View source for Ace Darwin's WhipIts

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image = [[Image:AceDarwinsWhipits.gif]]
| Designation = Ace Darwin's WhipIts
| Formed = 
| Disbanded = [[3067]] (Destroyed)
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname = 
| Affiliation = [[Mercenary]]
| Parent Command = Independent
| Sub-Command = 
}}
==Unit Description==
'''Ace Darwin's WhipIts''' are best described as an unorthodox [[mercenary unit]] or perhaps as a loose mercenary cartel. [[Ace Darwin]] was a [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] who re-formed his command every time he accepted a mercenary contract, assembling the people he could gather on [[Outreach]] and en route for individual contracts. The loosely organized unit varied greatly in size during its existence.

Rather than repaint their entire [['Mech]], unit members painted a pink paw on their 'Mech's heel. Darwin himself piloted a ''[[Panther]]'' he painted pink and named ''Pink Panther'', which the unit insignia references. Although Darwin had no formal command training and relied on his charisma, the WhipIts' overall performance was good.

==Unit History==
Ace and his unit didn't participate in the [[War of 3039]] but found other employment. In October 3044, a group of archeologists with [[Interstellar Expeditions]] contracted the WhipIts to provide security while they performed a dig on an abandoned Star League-era city on the planet [[Anywhere]], in the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. The WhipIts by then were reduced to Ace himself and two other 'Mechs.<ref>''Ace Darwin and the Battle of the Beer Fridge'' in ''Shrapnel'' #8, pp. 136–139</ref>

Soon after, the local government attacked the archeological site, intending to seize all [[Lostech]]. A battle between the local police and militia 'Mechs and Ace Darwin's people followed. The WhipIts defeated them and protected the IE team while they evacuated.<ref>''Ace Darwin and the Battle of the Beer Fridge'' in ''Shrapnel'' #8, p. 147</ref>

In[[3054]], the WhipIts had returned from a year-long contract on Solaris VII. After a rest and refit, Ace assembled a full company to accept a garrison contract on [[Small World]]. Their base was small and cramped, but the facilities adequate… until they uncovered that, due to a mistake, it had to be shared with a company of [[Harlock's Warriors]]. Ace and the Warriors' commanding officer arranged their men to share the facilities, but some tensions began growing between them, and hostilities began when some WhipIts attacked some Warriors playing soccer with pink-tinted foam spray, and days later, some Warriors replied stealing some WhipIt vehicles, though they returned them shortly. 
Tired of all the conflict, the 16 August, Ace ordered the members of both units to assemble and to drink together, focusing ther hate against the real culprit: the baron.<ref>''Ace Darwin and the Great Small World Prank War''</ref>

The WhipIts were among the defenders when [[Warrior House Hiritsu]] conquered [[Kaifeng]] in [[3058]]. The attackers assumed their strength on Kaifeng to be two [[lance]]s of [[BattleMech]]s. The WhipIts fought alongside the [[Sarna Supremacy]] Militia (the [[Kaifeng SMM]] regiment) and other mercenary units that included [[Jacob's Juggernauts]] and [[Carlton's Brigade]]. After a final battle on July 27th, the mercenaries admitted defeat and requested standard terms of withdrawal. It was noted that the mercenaries had fared better than the Kaifeng SMM, which was destroyed almost to the last 'Mech.

The WhipIts nearly ceased to exist when Ace became a famous, yet momentary, media sensation. When the fickle hand of fate passed him by and the media found new personalities, he was left broke and on his own. His real friends stepped forward and helped bring him back into the mercenary fold around [[3065]].<ref name=MS2p20>''Mercenaries Supplemental II'', p. 20</ref>

In that same year, [[Elizabeth O'Bannon]], Solaris VII [[Class Six Champions|Class Six Champion from 3051 to 3053]], joined [[Ace Darwin]] and his [[Ace Darwin's WhipIts|WhipIts]] on their mission to [[Scauld|Austerlitz]] in [[3065]]. Using her customized ''[[Marauder II]]'', she pinned down troops from the [[Marian Hegemony]] long enough for Ace and the lighter 'Mechs of the WhipIts to outflank the enemy.<ref name=MS2p20 />

Ace Darwin was reportedly killed during the fighting on [[Outreach]] in [[3067]]. He had assembled a unit with the unprecedented size of two companies; his unit was ambushed by elements of the [[Waco Rangers]] and his infamous pink ''Panther'' was destroyed by a ''[[Warhammer]]'' in Waco Rangers colors.<ref>''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 11</ref> With his reported death, his mercenary unit ceased to exist.

==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 Ace Darwin's WhipIts'''
|-
| ||[[Ace Darwin]]||[[3059]]–[[3067]]
|-
|}

==Tactics==
Unknown.

==Composition History==
The loosely organized unit varied in size from three 'Mechs to two [[Company|companies]] plus [[Combat Vehicle|armor]] and [[aerospace fighter]]s.

==Color Scheme and Insignia==
Ace Darwin's WhipIts had no unifying paint scheme; only Ace Darwin's Panther was painted pink. Most units add the unit insignia on the left heel of their 'Mechs. The WhipIts logo depicted a pink paw print, an obvious reference to their commander's ''Pink Panther'' BattleMech.<ref name=MS2p20 />

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Ace Darwin and the Battle of the Beer Fridge]]'' (short story)
* ''[[Ace Darwin and the Great Small World Prank War]]'' (short story)
* ''[[Ace Darwin and the Sidewinder Canyon]]'' (short story)
* ''[[Binding Force]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Double-Blind]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries]]''
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental II]]''
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental Update]]''
* ''[[Shrapnel #8|''Shrapnel'', issue #8]]''

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[[Category:Mercenary Commands|Ace Darwin's WhipIts]]