4th Hesperus Guards

Brigade Insignia of the Hesperus Guards
Fourth Hesperus Guards
Formed Ca. 2236-2242[1][2]
Affiliation Lyran Commonwealth
Parent Command Hesperus Guards

The Fourth Hesperus Guards began as the Second Freedom People's Defense Regiment, formed as a result of the Outer Reaches Rebellion, and at one point had claim to being the longest-serving military unit in the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces.[2]

History[edit]

First Exodus[edit]

The Second Freedom People's Defense Regiment was formed either during the Outer Reaches Rebellion or in its immediate aftermath.[2] Freedom was the first planet to declare independence from the Terran Alliance in 2236, and the Terran Alliance responded by mustering the Second Interstellar Combined Assault Force, under the command of Major General Gunther Stein, to lead an assault on Freedom and other rebellious worlds using a combination of Terran military forces and militias from other Alliance worlds in what was predicted to be an eighteen-week campaign. The resulting eighteen months of bloodshed saw widespread loss of life on Freedom and acts of barbarity on both parts as the citizens of Freedom fought for their independence. The Alliance forces withdrew in 2237, and the resulting political backlash toppled the Alliance government in 2242 and led to the Demarcation Declaration, declaring Freedom and hundreds of other worlds independent. It was during the fires of this turbulent era that the Second Freedom People's Defense Regiment was formed, along with the other units of its brigade.[1][3]

Age of War[edit]

The Second fought as a part of the Tamar Marines brigade during the Age of War, and survived the Age of War, the drawdown in military forces that accompanied the formation of the Star League in which large numbers of military units belonging to the Great Houses were donated to the newly-formed Star League Defense Force, and the Reunification War.[2]

Star League Era[edit]

Following an administrative error that saw the Ninth Tamar Marines renamed as the Ninth Hesperus Guards during a brief garrison assignment on Hesperus II in or around 2755, the Second Freedom People's Defense Regiment found itself caught up in a political argument within the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces. Possibly the longest serving regiment to be found outside of the Terran Hegemony or the Star League Defense Force at the time, the Second was the only surviving command to remain from its founding brigade, the others having been disbanded over the centuries. In a move that left the Second feeling orphaned and convinced that the members of its ranks would never set foot on Freedom again, the Second was renamed to the Fourth Hesperus Guards and incorporated into a new brigade, the Hesperus Guards, along with two other commands - the two surviving regiments of the Tamar Marines brigade, now renamed to the Sixth and Ninth Hesperus Guards - and made responsible for guarding worlds located close to the important Hesperus system.[2]

Stationed on Lamon in 2765, morale was still low in the Fourth, a situation not helped by the low priority the Fourth and the other regiments of the Guards held with the LCAF logistical branches, and without an external threat to face there was the very real chance that the Fourth would become another dumping ground full of malcontents and screw-ups.[2]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 2nd Freedom People's Defense Regiment
Commanding Officers of the 4th Hesperus Guards

Tactics[edit]

The Fourth was largely composed of medium weight units. Where possible the Fourth used their weight advantage against lighter units, and used hit and run tactics against heavier foes. The unit had two companies of heavy units that were typically held in reserve until they could make a decisive contribution to a battle.[2]

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

Fourth Hesperus Guards (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[2]

2830[edit]

4th Hesperus Guards (Regiment/Regular/Questionable) [4]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Hesperus II with an operational readiness of 76 percent. [4] The unit was destroyed during the war. [4]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Periphery, First Edition, p. 13, "First Exodus"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Field Report 2765: LCAF, p. 12, "Hesperus Guards" - Regimental Status
  3. The Periphery, First Edition, p. 13-14, "Outer Reaches Rebellion"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Second Succession War, p. 99

Bibliography[edit]