Shadow Divisions
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 | This article needs to be updated with additional information from the following sources: BattleTech Universe (sourcebook), Jihad: Final Reckoning, Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, Ghosts of Obeedah |
| Shadow Divisions | |
| Formed | Unknown, presumed late 3060s |
| Affiliation | Word of Blake |
| Parent Command | |
The Shadow Divisions were the greatest surprise to Inner Sphere intelligence agencies during the Jihad. Led by Precentor Manei Domini Apollyon and reporting directly to the Master, the Shadow Divisions served as the Blakists' shock troops and main offensive arm, initiating first strikes against the capital worlds Tharkad, New Avalon, Luthien, Atreus and Sian.
Composed solely of the hyper-elite, cybernetically enhanced Manei Domini, the Shadow Divisions quickly proved themselves the equal of most elite military commands. With their focus on offensive operations, they spent most of their time outside the borders of the Word of Blake Protectorate.[1][2]
Though the Shadow Divisions and the Word of Blake Militia (WoBM) both ultimately answered to the Master, their respective commanding officers, Apollyon and Precentor Martial Cameron St. Jamais, were bitter rivals. This friction, as well as the Manei Domini habit of looking down on the "Frails" that made up most of the WoBM forces, led to several instances in which the Word of Blake suffered avoidable reversals.[3] Late in the Jihad, there were also rumors that Shadow Divisions raided Protectorate worlds and killed members of both WoBM and Protectorate Militia.[1][4][5]
History[edit]
As the Shadow Divisions' existence was a complete surprise to the Inner Sphere, very little is known about their early history. The first known sightings of the Shadow Divisions came at the onset of the Jihad in 3067 when they struck Tharkad and New Avalon. However, as the horrors of the Jihad dragged on they became notorious for their brutality. They entered wider public knowledge by 3071.[6]
Starting around 3075, rumors began to circulate that the Shadow Divisions were squabbling with their Protectorate Militia and Word of Blake Militia allies.[7][8]
As the Jihad dragged on, the Shadow Divisions became intolerant of delays and setbacks. This led them to commit time and effort to destroying other units completely. The Twenty-second Skye Rangers, Martian Cuirassiers, and Legion of the Rising Sun are some of the units known to have been exterminated by the Shadow Divisions.[9]
By 3076, the Shadow Divisions began disappearing from the Inner Sphere. They remained in control of Gibson, and received their orders from that same system, but focused on deep strikes to stir up their enemies and keep them off balance. However, they stopped marauding across the various systems.[10][11]
Officers[edit]
| Rank | Name | Command | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commanding Officers of the Shadow Divisions | |||
| Precentor Manei Domini | Apollyon | 3067 - 3079[12][11] | |
| Precentor Manei Domini | Berith | 3079[13] | |
Other Officers[edit]
- Specter Precentor Omicron Astaroth, second in command during the early Jihad.[14]
Tactics[edit]
Initially the Shadow Divisions were deployed in high-risk/high-reward strikes. Most of their early strikes hit capital systems, either national capitals or prefecture capitals.[15][16] The Shadow Divisions frequently made use of Super-Jumps allowing them to rapidly redeploy to new targets and flashpoints as needed.[11]
The Shadow Divisions employed any weapon that would help them achieve victory. Usually these were updated conventional weapons such as OmniMechs or OmniFighters, but the Shadow Divisions were especially dangerous when losing. They indiscriminately used nuclear weapons,[17][18] orbital bombardments, chemical,[19] and biological weapons on those worlds where they were defeated. One of the prime examples of this is Galax where they employed a chemical weapon to poison the fragile biosphere of the planet, forcing the world into quarantine. Another example is their behavior on Canopus IV, where the Forty-first Shadow Division set fire to the capital Crimson, to drive out the leaders of the resistance.[20]
Another key advantage of the Shadow Divisions were the extensive cybernetic implants used by the Manei Domini. Most soldiers had at least one cybernetic implant, and frequently more.[21]
Units of the Shadow Divisions[edit]
The Shadow Divisions initially consisted of thirteen units:
