* "The Iron Dingoes"
"Maybe the Dingoes ate your BattleMech?"
Description
The Iron Dingoes : Mixed Demi-Battalion / Regular / Reliable
The Iron Dingoes are primarily built from common models of BattleMechs found in the Marik periphery during the late 3rd Succession War, though a few models of heavier Star League era Mechs have begun to appear among them. Mostly medium to heavy rated Mecha, they tend to be cobbled together from salvage, and often sport modifications to make them less reliant on ammunition supplies, with improved land speed, armor loads and jump jets. Recent battle experience has made some of the unit respectable pilots.
The unit also has broken several of its commands into separate components, * “The Cerberus Command” for base and asset security, and * “The Dead Man’s Hand” as its reserve strike force for operations requiring more than their standard line Mechs and Recon force. Traditionally, the Dead Man’s Hand are deployed as base security and operate as a garrison and the unit’s reserves. * “The Dingo Pack” consists of the Dingoes’ logistics and support personnel, and also provides a home for most of its AsTechs and Dependents.
The snarling profile of an iron-colored dingo, baring its razor-sharp teeth has become common as the unit logo. The hackles on its neck are flared, and it appears ready for a fight. Its tongue is sharp and whipping from its mouth; you can almost feel its breath on your skin.
A traditional olive-drab Star League paint scheme with little ornamentation, is the standard color for its Mechs and vehicles. Gold highlights often mark “original” founding members of the unit, or their designated “heirs”. Silver highlights mark experienced “veteran” pilots. Black is the color used to highlight Cerberus Command staff, red is used to identify members of the Dead Man’s Hand group, and blue is reserved for the support and technical crews of the Dingo Pack. It has been suggested green be the highlight color to identify trainee and recruit members of the line units, in addition to its militia forces.
Officers : Colonel Michael Ruxbondy “Paladin” is both young and inexperienced, but is honestly seen by his companion warriors as trying to get them all safely through their contracts and present missions. He has a growing grasp of tactics and leadership, that give his unit an edge not found among most Periphery-based units. He presently pilots a BLR-1G Battlemaster that is rigged with a rare “Dual Cockpit”, and several “Royal” LosTech upgrades, allowing Senior Trooper Elias Whitlocke “Stargun” to pilot the Mech, while the Major employs the advanced controls to bring initiative bonuses and other valuable intel to the unit as a whole. This rare Mech is an example of how the Dingoes possess equipment and technology unavailable to most Mech units, and grants them many bonuses.
Recently promoted to 2nd in command, Major Kanto Jokukad “Pitbull” has assumed the position as “Civilian Liaison”, which is a formal way of saying he schmoozes well with people not of a military bent. Known for accumulating contacts like others gather money, he has become famous for being able to find anything, anywhere, anytime it is required. “Pitbull” is also the unit’s best pilot, and although not in command of his own lance, is integral to operations within the unit both on and off the field.
Captain Erika Hartmann “Glamour” has recently taken a back-seat to regular command, serving alongside “Tin Man” in the AeroSpace Support lances. She pilots an STG-A1 Stinger LAM, a dream of hers, and acts as a roving agent to fill-in positions and provide support where she can. It also allows her to concentrate on her task as chief unit intelligence officer, and lead officer of the AeroSpace forces. Obsessed with beauty rags and the driving force behind acquiring a full-time beautician in the unit, “Glamour” has proven a capable MechWarrior, though her style is hard on Mechs and she has a reputation for keeping things “hot in the cockpit”. Rumors have it she gained her position from being hot in Colonel Ruxbundy’s cockpit, too…
Lieutenant SG Jessa Dajus-Marik, holds a unique position in the unit. As a former Staff officer with the 3rd Marik Militia, her loyalty to “The Cause” was undisputed, though exactly how she wound-up alive in prison with the 13th Provisional Company staff is unknown. She acts as Paladin’s “sounding board” for ideas and strategy, taking care of administrative matters for the unit and being the first person prospective employers meet to discuss terms, before being handed over to the appropriate personnel for contract negotiation or other unit matters. Her year in prison on Pilpala has dampened her personality, and she is known to suffer intense nightmares on some nights. She also heads * “The Dingoes’ Fangs”, as well as its “Battlefield Intelligence” division.
Commander Fionna Lord “Angel Frost” is the lead officer of the infantry and armor Recon assets of the Iron Dingoes primary combat line, and she is highly respected by her troops. Formerly known as “The Snow Dusters”, she agreed to fold her unit of rebels into the Iron Dingoes, cutting logistics and tossing her peoples fates into Dingoes hands. She tries to use her forces as scouts and an occasional force recon, something they have proven to do well at, and minimizes casualties to the best of her ability.
