Com Guards

Revision as of 21:30, 31 January 2012 by Doneve (talk | contribs) (added update needed template)

You must add a |reason= parameter to this Cleanup template – replace it with {{Cleanup|reason=<Fill reason here>}}, or remove the Cleanup template.
Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field

The Com Guards, formerly referred to as the ComStar Guards and Militia, is the military arm of ComStar. Kept hidden by the supposedly politically neutral organization until after the Fourth Succession War, the Guards are a force on par with the militaries of the Successor States. Originally serving as garrison troops for ComStar's HPG compounds, they have shifted towards a role as defenders of the Inner Sphere, most famously their victory against the Clans in the Battle of Tukayyid. The Guards suffered heavy losses combating the Word of Blake during their fanatical bretherns Jihad and publicly disbanded after that conflict.

Origins and History

The Com Guards were founded in the wake of the collapse of the Star League by Jerome Blake, who created them as a source of order for the Inner Sphere should the Successor States attempt to attack Terra or any HPG stations across the Sphere. The Com Guards were kept hidden by Blake and his successors far from the prying eyes of the Successor State militaries, and, due to this, escaped much of the technological downgrades that said militaries suffered over the course of four Succession Wars.

As of 3049, Wolfnet estimated the Com Guards' BattleMech strength alone to represent the equivalent of more than fifty Regiments.[1]

The presence of the Com Guards was revealed to the Inner Sphere during the Clan Invasion, when the then-Precentor Martial Anastasius Focht struck a deal with the Clans to fight his Com Guards on the planet of Tukayyid for control of the Inner Sphere. The Com Guards won, and bound the Clans to a 15-year truce. In the aftermath of the battle of Tukayyid, the Com Guards were deployed extensively throughout the remnants of the Free Rasalhague Republic as a safeguard should the Clans break their truce.

Under the leadership of Precentor Martial Victor Steiner-Davion, the Com Guards began to take a much more active role across the Inner Sphere. Com Guard units were deployed on trouble worlds and throughout the St. Ives Compact during the latter's war with the Capellan Confederation, alongside other Star League peacekeepers, including the Eridani Light Horse. At least one Com Guard unit served in Prince Victor's armies during the FedCom Civil War, while others fought against him.


Technology of the Com Guards

Thanks to the large volume of Star League Defense Force hardware carefully and meticulously stockpiled, lack of military adventurism and ROM's efforts to cripple the Great House's overall level of technology, the Com Guards maintained the most technically advanced military in the Inner Sphere prior to the arrival of the Clans. The Com Guards have many vintage Star League-era 'Mechs not normally found in the armies of the Successor States, due to massive Terran stockpiles left behind by the Star League Defense Force. The Com Guards also were the only Inner Sphere entity to maintain a fleet of WarShips up until the recovery of the Helm Memory Core, as the respective Successor State navies had destroyed theirs in the Second Succession War.

Because the Com Guards use mainly Star League-era 'Mechs, they had access to much lostech that the rest of the Inner Sphere had forgotten. This served the Guards well during the Tukayyid battles, as their more advanced weapons proved to work better against the Clanners.

Recovering from terrible material losses suffered on Tukayyid drained the Order's stockpiles dry, however Blake had ordered ComStar to rebuild and mothball numerous military factories in the Terran system for just such an occurrence. The secular order set about reactivating them, both to manufacture existing Star League era designs but also new ones like the Grim Reaper, Nexus and Raijin BattleMechs and the Suffren-class destroyer, but these efforts have only really begun when Terra fell to the Blakists, who proceeded to reaped the bulk of the benefits.

Cut off from Terran production, the Com Guards reached out to Great House manufacturers in realms with which it maintained good relations such as the Davion Federated Commonwealth and the Draconis Combine even as they bolstered expanded factories within the Free Rasalhague Republic for the use of the Guards and KungsArmé, purchasing both classic Star League designs and modern Successor State Battle and OmniMechs, as well as co-developing new designs such as the Beowulf, Helios, Tessen and Viking BattleMechs, Huscarl OmniFighter and Kobold Battle Armor. Unfortunately just when the Guards needed them the most as losses from the Jihad mounted, the conclusion of the alliance between the Ghost Bears and the Republic denied them access to these new factories and Great Houses' own need to rebuild their equally shattered forces restricted sales to the Order. By the last years of the Jihad, while still funding co-production agreements that resulted in designs like the Mongoose II 'Mech, the Com Guards relied heavily on Succession War style battlefield salvage just to remain combat viable.

Rank

The Com Guards use a ranking system roughly similar to the civilian branch of ComStar, with Acolytes equivalent to enlisted ranks, Adepts equivalent to junior officers, Precentors and Demi-Precentors the senior officers, with the sole exception being the rank of Precentor Martial. Created by Primus Waterly with the reorganization and public unveiling of the Com Guards, the Precentor Martial is the overall commander of ComStar military forces.

