4th Marik Militia

History

Reunification War

Formed before the Reunification War, the 4th Marik Militia fought alongside the 1st, 3rd and 5th Marik Militia in the Reunification War as a part of the Marik Auxiliary Corps assigned to support the Star League Defense Force VII Corps during the invasion of the Magistracy of Canopus. VII Corps was the largest of the corps at the time, and was commanded by Captain-General Marion Marik; the Marik Auxiliary Corps was commanded by General Ian Marik, and while VII Corps took the lead on many of the planetary campaigns, elements of the Marik Auxiliary Corps were present on almost every campaign of the war between the Star League and the Magistracy. The 4th were no exception to this, seeing service in no less than five planetary conquests.

Payvand

The 4th were stationed on the world of Hindmarsh when military operations against the Magistracy began, and were the only regiment out of the four Marik Militia regiments to not be involved in a planetary invasion in 2577. That changed in 2578, when the 4th was assigned to the operation against Payvand. One of three former Free Worlds League which had defected to the Magistracy in the 2550s, Payvand was a heavily industrialised world even at the time of the Reunification War, and when the SLDF task force invaded in July there was a significant level of resistance despite the lack of MAF units on the world. Although four regiments from the FWLM had been assigned to the invasion of Payvand - the 4th, alongside the 5th Marik Militia, the 2nd Oriente Hussars and the Juggernaut regiment of the Stewart Dragoons - the Marik forces didn't get to make a major contribution. All four were 'Mech formations, assigned alongside the 35th Royal CAAN Marine Regiment to support the VII Corps' 57th Brigade, and the level of resistance was such that the 57th was forced to occupy both the city of New Barcelona and the PayMax Industrialplex, one of the very few occasions in the Magistracy campaign where the terms of the Ares Conventions were breached. Despite the need to operate in urban areas because of the local resistance, the Captain-General ordered that 'Mech troops must not operate in urban areas on Payvand, leaving the 57th Brigade's infantry regiments to clear buildings, stage riot control operations and deal with the urban guerilla resistance. Although Payvand was declared to have been pacified by late November 2578 and the planetary governor had already begun the process of requesting readmission to the Free Worlds League, resistance to the SLDF garrison would rumble on until 2580.

Obrenovac & Afarsin

When the war began, Obrenovac was a key trade hub for the Magistracy of Canopus, and in March 2579 it was targeted for conquest by the Star League Defense Force task force. Following setbacks earlier in the war the task force was proceeding slowly but steadily in 2579, ensuring that planets were invaded by overwhelming numbers of troops to reduce the effect of any resistance; in a short campaign lasting from the 19th to the 25th of March 2579, Obrenovac was conquered by the combined forces of the SLDF 55th and 56th Brigades supported by the 1st and 4th Marik Militia. With more than twenty assorted regiments of troops used in the conquest of Obrenovac the occupation itself was little more than a police action, with the SLDF rapidly taking control of government buildings and infrastructure. By January 2580 the task force had also secured the worlds of Eleusis and Bethonolog alongside Obrenovac, and in doing so had secured the entire anti-spinward flank of their advance into the Magistracy.

Afarsin was an agrarian world of little strategic importance and which hadn't merited a MAF garrison so far during the war, but which was seen as a stepping stone to other worlds, based on Afarsin's location as one of the most anti-spinward worlds in the Magistracy. The SLDF moved in force to capture the world in April 2583, deploying the 55th Brigade along with four Marik regiments to secure the world. This was the first combat action since Obrenovac for the 4th, who served alongside the 2nd Oriente Hussars, 2nd Orloff Grenadiers and the 3rd Regulan Hussars and the assembled strike force captured the world quickly.

Marantha

In comparison to the previous battles the 4th had fought since the Reunification War began, Marantha was by far the toughest fight the 4th had seen - and would see - during the war. In addition to the 4th, the strike force used against Marantha in 2584 consisted of the VII Corps' 56th Brigade, who the 4th had served alongside during the campaign for Obrenovac, and the 3rd Regulan Hussars. This time, the 4th would face more than just home guard forces; the MAF had positioned the elite 1st Canopian Light Horse on Marantha, as well as the mercenary unit Mieselsen's Marauders. Both Canopian units bitterly contested the invasion of Marantha, and when the 1st Light Horse finally retreated from the planet the Marauders had already fought until the unit had been effectively been destroyed.

Candiear

The battle for Candiear was the last major engagement for the 4th during the Reunification War. By the time the SLDF task force moved against the world in 2585, the ultimate fate of the campaign was already certain but the remaining MAF units continued to resist. VII Corps dropped an ad hoc division of troops on Candiear, consisting of the combined forces of the 56th Brigade, the 61st Royal Brigade and the 62nd Royal Brigade. The 4th deployed alongside the 2nd Oriente Hussars and the 3rd Regulan Hussars again, as they had on Afarsin. Although heavily outnumbered, some of the best units in the MAF were defending Candiear; the SLDF troops had to face both the 2nd and 4th Canopian Light Horse as well as Buquoy's Bandits, the personal regiment of the MAF commanding officer, Colonel Adam Buquoy. Although the SLDF strike force outnumbered the Canopian regiments, they couldn't pin them down and destroy them, and all three regiments escaped to fight again on other worlds. The campaign was marred by the bitter war of words that erupted between the CO of the 3rd Regulan Hussars and others regarding the performance of the various units, a war of words that was the direct consequence of the general feeling amongst the 3rd Hussars that they had been slighted by not being selected for the assault on Canopus the year before.

