Editing 12th Atrean Dragoons

{{Update Needed|[[Turning Points: Helm]]}}
{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = [[File:Atrean Dragoons 12th logo.png|191px|Insignia of the 12th Atrean Dragoons]]
| Designation    = Twelfth Atrean Dragoons
| formed         = [[Age of War]]
| Disbanded      = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname       = The White Sabers<br />12th White Sabers Legion
| Affiliation    = [[Free Worlds League]]
| Parent Command = [[Atrean Dragoons]]
| Sub-Command    = 
}}
<onlyinclude>
Also referred to as '''The White Sabers''', the '''Twelfth White Sabers''' and the '''Twelfth White Saber Legion''', the 12th Atrean Dragoons is a line regiment in the [[Free Worlds League]]'s [[Atrean Dragoons]] brigade.

A significant portion of the unit went rogue and formed [[Hansen's Roughriders]] after backing [[Anton Marik]]'s failed revolt, but the 12th Atrean Dragoons were later reconstituted from a small group of loyal members who had not joined the rebellion.
</onlyinclude>
==History==
=== Early Years ===
The '''Twelfth Atrean Dragoons''' were originally a part of the armed forces of the [[Marik Commonwealth]], with the [[brigade]] being founded during the early days of the [[Free Worlds League]]. The Atrean Dragoons would continue to serve as the provincial forces of the Marik Commonwealth until the League had expanded to the point that the forces of the [[Free Worlds Guards]] were insufficient to garrison the League's borders; when that point was reached, the League Parliament applied pressure to the Marik Commonwealth to loan a portion of the Dragoons to the League to for the purposes of federal defense.<ref name="FR2765:FWLMp9">''Field Report 2765: FWLM'', p. 9: "Atrean Dragoons"</ref>

=== Age of War ===
The relationship between the Atrean Dragoons and the [[Free Worlds League Military]] was formalized in [[2528]], when [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Albert Marik]] made the loan permanent in response to the eruption of the [[Second Andurien War]] between the Free Worlds League and the [[Capellan Confederation]]. Albert Marik attached a single stipulation to the formal transfer; the Twelfth and the other [[regiment]]s of the Dragoons were required to honor their roots in the Marik Commonwealth by continuing the tradition of recruiting graduates from the military academies on [[Atreus (FWL)|Atreus]].<ref name="FR2765:FWLMp9"/>

=== The Star League ===
While the Twelfth remained federal troops the entire brigade was loyal to the office of the [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]], allowing whichever member of [[House Marik]] was holding the office at the time to employ the Dragoons for his or her own purposes. These purposes - officially all undertaken in the interest of federal security, but often either of a federal or personal nature - included those that might have caused other federal units to hesitate, and with the increased tension between the Free Worlds League and the [[Star League]] following the [[Marik Civil War (28th c.)|Marik Civil War]] Captain-General [[Ewan Marik]] wasn't above using the Dragoons as a martial extension of his belligerent and antagonistic policies towards the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. Ewan Marik's son, Captain-General [[Kenyon Marik]], continued to use the Atrean Dragoons to make life difficult for [[Star League Defense Force]] garrisons in the Free Worlds League.<ref name="FR2765:FWLMp9"/>

===Succession Wars===
In [[2961]], while the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons were under the command of [[Major-General]] [[Gerhardt Hansen (30th c.)|Gerhard Hansen]], a [[Federated Suns]] line regiment under one [[Colonel]] [[Ludwig Hansen (30th c.)|Ludwig Hansen]], a distant relative of Gerhardt Hansen, abandoned the Federated Suns and ended up joining the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons.<ref name=FMM>''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 59</ref>

====Anton's Revolt====
In [[3014]] the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons under Colonel [[Francis Ferdinand]] supported Duke [[Anton Marik]] in [[Marik Civil War (31st c.)|his revolt]] against his brother, incumbent [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Janos Marik]].<ref>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 18</ref>

