McClusky's Myrmidons
Overview:
The Myrmidons, a small mercenary outfit formed in 2980, have not completely escaped the expectation common to new mercenary commands that they will dissolve in a few years. Nevertheless, their efforts garrisoning the distant world of Ebro for the past two years have raised expectations that the unit would survive, as well as eyebrows that it has already survived so much. Flush with cash and mechs following their successful destruction of the pirate band The Blackguards and the capture of the wanted “Black†Jack Kearny, the unit is rebuilding while taking up cadre-training duties on Kilbourne as part of a retainer contract for House Davion.
History:
John H. McClusky is the eldest son of Duke Bill T. McClusky, Lord of the planet Lockton and head of McClusky Trade Enterprises, the largest commercial shipper and single owner of jumpships and dropships in the Magistracy of Canopus. Despite the wealth and power, family life in the McClusky household was always warm and open. Unfortunately for John, the female-dominated nature of Magistracy politics and business necessitated that transfer of Bill’s title and company ownership be passed to his younger sister Natasha rather than to John.
Still, the elder McClusky did his best to support his son, and when John decided to join the Magistracy Armed Forces, managed to parlay his connections (and likely, several under the table trade favors) into a rare foreign exchange slot for John at the prestigious Nagelring Academy on Tharkad. John excelled in his studies despite being something of a formerly-big fish in a much larger pond, finishing second in the class of 2970. Upon his return, John's wealth and standing allowed him to purchase a commission at the rank of ensign in the vaunted First Canopian Cuirassiers.
Unfortunately for John, he found himself pinned under the command of Force Commander Janai Meisel. Meisel could charitably be described as a fall-down drunk with a vicious temper and had no command attributes beyond being the son of the powerful Lyndsey Meisel, Economic Minister to the new Magistrix Tamara Centrella. Faced with an incompetent leader flanked by two commanders of common birth who refused to go against Meisel, the Ensign was forced to take day-to-day command of the battalion while continually managing his superior officers. Despite the difficulties, John proved an able commander, albeit one too willing to lead from the front in the ancient Victor handed down from his maternal grandfather.
That ability under any ordinary circumstances would have met its ultimate test on Obrenovac in 2975. Tasked with raiding the world to confirm reports of supply depots built in preparation for an FWLM offensive and destroy them if they were there, the Cuirassiers Second Battalion was supposed to be more than a match for the battalion from the Eleventh Atrean Dragoons supposedly garrisoning the planet. Instead, the Canopians dropped onto a world defended by the entire First Regulan Hussars. Losing their aerospace support and supply dropships in the burn into the system, the Canopians were forced into a running retreat through the most inhospitable reaches of the planet from the start, dodging traps for two months while the MAF scrambled to find sufficient aerospace and dropship support to extract the unit. The Cuirassiers acquitted themselves admirably, repeatedly turning and stinging the Regulans before slipping out of one encircling maneuver after another. Nevertheless, without supply or technical support, the battalion was slowly ground down to two reinforced companies, and accumulating damage hobbled their ability to flee. Run to ground, the Cuirassiers prepared for a final stand, only to be shocked by the sudden arrival of two Unions supported by four aerospace Leopards bearing the insignia of the Raventhir’s Iron Hand. Relief had finally arrived.
The relief, however, did not allow all the surviving mechs to board, nor did the Hussars, who stormed the Cuirassiers’ landing zone in a furious attempt to destroy the unit that had evaded them for so long. Leading the rearguard, Ensign McClusky gave the order for the dropships to pull out before he could load, stranding himself and the lancemates that refused to abandon him. Instead, the lance held off the Regulan assault long enough for the Unions to ascend, saving an astounding 22 mechs and 27 mechwarriors. The payment for this act of battlefield heroism was steep: faced with odds more than fifteen to one, both of McClusky's lancemates were killed in the final barrage, and when a shot impacted his missile ammunition, tearing apart his Victor, McClusky's auto-eject blew him into an errant salvo of autocannon fire, shredding his leg and fouling his descent. From all appearances to the ascending Cuirassiers, their battlefield commander had bought the unit’s escape with his life.
