Editing 8th Sword of Light

{{Update Needed|[[Dominions Divided]]}}
{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = [[File:Sword of Light 8th logo.png|150px]]
| Designation    = 8th Sword of Light
| formed         = 
| Disbanded      = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname       = The Jade Dragon
| Affiliation    = Draconis Combine
| Parent Command = [[Sword of Light]]
| Sub-Command    = 
}}
The '''Eighth Sword of Light''' regiment was known as "The Jade Dragon" and represented the economy of the [[Draconis Combine]].

==History==
=== Star League Era ===
Prior to the 2740s, the Sword of Light [[brigade]] consisted of a dozen [[BattleMech]] and conventional regiments. [[Coordinator]] [[Takiro Kurita]] reorganized the brigade into five reinforced [[regiment]]s, reinventing them as the "soul of the [[DCMS]]". It is unclear if the Eighth Sword of Light was still an active regiment after the [[Age of War]] and prior to Takiro's reforms, but the Eighth was an inactive command throughout the remainder of the Star League era.<ref name="FR2765:DCMSp8">''Field Report 2765: DCMS'', p. 8: "Sword of Light"</ref>

===Succession Wars===
====First Succession War====
The Eighth Sword of Light was reactivated during the [[First Succession War]].<ref name="FSWp137"/> The [[Fourth Sword of Light]] had represented the Jade Pillar during the [[Star League era]],<ref name="FR2765:DCMSp8"/> but was disbanded in [[2785]];<ref name="FSWp137"/> it may be at this point that the Eighth came to represent the Jade Pillar.

In [[2787]] the Eighth Sword of Light participated in [[Operation BROKEN BLADE]].<ref>''Broken Blade''</ref> They served alongside the [[5th Sword of Light]], [[18th Dieron Regulars]], and mercenary unit Fifty-second Heavy Assault Regiment.<ref>''First Succession War'', p. 49</ref> Heavy Lyran WarShip and Assault DropShip defenders forced the ground forces to scatter on their landings, and later cover hundreds of kilometers to get to the factory locations on [[Hesperus II]]. However, they had not anticipated the four defending [[LCAF]] assault regiments and the extensive fortifications the Lyran Commonwealth had established. After fighting for a few weeks, the First Battle of Hesperus II was over, and the two Sword of Light regiments, the only survivors, withdrew.<ref>''First Succession War'', p. 50</ref>

They also participated in the battle of [[Tyrfing]], along with the [[Black Sharks]] mercenary unit. They felt this was an appropriate assignment since they had failed to take [[Hesperus II]].<ref name=TP:Tp9/> They were able to secure two lances of BattleMechs from Arco-Mine Terminus J-38.<ref>''Turning Points: Tyrfing'', p. 15</ref><ref>''First Succession War'', p. 110</ref>

====Second Succession War====
The exploits of the 8th Sword of Light in the [[Second Succession War]] are currently unknown.  However, as they were stationed on [[Stanzach]] at the beginning and end of the war, it can be safely assumed they were engaged one the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] front.<ref name="SSWp97">''Second Succession War'', p. 97: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (DCMS) - Deployment Table"</ref>

====Third Succession War====
A raid on the Federated Suns world of [[Errai]] in [[2901]] went wrong for the Eighth Sword of Light when their dropping 'Mechs were attacked by defending [[AFFS]] fighters. The [[DCMS]] forces had to withdraw from the system.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3025 Revised'', p. 134</ref>

The Eighth Sword of Light and [[4th Proserpina Hussars]] fought the [[Davion Heavy Guards]] in [[3002]]'s Third Battle of [[Harrow's Sun]]. The Federated Suns ultimately prevailed but not before the Eighth had inflicted serious losses.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3025 Revised'', p. 104</ref>

In [[3025]] the unit was stationed on [[Delacruz]].<ref name=HKDCp133/>

====Fourth Succession War====
In [[3028]], they took part in the [[Battle of Misery]] against [[Wolf's Dragoons]]. Though they took serious losses, they were perhaps the only Kurita unit to remain relatively intact and combat worthy. They were late to the main fighting on the Opdal Glacial Fields because they were fighting at the Voss Gap. Their late arrival forced the Dragoons to evacuate the Glacial Fields.<ref>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 37–38</ref> It was later discovered they were intentionally held back by Warlord [[Grieg Samsonov]] so that he could eventually claim the credit for destroying the Dragoons after the nascent [[Ryuken]] regiments softened them up, a strategy that ultimately failed.<ref>''Wolves on the Border'', p. ??{{cn}}</ref> The Eighth lost a battalion of troops to [[Epsilon Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Epsilon Regiment]]<ref>''Historical Turning Points: Misery'', p. 13</ref> and [[Zeta Battalion]] crushed most of their rearguard during a fighting withdrawal from the world, but the better part of the regiment was able to withdraw intact.<ref>''Historical Turning Points: Misery'', p. 15</ref> Several officers from the Eighth were transferred to less-prestigious units, like the [[27th Dieron Regulars]].<ref>''My Father's Sword'', p. 3</ref>