Though the unit as a whole declared in favor of Duke Anton, several high-ranking officers including battalion commanders did not. Despite being slightly understrength as a consequence, the Twelfth secured [[McKenna (system)|McKenna]] and [[Semenyih]],<ref name="hbw-23"/> but when the Twelfth attacked the [[Eleventh Atrean Dragoons]] on [[Matheran]] they were slow to take advantage of the Eleventh's inexperience. This led to a months-long game of cat and mouse between the two Atrean Dragoons regiments that stopped only when [[Smithson's Chinese Bandits]] arrived to reinforce the Eleventh. The Bandits inflicted serious damage on the 12th, forcing them to break off their attacks. In exchange, the Twelfth had reduced the Eleventh Atrean Dragoons to half-strength.<ref name="hbw-23">''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 23</ref>

Shortly after Smithson's Chinese Bandits arrived, Anton Marik reassigned [[Wolf's Dragoons]]' [[Beta Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Beta]] and [[Gamma Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Gamma]] regiments to reinforce the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons.<ref name="hbw-26">''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 26</ref> The Twelfth, reinforced by Wolf's forces, smashed the Eleventh Atrean Dragoons. Smithson's Chinese Bandits withdrew from the conflict on Matheran and went to [[Carbonis]].<ref name="hbw-26"/>

(Unit CO Francis Ferdinand was last mentioned by name during the fighting on [[Matheran]], and [[Gerhardt Hansen (31st c.)|Gerhard Hansen]] is consistently named as the man who led the unit in the uprising<ref>''MechWarrior (1st Ed.)'', p. 117</ref> and who would later forge them into a mercenary unit. This seems to suggest Ferdinand was killed or wounded on Matheran, and succeeded by Hansen.)

Along with Beta and Gamma regiments and the Third Ducal Guard, the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons were assigned to Operation Condor, Anton's attack on [[Calloway VI]] which Janos Marik was using as a staging area for his push into the rebel areas. Anton was unaware that the world already held five 'Mech regiments. The Twelfth Atrean Dragoons' ''[[Union]]''-class [[DropShip]] ''[[Laureles' Pride]]'' was lost, which cost them an entire company.<ref name="hbw-29">''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 29</ref> The Twelfth Atrean and Ducal Guards suffered heavy losses in the fighting on the ground. Cut off from Wolf's Dragoons, they were eventually surrounded by the [[1st Oriente Hussars|First]] and [[Second Oriente Hussars]] and forced to surrender in November [[3014]].<ref name="hbw-29"/>

Following the failed revolt in which they had fought for the wrong side, the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons subsequently turned their backs on the Free Worlds League together with elements from the [[First Atrean Dragoons]] heavy regiment, a similarly frustrated loyalist unit that had been decimated on [[Sophie's World]], and possibly other disenchanted Marik forces.<ref name=JS79>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 79</ref> Following a final battle on [[Ilion|Ilion V]], an abandoned Free Worlds League planet in what was now [[Lyran Commonwealth]] space, they went into exile under the command of Gerhard Hansen, an influential Marik officer,<ref name=JS79/> and re-formed as the [[mercenary]] regiment [[Hansen's Roughriders]].<ref name=BT>''BattleTech'' 2nd Ed. rulebook, Hansen's Roughriders infobox</ref> It remains unclear if they fought Marik or Steiner forces on Ilion V, or possibly among themselves. The fate of Colonel Francis Ferdinand is also unknown.

===Post–Civil War===
After the Marik Civil War ended, the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons were reconstituted by Janos Marik from those [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] who had refused to side with the rebels. [[Julian Langsdorf (31st c.)|Julian Langsdorf]] was installed as regimental colonel for his personal loyalty to Janos Marik.<ref>''House Marik (The Free Worlds League)'', p. 90</ref>

As of [[3025]], the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons were a fanatically loyal heavy 'Mech regiment, stationed on [[Vanra]].<ref>''House Marik (The Free Worlds League)'', p. 108</ref> By [[3026]] they were described as "an understrength regimental assault group" and assigned to garrison [[Thermopolis]].<ref name=PoG>''The Price of Glory'', p. 56</ref>

===Helm Campaign===
In early March [[3028]]<ref name=PoG/><ref>''Gray Death Legion'', p. 33: establishes the Gray Death Legion made landfall on Helm on or around 24 March 3028; Langsdorf was assigned to the mission less than two weeks earlier according to ''The Price of Glory'', p. 56</ref> the Twelfth White Sabers were ordered to [[Helm]] to deal with an ostensibly rogue [[mercenary unit]]&mdash;the [[Gray Death Legion]].

