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Avanti's Angels

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Avanti’s Angels is a small mercenary unit, specialized in offensive hit-and-run-operations.

Combat Doctrine

In their battles against the Clans, Avanti’s Angels learned that offense is the key to victory. Accordingly they never accept missions that include defending positions or installations. They are specialized in hard attacks with a quick retreat, e.g. hostage rescues and such.

Unit History

This unit was founded in the Draconis Combine during the early days of the Clan Invasion, as an auxiliary unit to regular regiments. Their mission was to provide the glimpse of firepower and seconds, that regular troops needed to retreat in order. At this point in time, the Avanti’s Angels consisted of 6 'Mechs and an old DropShip.

The Avanti’s Angels suffered heavy losses in this constant warfare and just narrowly avoided total destruction by the Smoke Jaguars on Labrea. But they also gained worthy combat-experience and even gathered a handful of Clan-tech weaponry: 1 Gauss rifle, 6 ER-PPCs and several lasers. Avanti’s Angels disbanded from the regular military and formed a mercenary unit.

In 3058 Avanti’s Angels fought in the Chaos March. At this point in time, they consisted of a company of 12 'Mechs, 1 Platoon of infantry, 1 Savannah Master and 2 DropShips (1 Union and 1 Fortress).

One contract brought them to Arboris, fighting Capellan forces. Avanti's Angels suffered heavy losses when a traitor sold information about them to the commander of Ishara's Grenadiers.
Next, they fought on New Home alongside the thirtieth Lyran Guards, again against Capellan forces. They managed to capture a Savannah Master and a Jaegermech.

Next, they were hired by the Magistracy of Canopus. Their mission was to find the planet on which the invading Marian forces hid their supply depot. Avanti’s Angels welcomed this offer, because this job included the permission to pillage any enemy supply depot they would capture.

Avanti’s Angels were reinforced by a Canopian 'Mech Lance, bringing their total strength to 16 'Mechs. The plan was to establish a base on Marantha, a planet guarded by 3 Canopian regiments. Blakist forces (posing as their ally, the Marian Hegemony) attacked this position, only hours after Avanti's Angels had landed on the planet. Avanti's Angels were outmatched, but Marcus GioAvanti managed to trick the Blakist commander into believing that Canopian reinforcements were on the way, forcing him to retreat.

Avanti’s Angels got intelligence that Free Worlds League freighters were regularly rerouted to fly through a certain system. And the Free Worlds League was also under suspicion by the Canopians for delivering weapons and 'Mechs to the Marians. The only habitable planet within easy jumping range of the League, the Hegemony and the Magistracy was Astrokaszy, a barbaric planet ruled by warlords and scavenging nomad-tribes.

Avanti’s Angels headed off to Astrokaszy. They were heavily attacked by Blakist forces (again posing as Marians) and had to split into 2-Mech elements, in the hope that some members would somehow have a chance to survive. Avanti’s Angels regrouped in the cover of the "Desertwind" tribe and allied with one of the warlords. He promised Avanti's Angels his support to drive the Marians off the planet but, in the deciding moment, his forces just didn't show up for their surprise flank attack and Avanti's Angels were once again outmatched. They were saved virtually in the very last moment, when Canopian and Capellan forces arrived.

At the end of their campaign for the Magistracy of Canopus (3058), Avanti's Angels were reduced to about 8 'Mechs, but they did have a chance to salvage several heavy 'Mechs. These 'Mechs served them well for their next contract: Supporting SLDF forces in the assault on Clan Smoke Jaguar.[1]

The Angels officially took no sides during the Federated Commonwealth Civil War, but Marcus GioAvanti took a small group of Angels to Skye to assist his family. Interestingly, this small unit struck both pro-Katrina and pro-Victor forces.

Immediately prior to the Jihad the Angels had returned to the Magistracy and were on-station when the Blakists struck. The Blakists were determined to destroy any unit that was part of the Allied Mercenary Command, and inflicted serious damage on the Angels. The Angels persevered, however, and destroyed the Blakist unit. The actions of local government forced the Angels to break their contract, and with the Magistracy under an Interdiction they couldn't contact the Magistracy Command Center to explain their actions. In 3068 the Angels relocated to New Home to assist an old colleague. They have since completed two contracts.[2]


Officers

The Commanding Officer (3067) is Marcus GioAvanti[3]

Dragoon Ratings

3067

Dragoon Rating: B+

Composition

3067

  • Avanti's Angels (2 Companies)
    • CO/1st Company: Marcus GioAvanti
XO/2nd Company: Charlene Boske
  • Angels Aerospace (2 Lances)
    • Lance Commander: Nathaniel Klepper
  • Angels Special Assault Force (1 Mixed Company with Armor and Motorized Infantry)
    • Force Commander: General Hanford Lee

Unit Profile

The unit contains (among others) the following Mechs: Warhammer (Clan-PPCs), Marauder (Clan PPCs), Battlemaster, Caesar (Clan-Gauss and Clan-PPC), Archer, Enforcer, Phoenix Hawk, Jenner, Wasp, Valkyrie.

The unit contain(ed) 2 Savannah Masters, one of them with a TAG.

The infantry has experience in Anti-Mech-tactics.

The unit has 2 DropShips: The "Heaven Sent" (Union-class) and the "Pinhead" (Fortress-class). The family members of the staff live aboard the Pinhead. Additionally the unit has an uncertain amount of civilian (hover-)vehicles aboard the Pinhead.

Avanti’s Angels also has it's own one-person-intelligence-unit. He regularly travels apart from the rest of the unit and is said to have friends on almost every planet.


References

  1. Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 26
  2. Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 26
  3. Field Manual: Mercenaris Revised, p. 40 - "Officers"

Gallery

Bibliography