5th Sword of Light

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Unit Description

The 5th Sword of Light is a House Kurita BattleMech Regiment, which noted for using aggressive actions to achieve its objectives.

This unit represents the Pillar of Gold, or government, with a regimental patch of a gold Kurita dragon.

History

Formation

Formed on the order of Jinjiro Kurita late 28th Century, it was formed to act as a fanatically loyal Household Guard unit in so to protect him from his political enemies. The unit was also tasked to protect Jinjiro's younger brother, Zabu Kurita.

The First Succession War and as Household Guards

A Company of the 'Mech force would accompany both Coordinator Jinjiro or Zabu whenever they would enter battlefield. A House Guards, regiment be broken up with some of its units used its lance components protected personnel holdings. This left the 5th Sword scattered across the Combine, protecting these personal assets of the Jinjiro. Worlds they would be deployed were major planets, including New Samarkand, Pesht and its majority on Luthien protecting Jinjiro himself. With exception of fighting in 2787 the 5th Sword of Light participated in Operation Broken Blade. The unit never participate in major actions of the First Succession War, so it was spared carnage of other Frontline units fielded during the destructive conflict.

The Second Succession War

Duty to Coordinator Zabu and Assignment to Sun Zhang Military Academy

Years after First Succession War ended in 2821, Coordinator Jinjiro succumb to insanity. In his place, his brother Zabu Kurita took the throne in April 2837. As the Second Succession War raged, Zabu attempted to reform the Combine economy and military. He being naive man, reassigned 5th Sword to other duties, since feeling he no longer need large force for body guards to protect him from his own people.

He then transferred the elite and well equipped regiment to the newly formed Sun Zhang Military Academy on New Samarkand. It was his hopes that the regiment would be a means to motivate new cadets entering Combine's service. For next eight years, the unit served military academy as trainers and aides. This changed in 2838, when the Coordinator committed seppuku. Zabu's son, then recalled the 5th Sword to return to duty as his Coordinator's house guard unit once more.

Duty on the Frontlines

However, with days of being recalled, Coordinator Yoguchi Kurita order the unit to raid House Davion's border when he realized how well equipped and intact the 5th Sword was.

In 2838 the 5th Sword conduct raid campaign along Draconis March. The unit would participate in 5 major battles and 40 lesser ones over next 3 decades. The unit would concentrate worlds confines of Dahar IV, Cassias, and Royal. The unit would develop its infamous tactics of targeting civilian and military targets in its "Total War" doctrine.

Battle for Gandy's Lucky

In December of 2851, the 5th Sword fought it most in defense of the Kurita world of Gandy's Lucky. The unit had returned from several Raid-In-Force missions, Gandy's Lucky served as it refit & rearming base. On world, the 9th Galedon Regulars were also on planet trying to rebuild due to combat losses.

Unknown to them, with days of arriving in system, a Task Force of Davion troops making up 4 regiments worth of troops had arrives. Included in their numbers, was battalion worth of BattleMechs from the Davion Guard Brigade. Both wounded previous battles, the 9th Galedon joined with the 5th Sword as unified force. The reinforced 5th Sword, begun use their knowledge of the terrain to their full advantage as they fought large Davion Task Force. Sword engaged it Davion opponent initially in "thrust and parry" attacks in beginning, then proceeded to grind each other down in grueling fire-fights. The Battle encompassed their continent. After three days of fighting victory less battles, the Davions withdrew from the planet leaving continent scarred with reminder their fight. The 5th Sword and 9th Galedon were devastated after the battle, it was decided to retire the 9th's colors allow remains to strengthen the 5th.

By end of the Second Succession War, the unit had been fighting on Davion world of Crossing. Entrenched ready to continue its battle, word of the ceasefire reach them, the unit withdrew across the border to Reisling's Planet. Following year after arriving, they were relocated to Dieron Military District, where they continued to garrison various worlds for following two years.

Third Succession War

By October 2866, when that would mark beginning of the Third Succession War, the 5th Sword would position in Dieron Military District by Coordinator Miyogi Kurita in stage area with dozen other regiments for beginning of the next conflict.