Thanks to the efforts of FWL medical personnel and the timely rescue by the Hussars, McClusky survived in a coma. Doctors proved able to save most of McClusky's leg, but were forced to amputate mid-calf, and to keep the wounded man hospitalized until he woke up three months later. Upon recovery, McClusky was told that his release had been purchased, and that he would be able to return to Canopus. McClusky was stunned to arrive at the spaceport to find a full honor guard from the First Regulans at the tarmac. The honor guard, led by Col. David Selaj, informed McClusky that they had waived any ransom, provided the Ensign with gun-camera footage taken from their mechs during the campaign and a new Victor purchased with great effort from straight off the HildCo lines on St. Ives. As McClusky left in tears, the unit offered their salute.
The fall from such a height proved terrifyingly swift. McClusky's return caused a minor uproar within the upper echelons of MoC society: upon the return of Second Battalion, Lyndsey Meisel had purchased enough testimony to proclaim that it was her son, and not the son of one of her Durachi rivals for the Magistrix' ear on economic matters, who had saved the unit. Janai had been acclaimed the Hero of Obrenovac, awarded the Canopus Cluster, and promoted to the rank of Colonel in the logistics department. McClusky's return, complete with gun-camera footage to validate his claim, threatened to give Meisel a massive black eye in social circles. Moving swiftly, she muscled enough contacts in the MAF to have McClusky's gun-camera footage declared fake and his story a likely cover for becoming a double agent for SAFE in exchange for mercy. The resulting controversy within the highest ranks of the MAF over how to treat McClusky resulted in a split-the-baby ruling from the Magistrix herself: McClusky could quietly receive an honorable discharge or publicly face a court martial in front of a stacked military commission. Given the choice, McClusky was honorably discharged at the rank of Ensign in 2976.
The next two years of John McClusky's life disappeared down bottles of Timbiqui Dark. Although secretly shielded by his family from negative publicity, the eldest son of the Duke of Lockton became something of an embarrassment (even by Magistracy standards) as he frittered his pension and allowance on gambling, booze and the coveting of women. Even cutting John off from his allowance did little to slow his descent. Rock bottom came when he was surprised one night during his carousing by none other than David Selaj. Selaj, who had taken leave of the Hussars to travel to the Magistracy to plead to Centrella on his behalf, instead tore into the former Ensign for becoming exactly like the kind of man whom had let the Cuirassiers down and, when McClusky threw a punch, furiously beat the drunken man badly enough to put him back into the hospital for two weeks.
Ironically, that battering proved to be one of the best things that ever happened to McClusky. Forced to face his sorrow, McClusky asked and was received into a local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous. Moreover, while a patient, he met Alyssa Banks, a trauma surgeon who worked at the hospital, and the two began a relationship. The next year was spent dealing with is addiction and building a relationship with Alyssa, culminating in a small wedding in 2979. Determined to regain his sense of honor, McClusky realized that his ambition would require funding. Borrowing a few thousand C-bills from one of his few remaining friends, MacKenzie Phillips, and pooling his remaining funds gave him just enough money to enter the Canopus Poker Championships . Using his formidable knowledge of gambling learned during what he termed his “dark yearsâ€, McClusky won the championship, giving him enough money to pay his debts and replace his lost leg before heading to Galatea in to start a small, lance-sized mercenary outfit. McClusky hoped to prove to himself that he was still the man who stonewalled the First Regulans four years previously.
When he arrived, however, he found that his sister Natasha had taken the opportunity to provide John with a substantial gift of funds. Natasha, having recently taken all but nominal control of McClusky Trade Enterprises and Lockton, revealed that the money had been saved by her father as a buyout for the ownership stake John had in McClusky Enterprises once his father died. Instead, Natasha was using the money as a gift to John for his wedding and his recovery. Further, Natasha offered her brother the opportunity to buy a dropship from McClusky at a substantial markdown and ask among their workers for an experienced crew. Using the funds, John was able to expand his ambitions, and his unit, McClusky's Myrmidons, was born.