Master Tech Melinda Clarke “Echo” leads a number of techs and troopers who maintain the unit’s Mobile HQ. She is known to be very demanding of her crew, but performs her tasks without flaw. In addition, she is responsible for * “The Dingoes’ Fangs” intelligence and analysis division.
Lieutenant SG Eric Balmer “Tinman” is a skilled and veteran pilot who has earned his position through hard work and effort. Leading the lance of AeroFighters assigned to the recon unit, he has quickly gained the trust of the unit’s leadership, and works well with them in fulfilling his assigned tasks, which typically involve his flying on solo recon missions.
Tactics : The Dingoes employ highly unusual tactics, a remnant of their chaotic origins from disparate commands.
“Pack Mates” : Iron Dingoes Mechs are traditionally clustered into pairs, though recent operations have required them to add reserve pilots to bolster their strength and form into more formal lances during large-scale operations. Though they still tend to fight as pairs, the use of a formal lance structure has strengthened their tactics in allowing greater role-specific tasking of targets, based on movement speed and jump capability, along with weapons-ranges.
“Opportunity Knocks” : While they might gang up to take down more powerful opponents, they quickly switch to another target as opportunity allows. Although veterans of BattleMech warfare might claim the tactic is inefficient, it has yet to fail in practice. The unit seems loyal to each other, a bond forged in their bid for common survival.
“Tooth & Claw” : The unit has begun to develop their individual melee combat tactics, often employing hand-to-hand brawling techniques, colloquially called “Mech-Fu”. This style has led to the refinement of the tactic, known as “Chewing the Bone”.
“Chewing the Bone” : The term “Chewing the Bone” is a reference to anyone employing a nearby tree or a Mech’s limb (colloquially known as a “Bone” ) to attack an opponent. Master Trooper Dominic Haugustus “Pockets” is best known for beginning this tactic early in their history, and continues to carry a Kintaro’s arm (now much welded and reinforced) as a melee weapon, to this day.
“Dingo Pack Tactics” : The Dingoes are known to engage isolated members of units they encounter as a single group, often tearing them apart with vicious melee attacks and “overkill” weapons assaults at point-blank range. This term is a popular command given in almost every encounter, and among unit communication channels signifies a call to get the salvage crews ready…
The C&C Group of the Iron Dingoes has granted it numerous tactical abilities. Advanced communications through its satellite, Scout Cars, and Mobile HQ have granted instant understanding of the combat battlefield, and assists Major Ruxbundy “Paladin” in ensuring the unit can react quickly to changing conditions on the battlefield.
In addition to these assets, the Iron Dingoes have acquired some hover attack armor and a handful of motorized hover infantry platoons. These units are presently used in select missions to provide a tactical edge, but usually remain at the base of operations as a strategic reserve. Each infantry unit uses rugged civilian hovercycles, in addition to a handful of their beloved Type-74 hover transports, and a pair of Karnov VTOLs, capable of deploying the squads in need as Force Recon with or without their vehicles. Supporting their scouting operations, is a new “Striker” platoon of mechanized Vulture hover infantry, along with a Maxim Infantry Support Tank.
Support : The unit presently has good support, though its pilots perform some of their own maintenance. The complete unit has about 85% technical coverage for their assets at this time, mostly due to recent mercenary and dependent technicians acquired from numerous sources, as well as a nice selection of tools and other parts scavenged from the battlefield. That the unit’s growing number of techs are able to keep the unit in parts and supplies, remains a testament to their skills, dedication and avaricious attitude to battlefield salvage. Their rapacious actions after combat is complete, is what has earned the unit the motto “Maybe the Dingoes ate your BattleMech?”, as they often strip everything they can for salvage, weapons and ammo. Following a successful fight they are truly like a pack of hungry dingoes…
If the unit has a failing, it is in medical and administrative support. Although capable of covering at least 46% and 57% of its respective requirements, which overcomes the minimum needs of a mercenary unit (30% and 50%, respectively), this shortfall might begin to wear on unit command, logistics, transport and personnel needs. The fact that the unit has no provision for any overhead expenses is a portion of this failure.
Unit Description : The Iron Dingoes are presently contracting the civilian JumpShip, “The Iron Vagabond” as their system interface, owned by the private corporation JeriCorp Trading. They have also gained an Invader-Class JumpShip, “The Den Mother” though its bridge officers are new recruits and are still “bonding” with its former pirate engineers, who were retained despite their shady past. A second JumpShip, a Merchant-Class called “The Bloody Paw”, was acquired through the trade of a battered and captured _Invader-Class JumpShip.