Like the civilian ComStar, seniority is indicated by Roman numeral equal to one year at that rank, while the branch is designated by a Greek letter, the unique Com Guard/ROM designations are:

Greek Letter Branch Designation
Epsilon
MechWarrior
Pi
Aerospace Pilot
Iota
Infantry
Xi
DropShip Crew
Theta
JumpShip/WarShip Operations/Crew
Zeta
Military Technician
Mu
Intelligence Analysis
Rho
Intelligence Gathering
Lambda
Ground Armor Crew/Pilot

Rank Insignia

Shows theta symbol, indicating JumpShip/WarShip crew. Other service branches replace theta with appropriate Greek letter.

Com Guard/Word of Blake Militia Insignia
Rank Com Guards Insignia Word of Blake Militia Insignia
Acolyte Comstar-Acolyte.png
ComStar Acolytes use a ComStar logo with a gray halo to show their rank.
WoB-Acolyte.png
Word of Blake Acolytes use a brass medallion.
Adept Comstar-Adept.png
ComStar Adepts use a ComStar logo with a blue halo to show their rank.
WoB-Adept.png
Word of Blake Adepts use a silver medallion.
Demi-Precentor Comstar-DemiPrecentor.png
Formalized by Comstar as a rank after the Schism, ComStar's Demi-Precentor features the ComStar logo with a blue-yellow-red halo to show their rank "midway" position between Adepts and Precentors.
WoB-DemiPrecentor.png
While the Word of Blake still uses the Demi-Precentors in its original "unofficial" form, they use a gold medallion with their branch insignia in silver to show their "midway" position between Adepts and Precentors.
Precentor Comstar-Precentor.png
ComStar Precentors use a ComStar logo with a red halo to show their rank.
WoB-Precentor.png
Word of Blake Precentors use a gold medallion.

Decorations

Due to the hidden nature of the Guards for most of their existence and their peace-keeper role in public life, the Com Guards had little need for awards to commemorate battles. This has changed since the Battle of Tukayyid, with an increasing number of decorations and medals coming into use.

Tukayyid Campaign Ribbon: Every member of the Com Guards who fought in the Battle of Tukayyid is entitled to wear a two-centimeter campaign ribbon indicating which Clan they faced. A number of divisions faced multiple Clans and thus a few warriors wear multiple ribbons. Those colors are:

  • Smoke Jaguar: Gray
  • Nova Cat: Midnight Blue
  • Ghost Bear: Sky blue with white horizontal stripe
  • Wolf: Scarlet
  • Diamond Shark: White
  • Jade Falcon: Green

A black star on the ribbon indicates the wearer defeated a Clan BattleMech or fighter, while a silver star shows that the wearer was injuried during the battle. Many veterans wear multiple stars.

Star League Awards: Awarded to Com Guard troops who have served as part of the modern SLDF, take the form of two centimeter silver Cameron Star hung from variously colored campaign ribbons. Like the Tukayyid Campaign Ribbons, each action has a unique color:

  • Operation Bulldog: White, with silver bars baring the name of each planet fought on.
  • Task Force Serpent: Blood Red, with silver bar listing the name of each battle fought.
  • Great Refusal: Black bar added to either the Bulldog or Serpent ribbons.
  • Chaos March/St. Ives Compact: Two-tone Green.

Precentor's Sword: Considered a medal of honor in the Com Guards, this dagger shaped pin is personally awarded by the Primus or Precentor Martial.

The Focht Star of Honor: A silver, twelve pointed star mounted on a red and white ribbon, the Star of Honor is awarded for acts of extreme valor. The award automatically grants the receiver a promotion to the next rank in ComStar, or five years seniority if the receiver is already a Precentor.

Sinclair Wings: An award specifically for AeroSpace pilots who have demonstrated bravery above and beyond the call of duty, the Sinclair Wings commemorates Adept Charles Sinclair valiant sacrifice in battle on Tukayyid.


Structure and Composition

Unlike Successor States' 4-unit and Clan 5-unit groupings, the Com Guards base their forces on multiples of six. The Com Guard's equivalent of a Lance or Star is a Level II, made up of six Level I units, and given the Guards use of combined arms tactics most frequently consists of mixed unit types. A Level III, made of up of six Level II units, is roughly parallel to the Regimental Combat Teams of the AFFC. Com Guards do not commonly use a formal organization above Level IV. Outside of such rare instances as the Battle of Tukayyid and Case White, Levels V and VI are purely administrative groupings.