The Myrmidons first assignment nearly proved their last. Traveling five months to the distant world of Ebro on a garrison contract, the Myrmidons were tasked with shepherding the planet while the local ruler, Earl Stephen Harriman, arranged final contract and transport arrangements for a massive shipment of high-grade germanium. Worth tens of billions of C-bills, the germanium was valuable enough to massively upgrade Ebro's economic and agricultural infrastructure, eliminating the hand-to-mouth existence most of the planetary population lived. Unfortunately, it was also valuable enough to bring the Blackguards, one of the most feared and reviled pirate bands of this era, to the world. A bloody struggle for the world ensued, but while the Myrmidons were unable to prevent several atrocities, including the destruction of the local HPG and the use of a mass driver attack on the capital city of Kingston, they proved able to save the royal family and destroy the Blackguards while protecting the germanium shipment.
Assets (As of 2980):
John used the business acumen learned from life in the McClusky household as well as six years of handling the logistics of an entire battalion to create a small but potent mid-weight force. McClusky's first goal, even prior to acquiring the units mechs, was to build a strong support staff for the unit. Taking lessons from his days in the MAF, which values the man as much as the machine, he hired on a number of technicians unheard of for a unit of the size he was proposing, as well as enough medical support to form three full trauma teams. As of their landing on Ebro, the Myrmidons possess enough technical support to provide every combat vehicle with two full-time technicians. Further, by hiring on Grayson Andrews, senior associate and negotiator for McClusky Trade Enterprises as his senior administrator and chief negotiator, gave the unit a leg up on any negotiations and financial dealings. The result, while increasing the payroll of the unit significantly, was also to attract better warriors than he could otherwise.
Using his sister Natasha's gift, McClusky was able to build a unit equivalent to two companies in size. The Myrmidons are firmly medium weight, with the bulk of their unit light and medium mechs, with two heavy and two assault mechs in Command lance and Support lance. Similarly, the unit's aerospace squadron is composed entirely of medium-weight aerospace fighters, enabling the squadron to meet a wide variety of assignments. Bought from surplus on Galatea, the unit has a distinctively Lyran feel. While an entire squadron aerospace fighters is far larger than is typical for a unit of this size, McClusky noted that they are invaluable for many of the missions his unit could be tasked for: from contesting landings in garrison contracts to covering orbital insertions in raids, strong aerospace support was well worth the added risk from investing heavily in such fragile vehicles. The unit was also able to purchase at a discount a modified cargo carrier from McClusky Enterprises. The Ticonderoga, a Seeker-class dropship, has since been modified to carry the entire unit, a mission that the design carries out admirably if you excuse the slow launch and recovery rate of fighters common to Seekers modified to carry aerospace fighters.
By going smaller and lighter than he could have, McClusky was able to bank a substantial cash reserve, which allowed him to build a reserve of ammunition and armor unusually large for such a small unit. When asked, McClusky cited only that his military experience on Obrenovac taught him the value of having reserves and always being prepared. Additionally, the one platoon of infantry is extraordinarily equipped for the usual tasks of base security, with standard ablative/flak armor and automatic rifles, as well as a support machine gun and two grenade launchers for every squad.
Mech Assets:
Command Lance
VTR-9B Victor
BLR-1G Battlemaster
WVR-6M Wolverine (independently owned)
COM-2D Commando
Support Lance
ARC-2R Archer
MAD-3R Marauder
BJ-1 Blackjack (independently owned)
GRF-1N Griffin
Recon Lance
VL-2T Vulcan
STG-3R Stinger
STG-3R Stinger
LCT-1V Locust
Aerospace Assets
F-90 Stingray
CSR-V12 Corsair
LCF-R15 Lucifer
LCF-R15 Lucifer
LCF-R15 Lucifer
LCF-R15 Lucifer
Important Personnel:
Major John McClusky:
Grown somewhat shy and reserved in recent years, McClusky's low-key demeanor masks an efficient and capable leadership persona that can often bring would-be opponents into agreement without realizing it. Despite his reserve, McClusky is personable and empathetic, skills he uses in command to diffuse tension and build consensus before issuing direct commands. When in command, McClusky's tactics usually try to accomplish his ends by the most simple and direct means possible, but he is flexible enough to change or improve his strategies as new conditions develop or when his subordinates offer new suggestions. Life without a leg has changed his once taut frame into something considerably dumpier, but since his wife Alyssa was able to surgically attach a new prosthetic foot, McClusky has begun a rigorous fitness regime to rebuild his frame and reflex speed.
