Difference between revisions of "Dark Shadows"
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{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand | {{infoBoxMilitaryCommand | ||
| − | | image = | + | | image = [[File:Dark Shadows logo.png]] |
| Designation = Dark Shadows | | Designation = Dark Shadows | ||
| Formed = | | Formed = | ||
| − | | Disbanded = [[3075]] | + | | Disbanded = [[3075]] (destroyed) |
| Previous Designation = | | Previous Designation = | ||
| Nickname = | | Nickname = | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
| Sub-Command = | | Sub-Command = | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | The '''Dark Shadows''' were a paramilitary formation operated by the [[SAFE]], the [[Free Worlds League]]'s state intelligence service, and were described as a 'Mech scout [[battalion]].<ref name=TRO>''Technical Readout: 3025'', p. 40 (HER-2S ''Hermes II'' entry)</ref> Their operations were classified, known only to the [[Captain-General]] and the [[Intelligence Oversight Committee]], though the unit's existence was an open secret (colored with myths and misdirection).<ref name=GCO>''A Guide to Covert Ops'', p. 67</ref><ref name=HM>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 95</ref> | + | The '''Dark Shadows''' were a paramilitary formation operated by the [[SAFE]], the [[Free Worlds League]]'s state intelligence service, and were described as a 'Mech scout [[battalion]].<ref name=TRO>''Technical Readout: 3025'', p. 40 (HER-2S ''Hermes II'' entry)</ref> Their operations were classified, known only to the [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] and the [[Intelligence Oversight Committee]], though the unit's existence was an open secret (colored with myths and misdirection).<ref name=GCO>''A Guide to Covert Ops'', p. 67</ref><ref name=HM>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 95</ref> |
They were apparently destroyed by [[Word of Blake]] forces in a clandestine operation in [[3075]] during the [[Jihad]]. | They were apparently destroyed by [[Word of Blake]] forces in a clandestine operation in [[3075]] during the [[Jihad]]. | ||
| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
Although described as a scout force at least in the beginning, as of ca. [[3067]] the Dark Shadows were considered SAFE's heavy-hitting force for missions requiring strength over finesse.<ref name=GCO/><ref name=HM/> | Although described as a scout force at least in the beginning, as of ca. [[3067]] the Dark Shadows were considered SAFE's heavy-hitting force for missions requiring strength over finesse.<ref name=GCO/><ref name=HM/> | ||
| − | Most members of the Dark Shadows are on extended secondment from the regular [[FWLM]] and serve tours of usually between 18 and 24 months with the Dark Shadows.<ref name=GCO/> A rigorous selection process was mentioned.<ref name=GCO/> | + | Most members of the Dark Shadows are on extended secondment from the regular [[FWLM]] and serve tours of usually between 18 and 24 months with the Dark Shadows.<ref name=GCO/>A rigorous selection process was mentioned.<ref name=GCO/> |
==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | The Dark Shadows already existed as a unit by [[3025]], but it is not entirely clear when the unit was created: | + | The Dark Shadows already existed as a unit by [[3025]], but it is not entirely clear when the unit was created: |
| − | One Captain [[Janos DeVille]], a loyalist [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] from the [[Fusiliers of Oriente]], fought in the [[Marik Civil War (31st c.)|3014/3015 Marik Civil War]] and reportedly later went on to become one of the founders of the Dark Shadows.<ref name=TRO/> This seems to establish the Dark Shadows were founded at some point between [[3015]] and 3025. | + | * One Captain [[Janos DeVille]], a loyalist [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] from the [[Fusiliers of Oriente]], fought in the [[Marik Civil War (31st c.)|3014/3015 Marik Civil War]] and reportedly later went on to become one of the founders of the Dark Shadows.<ref name=TRO/> This seems to establish the Dark Shadows were founded at some point between [[3015]] and 3025. |
