Capellan Confederation Armed Forces

File:Capellan Confederation Logo New.png

The Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (CCAF) is the military of the Capellan Confederation.

Like in all Successor States, there also exist further forces in the form of police, civilian guards, armed nobles and private or corporate security forces, all of which can take the form of veritable armies.

Besides these, the Capellan Confederation also maintains Warrior Houses, a unique feature of the Capellan state. These semi-religious monastic orders, usually a combined arms regiment including one or two battalions of BattleMechs, exist entirely separate from the CCAF, and answer directly to the Chancellor whom they swear personal loyalty. They are not covered in this article.

Main article: Warrior Houses

Command Structure

Chancellor

The Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation is also the titular head of the CCAF.

Sang-jiang-jun

A position created by Sun-Tzu Liao, the Sang-jiang-jun (Senior General) is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the CCAF. The officer who bears this singular rank also serves as the chairman of the Strategios, and acts as the regent of the Capellan Confederation when the Chancellor is away from Sian.

Strategios

The Strategios is the council that oversees the military bureaucracy that runs the CCAF. It is composed of the two jiang-juns from each Commonality and led by the Sang-jiang-jun. After the Capellan-St. Ives War, the St. Ives Commonality was granted three seats on the Strategios as part of the treaty that ended that war.

Regional

Each Commonality within the Capellan Confederation is commanded by two individuals. One is responsible for the line units, while the other commands the reserve forces.

Organization

The CCAF has traditionally employed a strong aerospace fighter contingent, hoping to stop invasions before they can get on the ground.

During the Third Succession War, the CCAF largely went on the defensive due to its smaller size compared to the other Successor States. They created a sort of elastic defense, with battalions holding down border worlds. Each battalion was only supposed to hold out until help could arrive from strategically located reserve forces. This worked very well for the small-scale raids that were the late 3rd War, but did not hold up well against a full-scale invasion. Prince Hanse Davion took advantage of this during the Fourth Succession War by using massed forces against multiple planets, overloading the CCAF's ability to respond.

Even in more recent times, Capellan units are often smaller than their counterparts in other nations.

Despite the overall poor reputation of the CCAF and their poor performance in the Fourth Succession War, it should be noted that the Liao army is easily underestimated. They were overrun by vastly superior number and at the same time hampered by no less than two enemy double-agents and two other traitors in their highest command positions, and a ruler drifting off into madness. No army could shine under such circumstances, and remaining in existence is probably no small feat. The CCAF (and the Warrior Houses) recuperated from the devastating war in a surprisingly short time. Immediately following the Fourth Succession War and still severely weakened, they were capable of beating back the Duchy of Andurien and the Magistracy of Canopus at the same time. In fact, the average Liao MechWarriors tends to be slightly more skilled than his counterparts from other Houses, and the CCAF in general has a practical skill to make the best of their situation.

All Liao-designed 'Mechs (especially their early designs, Vindicator, Raven and Cataphract) have proven over and over again to be thoroughly well-designed and capable, as well as cheap and easy to build.

Active Brigades

These brigades are active as of 3079.

Capellan Hussars

Main article: Capellan Hussars

The Capellan Hussars are considered the most prestigious brigade in the Capellan Confederation and trace their origins back to the Capellan Defense Force formed by Franco Liao at the founding of the Confederation before the advent of 'Mechs.

When not involved in combat duties the Hussars traditional guards the capital and act as bodyguards and escorts for nobles.

Thanks to their elevated status they receive the best equipment and personnel, getting first choice from local military academies.

Capellan Hussars
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Warrior Houses

Main article: Warrior Houses

The Capellan Warrior House Orders are semireligious military orders within the Capellan Confederation, independent from the regular Capellan Confederation Armed Forces. They are a unique feature of the Capellan military, and well known and feared throughout the Inner Sphere. Led by the Grand Master of the Order, the Warrior Houses report directly to the Chancellor and are placed under the command of the Strategios only at the Chancellor's direction. Many members of the Death Commandos are drawn from the ranks of the Warrior Houses.

Twelve-year-old aspirant to Warrior House Hiritsu, training in swordsmanship with his sifu.

History

In the lull between the Second and Third Succession Wars, Colonel Hiritza Kikaru proposed the idea of creating small groups of elite warriors, dedicated to the art of warfare and to House Liao, as an answer to the overwhelming number of Capellan soldiers being lost in the field. The Colonel based his theories partially on the disbanded Lorix Order and aligned himself with House Liao so that his ideas would find more purchase within the government. Chancellor Dainmar Liao was won over by the colonel's efforts, and issued the Decree of Military Unity in 2864, granting him authority to create his new units. Although Colonel Kikakru died before he could implement his plans, an admirer of his, Colonel Kamachi Imarra of the Prefectorate Guard, took up the idea. Using handpicked troops and special training, Kamachi created the first of what would be known as the Warrior Houses, Warrior House Imarra.

The regular military protested the creation of this special corps of troops, especially as it was siphoning off a disproportionate number of personnel and equipment which would have gone to them. Kamachi Imarra offered a test; his warriors against the Prefectorate Guard in a series of simulated battles. Imarra's warriors proved to be superior in the end and the Warrior House ideal preserved. By 2928 three more Warrior Houses had been formed - Kamata, Hiritsu and Lu Sann - and proved themselves in victory against the enemy. These victories only furthered the friction that existed between the Warrior Houses and the regular forces, especially as the former grew in power and the latter continued to suffer defeat after defeat.

Though swearing loyalty to the State and the Chancellor, the Warrior Houses were persuaded by and played a major role in Maximilian Liao's coup to seize power from his father in 2990. Maximilian would play off the rivalry of the Warrior Houses and the military throughout his reign: increasing the number of Houses to eight in 2991, opening up the Death Commandos to regular military recruits in 3003, and finally removing the Warrior Houses from CCAF control in 3004 and putting them under the personal command of the Chancellor.

There was little the Warrior Houses could do to stop the Steiner-Davion juggernaut during the Fourth Succession War though; in several cases Warrior Houses were specifically targeted for destruction by elite forces. Particular embarrassment came during one of the last operations of the war, the rescue of the traitor Justin Xiang Allard. Warrior House Imarra's 'Mechs had been the only ones equipped with Triple Strength Myomer stolen from the Davions, but the technology was sabotaged. When the 1st Kathil Uhlans arrived on Sian to retrieve Allard, the gas they unleashed caused the myomer to burst into flames, leaving the Imarra 'Mechs helpless as the traitor was spirited away.

It would not be until 3051 that the eight Warrior Houses had regained their pre–Fourth Succession War strength. A measure of revenge was achieved in 3057 during Operation GUERRERO, when all eight Houses liberated the planet Liao from Davion control and returned House Liao's ancestral home to their control.

Due to the philosophical and spiritual demands of induction and training into a Warrior House, the various Houses were slow to rebuild after the Jihad. Three Houses - Fujita, Lu Sann, and Ma-Tsu Kai - had effectively been destroyed during the Jihad, and Ijori soon after, fighting the Republic. Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao chose to keep the monasteries of each order open, even though each was little more than a home for elderly veterans, new acolytes, and washouts from other training programs. In doing so, the Chancellor allowed the possibility of raising fresh battalions in the future to be kept open. However, to the year 3145, only House Ijori was reborn (in 3134) after the recovery of Liao for the Confederation. The reborn house established its headquarters on that planet.

Structure

Fanatically loyal to House Liao, the Warrior Houses are autonomous monastic organizations operating as combined arms regiments. Each is led by a House Master, who is answerable only to the Chancellor or the Master of House Imarra in their capacity as Grand Master of the Blessed Discipline. Only with the Chancellor's blessing may a Warrior House be placed under the command of the Strategios; more typically the Strategic Military Director will coordinate their efforts with the Grand Master. When operating alongside regular units in the field, the Warrior House will be considered senior and issue joint commands as necessary. The only exceptions are for the Capellan Hussars and the Death Commandos, although they rarely work alongside each other for just such a reason. During the Andurien Crisis and Operation GUERRERO, McCarron's Armored Cavalry had seniority over the warrior houses as well. With rare singularity, each Warrior House is composed of two battalions: one BattleMech and one infantry. The 'Mech battalion will have the latest in martial technology, although the Warrior Houses take pride in piloting at least one of every 'Mech design ever built within the Confederation. The infantry battalion will be trained to fulfill a variety of roles: scouts, infiltrators, demolition experts, armored vehicle crews, even assassins. Most will also be adept at anti-'Mech tactics. After the advent of battle armor, each battalion also received at least a platoon's worth of Fa Shih suits. The Warrior Houses (for the most part) do not maintain their own aerospace forces but will second them from the military as needed.