- Fortieth Shadow Division - Missing, last seen on Hesperus II in 3074[11]
- Forty-first Shadow Division - Destroyed on Gibson in 3079[11]
- Forty-second Shadow Division - Destroyed on Luthien in 3074[11]
- Forty-third Shadow Division - Destroyed on New Home in 3078[11]
- Forty-fourth Shadow Division - Missing, last seen on New Avalon in 3074[11]
- Forty-fifth Shadow Division - Destroyed on New Home in 3078[11]
- Forty-sixth Shadow Division - Missing, last seen on Circinus in 3081[11]
- Forty-seventh Shadow Division - Destroyed on New Home in 3078[11]
- Forty-eighth Shadow Division - Missing, last seen on Circinus in 3081[11]
- Forty-ninth Shadow Division - Missing, last seen on Devil's Rock in 3081[11]
- Fiftieth Shadow Division - Missing, last seen on New Earth in 3078[11]
- Fifty-first Shadow Division - Destroyed on Terra in 3078[11]
- Fifty-second Shadow Division - Destroyed on Gibson in 3079[11]
- Opacus Venatori - Missing, last seen on Devil's Rock in 3081[22]
Late in the Jihad, two additional units were formed:
- Fifty-third Shadow Division - Destroyed on Poulsbo in 3081[11]
- Fifty-fourth Shadow Division - Missing, last seen on Jouques in 3079[11]
Color Schemes[edit]
In general, the Shadow Divisions painted their 'Mechs black on lower portions (aftward for aerospace fighters and combat vehicles), fading to light gray towards the top (forward for ASFs and vehicles), with individual highlights per unit.
Only the Fifty-second Shadow Division (replaced the light gray with red) and the Opacus Venatori (charcoal, fading to white at the extremities) had different paint schemes.
A Malak of the Forty-third Shadow Division.
A Griffin of the Forty-third Shadow Division.
A Griffin of the Fifty-second Shadow Division.
A Griffin of the Fifty-second Shadow Division.
A Seraph of the Fifty-second Shadow Division.
An Archangel of the Opacus Venatori.
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Unit Insignia[edit]
Fortieth Shadow Division
Forty-first Shadow Division
Forty-second Shadow Division
Forty-third Shadow Division
Forty-fourth Shadow Division
Forty-fifth Shadow Division
Forty-sixth Shadow Division
Forty-seventh Shadow Division
Forty-eighth Shadow Division
Forty-ninth Shadow Division
Fiftieth Shadow Division
Fifty-first Shadow Division
Fifty-second Shadow Division
Opacus Venatori
Fifty-third Shadow Division
Notes[edit]
- No insignia has yet been published for the Fifty-fourth Shadow Division.
References[edit]
- ↑ a b Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, p. 214: "Manei Domini"
- ↑ Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, pp. 223–224: "Shadow Divisions"
- ↑ Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 46: "The Blake Protectorate"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 17: "Timeline of the Jihad"
- ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 54: "The Jihad in Review"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 14: "Gross Estimates"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 47: "Late 3075: Turning the Tide"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, pp. 48–49: "Fissures of Fire"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, pp. 26, 31, 34: "Timeline of the Jihad"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 102: "Where Have the Shadows Gone?"
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 126: "Shadow Divisions Status"
- ↑ Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 88: "Shadow Divisions"
- ↑ Interstellar Expeditions: Interstellar Players 3, p. 30: "The Manei Domini"
- ↑ Dulce Et Decorum Est
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, pp. 31, 36, 76, 86–87, 96
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 22: "Timeline of the Jihad"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 96: "Nova Cats Assault Luthien"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 48: "The Living Must Envy the Dead"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 36: "Stepping Stone"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 31: "Canopus Unbowed"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, pp. 87, 110
- ↑ Total Chaos, pp. 241–242: "Devil's Rock"
Bibliography[edit]
- Dawn of the Jihad
- Dulce Et Decorum Est (short story)
- Ghosts of Obeedah
- Interstellar Expeditions: Interstellar Players 3
- Jihad: Final Reckoning
- Jihad Hot Spots: 3070
- Jihad Hot Spots: 3072
- Jihad Hot Spots: 3076
- Jihad Hot Spots: Terra
- Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents
- Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers
- Total Chaos