| − | However, at the same time Captain [[Margarita Luhenson]], named as the commander of the Dark Shadows (as of 3025), was noted to have earned fame with a solo combat drop and scouting mission to [[Denebola]] V in [[3011]] already.<ref name=TRO/> It is not | + | * However, at the same time Captain [[Margarita Luhenson]], named as the commander of the Dark Shadows (as of 3025), was noted to have earned fame with a solo combat drop and scouting mission to [[Denebola]] V in [[3011]] already.<ref name=TRO/> It is not mentioned whether she was already the commander of the Dark Shadows (or that the Dark Shadows even already existed) at the time though; she may have become famous for the 3011 mission prior to commanding the Dark Shadows. |
| − | Following the disbanding of SAFE's elite [[SAFE#Eagle Corps|Eagle Corps]] special forces, the Dark Shadows staffed the defenses of | + | Following the disbanding of SAFE's elite [[SAFE#Eagle Corps|Eagle Corps]] special forces, the Dark Shadows staffed the defenses of "The Eyrie" facility on Wendigo, the moon of the Free Worlds League capital world of [[Atreus (FWL)|Atreus]]. A scathing online tirade under a flimsy cover identity by [[Anne-Marie McCormack]], the unit's commander at the time, provoked [[Paul Marik (31st c.)|Paul Marik]] into having the unit destroyed. On 23 April [[3075]] they were lured away from their base by a mock attack by the mercenary unit [[Grandin's Crusaders]] and then ambushed by the [[49th Shadow Division]]. The Eyrie was subsequently captured. The battle on the airless moon left no survivors of the Dark Shadows; the Forty-ninth took no prisoners and left the remains of the fallen Dark Shadows pilots to rest inside their broken 'Mechs. The entire incident was classified and only came to light after the Word of Blake was ejected from Atreus.<ref name=TCp139>''Total Chaos'', pp. 139-141 (Track "Silencing the Shadows")</ref><ref>''Jihad Turning Points: Atreus'', p. 11</ref> |
==Officers== | ==Officers== | ||
| Line 39: | Line 39: | ||
| Captain||[[Margarita Luhenson]]||[[3025]]<ref name=TRO/> | | Captain||[[Margarita Luhenson]]||[[3025]]<ref name=TRO/> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | ||[[Anne-Marie McCormack]]||[[3075]]<ref name=TCp139/> | + | | [[Lieutenant Colonel|Lt. Colonel]]||[[Anne-Marie McCormack]]||[[3075]]<ref name=TCp139/><ref name=JTPAp6>''Jihad Turning Points: Atreus'', p. 6</ref> |
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | Note: the precise ranks used within Dark Shadows are unclear. The table above shows "Captain" as the commanding officer in 3025, but [[Adam Spivey]] who was a member around the time of the Fourth Succession War had the rank of [[Force Commander]], equivalent to a [[Major]]. It may be that the unit was expanded in size during that time. | ||
==Tactics== | ==Tactics== | ||
| Line 47: | Line 49: | ||
==Equipment== | ==Equipment== | ||
| − | As of 3025, it was noted that members of the Dark Shadows could | + | * As of 3025, it was noted that members of the Dark Shadows could choose between the standard HER-2S ''[[Hermes II]]'' and its HER-2M ''[[Hermes II#Variants|Mercury]]'' variant.<ref name=TRO/> |
| + | * Though typically described as an elite formation, at the time of the battle on Wendigo, they were rated as (only) veteran combatants. | ||
| − | + | <div class="gamerules"> | |
| + | ===Jihad=== | ||
| + | The Dark Shadows specialize in hit and run operations and therefore prefer Light and Medium units. | ||
| + | When rolling on the Random Assignment Tables, any Light unit gets a -2 bonus to Gunnery Skill while any Medium unit gets a -1 bonus to Gunnery. This is cumulative with the skills generated by Average Experience.<ref>''Jihad Turning Points: Atreus'', p. 6</ref> | ||
| + | </div> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 57: | Line 64: | ||
*''[[A Guide to Covert Ops]]'' | *''[[A Guide to Covert Ops]]'' | ||
*''[[Handbook: House Marik]]'' | *''[[Handbook: House Marik]]'' | ||
| + | *''[[Jihad Turning Points: Atreus]]'' | ||
*''[[Technical Readout: 3025]]'' | *''[[Technical Readout: 3025]]'' | ||
*''[[Total Chaos]]'' | *''[[Total Chaos]]'' | ||
[[Category:Free Worlds League Commands]] | [[Category:Free Worlds League Commands]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:43, 10 February 2024
| |
| Dark Shadows | |
| Disbanded | 3075 (destroyed) |
| Affiliation | Free Worlds League |
| Parent Command | SAFE |
The Dark Shadows were a paramilitary formation operated by the SAFE, the Free Worlds League's state intelligence service, and were described as a 'Mech scout battalion.[1] Their operations were classified, known only to the Captain-General and the Intelligence Oversight Committee, though the unit's existence was an open secret (colored with myths and misdirection).[2][3]
They were apparently destroyed by Word of Blake forces in a clandestine operation in 3075 during the Jihad.