The Warrior Houses also take care of all administrative duties themselves, not least given the notable corruption of the CCAF's Administration and Finance bureau. Each House also maintains their own logistics network separate from the military's as a backup, staffed by personnel such as technicians and medics seconded from the CCAF. Although not actual members of the Warrior House, service to them in this capacity is considered a great honor.

Training

Applicants for Warrior House training are selected between the ages of ten to twelve. Warrior House recruiters are always on the lookout for potential applicants, while a local noble, the child's family or the child themselves may request consideration. The applicant will only be accepted however if they pass the interview and meet the House Master's approval, and only if they willingly volunteer for the position; no conscription is allowed among the Warrior Houses.

Once an aspirant, the trainee will be assigned a mentor, or sifu, for the next two years. During this time the aspirant will be completely cut-off from the outside world, and when not busy training they will be in meditation. The basic curriculum includes heavy indoctrination into Warrior House traditions and philosophies, infantry training and self-defense. By age fourteen, more specialized training will begin, depending on the aspirant's intended role, such as special forces or MechWarrior. By sixteen the aspirant will graduate to the rank of warrior and join the House's infantry force, with secondary education continuing as needed. Of all the training regimens in the Inner Sphere, the Warrior Houses' come closest to replicating the Clans' sibko system, although with notably less brutality.

Composition History

3050: 8 commands - each 2 Battalions

Known Warrior Houses

Warrior House Imarra

Entrusted with the defense of Sian, the Capellan capital world, and permanently stationed there. The other Warrior House battalions rotate to Sian periodically for special training. The Imarra House Master is the accepted spokesman for all the Warrior Houses together.

Warrior House Kamata

Based on Betelgeuse and tasked with defending the factories there. Buddhistic outlook and strong belief in Karma. One of only two Warrior Houses that deploy their own Aerospace assets.

Warrior House Hiritsu

Moved their stronghold to Randar. House Hiritsu is notable for strongly following the philosophy of K'ung-fu-tzu (Confucius), having incorporated his teachings into their House Vows, with courtesy a major element.

Warrior House Lu Sann

Also spelled LuSann. Based on Grand Base, but often sent to fight elsewhere. Believes in applying the Lorix Order at all levels of Capellan society. This has led them to criticize Chancellors in the past. Their loyalty to House Liao is therefore not rated as high as other Warrior Houses. Destroyed on Herotitus in 3074 by the Word of Blake during the Jihad.

Warrior House Dai Da Chi

Also spelled Daidachi. The most bellicose of all Warrior Houses, they strive towards martial excellence and are noted for hard training and high attrition rates. They are the only Warrior House to field two 'Mech battalions, and one of only two maintaining their own aerospace assets.

Warrior House Fujita

Moved their stronghold to Hunan. Founded on principles borrowed from bushido. Destroyed during the Jihad.

Warrior House Ma-Tsu Kai

Also spelled Matsukai. The only Warrior House founded by a nonmilitary scholar. Destroyed during the Jihad.

Warrior House Ijori

Based on Han philosophies including Confucianism, Taoism and the Lorix Order. The only Warrior House to field two infantry battalions.

Warrior House Tsang Xiao 

After the first Word of Blake attack on Sian, Aiguo Yang privately raised a regiment of forces to defend the Capellan homeworld and nearby systems. Once the situation had calmed down Mandrinn Yang assembled the best survivors of the regiment into a formation based on that used by the classic Warrior Houses. He then gave the battalion of troops to Sun-Tzu Liao as a gift. The Chancellor incorporated them into Sian's defenses after officially granting them Warrior House status.

Thuggee Warrior Houses

Kali Liao created two additional "Warrior Houses" in the late 3060s from her Thuggee cult members who were cybernetically enhanced using Word of Blake technology obtained through her affair with Cameron St. Jamais. The existence of these two units came as a surprise to the Capellan Confederation as much as to other factions.

During the Word of Blake assault on Sian in 3074 the White Tigers turned on their fellow House Rakshasa and they destroyed each other.

Warrior House Rakshasa

Wiped out to the last man on Sian by House White Tiger.

Warrior House White Tiger

Marched with the Word of Blake on Sian but turned against them on Kali Liao's command, wiping out House Rakshasa and sowing chaos among the Word of Blake forces. Only a handful of members are said to have survived.

Although they are colloquially referred to as such, it remains arguable whether or not Houses White Tiger and Rakshasa could be regarded as Warrior Houses in the strictest sense, because Kali Liao technically was in no legal position to raise additional Warrior Houses. It is doubtful if Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao approved or even knew of the creation of these Warrior Houses.

Warrior House Ranking Conventions

Much like they are a rank apart from the CCAF as a whole, the Warrior Houses employ their own unique ranking convention. However, like the CCAF under the tenets of Xin Sheng, the ranks and their names have been altered:

Old Rank	New Rank	CCAF Equivalent
House Master	Shiao-zhang (Lord Colonel)	Colonel
Battalion Leader (Infantry)	Ying-zhang	Lieutenant Colonel
Company Leader	Lien-zhang	Major
Lance/Platoon Leader	Pai-zhang	Captain
Squad Leader/MechWarrior	Ban-zhang	Lieutenant
Infantryman	Zhang-si	Sergeant

Bibliography

• 20 Year Update
• Field Manual: Capellan Confederation
• From the Highest Spire
• House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)
• Jihad: Final Reckoning
• Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents

Warrior Houses
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Death Commandos

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[[main|Death Commandos}}

The absolute elite of the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (CCAF), the Death Commandos are among the most feared units in the Inner Sphere. They are meant to counterbalance the Warrior Houses (which exist outside of the regular Capellan military and are loyal directly to the person of the Chancellor), and appease feelings of jealousy within the CCAF by giving the military a similarly prestigious and capable unit. Their skills and wide-ranging authority raised misgivings even within the CCAF, which were partially satisfied when Chancellor Maximilian Liao opened membership to any sufficiently distinguished CCAF officer in 3003.

Unofficially known as the Chancellor's "storm troopers", members of the Death Commandos have very wide latitude in the performance of their duties. For example, they are allowed, on their own authority, to summarily execute any Capellan soldier, and even members of the nobility, under certain circumstances.

Confederation Reserve Cavalry

Main article: Confederation Reserve Cavalry

The Confederation Reserve Cavalry, the reserve force of the Sian Commonality, has a proud history of service to the Capellan Confederation.

Confederation Reserve Cavalry

Capellan Defense Force

Main article: Capellan Defense Force

The Capellan Defense Force was formed after the Clan Invasion when the formerly secure Capellan Commonality became vulnerable to attack from the Federated Suns. This marked the end of the older Capellan Reserve brigade as Stapleton's Grenadiers were renamed as the first regiment of the new Capellan Defense Force and various Home Guard units were reorganized to form two additional regiments.

Capellan Defense Force

Liao Cháng-Chéng

Main article: Liao Cháng-Chéng

Liao Cháng-Chéng
Formed	3061
Nickname	The Great Wall
Affiliation	Capellan Confederation
Parent Command	Capellan Confederation Armed Forces

Assembly of this brigade began quietly in the 3050s as a continuation of the Liao Reserves. With the reintegration of former Chaos March worlds back into the Capellan Confederation, in 3061 the CCAF formally activated the brigade of reserve regiments for the Liao Commonality with the new name Liao Cháng-Chéng. They would later be reassigned to the Sarna Commonality sometime after 3085 following the loss of Liao to the Republic of the Sphere that year.

History

Newly formed in 3061, the regiments fought mainly in the Chaos March region with some success. In 3062, some were sent to St. Ives to liberate the planet during the Capellan Civil War.

During the Jihad the regiments of Liao Cháng-Chéng were seriously damaged. By 3079 only one was at half-strength while the rest were between thirty and forty percent of their pre-Jihad strength.

The popularity of the Liao Cháng-Chéng increased markedly after the Jihad; having been rotated back from the front lines and stationed along the relatively peaceful border between the Confederation and the Duchy of Andurien, the Liao Cháng-Chéng found themselves the center of attention from the Capellan media for some time. Fresh from battles in a nuclear war zone where the Cháng-Chéng were heavily involved in some of the deadliest combat of the Jihad, the everyman character of the Cháng-Chéng attracted the media. Being more accessible and easier to identify with for the average Capellan than the elite Red Lancers or Death Commandos has made the Cháng-Chéng popular heroes for their part in defending the heart of the Confederation from the Word of Blake.