====Ronin War====
The Eighth Sword of Light played no active role in the Ronin War of [[3034]].<ref name="HBWp120-121">''Historical: Brush Wars'', pp. 120–121: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (March-June 3024) and (July-October 3034)"</ref>  A battalion did [[Battle of Tishomingo (3034)|conduct a raid]] on [[Tishomingo]] in 3034, however.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 244</ref>

====War of 3039====
Prior to the outbreak of the [[War of 3039]], the Eighth was stationed on [[Delacruz]]. With responsibilities to patrol and defend the extensive borders between the [[Outworlds Alliance]], the [[Federated Suns]] and the Combine, most of the 8th was off world on a regular basis.  Thus it was that only one battalion of the Eighth was on world when the [[Third Lyran Regulars]] and the [[42nd Avalon Hussars]] attacked on May 19, [[3039]].  Against such overwhelming odds, the elements of the Eighth fought bravely, but were overcome within 4 days.<ref name="HWo39p52-53">''Historical: War of 3039'', pp. 52–53: "Delacruz (May–July)"</ref>

On August 3, 3039, the remaining elements of the Eighth returned to Delacruz, along with the [[Second An Ting Legion]] and [[Fourth An Ting Legion]].  With a direct assault on Third Lyran Regulars defending the island of Goi-pa, they drove the Lyrans from their defenses.  Then they drove off the 42nd Avalon Hussars by the first week of September after a nearly three week island hopping campaign.<ref name="HWo39p105-106">''Historical: War of 3039'', pp. 105–106: "Delacruz (August-September)"</ref>

===Clan Invasion===
====Operation REVIVAL====
During the [[Clan Invasion]] the DCMS High Command held the Eighth Sword of Light in reserve because the unit was so tactically flexible. They were ready to repel the sixth wave of invaders, but the [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]] rendered that moot. The Eighth was then called upon to rebuild other Sword of Light regiments by transferring half their forces. The Eighth rebuilt with new academy graduates.<ref name=FMDCp88/>

====Operation BULLDOG====
During [[Operation BULLDOG]] the Eighth (along with allied forces) drove Clan Smoke Jaguar troops off of [[Byesville]] and [[Outer Volta]]. After the fighting ended, they were stationed on [[Luzerne]].<ref name=fmu111>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 111</ref>

===Civil War Era===
====First Combine-Dominion War====
The Eighth launched raids on [[Jezersko]] and [[Last Frontier]], both of which were garrisoned lightly by second-line troops. The damage the Eighth did to these units helped dissuade the [[Clan Ghost Bear|Ghost Bears]] from launching a second wave of attacks.<ref name=fmu111/>

====DCMS Incursion====
The Eight did not participate in the DCMS incursion of the [[Federated Suns]] during the [[FedCom Civil War]].<ref name="FCCWp184">''FedCom Civil War'', p. 184: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery"</ref>

===Jihad===
During the [[Jihad]] the Eighth Sword of Light assisted the [[7th Sword of Light]] in the attack on [[Albiero]]. After that they spent the rest of the Jihad harassing the [[Federated Suns]] Draconis March. They used many tactics that would be considered dishonorable, including repainting their units to look like other DCMS commands. In [[3079]] they were assigned to [[Harrow's Sun]].<ref>''Field Report: DCMS'', p. 13</ref> They were still in the [[Albiero Prefecture]] in [[3085]] but they were conducting a "show the flag" goodwill tour of the Prefecture. This also allowed them to be ready to respond to a [[Ghost Bear]] incursion.<ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 44</ref>

===Dark Age===
====Second Combine-Dominion War====
The Eight played no significant part in the Second Combine-Dominion War.<ref name="HWofRE">''Historical: Wars of the Republic Era''</ref>

====The Invasion and Occupation of Robinson====
The Eighth Sword of Light participated in the assault on [[Robinson]] in [[3144]].<ref>''Technical Readout: 3145 Federated Suns'', p. 12</ref> They fought against the [[20th Avalon Hussars]] and alongside the [[7th Sword of Light]].<ref>''Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine'', p. 44</ref> The Eighth lost 30% percent of their BattleMech regiment, their aerospace regiment lost 90% of its fighters, their infantry regiment was reduced to just a company, and their tank regiment lost an entire Battalion in the fighting.<ref name=FM3145p58>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 58: "Eighth Sword of Light"</ref>

