Editing 48th Division (ComStar)

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = 
| Designation    = 48th Division [[Level IV]]
| formed         = 
| Disbanded      = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname       = Open Thoughts (3050), The Silver Cavalry (3062)
| Affiliation    = ComStar
| Parent Command = [[11th Army (ComStar)|Eleventh Army]]
| Sub-Command    = 
}}
The '''Forty-Eighth Division''' were noted for their actions [[FedCom Civil War]].

==History==
===Clan Invasion to Second Star League===
Immediately prior to the [[Clan Invasion]] the regular ranked Forty-Eighth Division, then an [[Level IV|IV]]-phi based formation referred to by the nickname of the ''Open Thoughts'', served as the headquarters division of the [[12th Army (ComStar)|12th Army]] and was based on the [[Draconis Combine]] world of [[Asta]].<ref name=20YU-71>''20 Year Update'', p. 71: "ComStar - Com Guards (Deployment as of 3050) - 12th V-nu"</ref>

As part of the Twelfth Army, the Forty-Eighth Division would see combat against [[Clan Nova Cat]] during the [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]]. Like many [[Com Guards|Com Guard]] Divisions, the Forty-Eighth Division chose a new nickname in response to their efforts on Tukayyid, calling itself ''The Silver Cavalry''. Rebuilt as an infantry heavy IV-chi formation, the Forty-Eighth was transferred to recoup the losses the [[11th Army (ComStar)|Eleventh Army]] suffered against [[Clan Jade Falcon|Clans Jade Falcon]] and [[Clan Wolf|Wolf]], stationed on [[Yorii]] in the disputed [[Lyons Thumb]].<ref name=CS-85>''ComStar'', p. 85: "11th Army V-eta (The Honorable, Yorii Theater, from 11 to 12 on the "Inner Sphere Clock")"</ref> After the conclusion of the [[Refusal War]] the Forty-Eighth was among the divisions of the 11th Army transferred to reinforce the newly formed [[Lyran Alliance]]'s border with the [[Clan Jade Falcon Occupation Zone]] relocating to the Alliance world of [[Fort Loudon]]. A large engineering contingent was attached to the Forty-Eighth Division following their transfer to the Eleventh Army, after building defensive emplacements to help resist any Jade Falcon attack, these engineers set about renovating a large underground command and repair facility located on Fort Loudon, believed to be the remains of [[Star League]] [[Castle Brian]].<ref name=FMCS-40>''Field Manual: ComStar'', pp. 40–41: "11th Army V-eta: The Honorable"</ref>

With Fort Loudon in the direct path of any Clan drive to [[Terra]], the Forty-Eighth's CO [[Precentor]] Cheryl Raume held few illusions that the static defenses could only do so much, but with her division boasting only a single Level II of [[BattleMech]]s she knew she'd be forced to rely upon the other units on-world for mobile strength - the [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] aligned [[Fourth Davion Guards]] and pro–[[Katherine Steiner-Davion]] [[Fifth Alliance Guards]]. Well aware of the worsening tensions, Raume requested additional Com Guard troops be transferred into the region.<ref name=FMCS-40/>

===FedCom Civil War===
When open fighting broke out as the [[FedCom Civil War]] increased tensions between Allied aligned Fourth Davion Guards, Fifth Alliance Guards and the LAAF employed [[Knights of St. Cameron]] [[mercenary unit]], all three units wisely chose to separate their respective units, effectively ceding total control over Fort Loudon's defenses against the Clans to the Forty-Eighth Division.<ref name=FCCW-33>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 33: "Flashpoint - War within the Lyran Alliance - Ft. Loudon - Flash: 7 December 3062"</ref>

The Forty-Eighth would be dragged into the Civil War by Autumn of [[3063]] when the outnumbered survivors of the 4th Davion Guards special forces elements sought refuge in the planet's ComStar [[HPG]] compound. Either not realizing or simply not caring where they were attacking, the 5th Alliance Guards burst into the compound in search of the Davion troops, the defending elements of the Forty-Eighth believing themselves under attack and responding with deadly force. Ultimately eleven members of the Alliance Guards and six from the Forty-Eighth Division were killed before the Lyran unit's armor forces arrived to surround the compound and attempt to cut it off from local utilities.<ref name=FCCW-86>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 86: "Wave Two - Lyran Alliance - Ft. Loudon"</ref>