Commander Rachel Kruger:
McClusky's first officer, Commander Kruger is the commander of the mech company in McClusky's absence and commander of the unit's recon lance. A ten-year veteran in the 36th Lyran Guards, Kruger first knew McClusky as a fierce rival for valedictorian of their Nagelring class, an honor that Kruger narrowly won despite being the third daughter of a minor baron on Bone-Norman. While she was able to earn a coveted slot in the 36th on her own merits, her lack of connections caused her to languish as a Hauptmann and Kommandant in the unit for years despite distinguished service. Following medical discharge for losing a hand in a training accident, Kruger traveled to Galatea to join up with McClusky, bringing with her a number of contacts who had served with her over the years that now form a critical contingent of the Myrmidon roster. Favoring precision and execution over fancy tactics, Kruger brings a sense of order and discipline to the unit and serves as an excellent first officer, carrying out her orders to the letter while always alerting the Major to favorable opportunities. To date, the only source of contention between the two has been Kruger's preference to be referred to as Hauptmann rather than the MAF designations McClusky opted for. She currently pilots an old but pristine VL-2T Vulcan.
Ensign Carson Davis
Commander of support lance and the unit's second officer, Ensign Davis is a valuable addition to the unit despite being one of the few members who knew neither Major McClusky nor Commander Kruger prior to joining. A Sakhara graduate, Davis is one of the two mechwarriors born in Federated Suns space and by far the most innovative tactician of the command staff. While his ideas are not always feasible, they often possess a core that McClusky and Kruger can pare down into an efficient and effective plan of action. A superb mechwarrior bordering on elite in skill level and with a surprisingly good grasp of combined-arms tactics, Davis' value extends beyond his tactical assistance, despite his expertise being somewhat mystifying given his unexceptional official record of two tours in the 4th Deneb Light Cavalry. Personally, Davis is quiet and unassuming outside of command briefings and planning sessions, keeping his orders short and precise. Davis commands Support Lance from his aging yet servicable Archer.
Commander Rose Tokugawa
Third officer behind Ensign Davis, Tokugawa is the prickly but deadly effective commander of the Myrmidons’ aerospace assets. Born a spacers' daughter in Combine space, Tokugawa proved such a gifted natural pilot that she rose swiftly through the ranks of the DCMS: honor's student at Sun Zhang, 9th Sun Zhang, two tours with the 8th Rasalhague before joining the 2nd Sword of Light at the rank of Tai-i. That ascent came to a crashing halt in 2978: a violent clash between Tokugawa and her commanding officer, Chu-sa Darius Kim, ultimately cost Kim an eye, hand and his flight career. Tokugawa was dishonorably discharged in absentia; she fled before being ordered to commit seppuku. Serving in Tamar Pact space as a jumpship crewman, Tokugawa met Kommandant Kruger and went with her into the Myrmidons. Tokugawa uses her acerbic wit freely. Tokugawa's caustic demeanor, however, is balanced by tenacious loyalty and protectiveness for her command. Closer to elite status than even Ensign Davis, Tokugawa leads from the front in the Stingray that, to Major McClusky's chagrin, she has affectionately named the Tokyo Rose. Her antipathy for the Combine and Japanese culture, as well as her constant petitions to trade the unit's Lucifer fighters for models with ejection seats, have occasionally placed her at odds with Major McClusky; McClusky keeps her on because her skill and tenacity make her irreplaceable. Unfamiliar with ground-pounder tactics, Tokugawa is content to defer to Ensign Davis in the chain of command.