First & Second Offensives

At start of the war, the 5th Sword was part task force which set to take worlds in Lyran Commonwealth. Unprepared Steiner's forces failed to resist invasion, lost number of worlds in initial invasion. The 5th Sword was involved in battles that claimed Kessel December and Vega for the Combine in January 2867. However, in 2872 the troops of the 5th Sword began to resent the new orders the avoid destruction of infrastructure and civilians unmolested from the fighting. The 5th Sword began to ignore such orders, however the unit paid price for their behavior. Lord Kurita then pulled them from the frontlines, placed them in garrison duty Davion front for next decade and half.

In 2887, the unit was finally recalled to the Steiner front, when Coordinator mount a second offensive into Steiner space. In resulting fighting, 5th Sword claimed world of Ryde for the Dragon.

The Sky Offensive of 2893-2894

In 2893, the 5th Sword engaged in what became two year campaign for the capital world of the Federation of Skye. The unit in course of the struggle for Skye, committed (along with defenders) number of atrocities try take over planet. Within a years of fighting, large portion of the planet had fallen under Kurita control. One of their opponents, Skye Rangers, took fighting stand just outside of the capital city of New Glasgow. 5th Sword dispatch a battalion of 'Mechs to take the city for the Dragon. However, to get into the city, they needed pass through bogs the laid outside of the city. They became marred in the muddy bogs, and confused by Guard's changing road signs leading into the city getting them confused. The Skye Guards surrounded the battalion and inflicted heavy damage to them, causing battalion withdraw from seizer attempt. This marked first time in regiment's entire history that it had lost a battle. Further fights proved to be fruitless to capture the capital world, so they withdrew from the planet in 2894.

Rebuilding, Household Guards, and traveling the Combine

The unit, still damaged from the Skye campaign, participate in joined expedition with other units to take Sakhalin in 2899. The unit was then used as garrison force on many of the worlds captured during early years of the Third Succession War.

The unit then would be recalled to Luthien in 2907 by Coordinator Hugai Kurita, where it would spend almost twenty years in role it was created for; as Household Guards to the Coordinator.

By 2925, Lord Hohiro Kurita decided his household guards would be reduced to battalion of Battlemechs. He elected to rotate a single battalion from 5th Sword and its sister unit, the 2nd Sword. He had the Regiment travel the Steiner and Davion borders of the Combine, to prefect their "Art of War" through experience gained in battle. During this time period, the unit had given itself the nickname of "the twitchy stiletto". After 41 years, the unit had traveled to 48 different worlds setting record of travel in the Combine.

In 3004, Takashi Kurita had taken over as Coordinator after the assassination of his father. He changed the tactical doctrine of his military units, having them breakdown into company size forces, so allow better mobility and attaining elite skills over less experienced battalions.

In 3014, second-in command Conti Palmer replaces his commanding officer Leonard Ohira after leaking information to ISF. The Silvereen's Stallions (Company) is deployed to Worrell, where its commanding officer is killed in food riot in 3021. Conti has its command lance members killed for failing protect Captain Silvereen. He then promotes, Chu-i Daniel Sorenson to Tai-i and renames the unit Sorenson's Sabres.

Pirate raids in the Rasalhague region of the combine, has the 5th Sword's Tarwater's Battalion to deploy to New Caledonia in May 3023. The unit fights of number of food raids, and is success in fighting pirates off by 3024 with aide new the Sorenson's Sabre Company.

The entire 5th Sword of Light is sent in 3025 into the Davion border to claim more worlds for the Combine. Dozen worlds are attack, not as many are claimed by campaign end.

The Fourth Succession War

Battle for Northwind

As part of House Liao's request for strikes conducted in the Terran Corridor of House Davion held space, Tai-Sho Palmer Conti lead the Fifth Sword with assistance of the 36th Dieron Regulars to the world of Northwind in January, 3029. There 5th's commander had 36th Dieron to lure main garrison unit, 5th Deneb Light Cavalry from their defensive positions. Once out position, the 5th Sword shattered the understrength Davion regiment. The Cavalry's mercenary support units counter attacked by attacking the 5th Sword's Headquarters. However, the arrival of Tai-Sho Yorinaga Kurita's Genyosha regiments stopped the Kell Hounds' 3rd Battalion and Team Banzai. Genyosha efforts heavily damaged both mercenary units, forcing them to withdraw. After repulsion of Davion mercenary units, reinforcements sent by Prince Hanse Davion arrive in form of entire brigade of Northwind Highlanders.