To rebuild, the Liao Cháng-Chéng regiments were rotated out of the Liao Commonality and sent to the Capellan Confederation/Duchy of Andurien Border. This gave them time to rebuild, but prohibited them from participating in Operation GOLDEN FORTRESS in 3081. After the Republic of the Sphere counterattacked, many of the worlds the Liao Cháng-Chéng had protected during the Jihad were in the hands of the Republic. The Liao Cháng-Chéng weren't in position to stop the Republic forces. The loss of so many worlds angers the members of Liao Cháng-Chéng, and also leads them to think that their sacrifices during the Jihad were pointless. Sometime during this period, the brigade was reassigned to the newly re-formed Sarna Commonality and the Sarna Martial Academy Cadre added to the ranks.

By 3085, the Commonality was reorganized as the Sarna Commonality.

From 3086 onwards, the Liao Cháng-Chéng performed at least one offensive action every year against the Republic Armed Forces. These operations have made the brigade experts at cross-border raiding.

Three regiments took part in the invasion of the Republic of the Sphere and the ROTS counterattack that followed. Dubbed the Capellan Crusades (3111-3113), it ended with all three units taking heavy damage but still combat effective.

Following the Capellan Crusades, several brigades were restructured in response to some flaws found in current doctrine. One of these changes involved new unit designations. Thus, the regimental names were standardized and the Sarna Martial Academy Cadre was removed from the brigade rolls. Sometime afterwards, Daoshen Liao's Hidden Lion initiative allowed the secret addition of the 2nd Liao Dragoons into the brigade.

During Operation CELESTIAL REWARD of 3144, the LCC were in the first wave striking AFFS garrisons from Bell to Chesterton. By 3145, they were pulled back to postings along the Free Worlds League and Periphery.

Officers

Rank	Name	Command
Commanding Officers of the Liao Cháng-Chéng
Line Director: Jiang-jun	Do San Mu	3063
Line Director: Jiang-jun	Pavlov Bagroutinni	3085
Line Director: Jiang-jun	Emma Priyadarshi	3145

Notes

In 3063 Jiang-jun Allen Dalmar was Do San Mu's aide.

Available Forces

3063

Davion machines are not uncommon within the ranks of these commands, because some militias changed sides without firing a shot and on the other hand after Operation Guerrero the CCAF could salvage large numbers of immobilized 'Mechs. The normal composition includes a large concentration of light 'Mechs, medium machines as cornerstones and heavies as the steamhammers of the command. The shift to the lighter-weight 'Mech designs influences the tactics and fighting style of all LLC regiments.

Units of the Liao Cháng-Chéng

• 1st Liao Hussars also known as Phyr's Hussars
• 2nd Liao Hussars also known as Syn's Hussars
• 1st Liao Dragoons also known as Renshield's Dragoons
• 2nd Liao Dragoons added sometime after 3113
• 1st Liao Grenadiers also known as Vong's Grenadiers

Former Units of the Liao Cháng-Chéng

• Sarna Martial Academy Cadre - Assigned to LCC in 3085. Reassigned sometime after 3113.

Colors and Unit Insignia

Each unit is named after the current commander and this fact gives the command continuity through the time. The Liao Cháng-Chéng sometimes uses appropriate camoflage in a three-color pattern. They use the Confederation crest backed by a green field as their insignia aside from a regimental emblem.

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  Kamakura's Hussars

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  Renshield's Dragoons

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  Vong's Grenadiers

• 

  Syn's Hussars

Bibliography

• Field Manual: 3085
• Field Manual: 3145
• Field Manual: Capellan Confederation
• Field Manual: Updates
• Field Report: CCAF
• Jihad: Final Reckoning
• The Killing Fields
• Operational Turning Points: Capellan Crusades

Liao Cháng-Chéng

Victoria Commonality Rangers

Main article: Victoria Commonality Rangers

Victoria Rangers
Formed	3062
Nickname	Victoria Commonality Rangers
Affiliation	Capellan Confederation
Parent Command	Capellan Confederation Armed Forces
Sub-Command(s)	See Units of the Victoria Rangers

The provincial force of the Victoria Commonality, the Victoria Rangers were formed from the two surviving units of the once mighty Chesterton Reserves.

History

Created in late 3062 when the Victoria Commonality was separated from the Sian Commonality, this second-line brigade was originally composed of two solid, politically impeccable regiments, Kingston's Legionnaires and Sung's Cuirassiers. The Victoria Commonality Rangers were expected to aid and coordinate with the militaries of the Capellan Confederation's Periphery allies in addition to their normal duties. An officer exchange program has been established and periphery-born warriors have been accepted into the brigade.

During the Jihad the Rangers took control of supplies that were left in place by the Taurian Concordat. This allowed them to rebuild quickly from each conflict. They defended their home commonality, but Kingston's Rangers also participated in attacks on New Syrtis and Ridgebrook. Jiang-jun was keen to see the VCR expanded after the Jihad to match the size of their counterpart brigades in the other Commonalities, but it was made clear by the Strategios that no expansion would be considered while other formations within the CCAF were still rebuilding.

The Victoria Commonality Rangers of 3085 spent most of their time guarding the Confederation's Periphery border. The Strategios apparently wanted to keep them at full strength to provide a reserve for the CCAF. The Rangers were one of the few Capellan commands to actually be close to their listed strength.

In 3103, both regiments were present on Victoria during the Victoria War. Despite a fanatical defense of their capital, both heavily damaged units were forced to retreat to Quimberton three months later. Kingston's Rangers would later reinforce the First Canopian Fusiliers and Second Canopian Cuirassiers on Zanzibar and force the Sirdar CMM off-planet.

Following the Capellan Crusades in 3111, several brigades were restructured in response to some flaws found in current doctrine. One of these changes involved new unit designations. Thus, Victoria Commonality Rangers became Victoria Rangers and the regimental names were standardized.

The Victoria Rangers spent decades nursing plans for revenge after Victoria was lost to the Federated Suns. The Rangers rebuilt in secret as part of the Hidden Lion initiative, expanding to five regiments in the process.

In 3144, the Confederation launched a full-scale invasion of the Capellan March called Operation CELESTIAL REWARD. The Victoria Rangers were on the front lines, with the entire brigade descending on Victoria. Pushing the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns forces off-planet, the Rangers then helped drive the AFFS back to the prewar boundary of the Victoria Commonality.

Officers

Rank	Name	Command
Commanding Officers of the Victoria Rangers
Line Director: Jiang-jun	Petyr Andreyvich	3063 - 3084
Home Guard Director: Jiang-jun	Won Hyo Yul-Gok	3063
Line Director: Jiang-jun	Willow Green	3084
Home Guard Director: Jiang-jun	Won Hyo Yul-Gok	3084
Line Director: Jiang-jun	Trevor Goparma	3145
Home Guard Director: Jiang-jun	Gerard Montague	3145

Tactics

Different per Unit.

Available Forces

As of 3063, the forces includes a broad range of technology and designs. These includes periphery machines and also state of the art equipment. The commonality regiments has good conventional support units but lacks air support capabilities which is provided through the navy. The commanders of the units get a gift every year in form of a new 'Mechs from the sponsoring noble family.

Units of the Victoria Rangers

3063

• Kingston's Rangers
• Sung's Rangers

3145

• First Victoria Rangers - renamed Kingston's Rangers
• Second Victoria Rangers - renamed Sung's Rangers
• Third Victoria Rangers
• Fourth Victoria Rangers
• Fifth Victoria Rangers

Color Scheme and Unit Insignia

Two-color patchwork camouflage and always include red highlights. They use the Confederation crest backed by a steel-colored field as their insignia aside from a regimental emblem.

• 

  Kingston's Rangers

• 

  Sung's Rangers

• 

  Victoria Commonality Rangers logo, ca. 3079

Notes

• As part of a deal struck when both units still belonged to the Chesterton Reserves, each family for which they are named are entitled to hereditary command positions, though regimental and even battalion command are still determined based on skill by the CCAF. Part of this bargain also ensures that each unit only retains the Kingston or Sung name as long as one member of the Kingston or Sung lines serves in the unit. Traditionally each family also presents a new 'Mech to the commanding officers of each unit every year, whether they are related or not.
• Like other Capellan reserve divisions, the overall breakdown of Rangers 'Mechs and vehicle ranges between older and new designs. However, thanks to the location of the Shengli Arms factory on commonality capital of Victoria, the commonality's links to the Magistracy and Concordat, and the Kingston Legionaries participation during Task Force Serpent, the Victoria Commonality Rangers mix is more eclectic than most, boasting some of Confederation's latest 'Mechs and vehicles, Periphery designs and even a number of Clan OmniMechs.

Bibliography

• Field Manual: 3145
• Field Manual: Capellan Confederation
• Historical: Wars of the Republic Era
• Field Report: CCAF
• Jihad: Final Reckoning

Victoria Commonality Rangers

McCarron's Armored Cavalry

Main article: McCarron's Armored Cavalry

This article is about the military unit. For the scenario pack, see McCarron's Armored Cavalry (scenario pack).