Lance Corporal MacKenzie "Mac" Phillips
Senior enlisted officer in the Myrmidons, "Mac" is one of McClusky's closest friends and the first man who signed on to McClusky's command. Born on the Outback world of Broken Wheel, Phillips escaped by enlisting as an infantryman. Assigned to the 39th Avalon, Sergeant Phillips personally destroyed the legs of no less than three mechs with satchel charges when elements of McCarron's Armored Cavalry stormed the LZ in a raid on Tikonov, stonewalling the Cav long enough for reinforcements to arrive. Given the Golden Sunburst for gallantry, Phillips was reassigned to Albion for mechwarrior training as payment. Phillips' following tour with the 6th Crucis ended somewhat differently: eating tainted rations of quillar nearly killed Phillips and put him out of commission for three years. During that time, Phillips studied reports of lost Star League caches in the Periphery. Traveling to the Periphery after retiring, Phillips found a cache that he turned for substantial profit with the help of some SLDF history lessons from one Ensign McClusky. Standing almost 2.2 meters tall with a build of an Adonis, most people who first meet Phillips find him intimidating to say the least. Phillips' gentle humor and thoughtful nature do much to allay this first impression, as well as soften Commander Tokugawa's bite. This personable nature works to surprising advantage as leader of the Myrmidon non-coms, acting as a Team Mom while forging a cohesive team. He currently pilots a rebuilt but pristine MAD-3R Marauder in Ensign Davis' Support Lance.
Tactics:
The fight on Ebro revealed no signature tactics for the Myrmidons, although the strength of the officer corp allowed the unit to fight at both the lance and company level with a cohesion rare for a newly-integrated unit. Commander Kruger, especially, has emphasized general readiness over exploiting particular tactics, and as a result, the Myrmidons were able to swap men between lances several times with no loss in combat effectiveness. The fighting on Ebro has given the unit some familiarity with fighting in mountainous terrain and in inclement weather, and McClusky's roots showed at several points in the fight, as he waged a successful guerilla campaign against a superior force before undertaking a spectacularly effective combat drop through harsh inclement weather, a technique doubtless helped by years of experience in the Canopian Cuirassiers.
McClusky's Myrmidons (circa 2982)
Mech: 1 reinforced company
Veteran/Questionable
CO: Major John McClusky
The Myrmidons, currently stationed on Kilbourne as part of a retainer contract with the Federated Suns, currently have enough mechs as a consequence of their time on Ebro to deploy four full lances. Nevertheless, their new recruits have not arrived from Galatea to replace their losses, so can only field two reinforced lances. Their battlefield experience at present is sufficient to serve as an excellent op-for for the Kilbourne Training Battalion. While the increase in the number of combat machines has not come with a corresponding increase in the number of technicians, the Myrmidons possess more than enough technical support to meet 100% of their needs, and as on Ebro, farm out some of their spare technician time to other units on planet.
Aerospace: 1 squadron
Veteran/Questionable
CO: Commander Rose Tokugawa
Currently down a pilot, the Myrmidons' aerospace assets are not at full strength, and resupply has not allowed them to replace their three Lucifers despite sufficient money in the budget and Commander Tokugawa's repeated protestations. Making the best of their circumstances, however, Major McClusky did order retrofitting their Lucifers, reducing their excessive payload of ammunition for greater armor protection. While tricky, this had no effect on the Lucifers' flight performance, and has substantially increased their resilience to damage.
Infantry: 1 platoon
Veteran/Questionable
CO: Banner Sergeant Alistair Daniels
Forced into far heavier conflict than anticipated, the Myrmidon's infantry platoon took heavy losses but emerged hardened battlefield veterans capable of multiple missions. Seeing value of capable infantry, McClusky has requested new recruits from Galatea to bring the platoon up to full strength from its current status as two reinforced squads. McClusky has specifically requested recruits with combat engineering and commando training to supplement the Myrmidons' hard-earned experience. Banner Sergeant Daniels often works with Banner Sergeant Phillips in training exercises, particularly in anti-mech tactics.