Contents
Overview[edit]
Although described as a scout force at least in the beginning, as of ca. 3067 the Dark Shadows were considered SAFE's heavy-hitting force for missions requiring strength over finesse.[2][3]
Most members of the Dark Shadows are on extended secondment from the regular FWLM and serve tours of usually between 18 and 24 months with the Dark Shadows.[2]A rigorous selection process was mentioned.[2]
History[edit]
The Dark Shadows already existed as a unit by 3025, but it is not entirely clear when the unit was created:
- One Captain Janos DeVille, a loyalist MechWarrior from the Fusiliers of Oriente, fought in the 3014/3015 Marik Civil War and reportedly later went on to become one of the founders of the Dark Shadows.[1] This seems to establish the Dark Shadows were founded at some point between 3015 and 3025.
- However, at the same time Captain Margarita Luhenson, named as the commander of the Dark Shadows (as of 3025), was noted to have earned fame with a solo combat drop and scouting mission to Denebola V in 3011 already.[1] It is not mentioned whether she was already the commander of the Dark Shadows (or that the Dark Shadows even already existed) at the time though; she may have become famous for the 3011 mission prior to commanding the Dark Shadows.
Following the disbanding of SAFE's elite Eagle Corps special forces, the Dark Shadows staffed the defenses of "The Eyrie" facility on Wendigo, the moon of the Free Worlds League capital world of Atreus. A scathing online tirade under a flimsy cover identity by Anne-Marie McCormack, the unit's commander at the time, provoked Paul Marik into having the unit destroyed. On 23 April 3075 they were lured away from their base by a mock attack by the mercenary unit Grandin's Crusaders and then ambushed by the 49th Shadow Division. The Eyrie was subsequently captured. The battle on the airless moon left no survivors of the Dark Shadows; the Forty-ninth took no prisoners and left the remains of the fallen Dark Shadows pilots to rest inside their broken 'Mechs. The entire incident was classified and only came to light after the Word of Blake was ejected from Atreus.[4][5]
Officers[edit]
| Rank | Name | Command | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commanding Officers of the Dark Shadows | |||
| Captain | Janos DeVille | ||
| Captain | Margarita Luhenson | 3025[1] | |
| Lt. Colonel | Anne-Marie McCormack | 3075[4][6] | |
Note: the precise ranks used within Dark Shadows are unclear. The table above shows "Captain" as the commanding officer in 3025, but Adam Spivey who was a member around the time of the Fourth Succession War had the rank of Force Commander, equivalent to a Major. It may be that the unit was expanded in size during that time.
Tactics[edit]
Unknown.
Equipment[edit]
- As of 3025, it was noted that members of the Dark Shadows could choose between the standard HER-2S Hermes II and its HER-2M Mercury variant.[1]
- Though typically described as an elite formation, at the time of the battle on Wendigo, they were rated as (only) veteran combatants.
Jihad[edit]
The Dark Shadows specialize in hit and run operations and therefore prefer Light and Medium units. When rolling on the Random Assignment Tables, any Light unit gets a -2 bonus to Gunnery Skill while any Medium unit gets a -1 bonus to Gunnery. This is cumulative with the skills generated by Average Experience.[7]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Technical Readout: 3025, p. 40 (HER-2S Hermes II entry)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 A Guide to Covert Ops, p. 67
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Handbook: House Marik, p. 95
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Total Chaos, pp. 139-141 (Track "Silencing the Shadows")
- ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Atreus, p. 11
- ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Atreus, p. 6
- ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Atreus, p. 6