Early Succession Wars

The 4th was effectively destroyed twice during the early Succession Wars; in 2783, the destruction of the 4th at the hands of the 21st Centauri Lancers as part of a Capellan counter strike against the world of Anegasaki was an omen for the Captain-General that the tide of his war against the Capellan Confederation was changing.

The rebuilt 4th were considered heroes in the Free Worlds League, and were destroyed for a second time by Capellan forces, this time on the world of Berenson in 2840.

Anton’s Revolt

Though not a participant in the Marik Civil War, the 4th was rebuilt from the remnants of forces loyal to Anton Marik and parts taken from a raid on Nanking by the 6th Marik Militia. The decision by the newly formed unit to name themselves after the destroyed 4th sparked controversy at the time, and resulted in a posting to the backwater world of Park Place.

4th Succession War

The 4th spent the entire Fourth Succession War on their garrison world, Park Place, but despite the lacklustre posting the 4th did take the opportunity to launch several raids against Second Try and Tsitsang in the decade between the Fourth Succession War and the Andurien Secession.

Andurien Secession

Captured Ryerson from secessionist Andurien forces in 3038 in conjunction with the Second Marik Militia.

Operation Guerrero

Called up for Operation Guerrero but did not see action.

Operation Bulldog

The 4th Marik Militia didn't participate in Operation Bulldog. In 3065 however they were redeployed to New Delos, the world which Anton Marik used as his headquarters.

Jihad

The Fourth Marik Militia was persuaded to take up station in the Rim Commonality by Colonel Sandra Relph, commander of the 8th Orloff Grenadiers. The Grenadiers returned to Orloff but didn't want to leave the Commonality defenseless. The Fourth split into two smaller subcommands, with Lesnovo and Campoleone both receiving a detachment of Militia troops.

Post-Jihad

As the Free Worlds League fragmented, the 4th Marik Militia and their sister regiment the 9th Marik Militia both chose to defect to the Rim Commonality, which sorely lacked an able defensive force at the time. Having taken up station within the Commonality, the 4th soon began establishing themselves as a native military organization, changing uniforms and colour schemes. The new pattern set by the 4th rapidly became the new standard uniform for those other units serving within the Commonality.

Officers

After their formation in the mid-3020's, their first commander was Colonel Vernon Cherenkov. As of 3050 to 3059 the Fourth's commanding officer was Colonel Kenneth Gunderson. He was relieved of command in 3065 and replaced by Commodore Becky Sorhagtani.

Tactics

The Fourth Marik Militia of the late 31st century was composed mostly of light and fast medium 'Mechs. They specialized in reconnaissance missions and supporting other friendly units by attacking an enemy's flanks.

Composition

3025

4th Marik Militia (Green/Reliable)

• CO: Colonel Vernon-Cherenkov

3050

4th Marik Militia (Green/Reliable)

• CO: Colonel Kenneth Gunderson

3059

4th Marik Militia (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable)

• CO/1st Battalion: Colonel Kenneth Gunderson
  • XO: Force Commander Corvette Garret
• 2nd Battalion: Force Commander Shigenori Tsuijishima
• 3rd Battalion: Force Commander Stephane Chipuisat

- Almost of the 'Mechs weight less than 45 tons, less a company upgraded with new technology

4th Militia Aerospace (2 Squadrons/Regular/Questionable)

• Wing Commander: Commodore Becky Sorhagtani

- Skilled in ground operations

9th Park Light Armor (1 Regiment/Green/Questionable)

• Armor Commander: Force Commander Simon Ferrier

121st League Airmobile Brigade (2 Regiments/Green/Questionable)

• Troop Commander: Lt. Colonel Chris Daniels

- Includes Karnov UV and Planetlifter transports as support.

3079

During the Jihad the Fourth lost a quarter of its troops.

Colors

When the 4th became state troops of the Rim Commonality they chose to adopt a new uniform and color scheme. Firmly in place by 3081, the new uniform consisted of a new uniform for the troops, featuring bloused trousers over which a khaki closed-collar jacket was worn, with a red fez for headgear. The color scheme for the 4ths equipment changed as well, with 'Mechs and vehicles painted a sandy yellow with crimson accents.

Bibliography

• 20 Year Update
• Field Manual: Free Worlds League
• Field Manual: Updates
• Field Report: FWLM
• Historical: Brush Wars
• Historical: Reunification War
• House Marik (The Free Worlds League)
• Jihad: Final Reckoning