The Iron Dingoes employ a Seeker-Class DropShip, “Dingoes’ Den”, which is considered the unit’s home to most of its dependents and support personnel. The vessel provides sufficient space for their salvaged Mechs, support vehicles and much of the space for technical crews, security and admin assets. Cargo space remains at a premium, for their burgeoning collection of spare parts and tattered Mechs & spare parts salvaged from the battlefield occupy most of its free space (and even portions that are not normally used as such) as well as most of its Mech bays. The Iron Dingoes employ a couple of other DropShip assets, including an Intruder-Class DropShip “Pandora’s Box”, owned by Captain Lord and which houses the Line Combat units, the “Stone Dog”, a Union-Class DropShip acquired as an asset through salvage rights during their contract on Dunkelheim, and “Brush Wolf”, a Union-Class DropShip wrangled from a legal battle with a piratical noble family on Heroditus. This last DropShip houses its Line Mech and AeroSpace units, while the former houses the units’ auxiliary Mech force, * “The Dead Man’s Hand”, granting them space for themselves and their techs. Another recent acquisition, they have a formerly pirate Vulture-Class DropShip, the “Star Talon”, which is presently unassigned in duties.
Uniquely, the unit has hired “Betty” and its crew as mercenaries to haul extra troops, vehicles, cargo and occasionally act as couriers for supplies and other strategic needs. These “former” smugglers/civilian contractors, are highly dangerous weapons traders, who see the potential offered by the Iron Dingoes, and willingly serve in hopes it might lead to something more, or at least on the side…
The Dingoes fly a trio of older EGL-R6 Eagles, and several other salvaged AeroFighters, including a STG-A1 Stinger LAM, a SYD-21 Seydlitz, an F-10 Cheetah, a Mark VII Landing Craft, and a TIG-15 “Tigress” Close Patrol Craft (Gunship). These units are assigned to the Brush Wolf, the Stone Dog, and the Pandora’s Box. Additionally, the Dingoes have acquired a K-1 DropShuttle “Crimson Sands”, giving them some ability to deploy and retrieve cargo or troops straight from the battlefield, wherever it needs to be on a planet. Primarily, the DropShuttle has been adapted as a means of deploying its Force Recon troops and techs to battle sites for in-field security and salvage operations.
The Line BattleMech Units are designed to minimize ballistics and missiles in favor of lasers and other energy weapons. It includes an increasing number of slower machines, but the unit is attempting to keep the majority of its Mechs as mobile mediums for raids and rapid support. It also contains a handful of Star League era tech and machines. Following a review meeting of combat protocols and force status, its command staff are agreed to remain a raider company, (in the main) but have continued to use a handful of heavy Mechs as the primary punch in any scenario. The adaptation of the unit’s Ostroc’s to “Blazer” status are examples of this philosophy. The Line Mechs deploy aboard the “Brush Wolf”. The “Football” is the lead unit’s personal transport, often used by the Mech pilots when they need to get around on a planet’s surface, and typically driven by Senior Tech Krista Breslin “BT”. In addition, the unit employs an Hover Limo “Elite”, acquired from a depot of rare goods being shipped off Dunkelheim by “White Death” for his personal use. The officers now employ it when intending to impress potential clients and patrons. They also have a Karnov UR Transport salvaged from the intense air war over Dumassas during the closing stages of their contract on that world.
The Line C&C Units , or “The Howlers”, are a mix of vehicles and personnel, but long term plans include turning it into a core of skilled intelligence operatives that can assist in controlling Iron Dingoes “BattleSpace”. The Operational Command and Communications (C&C) Group, is still in an organizational state, but consists of a powerful Mobile Command Post, named the “Schrappen”. The value added by this rare unit (cobbled together from several other MHQ wrecks salvaged from “The Barnyard” on Heroditus), has resulted in a strong addition to the strategic capabilities of the unit, as well as giving it a boost in its Mercenary Rating. In addition, the Intelsat “Predator’s Eye” scavenged from operations on Claybrooke has given it an edge rarely seen among a mercenary force.
At present, the “Schrappen” possesses a complete complement of communications equipment, having scavenged a full communications suite from a tracked “Clansman” MHQ, as well as various electrical components from a mobile field command shed, and having traded some weapon’s-grade radioactives for a holotable from an unknown donor. In addition, the remaining 0.5 tons of cargo have been filled with surplus field medical kits to provide medics in the field with readily available replacement supplies. The unit is typically driven by Tech Harvey Garvin “Tallahasse” with a couple mechanics along as crew to provide back-up maintenance while in the field. The unit has also acquired a pair of Swift Wind Scout Cars, that are assigned to units on a case-by-case basis. Traditionally, both accompany the artillery units during field operations, but they are still considered C&C units. Both are assigned skilled scouts as personnel.