McCarron's Armored Cavalry
Formed	2930
Nickname	The Big Mac
Affiliation	Mercenary Capellan Confederation
Parent Command	None Capellan Confederation Armed Forces
Sub-Command(s)	First McCarron's Armored Cavalry Second McCarron's Armored Cavalry Third McCarron's Armored Cavalry Fourth McCarron's Armored Cavalry Fifth McCarron's Armored Cavalry Sixth McCarron's Armored Cavalry

Also known as The Big Mac or simply abbreviated MAC, McCarron's Armored Cavalry used to be one of the largest and most successful mercenary units in existence with an excellent, near legendary reputation. After having spent a large portion of its history in Capellan employ, McCarron's Armored Cavalry joined the CCAF around 3060. In return, the commander received a noble title and each member was granted citizenship. Even as a regular House unit, they remain a semi-independent fighting force.

Overview

The unit is known as restless, being far more comfortable with attacking and raiding than defending. Their command structure is exceptionally loose and informal, which seems to work to their advantage.

Despite their excellent combat record, the Big Mac has a mixed reputation off the battlefield. They are generally perceived as greedy troublemakers.

After the Fourth Succession War they became a veritable cornerstone of the Capellan military, and Archibald McCarron received land grants and a noble title. He also created several successful commercial enterprises in Capellan space.

On the eve of the Capellan-St. Ives War, the Cavalry officially joined the CCAF, ending its mercenary status and becoming a regular House unit. Its members were granted full citizenship in the Capellan Confederation.

History

McCarron's Armored Cavalry is and had been the pride and personal possession of the McCarron family since it was raised by Lord Gamala McCarron on Chesterton in 2930.

The early days

The MAC worked for the Federated Suns, until Lord Gamala McCarron was killed on New Rhodes III in an attack by House Kurita in 2970. His son Castor inherited the unit, and brought it into service for the Lyran Commonwealth. They saw extensive fighting against the Free Worlds League from 2975 until 2991. However, Castor McCarron was dissatisfied with the compensation for his unit's service from House Steiner, which he considered inadequate. Without prior notice to their employer, McCarron's Armored Cavalry withdrew from the Commonwealth and signed up for a tour of duty with the Draconis Combine. House Steiner put a price on Castor McCarron's head for this coup.

Generally, it is held that the MAC had fought for all Successor States, and against all but one, by 2995.

Entering service to Liao

In 2995, McCarron again felt the financial drain of running such a large unit. They left the Combine and entered the service of the Capellan Confederation where they arrived in 2996. Maximilian Liao not only received them with open arms, he also provided them with an extensive support base on Menke to serve as their permanent home. Since that time, McCarron's Armored Cavalry has been in the employ of House Liao, with one brief exception: In 3002, Castor McCarron was killed in a bar fight over a local dancing girl. Following his burial on Chesterton, his younger brother Archibald McCarron struck a secret agreement with the Free Worlds League by which he transferred control of the Cavalry to House Marik in exchange for the head of his brother's murderer. Marik secret service agents delivered the head.

Since 2996 the MAC has essentially served as a strategic reserve to House Liao, to be moved if and when the situation demands.

In 3007, after the CCAF suffered a string of defeats at the hands of House Davion's new Wolf's Dragoons mercenaries. Archibald McCarron, who at the time was young and new to command, felt compelled to strike back, and brought all five regiments on a deep raid into Davion territory, striking at the Dragoons' homeworld of New Valencia, in an attempt to crush the three Dragoon regiments on-planet. Though they had an advantage in numbers, the Dragoons soon established an effective defensive perimeter against the Cavalry, safeguarding their primary support personnel and dependents and making effective use of combined-arms tactics. The Cavalry, for their part, began trashing and looting the civilian city of Raiteland, and reportedly executed many civilians in their hunt for Dragoon elements. They were soon driven from the planet, however, when the remaining Dragoons as well as the Eridani Light Horse approached. Jaime Wolf soon retaliated, however, sending his elite Seventh Kommando special forces to the Cavalry's homeworld on Menke, where they engaged in a campaign of sabotage and destruction, soon slipping away unharmed. Though McCarron was furious, Maximilian Liao forbade any counterstrikes, realizing "Big Mac" and his hot-headed troops would likely get themselves destroyed.

Their regiments warded off Davion attacks against Highspire in 3012 and against St. Ives in 3014. At some point during this time, they fell out with Wolf's Dragoons, which was in Liao employ at the time, on the world of Bithinia.

In 3015, Marcus Barton was put in command of the Second MAC Regiment, henceforth known as "Barton's Regiment". Archibald McCarron ordered him to build "the biggest, meanest assault regiment the Inner Sphere has ever seen", and Barton did just that. His first assignment came when Barton's Regiment was sent to relieve the Blackwind Lancers on Elnath in 3015, where the Free Worlds League kept raiding the ammunition and tank factories. Barton discovered that the Marik forces used the Gorndack fortress on Ohrensen as a staging area and resupply base, and immediately struck against the stronghold, breaking the resistance after five hours of intense fighting and securing the fort by the end of the day. His unit suffered heavy losses, but the success (and subsequent similar actions) gave rise to the legend of "Barton the Fort Buster".

Other MAC units stalled the Free Worlds League on Lesalles in 3016. In the following year, the Federated Suns stepped up their attacks on the Confederation and reached an average of one raid per month by 3018. In the constant raiding, the MAC's regiments were split up into battalions and used to garrison potential target worlds where they saw heavy fighting. In 3018, Davion's Forty-second Avalon Hussars killed Jordan Brush, one of Archibald McCarron's best friends, in a sneak attack on Purvo. In another notable fight, Smithson's Chinese Bandits (working for House Davion) tried to hit a DropShip repair facility on Necromo, but were repulsed by the third Battalion (Wayne's Wreckers) of Barton's Regiment.

McCarron's Long March

Angered by the frequent Davion raids, and especially by a raid on the capital world of Sian by Smithson's Chinese Bandits in 3022, Maximilian Liao gave the MAC leave for what they longed for: blanket permission to attack the Federated Suns as they saw fit.

McCarron secretly prepared a highly risky series of three-pronged strikes by placing transports at predetermined rendezvous points, allowing for rapid troop movement but stripping other Capellan troops of their transports and supplies in the process. The rapid movement created the impression of superior numbers when there were none.

The operation, which became known as McCarron's Long March or simply McCarron's War, succeeded beyond all expectations.

First wave

The MAC simultaneously struck against the first three targets: Tawas, where they defeated Tristam's Terrorists, Farwell, where they destroyed several important ore refineries before disappearing as quickly as they had come, and Kathil, where McCarron personally led the First and Second Regiment against the Forty-second Avalon Hussars. McCarron wanted to avenge his friend Jordan Brush, but the Hussars put up a good running fight for several days; when they realized that the MAC was out for blood, they scattered until reinforcements could arrive. McCarron, unwilling to waste time hunting them down, moved on to the next target.

Busting Fort Bourgogne

The next wave hit the twin worlds of McHenry and Muskegon (catching the mercenary unit Mathias's Forlorn Hope on R&R on the former) and, most importantly, Marlette. This was one of five fortress worlds along the Davion-Liao border, used primarily as a resupply base for the Capellan March Militia. The Marlette stronghold, Fort Bourgogne, had not been attacked in over a century and was widely regarded as impregnable. McCarron and "Fort Buster" Barton rode point in the attack and breached the defenses in a three-day battle. Although the victory had come at heavy losses, it was a serious blow to the enemy morale.

Beten Kaitos

The MAC continued their merry romp through the Federated Suns, hitting the 'Mech repair facility on Goshen and raiding Emerson and Smolensk. However, in March 3023 the MAC unexpectedly met Davion's personal guard on Beten Kaitos and a pitched two-day running battle ensued. McCarron's Armored Cavalry was forced to withdraw, but having fought Davion's best and living to tell the tale only boosted their reputation further. They moved back to Liao space, hitting Bristol, Mira and Mesartim on the way, and arrived to a hero's welcome at Tikonov in 3023. Maximilian Liao personally rewarded each unit commander with the highest Capellan military decoration and the promise of landed titles when they retired in recognition of their achievements.

Rebuilding

After their prolonged campaign through the Federated Suns, the MAC needed to rebuild their regiments and kept rather quiet, returning to their previous duty of strategic reserve and fighting off retaliatory raids from the Federated Suns. They did, however, participate in the invasion of Stein's Folly in 3025.

Since advanced technology was hard to come by, Archibald McCarron increasingly relied on the "open" (black) market to obtain needed equipment and technology.