In July [[3147]], [[Federated Suns]] workers at the Robinson Standard BattleWorks' ''[[Atlas (BattleMech)|Atlas]]'' production line seized four half-finished ''Atlases'' and held a portion of the industrial complex hostage.  This was the most extreme case of work stoppages and riots that were commonplace on Combine occupied worlds.  Elements of the Eighth used well-placed fire to disable the partially armed 'Mechs and a battalion of infantry went through the complex eliminating the workers inside, whether or not they were involved in the incident.<ref name=SFp34>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 34: "The Dragon's Response"</ref>

The Eighth was still stationed on Robinson in October 18, [[3149]] when [[Task Force ERUPTIO]] from the [[Republic of the Sphere]] jumped in-system.  They, plus ''[[Ryuken-ni]]'', were tasked with defending the Robinson Standard BattleWorks' against the [[X Hastati Sentinels]], [[X Principes Guards]] and the [[X Triarii Protectors]].  The Ryuken were attacked from multiple sides and wilted under the assault, but the members of the Eighth fought like the Coordinator herself until their leader, ''[[Tai-sa]]'' Lincoln Marovitch, was downed.  The Eighth then conducted a fighting withdrawal that heavily damaged the Tenth Principes.  By November 25th, the Eighth and its sister units were driven from Robinson<ref name=SFp76-77>''Shattered Fortress'', pp. 76–77: "The Heart of the Draconis March"</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 8th Sword of Light'''
|-
| ''[[Tai-sa]]''||[[Hector Fushimi]]||[[2788]]<ref name=TP:Tp9>''Turning Points: Tyrfing'', p. 9</ref>
|-
| ''[[Sho-sho]]''||[[Jagawen Torisobo]]||[[3025]] - [[3028]]<ref>''Historical Turning Points: Misery'', p. 9</ref><ref name=HKp134>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 134: "Deployment Table"</ref>
|-
| ''Tai-sa''||[[Wendall Boutri]]||[[3050]]<ref name=20YUp41>''20 Year Update'', p. 41: "DCMS Deployment Table"</ref>
|-
| ''Tai-sa''||[[Kevin Awano]]||[[3059]] - [[3067]]<ref name=FMDCp88>''Field Manual: Draconis Combine'', p. 88: "8th Sword of Light Unit Profile"</ref><ref name=FMUp119>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 119: "8th Sword of Light"</ref>
|-
| ''Tai-sa''||[[Dorotheus Bai]]||[[3085]]<ref name=FM3085p51>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 51: "DCMS Deployment Table - 3085"</ref>
|-
| ''Tai-sa''||[[Lincoln Marovitch]]||[[3144]] - [[3152]]<ref name=FM3145p65>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 65: "DCMS Deployment Table - 3145"</ref><ref name=DDp97>''Dominions Divided'', p. 97</ref>
|-
|}

==Tactics==
The Eighth Sword of Light was one of the busiest [[DCMS]] regiments. They have performed garrison duty, participated in large assaults and small raids, and stopped rebellions. For this reason they have no particular tactical specialty, they simply perform well in all environments.<ref name=FMDCp88/> They were able to maintain their high level of skills by deploying in battalion-level formations.<ref name=cmk80/>

The regiment reorganization in [[3011]] destroyed any specialty they got.<ref name=HKDCp142/>

==Composition History==
=== 2786===
Listed as not yet formed.<ref name=FSWp137/>

=== 2821 ===
'''Eighth Sword of Light''' (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name="FSWp137">''First Succession War'', p. 137: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (DCMS)"</ref>
:- At this point in time the Eighth Sword was a medium-weight regiment operating at four-fifths of full strength and was stationed on [[Stanzach]].<ref name="FSWp137"/>

=== 2830 ===
'''8th Sword of Light''' (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=2SWp97>''Second Succession War'', p. 97</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on [[Stanzach]] with an operational readiness of 135 percent.<ref name=2SWp97/>

=== 2864 ===
'''8th Sword of Light''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=2SWp97/>
: Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on [[Stanzach]] with an operational readiness of 74 percent.<ref name=2SWp97/>

===3025===
''' 8th Sword of Light''' (1 Expanded [[Regiment]]/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=HKp134/>
:* CO: ''Sho-sho'' Jagawen Torisobo<ref name=HKTDCp133>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 133: "DCMS Deployment Table"</ref>
:Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Delacruz]].<ref name=HKDCp133> House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 133</ref> This unit was composed of two medium and two assault battalions.<ref name=HKDCp142>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 142: "8th Sword of Light: The Teak Dragon"</ref>

