant Miki Yoshida, Schrek PPC Carrier[2]
Third Squad, Third Platoon, Second Company, The Swordsmen
- Sergeant Richmond Asagiri[2]
3070[4][edit]
The Pikemen (Reinforced Company/Veteran/Fanatical)
- CO: Major Roland Pike
The Bowmen (Two Lances/Green/Reliable)
The Swordsmen (2 Companies/Veteran/Reliable)
- CO: Captain Brett Dibell
The Lancemen (Reinforced Company/Veteran/Reliable)
- CO: Captain Johnathan Pike-Gifford
Notes[edit]
- Special Rules for Pike's Pikemen can be found on Unit Digest: Pikes Pikemen, p. 5.