With the bulk of her forces on-world stationed outside the city, [[Precentor]] Raume ordered her troops to break through the Alliance cordon to save her trapped colleagues. As her infantry pushed into the city, attempting to keep collateral damage to minimum, Raume received a direct communiqué from [[Precentor Martial of ComStar|Precentor Martial]] Pro-Tem [[Gavin Dow]] ordering her to stand down and hand over the Davion troops to the Lyran authorities. While Raume protested Dow's order as a violation of ComStar's neutrality, ultimately the decision was taken out of her hands when the Davion soldiers voluntarily walked out of the compound and into Lyran custody.<ref name=FCCW-86/>

Both sides returned to barracks, but tensions remained high between them,<ref name=FCCW-86/> and in an effort to avoid further conflict Precentor Martial Pro-Tem Dow ordered the Forty-Eighth Division redeploy to [[Kelenfold]].<ref name=FCCW-184>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 184: "Civil War and DCMS Incursion Table - ComStar ComGuards"</ref> While this redeployment made tactical sense and helped to secure the Lyran position when the [[Jade Falcon Incursion (3064)|Jade Falcon Incursion]] occurred, the Forty-Eighth Division saw it as a retreat, damaging its morale.<ref name=FMU-87>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 87: "11th Army V-Eta (The Honorable)"</ref>

===Jihad===
Like many Com Guard divisions, the Forty-Eighth would fight ferociously against the [[Word of Blake]] during the [[Jihad]], suffering horrific losses but earning a reputation for fast mobile warfare. Most notable was the efforts of ''Take the Time'' [[Level III|III]]-chi, whose bridging units became experts at moving their Forty-Eighth's heavier elements across obstacles blocking their path while under Blakist fire.<ref name=TRO3085-204>''Technical Readout: 3085'', p. 204: "ComStar - Specialist Infantry"</ref>

==Officers==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Rank
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Command
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the 48th Division (ComStar)'''
|-
| [[Precentor]] XIV||[[Cheryl Raume]]||[[3050]] - [[3067]]<ref name=20YU-71/><ref name=FMCS-40/><ref name=FMU-98>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 98: "Com Guards (Deployment as of 1 October 3067) - 11th Army V-Eta: The Honorable"</ref>
|-
|}

==Tactics==
Unknown.

==Composition History==
===3050===
'''48th Division''' (Division/Regular)<ref name=20yup71>''20 Year Update'', p. 71</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the 48th Division was stationed on Asta.<ref name=20yup71/>

===3055===
'''48th Division''' (Division/Regular)<ref name=CSSp85">''ComStar'', p. 85</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the 48th Division was stationed on Yorii.<ref name=CSSp85"/>

=== 3062 ===
'''48th Division''' (The Silver Cavalry IV-chi)<ref name=FMCS-40/>
* ''Inward Bound'' III-psi: [[Demi-Precentor]] V Chris Robb
* ''Price to Pay'' III-chi: Demi-Precentor VI Andrew Kostel
* ''Hook in Mouth'' III-omega: Demi-Precentor III Karen Desilvia
* ''Take the Time'' III-chi: Demi-Precentor X Julie Voeck
* ''The Blue Dreamers'' III-upsilon: Demi-Precentor IX Arthur Swick
* ''Into the Light'' III-phi: Demi-Precentor VIII Joan Ausland

===3067===
'''48th Division''' (The Silver Cavalry IV-chi)<ref name=FMU-98/>

==Notes==
* The Forty-Eighth Division's post-Tukayyid insignia is a black horse on a silver shield.<ref name=FMCS-40/>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[ComStar (sourcebook)]]''
* ''[[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: ComStar]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3085]]''


[[Category:ComStar Division Commands|Division, 048th]]