In the fighting with the Northwind Highlanders, the 5th Sword is able to seriously damage the 1st Kearny Highlanders, prior Tai-Sho Conti withdraw from the planet. Conti orders the 36th Dieron to cover withdraw of the 5th, resulting in heavy damage.

In August, the unit traveled to Moore where, some Dieron District commanders meet with Prince Theodore Kurita. Where he shows them semi-secret counter attack against Lyran front of the war. The units would stage on secretly captured Lyran world of Dromini VI, where they would strike out from the planet into number of Skye worlds. However, Lyran Commonwealth sent the 10th Lyran Guards to disrupt the operations. Though the attack was repulsed, Lyran LIC agents sabotaged majority of Lord Kurita's task force's JumpShips.

Battle on Nusakan

On October 23rd 3029, the Fifth Sword engaged the Kell Hound regiment on Nusakan. The 5th Sword's commander, Tai-Sho Conti, had attempted to steal the glory from Genyosha after Lyran's sneak attack on Dromini VI. Fifth Sword fought a gruelling battle with the Kell Hounds, leaving many 'Mechs destroyed including Conti's own Banshee.

Men of the Fifth cheered as Genyosha approached, urging them to attack Kell Hounds. However, they refused and threatened to destroy Fifth if interfered with battle between Yorinaga Kurita and Colonel Morgan Kell. Fifth Sword forces back off from the arena like battlefield and witness samurai duel.

Operation Bulldog

In 3059, the 5th Sword participated with liberation of Port Arthur from Smoke Jaguars during Operation Bulldog. After the liberation, the unit remained on world a garrison until the Operation officially ended.

Dominion War

After the Bulldog, the unit had since then transferred to Baruun Urt, where help defend the Galedon District. It was stationed there until the break out of the Ghost Bear War in 3062. The 5th Sword was sent to support the 17th Galedon Regulars, but arrived too late. It was able inflict heavy damage against Ghost Bear units there in form of revenge for the fall Regulars.

Federated Suns Incursion

The 5th Sword was deployed in DCMS's reprisal against the Federated Suns incursion during the FedCom Civil War. The unit attempted to claim the FedSun world of Cassias with Ryuken-go, but poor coordination lead to Davions defenders maintaining control of the planet.

Officers

• As of 3013, the commanding officer of the unit was Tai-sho Leonard Ohira.

• As of 3014, the commanding officer of the unit was Tai-sho Palmer Conti

• As of 3067, the commanding officer of the unit was Tai-sa Hohiro Tastuma.

Tactics

Unit re-organization in 3011 left the unit without specialization as of 3025.

The 5th is composed of one light battalion, one medium battalion, and two heavy battalions, all suited to its specially of city fighting.

Composition History

3025

5th Sword of Light (1 BattleMech Regiment) -

• Home based on Dieron, the Unit is listed with Elite skill and Fanatical Loyality ratings.

3059

5th Sword of Light (1 Expanded Regiment)

• CO/1st Battalion: Tai-sa Hohiro Tastuma
  • XO: Chu-sa Kristine Johnson
• 2nd Battalion: Chu-sa Kent Palmer
  • 2nd Company: Sho-sa Kerri Tanaga
• 3rd Battalion: Chu-sa Christian Chang
• 4th Battalion: Chu-sa Astin Kolchiara
• Support Commander: Chu-i Casper Rodriguez

- All mechs are fully upgraded and the unit posses 36 OmniMechs also. The unit is rated a with Green Skills and has a Fanatical Loyality ratings.

Notes

• In 3025, the 'Mech forces used a Black & Gold color scheme.
• The 5th Sword of Light was parent formation of elite Sorenson's Sabres BattleMech Company.
• The BattleCorps story Broken Blade by Steven Mohan Jr. has the Fifth attacking Hesperus II in 2787, nine years before the date found in other sources for the units formation in 2796.

Bibliography

• MechWarrior, First Edition
• Gray Death Legion (scenario pack)
• House Kurita Sourcebook
• Sorenson's Sabres (scenario pack)
• Field Manual: Draconis Combine
• Field Manual: Updates
• Warrior: Riposte (novel)
• Warrior: Coupé (novel)
• Daughter of the Dragon (novel)
• Broken Blade BattleCorps story