Brotherhood of Randis

The Brotherhood of Randis (also known as the Randis Brotherhood) has grown from a mercenary cult of personality to a Periphery state unit of some renown, famous for both its harsh initiation practices and the missions of mercy it has undertaken to rescue planetary populations from the deprivations of piracy.

Unit History

Erdelmaine Randis

Prior to Erdelmaine Randis' arrival on Hope IV, the planet's population was under constant harassment from MechWarriors and other former military members seeking to either subjugate their own little patch of the Periphery or merely trying to stay alive. That changed in 2988 when Randis formed a very small cadre of these misfits into a dedicated band of Christian solders (though practicing a variant of the religion that was unique in its methodology). Along with the proclamation of control of the planet (now renamed Randis IV), the unit began to cleanse the world of troublemakers and sought to defend it from outworlder attacks (primarily pirates).

The Brotherhood, from inception, was very exclusive and bound to the BattleMech as its weapon of choice. Indeed, they perceived non-'Mech combat as beneath their status, declaring it wretched and "unchivalrous." They based their pseudo-religious order around a dedication towards developing what they viewed as the ultimate form of combat. Their devotion was complete: they turned over their lives, their financial assets and even their families to the needs of the order.

The Brotherhood's military might during this period was questionable: they were assumed to have control of less than 12 operational 'Mechs in 3025, mostly of the Light variety, and of dubious capability. The strict and harsh training method resulted in MechWarriors with equally dubious combat skills. Despite their intentions to improve the quality of life on Randis IV, their focus on MechWarrior training came at the expense of the planet's development. The unit would, however, seek off-world contracts, which provided a steady (but meager) source of income for the planet's economic base. Because of this tendency to seek employment, the unit was seen not as a private militia of the planet, but a mercenary unit. The few off-world jobs taken all resulted in near disasters, and the unit barely survived the closing years of the Succession Wars. Their sole victories came from defensive operations against less organized attacks on Randis IV.

Galahad Frews

In 3037, Brother Galahad Frews, an expatriate of the Federated Suns, successfully challenged Randis to leadership of the Brotherhood, and assumed the title of Grand Knight. Frews initiated a new training program that changed the nature of the unit, as well as instituted policies that similarly affected Randis IV. By 3051, the professional and organized Brotherhood demonstrated its new capabilities by defeating Fuchida's Fusiliers in a claim to a Star League-era cache on Antallos, suffering at least three losses while retrieving a large number of 'Mechs. Following this victory, they were invigorated and fresh and developed a further level of fame between the years of 3054 and 3064, as they became a source of hope for their neck of the Deep Periphery. This attention brought to their numbers two former Clanners, who sought new lives around moral codes similar to their own.

Lucas Beckett

By late 3062, Frews had been succeeded by Lucas Beckett, one of the former Clanners who joined in 3060. Beckett inserted a number of his own Clan standards into the Brotherhood's philosophy. There has been a small movement of sorts that has developed that seeks to put Frews back into the position of Grand Knight, so that the Clan influences would be removed. Frews, however, has distanced himself from this, as he feels any disruption of the leadership would be detrimental to the unit.

Under Beckett's aegis, the Brotherhood has become known to target those forces that victimize the downtrodden, providing the unit's own source of justice.

Membership

The Brotherhood is still considered an exclusive unit and membership remains hard to attain. While they will accept candidates with less than stellar personal histories, they eschew anyone who continues to practice questionable behavior.

Known Members

• Brother Anathis: patrolled the perimeter of the Antallos cache with Brother Zontar
• Brother Andrew: died in battle against Fuchida's Fusiliers on Antallos
• Lucas Beckett: third leader of the Brotherhood
• Brother Carson: second of the first two Clanners to join
• Galahad Frews: second leader of the Brotherhood
• Brother Jan: died in battle against Fuchida's Fusiliers on Antallos
• Patty Krail: a successful candidate
• Sister Mayleen: died in battle against Fuchida's Fusiliers on Antallos
• Erdelmaine Randis: founder of the Brotherhood
• Brother Relchard: patrolled the perimeter of the Antallos cache with Brother Zontar
• Brother Zontar: author of a journal detailing his perspective of the Antallos mission

Initiations

During the time of Erdelmaine Randis' leadership, initiates who had demonstrated their readiness for testing would go through four dangerous trials in one day:

• test of endurance: the initiate would run through parallel lines of twenty of the Brotherhood's elite, each of whom was armed with a club, knout or whip
• test of strength: the initiate would be pulled by two driven horses in opposing directions for a length of time, once reportedly for at least an hour
• test of dexterity: loaded with a 30 kilogram pack, the initiate would attempt to climb up and down a 90 meter cliff, in order to retrieve an electronic key to the Red Master's Griffin
• test of courage: the initiate must remain calm as the left leg of the Griffin was slowly lowered onto the initiate's prone body

Passing the tests would result in the immediate medical and compassionate care by the Brotherhood's squires, and receipt of the uniform: red & black silk, steel mesh and a sword. Randis' successor, Galahad Frews, was known to have reformed the training program, though it is uncertain if this initiation process was also modified.

Unit Structure

As of 3064, the Brotherhood was assessed to have 30 working BattleMechs formed into almost two battalions, with a source of additional candidates filling in as a MechWarrior reserve. Of the BattleMechs available for use, most are of Star League vintage and two are Clan OmniMechs. Three more 'Mechs were assumed to be undergoing repairs.

The following are titles associated with the Brotherhood:

• Brother: title for any member
• First Circle: an unknown organization within the Brotherhood that was known to wear black during early initiations
• Grand Knight: head Brother
• Knight-Candidate: a Brother who has not yet passed the initiation into the MechWarrior cadre
• Knight-MechWarrior: member of the initiated Brotherhood
• Red Master: presumably the most senior member of the initiation committee, though may also be another name for the Grand Knight

Unit Colors

The Brotherhood of Randis paints its BattleMechs in blue, with silver highlights.

Combat Style

Since the reformation by Frews and victories since 3054, and influenced by Beckett's Clan training, the Brotherhood has developed a one-on-one style of 'Mech combat, though they will seek to use topography to their advantage. They prepare for the anticipated battles and conduct fast strikes with hidden units or attack in waves. The unit has also been known to employ feints and flanking maneuvers.

Source Analysis

• The information regarding the initiation practices of the Brotherhood comes from an essay by an unknown writer in a book (or possibly pamphlet) titled "The Brotherhood of Bastards," published circa 3002. Because the source is anonymous and unverified, there is room for doubt, though the harsh nature of the Brotherhood initiation and training was known via other sources.