Rank Unit Consists of
Acolyte Level I 1 'Mech or armored vehicle or aerospace fighter,
or single infantry unit (28 standard or 4 Battle Armor)[2].
Adept Level II Six Level I units, often referred to as Demi-company.
Adept/Demi-Precentor Level III Six Level II units, 36 elements, referred to as a Battalion.
Precentor Level IV Six Level III units, 216 elements, alternately referred to as a Division.
Level V Six Level IV units, between 846 1296 elements, alternately referred to as a Army.
Precentor Martial Level VI Six Level V units, administrative grouping by region.

Each Com Guard unit is a combine-arms force, with Greek Letters used to designate the composition of the unit, be it an Army, Division or Battalion. Letters higher in the greek alphabet indicate a ‘Mech heavy formation, while lower letters indicate vehicle and infantry heavy units. Save for those assigned directly are spacecraft escorts, Aerospace Fighters are distributed evenly. The list below specifically indicates the proportions at a Division level in number of Level I units, giving a rough indication of the portions at Battalion and Army levels:

Greek Letter BattleMech Armor Infantry Aerospace
Alpha 164 4 9 39
Beta 158 4 9 39
Gamma 151 9 17 39
Delta 144 11 22 39
Epsilon 138 13 26 39
Zeta 132 15 30 39
Eta 125 17 35 39
Theta 119 19 35 39
Iota 112 22 43 39
Kappa 105 24 48 39
Lambda 99 26 52 39
Mu 93 28 56 39
Nu 87 30 60 39
Xi 80 32 65 39
Omicron 73 35 69 39
Pi 67 37 73 39
Rho 60 39 78 39
Sigma 54 41 82 39
Tau 48 43 86 39
Upsilon 41 45 91 39
Phi 34 48 95 39
Chi 28 50 99 39
Psi 21 52 104 39
Omega 15 54 108 39

Units of the Com Guard

The basic ComStar military unit is the Division or Level IV, roughly parallel to two SLDF-era regiments or a single Regimental Combat Team (RCT). Normally each Division is assigned to an Army or Level V. Upon their formation the Com Guards were arranged in thirteen armies, twelve assigned throughout the Successor States and with the thirteenth serving as the Terran Defense Force. Prior to the ComStar Schism each Army was assigned an "hour" on the Inner Sphere Clock, but the ejection of ComStar from the Free Worlds League and Guards changed focus on the Clans led to larger volumes being assigned "north" of Terra. Continuing losses after the FedCom Civil War, Case White and the early years in the Jihad led Guards to reorganize and reduce the twelve armies down to six, one of each of the five Great Houses and sixth for the Periphery and minor states. Upon the Guard's public unveiling each Army consisted of six Divisions, the heavy losses of Tukayyid and the Schism led to this number has been reduced to four, expanding back to six after the reduction in the total number of armies.

While the Division is the most commonly encountered field unit, unlike a Successor State regiment due to the Com Guards role in defending the numerous ComStar HPG compounds throughout the Inner Sphere, they are commonly split into Level III, II, or I groups depending on the importance or level of risk attack of the worlds within their assigned Theater.

Active Armies

These armies are active as of 1st August 3067.[3]

1st Army – Level V-Kappa (The Bear Maulers)

Assigned the Dieron Theater, from 1 to 2 on the Inner Sphere Clock, the Com Guard First Army primarily faced Clan Ghost Bear during the Battle of Tukayyid, adopting the nickname of The Bear Maulers.[4]


2nd Army – Level V-Mu (The Iron Warriors)

Assigned to the Fomalhaut Theater, from 2 to 3 on the Inner Sphere Clock, elements of the Com Guards 2nd Army faced all the Clans save the Ghost Bears during the Battle of Tukayyid, adopting the name of The Iron Warriors.


3rd Army – Level V-Lambda (The Emerald Falconeers)


Assigned to the Caph Theater, from 3 to 4 on the Inner Sphere Clock, the Com Guard Third Army's performance against Clan Jade Falcon during the Battle of Tukayyid was only enhanced by its participation in Operations Bulldog and Serpent, leading it to adopt the nickname The Emerald Falconeers.


4th Army – Level V-Iota (The Defenders of Honor)

Assigned to the Bryant Theater, from 4 to 5 on the Inner Sphere Clock, the Com Guard Fourth Army served as a reserve force during the Battle of Tukayyid facing multiple Clans, and as the primary SLDF peacekeeping force in St. Ives Compact, being known as The Defenders of Honor.[5]


5th Army – Level V-Omicron (The Mountaineers)

Assigned to the New Home Theater, from 5 to 6 on the Inner Sphere Clock, the ComStar 5th Army faced multiple Clans during the Battle of Tukayyid and extensive action in the Chaos March, being known as The Mountaineers.