===3040===
''' 8th Sword of Light''' (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=HWo3039p139/>
:* ''Armor Regiment''<ref name=HWO3039-053>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 53</ref>
:* ''Infantry Brigade''<ref name=HWO3039-053/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Delacruz]].<ref name=HWo3039p139>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 139</ref>

===3050===
''' 8th Sword of Light''' (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=20YUp41/>
:* CO: ''Tai-sa'' Wendall Boutri<ref name=20YUp41/>

: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Delacruz.<ref name=20YUp41/>

===3054===
''' 8th Sword of Light''' (2 Battalions/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=ORp28>''Objective Raids'', p. 28</ref>
* CO: ''Tai-sa'' Kevin Awano

===3059 to 3067===
'''8th Sword of Light''' (Expanded Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=FMDCp88/><ref name=FMUp119/>
* CO/1st [[Battalion]]: ''Tai-sa'' Kevin Awano
:* XO: ''Tai-sa'' Moki Nagoya
* 2nd Battalion: ''[[Chu-sa]]'' Uroga Breshnot
* 3rd Battalion: ''Chu-sa'' Chin Sung Lee
* 4th Battalion: Chu-sa Toshido Harotoga

- The 36 OmniMechs provide the unit with a great flexibility. All machines are upgraded with advanced technology.

'''243rd Aerospace (Persuasion of Greater Wisdom)''' (1 [[Wing (Military Unit)|Wing]]/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=FMDCp88/><ref name=FMUp119/>
* Wing Commander: ''[[Sho-sa]]'' Jeremy Kiyama

- The unit is organized like normal [[Inner Sphere]] air forces and not like the standard DCMS scheme.

===3079===
'''8th Sword of Light ''' (Reinforced Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=“frdcms13“>''Field Report: DCMS'', p. 13</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Harrow’s Sun]].<ref name=“frdcms13“/>

===3085===
'''8th Sword of Light''' (Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=FM3085p51/>
* CO: ''Tai-sa'' [[Dorotheus Bai]]

'''243rd Aerospace''' (Wing/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM3085p51/>
* CO: ''Sho-sa'' [[Bijoy Petes]]

===3145===
'''8th Sword of Light''' (Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=FM3145p65/>
* CO: ''Tai-sa'' Lincoln Marovitch

'''243rd Aerospace''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FM3145p65/>
* CO: ''Sho-sa'' Della Henderson

'''77th Armor''' (Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=FM3145p65/>
* CO: ''Tai-sa'' Jon Melton

'''Savage Dragons''' (Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=FM3145p65/>
* CO: ''Tai-sa'' Marius Orr

<div class="gamerules">

==Rules==
=== First Succession War ===
* Between [[2786]] and [[2807]], the composition of randomly generated lances from the Eighth Sword of Light are determined using a single roll on the Random Unit Assignment Tables per lance, with all of the lance 'Mechs being the resulting type. Between [[2808]] and [[2819]], the lance composition is determined using two rolls on the Random Unit Assignment Tables per lance, and from [[2820]] lance composition is determined using one roll per 'Mech per lance.<ref name="FSWp147">''First Succession War'', p. 147: "Force Compositions"</ref>
* When generating Eighth Sword of Light forces using Random Unit Assignment Tables during the First Succession War, the Sword of Light receives a +4 modifier to each roll on the appropriate table.<ref name="FSWp147B">''First Succession War'', p. 147: "RAT Die Roll Modifiers by Combat Command Table"</ref>

===Combat Manual: Kurita===
* In Alpha Strike games the Eighth Sword of Light can use the Tactical Adjustments special combat ability.<ref name=cmk80>''Combat Manual: Kurita'', p. 80</ref>

=== Tyrfing ===
* On Tyrfing the Eighth may use the Banking the Initiative, Sharp Shooters, and Tactical Specialization (Attack) special command abilities.<ref name=TP:Tp9/>
</div>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
<div class="desktop-3-col">
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[Broken Blade]]'' (short story)
* ''[[Combat Manual: Kurita]]''
* ''[[FedCom Civil War]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Draconis Combine]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Field Report: DCMS]]''
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)|First Succession War]]''
* ''[[Historical: Brush Wars]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[Historical: Wars of the Republic Era]]''
* ''[[Historical Turning Points: Misery]]''
* ''[[House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)]]''
* ''[[MechWarrior, First Edition]]''
* ''[[My Father's Sword]]''
* ''[[Second Succession War (sourcebook)|Second Succession War]]''
* ''[[Shattered Fortress]]
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3025 Revised]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3145 Federated Suns]]''
* ''[[Turning Points: Tyrfing]]''
* ''[[Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)|Wolf's Dragoons]]''
* ''[[Wolves on the Border]]'' (novel)
</div>


[[Category:Draconis Combine Commands|Sword of Light, 08th]]