ComGuard question.

[Major Headcase]

Hello!
I'm curious about something ComStar related??
During the 3rd-4th SW era, before the Com Guards hidden armies were revealed, did the ComGuard use any "undercover" mech units?
I'm imagining mech units that were actually ComStar army units, working contracts to effect changes in the IS status quo, and not just regular mercs working for Comstar? Or just to keep its officers combat ready and have covert forces placed around the Sphere at need?
Dud any units like this exist? And if so, were any of them ever identified in the setting fluff?
Thanks!

[Sartris]

did the false flag raid on NAIS use mechs?

i want to say comguard units performed anti pirate raids in the periphery as well

[2ndAcr]

Yes, the false flag attack used Mechs painted in Death Commando's colors.

3006 or so the ComGuard took on some pirates that Comstar was using to incite the Lyran and Combine, when the pirates got a little too ambitious.

The ComGuard took fairly uneven casualties in the fighting.

[Metallgewitter]

Three words: Vandenburg White wings

[Elmoth]

The ComGuard took fairly uneven casualties in the fighting.

Meaning they got owned by the pirates who were using inferior equipment and numbers. They were really green at the time.

[glitterboy2098]

iirc comstar had helped said pirate group with basic equipment and technical assistance (IE: given them supplies of late succession wars grade hardware, and supplied techs to help repair and maintain the pirate equipment), and the Comguard was using equipment that could pass as late succession wars in order to better hide in plain sight on the op. so it really did come down to experience.
the comguard had almost no field operation experience, just classroom and wargames training, and their troops, while trained well to SLDF standards, were still green in practical live fire ops. while the pirates had been fighting real battles (between themselves as well as house militaries) for decades. what they lacked in professional training (and many would have been ex-military) they made up in guile and practical experience.

[worktroll]

Hello!
I'm curious about something ComStar related??
During the 3rd-4th SW era, before the Com Guards hidden armies were revealed, did the ComGuard use any "undercover" mech units?
I'm imagining mech units that were actually ComStar army units, working contracts to effect changes in the IS status quo, and not just regular mercs working for Comstar? Or just to keep its officers combat ready and have covert forces placed around the Sphere at need?
Dud any units like this exist? And if so, were any of them ever identified in the setting fluff?
Thanks!

Short form, no. C* maintained their enormous stocks of equipment, kept visible only light vees and troops as security at HPG stations. No C* forces or individuals served as pretend-Mercs, so no reverse Wolf-Dragooning.

As mentioned, the Jolly Roger affair involved Com Guards & Militia troops (dig the funky old name) pretending to be mercs to chastise some uppity pirates C* had effectively bribed to stir up trouble on the LC/DC border. The pirates decided it was easier to rob the paymaster. Also as mentioned, the C* troops only won by drowning the pirates in their own blood. But this didn't involve a unit being hired by House Lords.

Besides, if you're reading (and altering) their mail, and assassinating their scientists, it's easier to stay in the shadows.

Come the 4th War, the ComGuard employed Brion's Legion, a down-on-their-luck merc unit to
a) provide some much needed battle experience
b) provide cover for an increasing display of ComGuard equipment.

So very much "Oh, them? Some mercs we hired." Inner Sphere intelligence might have noticed that there were as many Brion's Legion units as pieces of the True Cross, had they been paying attention.

[Dayton3]

IIRC prior to the emergence of the ComGuards,   Comstar if they needed serious armed forces contracted with mercenary units that had good reputations which they had good relations with.    They did that in a dispute with the Draconis Combine over the fate of one of the Kurita's that had joined Comstar.

As money was no object for Comstar this was not very difficult to do.

[Hellraiser]

Off the top of my head.

SLDF Divisions took Terra & New Earth for Blake after the SL broke up then abandoned NE after stripping it of military stockpiles.

The Minnesota Tribe raids caused early CG/ROM to check out a bunch of gear & go tracking.

New Vandenberg White Wings / Battleship of Merope, was CG fleet assets in action.

Finally the Raid on New Avalon had CG disguised as Mechs & Infantry of the Liao Death Commandos.

IIRC Prior to the 4th SW the CG was a branch of ROM, not the other way around, so it was usually just Infantry/Vee stationed at HPG garrison duty or the odd support ROM operations which wouldn't have been the norm for them.