6th Army – Level V-Kappa (Grim Defiance)

Nominally assigned to the Procyon Theater, 6 to 7 on Inner Sphere Clock, after the collapse of the Sarna March the Com Guard Sixth Army were assigned to the Draconis Combine theaters, calling themselves Grim Defiance.[6]


7th Army – Level V-Iota (The Dark Wave)

Nominally assigned to the Talitha Theater, from 7 to 8 on the Inner Sphere Clock, the Com Guard 7th Army inflicted heavy losses against Clan Nova Cat on Tukayyid, being now known as The Dark Wave.


8th Army – Level V-Pi (Stern Defiance)

Assigned to the Castor Theater, 7 to 8 on the Inner Sphere Clock, the Com Guards 8th Army is located on the border of Lyran and Marik space, making it a prime target for Blakist terrorist attacks, being known as Stern Defense.


9th Army – Level V-Lambda (The Rag Tags)

Assigned to the New Earth Theater, from 9 to 10 on the Inner Sphere Clock, the Com Guard 9th Army faced multiple Clans during the Battle of Tukayyid before being disbanded to reinforce other armies during the Word of Blake Jihad.


10th Army – Level V-Nu (The Red Legion)

Assigned to the Rigil Kentarus Theater, 10 to 11 on the Inner Sphere Clock, the Com Guards Tenth Army took a battering against Clan Wolf during the Battle of Tukayyid before serving alongside Clan Wolf-in-Exile in the Arc-Royal Defense Cordon, calling themselves The Red Legion.


11th Army – Level V-Eta (The Honorable)

Assigned to the Yorii Theater, from 11 to 12 on the Inner Sphere Clock, the Com Guard Eleventh Army faced Clans Jade Falcon and Wolf during the Battle of Tukayyid, adopting the title of The Honorable.


12th Army – Level V-Beta (The Broadsword and Shield)

Assigned to the Tukayyid Theater, the renamed pre–Clan Invasion Asta theater or 12 to 1 on the Inner Sphere Clock, after the Battle of Tukayyid, the elite Com Guard Twelfth Army was stationed in the remains of the Free Rasalhague Republic, placing them in the direct path between a renewed Clan offensive.


Former Armies

Terran Defense Force – Level V-Beta

The cornerstone of ComStar's military, the Terran Defense Force was destroyed during the Word of Blake's Operation Odysseus.


ComStar WarShip Fleet

Due to their retention of Star League era technology and relative lack of military adventurism in the Succession Wars, prior to the Jihad ComStar boasted the largest active WarShip fleet in Inner Sphere. Consisting of a mixture of both SLDF ships left behind by the Exodus Fleet and limited construction of new designs during the Com Guard's foundation, these ships are primarily divided into the two fleets, the Com Guard 1st and 2nd Fleets are stationed in the uninhabited Luyten 68-28 and Ross 248 systems. The bulk of Comstar's WarShip fleet was destroyed during the disastrous Case White assault on Blakist Terra.

Uniforms

Military Academies

When Terra fell to ComStar, so did control of the SLDF's so-called "War Triad" of Sandhurst, the War Academy of Mars and the Military Academy of Aphros. All save the prestigious Sandhurst were mothballed, until the Word of Blake's capture of the Sol system, which also forced the Com Guards to expand their training grounds on Tukayyid to become the Focht War College.

War Academy of Mars


Sandhurst Royal Military College

Located in Berkshire, England on Terra, Sandhurst is one of the longest continually active military academies in human history. After Michael Cameron graduated from the college, Sandhurst became to be considered the best and most prestigous military academy in the Terran Hegemony and later the Star League. After ComStar took control of Terra in 2788, the academy was converted to serve as a training facility for ROM, until the formation of the Com Guards which saw its revitalization and expansion back to a full military academy in 2933. Sandhurst served as the primary training facility and headquarters for ComStar's military forces, with the bulk of the both the secular Com Guard and Word of Blake Milita receiving their training here.

Focht War College

Even before the loss of Terra, the Com Guards long sought to expand and formalize the ad-hoc training fields on Tukayyid created after the climatic battle into a true military academy, but even being denied access to Terran facilities it took the new SLDF to co-finance the facility and the Eridani Light Horse's training personnel to make it a reality. Opened in October 3060, the first class graduating in 3062.

References

  1. 20 Year Update, p. 70
  2. Field Manual: ComStar, pp. 8-9, "Unit Structure"
  3. Field Manual: Updates, p. 98-99
  4. Field Manual: ComStar, pp. 20-21, "1st Army (ComStar) Profile"
  5. Field Manual: ComStar, pp. 26-27, 125:"4th Army V-Iota: The Defenders of Honor"
  6. Field Manual: ComStar, p. 30, "6th Army (ComStar) Profile"

Bibliography