Fed with false information about the Legion's alleged misdeeds, Colonel Langsdorf occupied the planetary capital and starport, crushed the Gray Death Legion's local forces and overran their stronghold. In this, his unit had support from the 5th [[Marik Guards]] which were also under Langsdorf's command. The on-planet forces were described as "two depleted [[regiment]]s" and "an understrength [[battalion]]".<ref name=PoG68>''The Price of Glory'', p. 68</ref> The on-planet 'Mech forces of the Twelfth appear to have been a single [[company]], augmented by attached forces from the Fifth Marik Guards (Hammerstrike Company, eleven light 'Mechs which were all destroyed during the Helm campaign) plus unspecified conventional forces.

At the height of the final battle against the entrenched Gray Death Legion on 1 April 3028, Langsdorf learned that the charges against his opponents were false, confirming a gut feeling he had had for some time. Langsdorf ordered his battered troops to withdraw. Consequentially, the Gray Death Legion was able to secure a copy of the [[Helm Memory Core]].

===Andurien Secession===
In [[3033]] the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons faced off against the [[Fifth Defenders of Andurien]] on [[Scarborough]] in what was called the [[Battle of Scarborough (3033)|Battle of Scarborough]].<ref name=EOS>''Eagles Over Scarborough''</ref> Both sides sustained heavy casualties, and the Twelfth was recalled to [[Vanra]] to rebuild.<ref>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 65</ref> The damage they sustained kept them out of the rest of the [[Andurien Secession]].

===Operation GUERRERO===
During [[Operation GUERRERO]] the Twelfth attacked [[Marcus]] alongside the [[Fifth Marik Militia]] and the [[Seventh Free Worlds Legionnaires]]. The [[Twelfth FedCom RCT]]'s 'Mech regiment attacked the Seventh Legionnaires to provide time for their supporting units to escape. The Twelfth Dragoons and Fifth Militia encircled the Twelfth FedCom's 'Mechs and destroyed them.{{cn}}

===Jihad===
Prior to the [[Jihad]], the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons were known for their loyalty to [[Alys Rousset-Marik]]. In fact, they served as the focus of much of the anti-[[Thomas Marik]] sentiment in the Free Worlds League.<ref name="fmu-147">''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 147</ref> After the Free Worlds League was disbanded, the Twelfth Dragoons were the second unit to pledge their loyalty to Alys Rousset-Marik.<ref name=frfwl14>''Field Report: FWLM'', p. 14</ref>

During the [[Jihad]], the Twelfth (along with the [[Seventh Donegal Guards]], [[Devil's Brigade]] and [[Clan Hell's Horses]] [[11th Mechanized Cavalry (Clan Hell's Horses)|Eleventh Mechanized Cavalry]]) attacked [[Hsien]]. While on that world they fought both the [[Word of Blake]]'s [[Protectorate Militia]] units and the [[Fourth McCarron's Armored Cavalry]] and [[Fourth Tau Ceti Rangers]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 75: "Invaders at Hsien"</ref> Later news reports indicated that the Coalition forces were defending themselves from a strike by the [[CCAF]] forces. The Coalition leader was able to defuse the situation and convince the Capellan troops to focus on the Word of Blake forces.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', pp. 78–79</ref>

In late [[3077]] the Twelfth fought [[Wannamaker's Widowmakers]] on [[Outreach]]. This battle was the first time the [[Kopis]] battle armor was used in combat.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3085'', p. 12</ref>

Once the Twelfth reached [[Terra]] it served under [[Alys Rousset-Marik]] in the attack on [[Sandhurst Royal Military College|Sandhurst]]. This task group consisted of the units involved in the Hsien assault, but the 11th Mechanized Cavalry was replaced by [[ComStar]]'s [[5th Army (ComStar)|Fifth Army]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 96</ref> After a month of fighting, facing more than a dozen different Blakist formations, Sandhurst fell to the Coalition forces.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 108</ref>

After the [[Jihad]] ended, the survivors of the 12th Atrean Dragoons were moved to [[Rochelle]] to rebuild.<ref name=frfwl14/>