One dealer, Simon Kincaid, reportedly decided to take the money and split instead of risking capture by House Steiner for moving a huge order sometime around 3027, supposedly leaving the MAC out several million C-bills in needed supplies. Enraged, McCarron sent Barton's Regiment to raid the main manufacturing plant of Kincaid Defiance Industries on Hesperus II in a quick and narrow objective raid. (This was actually a cover story, or what House Steiner later thought had happened. In truth, Kincaid was a Capellan agent who was mere hours away from being found out, and the raid was executed to extract him.) Although engaged by the Blackhearts and the Twenty-sixth Lyran Guards and under relentless aerospace fighter attack, the raid was a success, and losses were even lower than usual for Barton's Regiment. This marks the MAC as one of very few units to have ever successfully raided Hesperus II.

Fourth Succession War

Although the Capellan Confederation at large was utterly defeated in the Fourth Succession War, the MAC lived up to expectations and fared somewhat better.

In response to the Long March offensive, Davion troops completely destroyed McCarron's first regiment on Arboris and Basalt in the opening stages of the war, with no quarter asked nor given on either side. Thirsting for revenge, the remaining four regiments were deployed to Sarna while Davion intelligence was misled into believing they had been moved to Palos. In May 3029 the Fifth Syrtis Fusiliers RCT ("The Evil Eye"), together with two regiments of the Crater Cobras and the Second Regiment of the Screaming Eagles, attacked Sarna. Eager to prove his unit's worth in battle, General Gordon Hartstone had his Syrtis Fusiliers approach the planet ahead of the other forces at 2.5 Gs. By the time their mercenary backup arrived two days later, the Fusiliers were no more. The MAC then pinned down the mercenaries who had to stand their ground and fight a prolonged campaign that avoided major engagements. Neither side was able to know the full picture of what the other side was truly facing, and neither side was able to send a message off-planet due to ComStar initiating a communications interdiction. The arrival of the Davion Light and Heavy Guards RCTs seven months later, and Colonel Archibald McCarron made the hard choice that Sarna had to be abandoned. In one little-regarded battle that was described as actually one of the most brutal engagements of that war, the MAC managed an orderly retreat from Sarna under attack from the Screaming Eagles and the Crater Cobras, largely again due to the actions of Barton's Regiment who lost almost half of its 'Mechs, but reduced the attackers by two thirds in return. This delay allowed the rest of the MAC to load up as much as they could before leaving the system.

Barton's second-in-command, Patrick Hart, was among the casualties on Sarna.

Rebuilding Again

Despite their above-average combat record, the losses from the war were a blow to the MAC. After returning to Menke, Archibald McCarron temporarily passed command to Marcus Baxter and went with Marcus Barton and Ian MacPhearson to create a web of trading companies in nearly all Successor States, even the Commonwealth half of the Federated Commonwealth and the Taurian Concordat. By 3032, Barton and MacPhearson had recruited and trained personnel to replace their losses and McCarron had established a profitable interstellar trading company, the MTC, Inc., which supplied his unit with technology and was also put to use in expanding the garrison facilities on Menke.

In the brief war with the Duchy of Andurien, Barton and MacPhearson were sent to relieve Betelgeuse. The Anduriens had dug in their defensive positions, but "Fort Buster" Barton stubbornly broke through in a two-week assault. Following this victory, the MAC intelligence pegged the enemy resupply and staging area on the planet Prix and launched an attack that returned to Betelgeuse fully loaded with booty after another three weeks of intense fighting. The Anduriens had lost two major supply depots and repair facilities, and Barton's Regiment and Leo's Demons moved to fight the Andurien's allies, the Magistracy of Canopus, next. In 3036, the Fourth Regiment struck Canopus itself in retribution raid ordered by Romano Liao herself to punish Canopus for their involvement in the fighting. They caught the defenders by surprise and began to raze the capital of Canopus. Only the arrival of Emma Centrella and her personal guard prevented the complete collapse of the Canopus defenders. Only after two days of heavy fighting later did the Fourth withdrew, but not before they had razed most of the Canopus capital's most important industrial and government complexes as a message from House Liao of the reach of the Capellan Confederation. Over the course of the hostilities, the First Regiment (The Nightriders) lost a veteran company to a DropShip crash.

In 3037, Archibald McCarron assumed command of the Cavalry again and formed a sixth Regiment under Marcus Baxter, Baxter's Brawlers. Using equipment captured from the Anduriens, the Menke repair facilities were expanded and also revamped to assemble 'Mechs. Chancellor Romano Liao largely exempted the unit and Menke from her many pogroms that were taking place throughout Capellan space. MAC units stationed elsewhere privately relayed their concerns about what was being done to Romano Liao's "enemies against the state".

The War of 3039 was another opportunity for McCarron's Armored Cavalry to strike at FedCom worlds near Menke in fast "grab and move" raids, correctly assuming that the war had drained their defenses. They were successful in the case of Alcyone and Kathil, among others. When they landed on Kathil on 2 September 3039, the 8th Syrtis Fusiliers were ready and waiting and forced the attackers back. But Colonel Marcus Barton ordered numerous smaller objective raids as his forces pulled out, including a smash-and-grab raid against warehouses in a city on 9 September, and the Kathil raid was still considered a success.

On Addicks, however, Barton's Regiment was fought to a standstill by the elite Davion Guards, and retreated with no booty. A Davion counterattack smashed the Cavalry's base on Menke and destroyed the nascent sixth regiment. The MAC fought on their own behalf, but Theodore Kurita found their actions helpful enough for his own war efforts to send Archibald McCarron a brand new CGR-3K Charger as a gift in 3043.

Return to Fort Bourgogne

Following the War of 3039, House Davion sought to fortify its borders. In 3044 they rebuilt Fort Bourgogne on Marlette, which the MAC had left in ruins twenty-two years earlier, virtually daring the MAC and especially Marcus Barton to tear it down again. Baxter's Brawlers were sent on a probing raid, but when they discovered that Barton's sworn enemy, General Lester J. Otto, was commanding the Fort's garrison, Barton included his own regiment in the raid as "tactical advisers". The MAC command let him have his way, and once again "Fort Buster" Barton lived up to his reputation. He took the opportunity to exact revenge on Otto whom he killed personally. Otto had piloted a brand-new prototype 'Mech (a DVS-2 Devastator) and the wreckage fell into the hands of the MAC as combat salvage, adding insult to injury.

Afterwards, the MAC regiments were dispersed to garrison Capellan worlds along the Davion front and barely one battalion remained on Menke for some time. Seeking revenge for the attack on Marlette, Hanse Davion ordered his elite Fox's Teeth (McKinnon's Company, aka McKinnon's Raiders, of the Seventh Crucis Lancers RCT) to deliver a suitable response and in late 3045 they struck at Menke. In a week-long rampage of hit-and-run raids, they destroyed MAC property including supply dumps, repair facilities and a golf course and savaged Kitagawa's pursuing company through repeated ambushes, then withdrew before a furious Marcus Baxter could make planetfall with two regiments.

By 3050, McCarron's Armored Cavalry had six active regiments and a seventh training regiment on Menke, usually on rotating duty with one active regiment serving elsewhere. Archibald McCarron spent most of his time on MTC, Inc., and Marcus Baxter was groomed as his heir apparent.

The Death of Archibald McCarron

In 3050, Archibald McCarron died in an unfortunate training accident. The close-knit group elected Colonel Marcus Baxter to become their interim commander, with the proviso that Baxter should adopt McCarron's twin children, Rhamses and Faith McCarron and name one of them his heir to his command and landholds. Baxter did so, and began to raise the children as their stepfather, being expected to hand command over to them eventually.

Baxter went on to lead the MAC against the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth during the second wave of Operation GUERRERO and against the touman of Clan Smoke Jaguar during Operation BULLDOG.

Integration

On the eve of the Capellan-St. Ives War that began in 3060, Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao offered the Big Mac the honor of being the first mercenary unit to be added to the rolls of the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces. Baxter agreed, becoming a member of the Barduc and gaining citizenship for himself and his men. The worlds of Menke and Mitchel became their landholds.

As a House unit, the commands answer to the local jiang-jun but follow the orders of Marcus Baxter when needed. They can act on their own, this circumstance giving them the freedom to react to any military threat.

The MAC remains a semi-independent fighting force with fearsome reputation even afterwards, and well into the 3130s. The brigade fields some of the best equipment of the entire CCAF owing to their possession of their own factories. They have retained their own support and training infrastructure from their mercenary days.

Capellan-St. Ives War

All McCarron regiments participated in the Capellan-St. Ives War, which resulted in heavy losses: A full battalion of the First McCarron's Armored Cavalry was immediately annihilated when they were attacked with nerve gas upon making planetfall on Wei in 3060. In retaliation, the Death Commandos took control of the planet, but only after decimating the local government and defenders in kind. The nerve gas was then stolen, and used later in the Black May attacks.

