Crimson Lancers

The Crimson Lancers are an Inner Sphere-based mercenary unit operated by the 2nd Royal Special Assault Brigade's Intelligence Division in conjunction with the 3rd Dark Horse Regiment. The primary purpose of the unit is to gather intelligence on the various Inner Sphere realms. Their secondary purpose is to support (or perform) intelligence operations as required and to assess the status of any remaining Star League facilities.

The unit has been operational in the Inner Sphere since 2932 and has worked for all 5 Successor States, Com Star, and the Magistracy of Canopus. The unit is currently the majority share-holder (51%) of a small boron mine on Novo Tressida, within the Magistracy. The mine is a joint venture between the Canopian government and the unit, who procured the equipment necessary to mine and process the Boron.

The unit also acts as a part-time military consultant for the Magistracy providing advice on how to structure various planetary defenses. The Canopian government sees this relationship as mutually beneficial to both parties. The Lancers and Canopians are both able to share in the mine's profits while the unit benefits from a defensively stronger Canopian military, which in turn provides stability, which itself can increase the mine's profits (or at least decrease any chance of disruption).

Early History

The Crimson Lancers began their existence as a mercenary unit on the planet Galetea on February 22nd, 2932. A seemingly battered Union Dropship detached from a commercial transport at and began the journey to the planet known as the Mercenary's Star. Once on Galetea, the unknown unit spread word that they were looking for work as a quick raiding force and advertised themselves as a company-sized unit consisting of mainly medium and heavy Battlemechs as well as a single lance of heavy aerospace fighters.

• First hired by Free Worlds League for raids on Lyran Commonwealth
• Feigned weak negotiations with the League in order to secure contract
• Raids were completely successful
• Returned to Galetea after completion of 24-month contract
• Hired by Lyran Commonwealth for raids on Draconis Combine
  • Contract contained "buyout" exit clause
  • Contract also contained full salvage rights

Unit Development

• 2nd RSAB command needed "boots on the ground" to surreptitiously search for Start League facilities and equipment, as well as to gain live intelligence
• 2nd RSAB intelligence operations to date had focussed on tapping/intercepting HPG signals and passive SIGINT
• Decision was made to set up a covert but passive intelligence network
• The need for active assets became readily apparent
• Passive intelligence could not accurately gather much of the "soft" information required (morale, personality conflicts, etc...)
• High command also felt the need to actually battle test troops in order to improve training programs
• 2nd RSAB also relied on HGP relays that were unknown to Com Star and were originally set up to capture and mirror all HPG traffic on a shadow network. Automated relay stations were placed in systems that were uninhabitable, usually around gas giants. 2nd RSAB has maintained and enhanced all parts of the shadow network.
• Unit generates revenue through investments aided by information from intelligence network

Unit Composition

2932 to 2997

• Union Dropship
• 1 Air Lance
  • 2 Stuka Aerospace Fighters
• 1 Command Lance
  • Victor
  • Grashopper
  • Catapult
  • Griffin
• 1 Assault Lance
  • Awesome
  • Battlemaster
  • Marauder
  • Grashopper
• 1 Strike Lance
  • 2 Griffins
  • Phoenix Hawks
• 2 Infantry Platoons
  • 4 squads of Jump Laser (Anti-Mech) Infantry
  • 4 squads of Foot Laser (Special Forces) Infantry

• Almost all Mechs heavily modified and designed to look in poor repair when in fact, they were in perfect operational condition
• All Mechs used period-specific technology, with the exception of CASE, specially modified to be part of the ammunition feed system. Survivability of the Mechs outweighed the risk of discovery

• Union Dropship heavily modified while being designed to appear to be battered and in poor repair from outside appearances.
• Advanced engine and structural design gave it more thrust and power
• Weapons load was period-specific weaponry but in a custom configuration
• Double heatsinks and ferro-aluminum armour used
• Ship was actually custom designed to maximize the effectiveness of all systems

• Both Stuka fighters were standard design

• Infantry assigned to Dropship security and/or specific missions. Rarely used as part of general unit combat operations

2997 to 3030

• Became an over-strength Company
• Stukas modified
• "Acquired" an Invader Jumpship (custom designed - uses standard 2nd RSAB equipment)
• Added a Leopard and Leopard CV (both custom designed)
• Added 4 additional air lances of Medium and Heavy fighters
• Added 1 Recon Lance
  • 2 Locusts
  • 2 Spiders

3030 to 3050

• Became an over-strength Batallion
• 3 Companies (each with an Aerospace Lance) plus one independent strike lance with an accompanying Aerospace Lance
• 2 Jumpship-Defense Aerospace Lances
• Added 2 Union Dropships
• Added another Invader Jumpship
• Added a Condor Dropship
• Increased infantry complement to 6 platoons with associated transport/support vehicles.

3050 to ...

• Up to over-strength regiment
• 2 over-strength battlemech battalions
• 1 over-strength infantry baltallion (9 platoons plus a Security Company) with accompanying transport/support vehicles
• 2 Invader Jumpships
• 2 Overlord Dropships
• 2 Leopard CV Dropships
• 2 Condor Dropships
• Mechs, fighters, infantry, and vehicles use bleeding-edge Star League/3050 technology - all custom designed and manufactured