The Line Combat Armor Units are speedy hovercraft capable of flank attacks and rapid raids. Each “troop” consists of a Pegasus Scout Hover Tank with its advanced sensors, as a command vehicle. All elements if the unit include mint Zephyr Hover Tanks, while the lead troop has a pair of Maxim Hover Transports, that provide support for the other armor units, and doubles as a supply carrier and potential infantry hauler during advanced maneuvers.
Although its crews were never formally trained in tank operations, their years as hover scouts have given them a grasp of the tactics needed in their operations. They have recently begun deploying as two short-lances, allowing them to better support their infantry units. The Captain also keeps a spare Zephyr in mothballs should the need arise to replace one. This entire unit deploys aboard “Pandora’s Box”, for combat missions, along with their dependents and some techs.
The Line Scout Units are infamous for hit-and-run tactics, especially during the high-snow season of a planet’s winter months. Additionally, they have some experience in “Badlands” survival, and are capable in desert environments. Employing Jackrabbit Hover Cycles and civilian air speeders, the units prefer to target supply convoys and support vehicles. When deployed, the scouts break into their component squads to scatter across their targeted region, gathering intel and making contact with potential allied forces.
Due to the sheer variety of missions the Line Scouts deploy under, they have also been equipped with EVA Suits – “Prometheus Class”s and Jump Packs to engage in an ever-increasing number of environments. At present, the units are concentrating their training for micro-gravity ops.
Each squad possesses several B-SRML “Butterfly” SRM Launchers as support weapons, and combined with the LMGs of their Type 74 “Buffalo” Hover Trucks, they have become formidable against small infantry formations. The unit’s Karnov UR Transports have had LMG Support weapons mounted in their door ramps, and are equipped with removable tip-up seats and tie-down rings and straps to facilitate the deployment of an entire Force Recon Group. The unit’s third platoon was dissolved to provide crews to activate the armor company as a full force.
The entire “Force Recon” unit deploys aboard the “Pandora’s Box” for combat missions.
- Line JumpShip Units -
Tramp-Class JumpShip “The Iron Vagabond” – Commodore Hal Southland (Veteran)
Invader-Class JumpShip “The Den Mother” – Space Master Yvette Deladrier (Regular)
Merchant-Class JumpShip “The Bloody Paw” – Space Master Eric Severin (Veteran)
- Line AeroSpace Units -
K-1 Class DropShuttle “Crimson Sands” – Lieutenant JG Dara Gideon (Regular)
Union-Class DropShip “Brush Wolf” – Commander Daniel Schmidt (Regular)
Union-Class DropShip “Stone Dog” – Commander Thomas Dallas (Regular)
Seeker-Class DropShip “Dingoes’ Den” – Commander Darryn Thane (Regular)
Intruder-Class DropShip “Pandora’s Box” – Commander Rebecca “Beka” Ryder (Regular)
Vulture-Class DropShip “Star Talon” – Commander Andre Wallingsford (Regular)
DroST IIA-Class Light Bulk DropShip “Betty” – Captain Frank Elgyn (Veteran)
- Line Strike Lance - “The Rippers”
EGL-R6 Eagle AeroFighter “Hellcat” – Lieutenant Commander Rihanna “Wing-Ripper” Blackjay(Veteran)
EGL-R6 Eagle AeroFighter “Light Blossom” – Lieutenant JG Daisha Defarannos “Elemental” (Regular)
- Command Recon Lance - “The Star Blades”
STG-A1 Stinger LAM “XXX” – Captain Erika Hartmann “Glamour” (Regular)
EGL-R6 Eagle AeroFighter “Tin Soldier” – Lieutenant SG Eric Balmer “Tinman” (Elite)
- AeroAssault Lance - “Storm Raiders”
Mark VII Landing Craft “Rattler” – Baroness Claire Farron “Baroness” (Regular)
TIG-15 Tigress-Class Escort (Gunship) “Tommy-Knocker” – Unassigned
- Line BattleMech Units - “The Dire Dingoes”
Type-74 Hover Truck “The Football”