The Second McCarron's Armored Cavalry landed on planet Milos in 3062, and clashed with the Eridani Light Horse and were defeated, however the latter's retreat later on would ultimately result in a Capellan victory. Other McCarron regiments don't appear to have suffered as many casualties during the conflict.

The Jihad

Despite the damage taken by the MAC during the Jihad, the conflict served to end the arguments between the MAC and the Strategios about whether or not the former mercenary command should continue to operate in an irregular fashion; the tactics used by the MAC differed enough from those of the CCAF that the MAC scored numerous victories during the course of the Jihad against those expecting to face CCAF units using conventional tactics.

Of the various units that made up the MAC, some survived the Jihad in better shape than others; the First MAC saw combat throughout Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE and the Jihad up until the formation lost two battalions of MechWarriors to the active SDS network in the Zion system in 3077. This gutted the Nightriders, who hadn't had the opportunity to rebuild completely before Zion, and forced the regiment to retreat to Aldebaran and wait for reinforcements and resupply; it also saw personnel from the other MAC formations begin deliberately avoid the First to avoid attracting "bad luck".

The Second MAC came under the command of Rhamses McCarron following the death of Angel Bodez in 3077 on New Aragon; having accepted command after the Second MAC's victory on Zurich, Rhamses was still finding commanding a regiment to be a very different beast to that which his training anticipated.

Having run out of luck on New Syrtis in the early years of the Jihad when a spirited attack by the Third MAC intended to assault the rear of the AFFS forces there instead ran into a determined defense from the FedSuns forces at Saso forced the Wild Ones to withdraw to Menke. The Third MAC spent the remainder of the Jihad providing replacement warriors to the other MAC formations for the rest of the Jihad by performing cadre duties in support to the MAC's training program on Menke.

The Fourth MAC finished the Jihad on Hsien, where Lord Richard Carson endeavored to resolve the deadlock between the CCAF and Coalition forces on the world in the aftermath of the three-way battle for control of the planet; with Zhong-shao Erin Grey having died, Carson took the opportunity to promote Faith McCarron, and intelligence indicated that Carson was using the situation as a training opportunity for Faith.

The Fifth MAC spent much of the Jihad making opportunistic raids against worlds within the Word of Blake Protectorate and the Capellan March, with the conflict removing the last dissenting elements from the regiment; the Fifth subsequently garrisoned Sian after the Red Lancers and Warrior House Imarra were deployed elsewhere. Kyp's Kommando would be deployed off Sian to join the campaign for Halloran V in 3077 before returning to garrison Sian again, remaining in place until at least 3079.

The successes enjoyed by the MAC during the Jihad led to the Armored Cavalry becoming very popular with the Capellan media, who began playing the MAC up as examples of valiant janshi in Capellan service, with the Fifth MAC receiving particular attention and acclaim because of their presence on Sian. This media adulation served to increase the loyalty of the MAC to the Confederation, although there was the potential for dissent within the MAC over which of the two children of Archibald McCarron would replace Marcus Baxter as commander of the MAC in due course.

Post-Jihad

In the wake of the Jihad the MAC were stationed along the border between the Confederation and the newly formed Republic of the Sphere; the presence of such a premiere offensive unit was a clear sign of the Chancellor's intentions towards Devlin Stone and his new realm. On the contested world of Hsien, Faith McCarron managed to persuade Republican forces to withdraw after months of posturing and low-level skirmishes; not only did this win her a number of accolades, but it also impressed the CO of the Fourth Regiment to the extent that he decided it was a good opportunity for him to retire. As a result, command of the Fourth MAC passed to Sang-shao Faith McCarron, and as "Faith's Fortunate", the Fourth were keen to compete with Rhamses McCarron's regiment in any campaign against the Republic.

Capellan Confederation/Republic of the Sphere War

The MAC were on the front lines again when the Chancellor launched an attack on the Republic of the Sphere in 3081, and paid a heavy price for their part in the campaign; the Confederation proved incapable of supporting the MAC, and two regiments were lost in combat. The First MAC was destroyed on Gan Singh; operating alongside the Second MAC, the Nightriders' history of bad luck caught up with them when several regiments from the Principes Guards cut them off from the Second MAC and then destroyed them before the Second could come to their aid. As bad a loss as the First MAC was, the greater loss was the Fourth MAC and the young Faith McCarron on New Canton. Fighting against the VIII, IX and X Hastati Sentinels, the Fourth lost McCarron when the head of her Starslayer BattleMech was struck repeatedly with Rotary Autocannon rounds from a Hastati Legionnaire. The Fourth refused to yield the area containing their fallen commander and only surrendered when the regiment had been reduced to just two lances of 'Mechs.

On Gan Singh Rhamses McCarron led the Second MAC against the VIII Hastati Sentinels, ignoring the other Republican forces until it was too late to save the First MAC; this perceived error in judgment would continue to prey on Rhamses' mind, who developed an intense hatred for the Republic as a result of the death of his sister Faith on New Canton.

The Third MAC were still rebuilding when called on to join the later stages of the Capellan attack and ended up facing Stone's Revenants twice, first on Acamar and then again on Tsitsang, coming off worse than the Revenants in each case. Despite the Revenants' able use of conventional units to tie down and punish the Third MAC via combined-arms combat, the Third MAC has been slow to adopt the combined-arms doctrine espoused by the CCAF, in large part due to the attitude of Sang-shao Otto Kung, the Third MAC CO. Kung remained convinced that conventional units would only interfere in the ability of the Third MAC's 'Mech forces to complete their tasks.

As a primarily defensive unit the Fifth MAC was used to defend worlds seized by the Confederation, ably defending Woodstock, Liao and Tsitsang until overwhelming Republican numbers forced them to withdraw.

Dark Age Era

The MAC played a major role in the Capellan expansion into former Republic of the Sphere systems, though not without problems: the Fourth MAC fought in the Battle of Northwind in a mission personally ordered by Chancellor Daoshen Liao to bring the world under Capellan control, though they weren't able to obtain victory.

IlClan Era

On March 18th 3151 Daoshen Liao moved to punish the unit by shaking up its leadership in response to the failure at Northwind at the end of the previous year as well as the brief recapture of Liberty by Republican forces in October 3149, singling out the 4th and 5th MAC respectively for their roles in the setbacks. The commander of the 4th MAC, Sang-shao Lindsey Baxter, blamed the defeat at Northwind on duplicitous actions by their former Draconis Combine Unity Pact allies, while the commander of the 5th MAC, Sang-shao Gwendolyn Vaughan, blamed the loss on Liberty to supply problems that allowed Republican forces to take back control of the planet. The Chancellor ignored the excuses and decided to replace Xavier McCarron as the leader of the MAC, blaming the 4th and 5th MAC's failures on his leadership. Xavier protested his removal, stating that the setbacks on Northwind and Liberty had nothing to do with his leadership, which led Daoshen to order his execution as well as for Vaughan for voicing support for Xavier. Daoshen threatened further executions to the other officers of the 4th and 5th MAC who protested his decision. Xavier's son and intended successor, Cyrus, cautiously did not protest nor attempt to save his father from execution, but instead offered to replace him as the overall commander of the MAC, citing his loyalty to the Chancellor by not opposing his father's execution. Daoshen refused and instead named his daughter Sang-shao Danai Liao-Centrella, the current commander of 2nd MAC, as the new overall commander of the MAC, while also promoting her to jiang-jun, a rank not held before by any previous commander of the MAC. Cyrus signaled his disappointment, but Daoshen responded "Consider yourself fortunate that I have not struck the name 'McCarron' from the brigade entirely." Cyrus was allowed to retain his rank in the MAC under Danai's command.

Officers

Rank	Name	Command
Commanding Officers of the McCarron's Armored Cavalry
Lord	Gamala McCarron	2930 - 2970
	Castor McCarron	2970 - 3002
Colonel	Archibald McCarron	3002 - 3050
Colonel	Marcus Baxter	3050 - 3060
Sang-shao	Marcus Baxter	3060 -
Sang-shao	Rhamses McCarron	- 3109
Sang-shao	Xavier McCarron	3109 -3151
Jiang-jun	Danai Liao-Centrella	3151-present

Tactics

Different per Unit.

