The Argent Shadows are a new unit with veteran roots. They were formed from the ashes of the demolished Demonix mercenaries, which was an independently contracted command of Verde's planetary militia. That unit traced its heritage to Duchess Sarah Nelson as a gift to her son, David, for successfully completing training and a tour of duty with the 12th Vegan Rangers. While knowing that he had a bright future if he stayed with the Rangers, Nelson decided to follow the advice from the book Eleven Against the Stars, and start a new path for his destiny.
For seven years, the Demonix fought well enough to expand to a battalion size and gained a reputation for being avid night fighters. Along the way they picked up a blood feud with the mercenary unit Always Faithful. However, after seeing heavy action in the Periphery and Free Worlds League, the Demonix moved to Lyran space. It was here they were smashed in multiple attacks by Clan Wolf and Clan Jade Falcon. While they held their own in the initial assaults, the loss of Captains Lorimor and Hampton started a rout. The survivors limped back to Verde with 10 broken down machines and 14 warriors. Nelson began the lengthy and painful process of rebuilding. After more than four years of recruiting and training, a negotiator was sent to Outreach representing the newly christened Argent Shadows.
Before they could even gain a contract, however, the boiling point had arrived in the Fed Com Civil War. This brought death to the Draconis March on two fronts. Rogue elements of the Mayetta DMM launched an assault on Verde in the name of Katrina Steiner-Davion, but they were unprepared for the incredible defenses erected by the mercenaries. Within two weeks the militia put on a full retreat and left Verde. The Argent Shadows were blooded and had passed their first test with flying colors.
Now, two successful contracts later, the Argent Shadows stand ready to protect and serve against the expanding influence of the Blake Protectorate. Their insignia is a dragon outlined on a blue shield with opposing fleur-de-lis in both bottom corners. Their paint scheme is a smoke grey camouflage with blue flames up the right side of their mechs and vehicles.
Dragoons Rating: B
Officers
Major David Nelson pilots a custom modified Wolverine that was once manned by his ancestor Lawrence Helmund Nelson. He inheirited the same knack for strategic thinking and genuine charm to go with it. In battle he usually coordinates plans with Captain Jon Kroeger, whose TDK-7X Thunder Hawk is used as a hammer to smash the enemy. Lieutenant Ben Hampton commands the Beta Scout Lance and is the son of the deceased Captain Ryan Hampton. Jennifer Daly took command of Alpha Company after Captain Lorimor was killed by a Jade Falcon Masakari. She has continued Lorimor's tradition of using older heavy BattleMech designs that can move relatively quick and take a pounding. Her MAD-5S Marauder is usually at the front of any Argent Shadow formation.
Tactics
Both Nelson and Kroeger are fond of using pincer attacks to open up defenses. The lighter elements of the Command Lance and Beta Company draw out the enemy while the heavier elements of Alpha Company hit them from the flank. It's a tried and true method that the Shadows are becoming adept at. They also dedicate time to training at night, hoping to once again gain the reputation they had as nasty fighters in the darkness.
Support
In addition to fielding a battalion of combat units, the Argent Shadows possess another company's worth of equipment in varying states of repair. Major Nelson has built up his support staff to help get these units back online and fields a sufficient tech group to support twice what they currently count as active. They possess an Overlord DropShip called the Vagabond, which has enough cargo room to transport the entire unit.
Argent Shadows
Battalion/Veteran/Questionable
CO - Command Lance: Major David Nelson
XO: Captain Jon Kroeger
Alpha Company: Captain Jennifer Daly
Beta Company: Captain Rick Gutierrez
The Argent Shadows are currently understrength. Both companies consist of two lances of mechs and one lance of tanks. Thankfully most of the equipment is updated and a couple even have incorporated custom field modifications. Alpha Company consists mostly of heavy BattleMechs. Beta Company is used for recon, and have primarily medium designs.
Delta Aerospace Support
Squadron/Regular/Questionable
Wing Cmdr: Captain Nadia Holmina
The fighters of Delta Squadron provide escort for the Vagabond. The pilots specialize in air to air combat and rarely get called in for strafing runs. The Squadron has one air lance each of heavy, medium and light aerospace fighters.
Epsilon Support Detail
Reinforced Company/Regular/Questionable
Epsilon consists of a company of tanks, VTOLs, and scout cars, as well as four platoons of infantry and one squad of Achilleus BattleArmor. They are regularly given headhunting missions and provide security for their base camps.