Hover Limo “Elite” “Lusty Savage”
Ferret Light Scout VTOL “XXX”
Karnov UR VTOL “XXX” (Regular)
Command Lance “Paladin’s Own”
BLR-1Gc Battlemaster “XXX” – Senior Trooper Elias Whitlocke “Stargun” (Regular) // Colonel Michael Ruxbondy “Paladin” (Regular)
WHM-6R Warhammer Master – Trooper Bodrick Thompson “Blaster” (Regular)
THG-10E “Blazer” Thug “XXX” – LtSG Massimo De Luca “Advocate” (Regular)
BL-61D-KNT Black Knight “XXX” – Trooper Jessica Burlingame “Slayer” (Veteran)
Assault Lance “The Grounders”
BLR-1G Battlemaster “XXX” – Major Kanto Jokukad “Pitbull” (Elite)
OSR-2C “Blazer” Ostroc “Moonbarker III” – Trooper Faith Whinyates (Regular)
OTL-4D Ostsol “XXX” – Lieutenant SG Michael Anderson “Fixer” (Green)
OSR-2C Ostroc “XXX” – Trooper Parish “Priest” (Regular)
Striker Lance “The Scrum”
WVR-6Mmk Wolverine “Stumbling Buffalo” – Captain Mitchell Kitsune “Wraith” (Regular)
PXH-1D Phoenix Hawk “Heart Breaker” – MechWarrior Valentina Masterson “Valentine” (Regular)
PXH-1EH Phoenix Hawk “Da Bitch” – Trooper Evan (Regular)
MVR-6R Wolverine “XXX” – Trooper Robert Stuart (Veteran)
- Line Command & Control Units - “The Dingoes Fangs”
Operational Command and Communications (C&C) Group “The Howlers”
1 “Sultan” Mobile Command Post “Schrappen” (Veteran)
1 IntelSat “Predator’s Eye”
2 Scout Squads w/ Swift Wind Scout Cars (Vet, Regular)
- Line Combat Armor Units - “The Frost Angels”
Omega (Cavalry) Command Group “Angel Prime”
Pegasus Scout Tank “Lily” (Regular)
Zephyr Hover Tank “Epsilon” (Regular)
Maxim Hover Transport “Raven” (Veteran)
Maxim Hover Transport “Crow” (Regular)
Kappa (Cavalry) Group “Typhoon Lance”
Pegasus Scout Tank “Hunter” (Regular)
Condor Heavy Hover Tank (Green)
Zephyr Hover Tank “Gamma” (Regular)
Zephyr Hover Tank “Delta” (Green)
Rho (Cavalry) Group “Hurricane Lance”
Pegasus Scout Tank “Blood Hawk” (Regular)
Condor Heavy Hover Tank (Green)
Zephyr Hover Tank “Alpha” (Regular)
Zephyr Hover Tank “Beta” (Green)
- Line Scout Units - “The Snow Dusters”
Alpha (Force Recon) Group “Ice Wraiths”
4 Squads Motorized Scout Infantry (2 Vet, Regular, Green)
Karnov UR VTOL “Pegasus” (Green)
2 Type-74 Hover Trucks
Beta (Force Recon) Group “Gray Ghosts”
4 Squads Motorized Scout Infantry (3 Regular, Green)
Karnov UR VTOL “Griffin” (Green)
2 Type-74 Hover Trucks
Backstory
The Marik Fringe : Formed from the shattered remnants of the 13th Provisional Company of the 3rd Marik Militia, this collection of pilots and techs managed to survive the purges following the Marik Civil War, but at a cost. Stripped of their possessions and sent to the prison planet of Pilpala, they were able to escape custody over the planet of Claybrooke, though they destroyed their prison transport, the Ice Hook, in doing so.
Landing in the middle of the main starport, they wasted no time in salvaging what they could, before sacking a nearby militia base of its BattleMechs, using a stolen starport security van (now known as “The Football”) to gain access to its vehicle pool. Destroying the reserve base utterly, they then moved into the mountains and rough terrain of the Black Hills north of the planetary capital of New Denver.
Salvaging anything that could be a potential source of spare parts, they absorbed two small bands of local rebels and bandits, and sacked a hidden supply station used by the most powerful bandit force on the planet, the Panther Strike Gang. As the months passed, they sacked a munitions supply train, several small mining concerns and even raided a Consolidated Foods Agriplex near the territorial market town of Deadwood, before ensuring the utter wrath of the planet’s junta leader, Lt. Colonel “Razor” Chestine. Before the winter had passed, she dispatched her entire reserves into the region, to seek-out and eradicate the “…band of hooligans…” that were ravaging her munitions and support.