Units of the McCarron's Armored Cavalry

• First McCarron's Armored Cavalry (lost in the Jihad) (re-formed prior to 3145)
• Second McCarron's Armored Cavalry
• Third McCarron's Armored Cavalry
• Fourth McCarron's Armored Cavalry (lost in the Jihad) (re-formed prior to 3145)
• Fifth McCarron's Armored Cavalry
• Sixth McCarron's Armored Cavalry (disbanded in 3049)

Color Scheme and Insignia

• 

  Awesome in McCarron's Armored Cavalry livery

• 

  Original MAC insignia

• 

  MAC insignia, ca. 3076

• 

  First McCarron's Armored Cavalry

• 

  Second McCarron's Armored Cavalry

• 

  Third McCarron's Armored Cavalry

• 

  Fourth McCarron's Armored Cavalry

• 

  Fifth McCarron's Armored Cavalry

Notes

• Since 3035, McCarron's Armored Cavalry counted Ning-Ti Liao among their ranks. The estranged son of a wealthy merchant dynasty, he is also a distant relative of the ruling Liao family, and they sometimes call on his diplomatic and social skills, especially to answer questions about their military actions to the Liao high command. He initially piloted an Archer, but was later switched to a Marauder.
• As of 3025 the MAC fielded some 'Mech designs that were notable for their rarity or had been thought extinct, including the Falcon (with the Fourth Regiment) and unusual (in Capellan space) Commando (with the First and Second Regiments). In 3044 they fielded an STY-3C Starslayer on Marlette, reportedly recovered from a small Star League depot that they had found while enlarging and rebuilding the facilities on Menke and in 3048 they were rumored to field vintage Star League-era Spectors, again allegedly recovered from an old cache. The specific model of Spector was not mentioned; the sourcebook gave stats for the SPR-5F which was however a downgraded version put in production in 3053. If the sourcebook meant to imply that the MAC fielded SPR-5F then these would have been early prototypes of what later became a production model, presumably field modifications (downgrades) of the original -4F design that was exclusively produced in the 2600s.

Bibliography

• Field Manual: 3085
• Field Manual: Capellan Confederation
• Field Report: CCAF
• The Fox's Teeth
• Historical: Brush Wars
• Historical: War of 3039
• House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)
• IlClan (sourcebook)
• Jihad: Final Reckoning
• McCarron's Armored Cavalry
• Proprietary
• Shrapnel, Issue #4
• The Sword and the Dagger
• Threads of Ambition
• Warrior: Coupé
• Wolf's Dragoons

McCarron's Armored Cavalry

Citizens' Honored

Main article: Citizens' Honored

Citizens' Honored
Formed	3060
Affiliation	Capellan Confederation
Parent Command	Capellan Confederation Armed Forces

The Citizens' Honored brigade was created by Sun-Tzu Liao and encompasses former mercenary units that became regular Capellan units. Many of these mercenary units had strong ties to the Confederation. </onlyinclude>

History

Formed three months after McCarron's Armored Cavalry became a House Liao line unit, a delay born out of respect for the Big Mac and the Blackwind Lancers' ill-fated attack against the Confederation, the Citizen's Honored was built around the well-respected and A* Dragoon rated 4th Tau Ceti Rangers, the 15th Dracon and Lockhardt's Ironsides, all units with long histories of service to the Confederation

Laurel's Legion were added later, a former Liao employed mercenary unit that uneasily served the Federated Commonwealth after their homeworld of Tigress was captured in the Fourth Succession War. The Legion responded to Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao's invitation for all expatriate Liao units to return home, a choice supported by their homeworld despite the fact it remained deep in House Davion controlled space.

While not taking part in the Xin Sheng Campaign, as if to prove themselves worthy of the Chancellor's offer of sponsorship, the units of the Citizen's Honored performed well beyond what was expected of them. With each of the four regiments earning an impressive volume of citations, the personal favor shown to the brigade by the Chancellor saw off those critics who claimed they had not truly earned their accolades.

The brigade finally silenced its detractors with the dedication to the state shown by its units during the maelstrom of the Jihad, most notably the destruction of the 15th Dracon during the brutal opening stages of Duke George Hasek's Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE. While the three surviving regiments suffered heavy losses, their morale after that conflict remains high thanks to finally proving their worth. In an effort to make up for the loss of the 15th Dracon, the Strategios attached the Sarna Martial Academy Cadre to the brigade, more for administrative purposes than a proper formal transfer.

As one of the front-line brigades of the CCAF in the wake of the Jihad, the Citizens' Honored underwent rapid resupply, a sign of the brigade being given the appropriate support from the Confederation military's support and logistics chains. With some of the top cadets from across the various regional academies being posted into the brigade and replacement equipment being top of the line, the Citizens' Honored would quickly replace their Jihad casualties.

Officers

Rank	Name	Command
Commanding Officers of the Citizens' Honored

Tactics

Different per Unit.

Units of the Citizens' Honored

3060 to 3068

• 4th Tau Ceti Rangers
• 15th Dracon - Destroyed on Overton during Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE.
• Lockhardt's Ironsides
• Laurel's Legion

3079

• 4th Tau Ceti Rangers
• Lockhardt's Ironsides
• Laurel's Legion
• Sarna Martial Academy Cadre

3145

• Tau Ceti Lancers
• Lockhardt's Ironsides
• Laurel's Legion
• Harloc Raiders

Colors and Unit Insignia

The various component elements of the Citizens' Honored retained their own color schemes and insignia with one exception, as a reminder of their years of mercenary service two thin silver lines symbolizing money are painted on a 'Mech's lower leg, aerospace fighter wing, or rear quarter of a Combat Vehicle. Only those who served time as mercenaries feature the stripes while new recruits do not.

The brigade's crest is a tiger inside an inverted triangle of dadao swords; according to Han symbolism the beast signifies strength.

• 

  4th Tau Ceti Rangers

• 

  15th Dracon

• 

  Lockhardt's Ironsides

• 

  Laurel's Legion

• 

  Sarna Martial Academy Cadre

Bibliography

• Field Manual: Capellan Confederation
• Field Manual: Updates
• Field Report: CCAF
• Jihad: Final Reckoning

Citizens' Honored

Capellan Brigade

Main article: Capellan Brigade

In March of 3061 the Capellan Brigade was created by Sun-Tzu Liao from former mercenary units thought to be deserving of the preferred status conferred by Confederation Sponsorship. That is, said mercenaries became house regulars.

The Regiments do not share joint command naming their own commanders and officers and largely maintain their own colors.

Capellan Brigade
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St. Ives Armored Cavalry

Main article: St. Ives Armored Cavalry

The provincial forces of the St. Ives Commonality and St. Ives Compact, the St. Ives Armored Cavalry are the most elite force in the region. Traditionally, war matériel of the St. Ives Armored Cavalry is painted gray-green, with highlights specific to each command.

St. Ives Armored Cavalry
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St. Ives Sentinels

Main article: St. Ives Sentinels

Consisting of two former mercenary units with long histories of service to the Capellan Confederation and the St. Ives region in particular, the St. Ives Sentinels became the line reserve brigade of the reborn St. Ives Commonality in the wake of the Capellan-St. Ives War.

St. Ives Sentinels

Former brigades & units of the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces

Capellan Reserves

Main article: Capellan Reserves

The Capellan Defense Force was formed after the Clan Invasion when the formerly secure Capellan Commonality became vulnerable to attack from the Federated Suns. This marked the end of the older Capellan Reserve brigade as Stapleton's Grenadiers were renamed as the first regiment of the new Capellan Defense Force and various Home Guard units were reorganized to form two additional regiments.

Capellan Reserves
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Chesterton Reserves

Main article: Chesterton Reserves

Defenders of the Chesterton Commonality until its capture by the Federated Suns, the Chesterton Reserves were primarily assigned to bolster of the Davion border along the Tikonov Commonality and was almost completely destroyed during the Fourth Succession War, only Kingston's Legionnaires and Sung's Cuirassiers, now known as Kingston's Rangers and Sung's Rangers still exist but with the reorganization of CCAF they were moved to the Victoria Commonality Rangers and the brigade was disbanded.

Chesterton Reserves
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Liao Reserves

Main article: Liao Reserves

The Liao Commonality's previous provincial force. It ceased to exist, as both units were destroyed during the Fourth Succession War.

Liao Reserves

Sarna Reserves

Main article: Sarna Reserves

The Sarna Commonality's defense forces. Despite the majority of the commonality's conquest during the 4th Succession War, Ishara's Grenadiers and Kamakura's Hussars, who formerly were part of the Sian Reserves, were transferred to it and continued to defend the remains of it. With the reorganization of the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces the brigade was disbanded and both surviving units were transferred to the Liao Cháng-Chéng.

Sarna Reserves

Sian Reserves

Main article: Sian Reserves

The old reserve brigade for the Sian Commonality. The brigade was disbanded when both units were transferred to the Sarna Reserves.

