Sathen's Snipers

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 ???
Name of Mercenary Unit
Unit Profile (as of 3073)
CO Major Illuminada Kesteel
JumpShips yes
DropShips yes
Aerospace yes
Armor yes
Infantry yes

Contents

[edit] Unit Brief

Originally a single battalion Combined Arms Battalion or medium-light BattleMechs, which mixes up 'Mech, conventional forces tightly, while maintaining seperate Aerospace company.

[edit] History

[edit] Marik Civil War, Formation, & Early Years

The unit's origins were relatively unknown until late 3060s, and for good reasons. Founded by a Marik Force Commander Branden Kesteel in 3015, in aftermath of Wolf's Dragoons assault on New Delos. Kestreel was commander of then garrison battalion on the planet, carefuly kept his unit separated by the conflict of Marik Civil War (3014-3015). When Anton Marik murdered Dragoon's dependents (including the Black Window's lover), Kesteel's battalion was fought defensive actions keep his command alive against elite merc unit. He managed to get majority of his force (its families) off world at cost of his Heavier 'Mech units. He then knowing the consequences of being associated with renegade [[Captain-General, choose quiet exodus from House Marik and become mercenary unit. Choosing to make sure the unit origins were never revealed and never take contracts with their former homeland.[1]

The unit's escape including bring likeminded JumpShip & Dropships crews with them. Kestreel's character and his means giving unit sense of family became cornerstone of their survival as unit. As part of their survival tactics, the unit kept itself small. Much of lack of its heavy BattleMech force was part of these guise of protection. In their early times as Snipers, the unit took on pirate hunting for various factions.

[edit] Clans and 3060s

The unit had degree of success against the Clans due to its unusual tactics. In early 3060s, Major Branden Kesteel turn his active combat leadership of the unit to his daughter Illuminada Kesteel. Her ascendancy as active leader of the unit led the unit in new direction, a direction which is questioned in grumbling among her people. In 3062, the Sniper's took a contract in employee of the Word of Blake. Under the Blakist's lurcative contract the unit expanded into include a second Battalion, with addition of Assault Triumph DropShip and additional equipment. This also allowed Snipers become independent of support for long periods of time, but also sparked internal problems in mercenary's unit history.[2] In September 3067, they were contracted by the Word of Blake to garrison world Caph in the newly formed Word of Blake Protectorate. However, within two weeks of their garrison mission, they were reassigned to new duty. A mysterous individual only known a Emerald, whoom now taken over their contract. They were then shipped through series of cargo ships to undisclosed location. Though this period, the Snipers unaware where they were and whom they were working for.

[edit] Battle for Luthien

The contract the unit came under turns out to be for the renegade faction of the Draconis Combine known as the Black Dragon Society or Kokuryu-kai. The unit was unware they were even on Luthien until their first mission.[3] Among the actiond it participated during the time of Koruryu-kai's Battle for Luthien, includes battle at Imperial Palace in New Years Day, 3068. The assigned to Kokuryu-kai's faction of 2nd Sword of Light, the Snipers battled the Otomo, Izanagi Warriors, loyal elements of the 2nd Sword and as well 3rd Luthien Guards. The Snipers covered the flanks of 2nd Sword during this action. The battle went well for the Sathen's employees, forcing the defenders to withdraw and allowing the Kokuryu-kai capture of the Otomo's infantry commander Franklin Sakamoto.[4] However, the unit took heavy damaged as Emerald had contact them in-mid battle to protect Tai-sa To of the Sword from harm. This proved to costly, as the unit took heavy damage from the action of the 3rd Luthien Guard's fallback from palace grounds. The Snipers withdraw to some underground warehouses, that were near the palace.

With weeks of Kokuryu-kai's attacks, the 1st Genyosha and Word of Blake's 9th Division arrived on the planet. The new arrivals split off to take portions of the Imperial City, creating a three way stalemate in battle. It was on January 31st when three tactical nuclear devices were detonated in LAW's Mega Manfacturing complex, crippling the 1st Genyosha in the process.

Through 3069, the Snipers conducted series of eight sorties against Loyalist 1st Genyosha and 9th Division positions. During this period, the Sniper's infantry used subway tunnels to conduct their trademark hit-and fade attacks against their opponents. They also salvaged heavier BattleMechs which the unit had not had since formation as mercenary company. The conflict, finally turned for the Sathen's Snipers when its 2nd Sword's Tai-sa To's headquarters were overrun by Blake forces, killing To. The Sathen's Snipers were surrendered by the 9th Division. The Division leaders informed Major Kesteel that her unit was branded as contract-breaker, there were no records of transfer to individual named "Emerald". However, through explaination, 9th leadership (Via communicating with HPG with their superiors) and decided Snipers were tricked. The Major Kesteel managed win the release her unit's equipment back to them. She also managed to convince them to hire them as their supplemental their security force. The unit had been weithered down to two companies worth of troops throught fight with the Koruryu-kai. With Snipers were acquire more equipment (throught WoB) and hired local yakuza bring her unit back to its pre-jihad strength of two battalions. The unit became garrisoned the 9th Division's headquarters near the Takashi Memorial Starport, which 700 kilometers out of the Imperial City.

During this time, the Sathen's Dropship were temporary employed as part of the Word of Blake's fleet of blockade ships. Which the Sniper's ships accounted for the destruction of four Union Dropships running the blockade.[5]


The Sathens kept fighting for next couple years of exhausting endless fighting, finally 3073 the unit withdrew from Luthien after battle fatigue.

[edit] Mercenary Ratings

[edit] 3067

Dragoons Rating: B

[edit] 3071

Dragoons Rating: Wanted

[edit] Officers

As of 3025, the commanding officer was Major Branden Kesteel

As of 3062, the commanding officer was Major Illuminada Kesteel

As of 3067, the commanding officer was Colonel Scott "Druid" Crandall[6]

As of late 3067, the commanding officer was Major Illuinada Kesteel[7]

[edit] Tactics

The unit utilizes its fast 'Mechs, complimented by its vehicles and mechanized infantry. The unit developed and employs diversion tactics to distract their opposition from what Sniper's actual goal is.[8]

[edit] Composition

[edit] 3016

  • Single Combined Arms Battalion
    • (Each battalion broken down two companies of mixed 'Mech, Vehicles and infantry, and one company of Aerospace Fighters.) Unit does not employe heavy or assault class 'Mechs.

[edit] 3067

  • 2 Combined Arms Battalions
    • (Each battalion broken down two companies of mixed 'Mech, Vehicles and infantry, and one company of Aerospace Fighters.)

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Mercenaries Supplimental Unit profile - Sniper's early history.
  2. ↑ Mercenaries Supplimental Sathen's Snipers - Clan and FedCom Civil War Era History
  3. ↑ Mercenaries Supplemental Update page 104 - Sathen's Snipers unit profile - Details of between September 3067 and January 3070 revealed.
  4. ↑ Jihad Turing Points: Luthien page 8 - Scenario "Traitor's Kiss"
  5. ↑ Mercenaries Supplemental Update page 104 - Sniper's dropships used as part of blockade fleet of Luthien as of 3071.
  6. ↑ Field Manual: Updates page 184 - Independent/Uncontracted (Mercenary Deployment Table Section) - Illuminada Kesteel is missing from command.
  7. ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Luthien page 6 - Sathen's Snipers - Illuminada Kesteel in command of the mercenary unit in Luthien campaign.
  8. ↑ Mercenaries: Suppliment page 59 - Tactics
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