While several mixed companies of hover armor and BattleMechs began to probe the Black Hills for the planet’s new bandit force, the Dingoes followed a forgotten satellite signal to an ancient mine known as “Eden’s Promise” by the locals; though no one could remember exactly what was mined there, only that it had lain abandoned for several centuries. What they discovered has never been revealed, though the fact they began to field several Star League vintage mecha from this point, hints that there was likely a Cache of some sort at the site. Colonel Chestine is known to have taken a particular interest in the site during the following Spring, and she quickly re-built her resource base following its exploitation. The unit also acquired their Seeker-Class Dropship, the “Dingoes Den” during this time, which hints that they were responsible for destroying the mercenary band, the “Outback Irregulars”, that were employed by Consolidated Foods to hunt down the new bandits, but had disappeared into the Northern Territories.
The crowning effort of the unit on Claybrooke, was the sacking of Deadwood itself. While Colonel Chestine’s forces were combing the Northern Territories, the unit slipped into the suburbs of Deadwood, and drove straight through the town past its defenses and Mech units to open the route for a horde of local resistance forces to ransack its foundries and free the politically enslaved workerforce. The Iron Dingoes then slipped off to the nearby railhead to rendezvous with their DropShips, and lifted off-planet, gaining passage aboard a commercial transport, the Tramp-Class JumpShip “Iron Vagabond”, bound for Pilpala.
After jumping in-system to Pilpala, and a quick burn to the planet, the Dingoes brushed aside a little resistance from two lances of heavy Aerospace Fighters, and (unknowingly) dropped on a hidden Marik Aerobase located near the Prison facility. From there, they conducted a cunning raid on the Orion Prison Complex, luring its defensive Mech forces away from the station, while they infiltrated the base with several infantry squads using a captured FWL supply Dropshuttle. A lance of medium Mechs took out the remaining APCs and defensive laser towers, while recon elements of the unit led the defending mecha into the rough terrain of the surrounding hills before rendezvous with their DropShips and dusting-off. Most of their missing command personnel were found, and taken off-planet with the unit, finally reuniting the scattered 13th Provisional Company into something of a whole once more.
Heroditus : The next couple months were a leisurely trip along the Periphery edge of Liao Space, before the unit reached the Periphery pleasure-planet of Herodtitus, where they began a period of rest, relaxation and re-organization. Upon arriving at Heroditus, the Dingoes formally incorporated as the “Iron Dingoes”; a Mixed Battalion, and spent a few weeks restructuring their unit and hiring new pilots, crew and staff. During this time, the Dingoes formally absorbed “The Snow Dusters”, and added their force of armor and infantry directly to the unit combat line, along with several smaller infantry units and individual soldiers hired to fill-out its ranks.
A month later, the Iron Dingoes managed to procure a minor contract helping a small mining colony defend against constant raids by unknown bandits, which led to a series of political and legal maneuvers that touched fairly high in both the planet’s noble Moot and its government security forces, the “Admirality”. It culminated in a legal battle for possession of a pair of DropShips and various “Black Ops” both against and for the Dingoes. As fallout of that legal fracas, the minor Hedonist noble House of Scrope was reduced from the Moot, and fled to their contacts in Liao space. In the end, however, the unit had procured a new DropShip, a Union-Class combat vessel, (The “Brush Wolf”) capable of holding their line Mech units and reducing the pressure on their logistics.
With six weeks to spend waiting for the Vagabond to return from a private trade mission, another round of recruitment began, including hiring a battered infantry command (“The Last Bastion”) from the civil war raging in the Periphery system of Patrician. Towards the middle of this latest round of new hires, the Dingoes began looking for VR training pods; partly because of its member’s addiction to them, but also because of the utility they viewed in training and maintaining their skills while in the void of JumpShip travel. Despite bureaucratic red tape, local mob interests, and a rogue mercenary command trying to claim the missing VR pods for themselves, the Dingoes raided the site and came away with twelve VR pods, a pair of training Chameleons, and salvage to pay the local mob boss, “The Ruler”, for his providing enough of a distraction for them to escape with the goods unnoticed.
Operation Overlord : Following another short recruitment drive, the Iron Dingoes began to gain the notice of the local media, and not in a good way. As matters began to spiral out of control, they managed to get a contract working for the Taurian Concordat, assisting an expeditionary force in assaulting a planet under the grips of a large band of pirates. The trip to Dunkelheim and the initial drops on the planet went well for the Dingoes, though their allied mercenary forces took heavy casualties. A landing zone was established only 20kms west of the planet’s starport, (known as “The Citadel”), for the unit’s assets and the supporting Taurian forces to land and prepare for their assault on the pirate “White Death’s” forces.