Sian Reserves

Tikonov Reserves

Main article: Tikonov Reserves

Tikonov Reserves
Affiliation	Capellan Confederation
Parent Command	Capellan Confederation Armed Forces
Sub-Command(s)	See Units of the Tikonov Reserves

History

The old reserve brigade for the Tikonov Commonality. The brigade was disbanded when Kincade's Rangers were transferred to the Periphery Guard.

Officers

Rank	Name	Command
Commanding Officers of the Tikonov Reserves

Tactics

Different per Unit.

Units of the Tikonov Reserves

• Kincade's Rangers
• Kerr's Intruders - Destroyed/Surrendered/Defected - 4th Succession War

Bibliography

• Field Manual: Capellan Confederation
• Field Manual: Updates
• House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)

Tikonov Reserves

Periphery Guard

With the re-organization of the CCAF the brigade was disbanded and Kincade's Rangers were transferred to the Liao Cháng-Chéng.

• Kincade's Rangers

Independent Commands

Main article: Preston's Lancers

Main article: McCrimmon's Light Cavalry

Main article: MacGregor's Armored Scouts

The 4th Succession War saw the effective end of several independent commands of the CCAF. Though the Blackwind Lancers were not destroyed, their defection to the St. Ives Compact ended their fealty to the Confederation. Since the (forced) reconciliation of the St. Ives Compact with the Confederation in the 3060s, the Blackwind Lancers have pledged their loyalty to Free Capella.

• Preston's Lancers - Destroyed? - 4th Succession War?
• McCrimmon's Light Cavalry - Destroyed/Surrendered - 4th Succession War
• MacGregor's Armored Scouts - Destroyed/Surrendered - 4th Succession War

St. Ives Janissaries

Main article: St. Ives Janissaries

An experimental combined arms brigade created by Duchess Candace Liao, the St. Ives Janissaries were modeled after the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns' Ceti Hussars. The regiment's 'Mechs, combat vehicles, and infantry were integrated at the company level instead of into traditional Regimental Combat Teams or regular regiments that separate types by battalion or regiment.

The brigade was dissolved in 3068 after the betrayal of the Second Janissaries.

Former related brigades & units not belonging to the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces

Free Capella

Main article: Free Capella

Capellan Confederation Armed Forces
Organization Profile
Type	Resistance movement
Founded	2320
Dissolved	3070
Parent Organization	Independent

Free Capella Similar to Heimdall, consisted of resistance movements fighting the Capellan Confederation, but still defending the Capellan people.

History

Original Free Capella

The original Free Capella was formed in 2320. It was formed by citizens and soldiers of Capella during the Terran Hegemony's occupation of the planet. Initially an underground organization for the first years of the occupation, it conducted guerrilla operations against Hegemony troops. This organization continued to harass and attack Hegemony troops until 2335.

Modern Free Capella

In the 3030s the Free Capella movement made use of propaganda via the Free Capella Network.

The Free Capella movement was an anti-Sun-Tzu Liao organization founded by Tormano Liao during the reign of Sun-Tzu's mother Romano Liao. It sought to overthrow the Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation and place Tormano on the throne.

Although it was originally founded as a military organization that actively recruited amongst native Capellans, it gradually grew and evolved so that by the time of the fall of the St. Ives Compact, its goals centered on relief and aid efforts to Capellan citizens. This became especially pronounced after the death of Tormano Liao, as he was considered to be one of the main driving forces behind the Free Capella movement's militaristic stance. Treyhang Liao was groomed by his father to take control of the movement, but did not wish take control.

It was only through the prompting of Blackwind Lancers' commander, Warner Doles, that Treyhang finally took the reins. However with this power, Treyhang attempted to take the movement in a different direction.

After the Xin Sheng campaign, Free Capella was thought to have killed Sang-wei Tyler Alban, a MechWarrior with the 3rd McCarron's Armored Cavalry. The Sang-wei was notorious for inflicting heavy civilian casualties during the fighting to vent his frustration at the many rear-area duties he was assigned. His mutilated body was found in his quarters after the peace agreement was signed between the St. Ives Compact and the Capellan Confederation.

With the death of Treyhang Liao at the hands of Blakist troops on October 31st 3070, his aides read his final instructions which read that they were to dissolve the Free Capella movement. The bulk of the movement's forces rejoined the Confederation, fighting in their armed forces during the Word of Blake Jihad.

Status in 3067

The movement lost 2 regiments but could save its strength with new personnel and equipment.

• Free Republic Revolutionaries

This command attacked the Twenty-third Arcturan Guard on Tikonov and could only destroyed through the assistance of House Da Dai Chi, which later secured the planet again for the Confederation.

• Borodin Vindicators

The unit broke all connections to the movement after a heavy defeat through the Blackwind Lancers which was treated as a training accident.

• Blackwind Lancers

During the civil war the command was loaned to the allies. The unit fought against the First Republican on Marlette. The Republican unit was destroyed in the fighting.

• Jie Fang Legion

The command test its new gathered strength against Warrior House Lu Sann during a raid. On Grand Base they secured a warehouse full of equipment.

Officers

Rank	Name	Command
Commanding Officers of the Free Capella
	Tormano Liao
	Treyhang Liao

Special Ops Units

• Blackwind Lancers
• Borodin's Vindicators
• Jie Fang Legion
• Free Republic Revolutionaries
• Sarna Martial Academy Cadre

Colors and Unit Insignia

• 

  Blackwind Lancers

• 

  Borodin's Vindicators

• 

  Jie Fang Legion

• 

  Free Republic Revolutionaries

• 

  Sarna Martial Academy Cadre

Bibliography

• Field Manual: Capellan Confederation
• Field Manual: Updates
• A Guide To Covert Ops
• Jihad Hot Spots: 3072
• The Killing Fields (novel)
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade
• Threads of Ambition (novel)

Free Capella
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Military Academies

Duchy RTC

Every Duchy provide the necessary education facilities for the common citizens to serve the Confederation adequate.

Capella War College

The CWC is the most prestigious, and most rigorous, military academy of the CCAF.

Liao Conservatory of Military Arts

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Promoting a meditative approach to combat training, the LCMA was at the center of the battle for Liao when the Confederation invaded the Republic of the Sphere

Sarna Martial Academy

SMA is the military academy of the Sarna Supremacy. It is looked down upon by graduates of other academies as the Supremacy did not wish to rejoin the Confederation.

Sian Center for Martial Disciplines

SCMD cadets must be outwardly perfect. All cadets are very closely scrutinized during their training on the capital world of the Confederation.

Sian University

Officers receive their training at Sian University.

St. Ives Academy of Martial Sciences

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SIAMS was the principal academy for the St. Ives Compact during that nation's brief life span. Attached to the St. Ives Institute of Science, SIAMS has its own officer training program. Following its reintegration into the Confederation, SIAMS once more began political indoctrination classes.

Victoria Academy of Arms and Technology

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The AAT traditionally catered to and technicians, but it was upgraded in 3061 to help train the Confederation's Periphery allies.

Capellan Confederation Uniforms

3025

• Liaouniform3025pavelradzik.png

  Pavel Ridzik

• 

  security

• 

  Northwind Highlanders

• 

  Northwind Highlanders

• 

  mechwarrior

• 

  technician

• 

  officer

• 

  navy personal

• 

  infantry

• 

  armor

• 

  Death Commando

• 

  aerospace

3054

• 

  Field Uniform

• 

  Dress Uniform

3064

CCAF Ranking Conventions

During the Age of War, CCAF generals attempted to engineer a coup. In retaliation after the coup was put down, the incumbent Chancellor (Jasmine Liao) removed all officer ranks above Colonel, instituting instead the title "Senior-Colonel" as the rough equivalent of a general officer. During the Xin Sheng reorganization, Sun-Tzu Liao reinstituted the ranks, denoting the two military commanders of each commonality and the CCAF fleet commander.

Immediately prior to the invasion of the St. Ives Compact, the Chancellor reformed and streamed lined the rank system of the Capellan military to try and reduce confusion and to further remind and enhance the renewal of the Capellan Chinese culture.

Old Rank	New Rank	Insignia
Commissioned Officers
Chancellor	Unchanged	N/A
–	Sang-jiang-jun (Senior General)
Senior Colonel	Jiang-jun (General)
Colonel	Sang-shao (Colonel)
Major	Zhong-shao (Lieutenant Colonel)
Captain	Sao-shao (Major)
Commander	Sang-wei (Captain)
Subcommander	Sao-wei (Lieutenant)
Enlisted Ranks
Force Leader	Yi-si-ben-bing (Master Sergeant)
Lance Sergeant	Si-ben-bing (Sergeant)
Lance Corporal	San-ben-bing (Corporal)
Recruit	Shia-ben-bing (Recruit)

Bibliography

• Field Manual: Capellan Confederation
• Field Manual: Updates
• Field Report: CCAF
• House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)