Black Outlaws

Black Outlaws.jpg
Black Outlaws
Formed 3039
Affiliation Mercenary
Parent Command Independent


History

Formation

The origin of the Black Outlaws began in 3039. A battalion of MechWarriors from the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns posted to Halstead Station deserted, seized a JumpShip and four DropShips, and journeyed to the Free Rasalhague Republic to offer their services as mercenaries. Commanded by Major Donald Trent, the unnamed mercenary unit chose to take on the name "Outlaws" following a comment from one of the Rasalhagian contract negotiators.[1]

The Clan Invasion

The mercenary unit would continue to be known as the Outlaws for over a decade, and garrisoned the world of The Edge on the Periphery border of the Republic until the arrival of forces from Clan Wolf in March 3050. The Outlaws found themselves facing elements of the 16th Battle Cluster on the Plains of Torneträsk in what the Outlaws intended to be a set-piece battle, but which instead turned into a rout that saw just two companies of Outlaw forces escape.[1]

The Outlaw forces retreated to Rodigo, but in May 3050 found themselves facing forces from Clan Wolf again, with similar consequences; the few battered survivors of the Outlaws were forced to fall back again, this time to Memmingen. Unlike the retreat to Rodigo, the Outlaws were able to replace some of their losses and rest on Memmingen, although a lack of HPG communications left their employers under the impression that the Outlaws had been destroyed.[1]

On Memmingen the Outlaws met up with a mercenary unit named Black Omen, which had been mauled by Clan Ghost Bear forces on Damian and forced to retreat; the two commands felt it would be in their best interests to form a temporary alliance, the wisdom of which was proved when Clan Wolf forces jumped into the Memmingen system in November 3051. Defending Memmingen at the time alongside the two mercenary units was the 3rd Drakøn and an armored division, and during the battle with the Clan forces the mercenaries managed to overrun a Wolf supply cache. This cache brought them not just some much-needed supplies, but also four second-line Clan warriors, a Highlander IIC and a Warhammer IIC among them.[1]

Soon after capturing the cache the Outlaws retreated offworld when Major Trent received word from the commander of the 3rd Drakøn of the Wolf forces attacking civilians in response to the campaign being waged by the planetary defenders. The Outlaws managed to retreat to Ueda, but without Major Trent, who was killed in action just after issuing the order to retreat.[1]

The Black Outlaws

The most senior officer to survive the campaign on Memmingen was Major Edwina Forrest of the Black Omen. Forrest was made overall commander of both units on Ueda, where the mercenaries would spend four years rebuilding from their losses against the Clans. It was during this period that the Outlaws renamed themselves to the Black Outlaws, although a group of warriors from the Black Omen chose to leave the new unit and instead continue under the original banner of the Black Omen.[1]

Major Forrest used these four years to restructure and reorganize the Black Outlaws, shifting the mercenary unit from a conventional battalion formation into a Clan-style Cluster instead, augmented by a command lance. The Black Outlaws would continue to use this new structure until at least 3067, when the command accepted a contract from ComStar and transferred to Tukayyid.[1]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of Black Outlaws
Major Donald Trent 3039 - 3051[1]
Major Edwina Forrest 3051 - 3067[1]
Major Freeman Johnson 3067 [2]

Tactics

The Black Outlaws continued to use the lessons learned during their two-year confrontation with Clan Wolf in the early 3050s, and by 3067 had developed a unique perspective on the Clan style of warfare; this perspective made the Black Outlaws both highly experienced at fighting Clan-style Trials and manipulating those Trials while staying within the boundaries of Clan rules.[3]

Support

As of 3067 the Black Outlaws only mustered enough technicians to support half of their required support, although ComStar technicians were filling the gap while the mercenaries were stationed on Tukayyid. Despite a shortfall in technical support, the Black Outlaws still operated four Union-class DropShips and an Invader-class JumpShip.[4]

Composition History

3039

Outlaws

  • 1 BattleMech battalion[1]
  • CO: Major Donald Trent[1]

3050

Outlaws (Battalion)[5]

3059

The Black Outlaws (Battalion/Regular/Questionable) [6]

  • CO : Major Edwina Forrest [6]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Karbala. [6]

3067

Black Outlaws (Reinforced Battalion/Veteran/Reliable)[7]

The Black Outlaws had upgraded 90% of their equipment to advanced technology by 3067 and continued to operate as a Clan-style Cluster in formation, with an independent command lance consisting of five Inner Sphere designed OmniMechs. Able Company consisted of fast heavy and medium 'Mechs and formed the Black Outlaws' primary battle unit, while Baker company performed recon with jump-capable light and medium 'Mechs.[7]

Charlie Company was the Black Outlaws' assault company, and was comprised of 'Mechs weighing at least 80 tons; Charlie Company was also the home of the four Clan MechWarriors obtained on Memmingen, all of whom served within a single lance and continued to operate the Outlaws' two Clantech 'Mechs; the fifth spot within the Clan lance belonged to a Black Outlaws MechWarrior who won the right to join the lance.[7]

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised, p. 44, "The Black Outlaws: Dark Phoenix"
  2. Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised, p. 44, "Officers"
  3. Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised, p. 44, "Tactics"
  4. Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised, p. 44, "Support"
  5. Wolf Clan Sourcebook, p. 57
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 110
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised, p. 42, "Black Outlaws"

Gallery

Bibliography