The initial assault had proven deadly, primarily because of extremely heavy defenses on the starport “Citadel”, and the local resistance fighters had knowledge that allowed the Iron Dingoes to be sent in (as the only viable Mech force on-planet, at present) without notice. Though a brief and brutal fight with some assault Mechs in the tunnels did some damage, several hours later, they emerged into the open area of the Citadel’s compound, looking to blow something up. They sent a small recon force into the maintenance facility, who managed to infiltrate and destroy the primary power generator for the entire starport, and followed-up with a rapid strike on the facilities naval laser towers and orbital missile bunker, destroying all their targets. Though they did only passing damage against the defensive forces of “the Citadel”, their raid allowed the remainder of TF 29 to assault the facility with minimal damage, making their actions very noteworthy and gaining the attention of the powers-that-be.
Next, after a short time to rest and refit their units, the Dingoes were assigned to pacify the region immediately to the west of the Citadel, known in military dispatches as the “Central Sector”. After a range patrol and a sharp fight with a lance of suicidal Mechs that tried (and succeeded) in slaughtering a number of civilian refuges under their very noses, the Dingoes moved to capture and hold the sector trade town of Hebron, and thus pacify the region. The assault of Hebron was a messy affair, that took its toll on the Dingoes, testing their fortitude and skills. Eventually successful, they also managed to halt a convoy trying to evacuate the city with several hundred tons of supplies, and spent several days mounting patrols and slowly repairing their Mechs in twos while they tried to establish formal ties with the town’s leadership. After a month of dealing with food riots, constant sabotage and the mind-numbing meetings with town council, they were relieved by a pair of Concordat infantry companies, and given two days R&R, in preparation for a new assignment.
Baron Sarne ordered his superior BattleMech forces to begin flanking the planetary capital of Goldberg, sweeping White Death’s outposts in a series of raids and steady attrition. In reality, Sarne detailed the Iron Dingoes to probe the city defenses and, if possible, end-run around the defenders in a rapid raid to swiftly and stealthily move towards the palace and command center of the government buildings, destroying it and any repair facilities situated in the area. The raid proved successful, taking-out numerous parts depots and the vehicles and techs within each that were hastily trying to repair White Death’s severe battle damage, as well as his primary command post. The resulting chaos began to tear his allied pirate forces apart.
Fleeing the ruined city center, the Iron Dingoes retreated to Hebron, in the face of a large force of mechanized infantry, and a pair of hover lances that followed along behind the Dingoes, pushing them forward. Arriving just as the Dingoes got into position, and were joined by a hot-drop of a pair of Mech lances and their supporting DropShip. While the infantry probed into the town center, destroying the erpair facilities and government center, the raiders, ientified as “The Shrieking Reapers” pirate band, struck at the refinery and industrial center. The resulting counter-raid again tested the Dingoes fortitude and skills, but ultimately the raiders were able to destroy the refinery in Hebron, and retreat. Though the Dingoes held the field, they were battered and in severe need of a break to withdraw, repair and refit.
Following the loss of the refinery, as well as a general collapse of White Death’s forces around the capital of Goldberg, TF 29 began to change their tactics. The unit was placed in “reserve” status to rebuild and reorganize for a month, while the rest of TF29 went on the offensive. The artillery assets of the Dingoes were requested to help reduce Goldheim’s defenses, while the Dead Man’s Hand was upgraded with better quality Mechs salvaged from the field. The unit officers attended a general meeting and personally met with Baron Kenton Sarne and his assistant, Brigadier Karolina Kross “Cover Girl”, for the first time. It is believed he offered them the chance to become “House Troops” following a long-term contract as cadre on a nearby planet.
At the month’s conclusion they began a rapid series of deployments. First, to an isolated ranch in the north that proved to be a site where “White Death” had been storing various goods and parts, including a couple dozen rare horses, various parts and vehicles, and a large quantity of supplies identified as essential to establishing a long-term colony somewhere… They returned to the Citadel spaceport, and after a short rest, were sent on a rapid insertion to seize “White Death’s” fleet of JumpShips at one of the planet’s Lagrange pirate points. The fleet included two Invader-Class JumpShips and a rare Tacker-Class WarShip that appeared to be a standard Merchant-Class JumpShip. The assault took its toll on the mercenary allies of TF29, however; it severely damaged “Bane’s Badgers” and destroyed “Veruca’s Visigoths”. But the Dingoes had accomplished their goal and captured “The Den Mother”. They returned to the Citadel for a short repair time, and were immediately sent off on another mission; the capital of Goldberg had fallen to TF 29, though at great cost.