==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="3" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the 12th Atrean Dragoons'''
|-
| [[Colonel]]||[[Francis Ferdinand]]||[[3014]]
|-
|||[[Gerhardt Hansen (31st c.)|Gerhardt Hansen]]||3014
|-
| Colonel||[[Julian Langsdorf (31st c.)|Julian Langsdorf]]||[[3025]]<ref name=HMp108>''House Marik (The Free Worlds League)'', p. 108: "FWL Deployment Table"</ref>
|-
| Colonel||[[Kelian Brackey]]||[[3050]] - [[3081]]<ref name=20YUp56>''20 Year Update'', p. 56: "FWLM Deployment Table"</ref><ref name=FMFWL52>''Field Manual: Free Worlds League'', p. 52: "12th Atrean Dragoons Unit Profile"</ref><ref name="fmu-159">''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 159</ref>
|-
|}

==Tactics==
In 3059 the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons specialized in raiding enemy systems.<ref name=FMFWL52/>

==Composition History==
===2765===
'''Twelfth Atrean Dragoons''' (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name="FR2765:FWLMp9A">''Field Report 2765: FWLM'', p. 9: "Regimental Status"</ref>
:- At this point in time the Twelfth was stationed on [[Jardine]].<ref name="FR2765:FWLMp9"/>

=== 2786 - 2821===
'''12th Atrean Dragoons ''' (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=1SWp138>''First Succession War'', p. 138</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Jardine]]. In 2821 the command was reduced to 47 of its strength and was deployed at [[Alula Borealis]].<ref name=1SWp138/>

=== 2830 ===
'''12th Atrean Dragoons''' (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=2SWp98>''Second Succession War'', p. 98</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on [[Alula Borealis]] with an operational readiness of 104 percent.<ref name=2SWp98/>

=== 2864 ===
'''12th Atrean Dragoons''' (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=2SWp98/>
: Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on [[Alula Borealis]] with an operational readiness of 77 percent.<ref name=2SWp98/>

===3025===
'''Twelfth Atrean Dragoons''' (Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=HMp108/>
* CO: Colonel Julian Langsdorf

=== 3028 ===
'''12th Atrean Dragoons''' (Regiment\Green\Fanatical)<ref name=HBSp86/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Matheran]].<ref name=HBSp86>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 86</ref>

===3050===
'''Twelfth Atrean Dragoons''' (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=20YUp56/>
:* CO: Colonel Kelian Brackey<ref name=20YUp56/>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Vanra]].<ref name=20YUp56/>

===3059===
'''Twelfth Atrean Dragoons''' (1 [[Regiment]]/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=FMFWL52/>
* CO/First [[Battalion]]: [[Colonel]] Kelian Brackey
* Second Battalion: [[Force Commander]] Joe Nisbet
* Third Battalion: Force Commander Christian Hampton
- The Twelfth is a heavy 'Mech regiment

'''Twelfth Dragoon Air Wing''' (1 [[Wing (Military Unit)|Wing]]/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=FMFWL52/>
* Wing Commander: [[Commodore]] Paal Lui

'''Second Marcus Heavy Armor''' (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable)<ref name=FMFWL52/>
* Armor Commander: Force Commander Urie Va'e Iko

'''392nd Free Worlds League Infantry Brigade''' (2 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMFWL52/>
* Troop Commander: Lt. Colonel Eric Wertheim

===3079===
'''Twelfth Atrean Dragoons ''' (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=“frfwlm14“>''Field Report: FWLM'', p. 14</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Rochelle]].<ref name=“frfwlm14“/> The Twelfth Atrean Dragoons fought hard against the [[Word of Blake]]. After the [[Jihad]] ended, the unit was at forty percent of its pre-Jihad strength.<ref name=frfwl14/>

==Regimental 'Mech Paint Scheme==
<gallery>
Grand Titan (12th Atrean Dragoons) FMFWL.jpg|A ''[[Grand Titan]]'' in Regimental Paint Colors
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Free Worlds League]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Field Report: FWLM]]''
* ''[[Field Report 2765: FWLM]]''
* ''[[Historical: Brush Wars]]''
* ''[[House Marik (The Free Worlds League)]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
* ''[[The Price of Glory]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3085]]''


[[Category: Free Worlds League Commands|Atrean Dragoons, 12th]]