The main thrust of TF 29 were engaged in sacking the capital, and so the Iron Dingoes were sent north to assault one of the last pirate strongholds on the planet, a fort/depot that required them to assault a pass, and remove its defenses before they could land units at the site. The unit gathered all its available Mechs (both Line and Reserve), its Line Armor and Infantry, and even brought their Starguards, intending to use them against any bunkers they might find. The entire Salvage Group of technicians was brought as well. A day into the trip, they realized their mistake; White Death jumped a 100,000 ton unknown WarShip (believed to be The Black Star into orbit above the starport, and dropped Mechs and APCs filled with suicide commandos onto the starport, targeting the mercenary troops of TF 29s DropShip transports. Though most of the Mechs and infantry were destroyed or forced to withdraw, they accomplished their task; mercenary forces were grounded and unable to engage in any orbital maneuvers until the end of the campaign, due to damage to their DropShips.
Recognizing their mistake, the Dingoes sent their Stargaurds back to their assigned DropShips, but moved forward, eventually forcing their way through the pass’ defenses to assault the mysterious “Depot 519”. After securing the facility (and capturing a Lion-Class DropShip), the unit salvaged what they could, and retreated from teh site, watching it self-destruct. Returning to “The Citadel”, the Iron Dingoes spent the following month conducting repair work, while many of its members underwent surgery for recent and long-term injuries, recovering while their Mechs were repaired. The uinit managed to procure an Invader-Class JumpShip, and a new Union-CLass DropShip in negotiations, and eventually agreed to a 20 month contract serving House Sarne as Cadre on a distant planet near Concordat space and in Systems Constellation – “The Outrim Void”. The rest of their time on-planet was spent in patrol work and hiring replacements and new troops to improve their task as contracted garrison and trainers.
The Chaos Principle : Jumping quickly using their Transport Authority Writ, the unit was able to travel to System – Taurus in record time, quick-charging their JumpShips whenever possible. The unit then spent a week at Joshua’s Station, rotating various Line troops through for some R&R, acquiring a large quantity of supplies, and arranging for others to be picked-up in six months. The unit paid for this with some excess Mechs and other scavenged goods taken from the battlefield. The unit then burned back to the jump-point and began the months-long journey to System – Dumassas.
The journey seemed to have few notable events, but in the Ganulph system, things took a turn. They encountered an act of piracy involving an Aegira Technologies JumpShip and its cargo of DropShips trying to reach Tauria with a cargo of super alloys, Jumpdrive parts, and super conductors. The pirates were destroyed or captured, and the Dingoes were able to add a new DropShip (the “Star Talon”) to their rosters, along with a battered JumpShip, The Starlight Seduction. They also gained a horde of new dependents and numerous prisoners-of-war, and encountered the mysterious Starlords for the first time.
Jumping to System – Dumassas along with the surviving Mule-Class DropShips from Aegira Technologies, the unit arrived a few days late, but the matter was over-looked due to their wiping a local pirate band from existence. The unit then burned to the planet Terramatrix, and after consulting with various local government and military leaders, the unit traveled to and took possession of the village of Garrison.
For more than a year the unit engaged local bandit forces and raised a unit a mixed defensive battalion, named the The 4th Motorized Infantry Battalion, Sangrian Army – “Garrison’s Own” for The District of Garcia, providing military instruction and training. During the last few months of the contract, things boiled over, when a local Sangrian Loyalist force swarmed into the district intent on wrong-doing. Initial raids hurt the support units of the Iron Dingoes, and it put down an attempt to seize one of its DropShips by some of its own disreputable Mech pilots.
The invasion was intense, and brutal, but successfully halted by The Dingoes, culminating in a violent air war in the skies above the District, and a sharp urban brawl in the ruins of an old Mech factory. Once more, the unit succeeded, and spent the last months of their contract in bucolic peace, making money through trading arms and ammunition to pad their wallet for the next phase of their expansion.
While the contract had been in place, the unit had acquired rumor of an abandoned Snowden-Class Mining Platform, and had sent a survey team to investigate its possibility for acquisition in the System – Cassandra. Their return during the invasion helped tip the air war, and they brought information about “The Factory”. They had also sent their auxiliary forces, “The Iron Vagabond” with the “Betty” on some unit hush-hush mission back to Marik space, and they returned with weeks to go in their contract. They also entered into a small Cadre contract for a company of their infantry to remain on-planet training the local officers corp, coded Contract – Operation : “Show-and-Tell”, leaving them behind for a year, when they would be retrieved.
With the close of the year and their contract with the Sangrian government established for some extra cash, the unit left System – Dumassas, for a five-system journey across Systems Constellation – “The Hyades March” to System – Cassandra and their hidden prize…
