OBT Forum

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Welcome to OurBattleTech.com - A BattleTech Fan Site

Pages: [1] 2 3   Go Down

Author Topic: So where do Gunslingers come from...  (Read 33644 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

muttley

  • Lojtnant
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 303
So where do Gunslingers come from...
« on: March 23, 2010, 10:24:24 PM »
//Intercepted Message- SLS Joseph John Rochefort//

5 FEB 2777
Military Academy of Aphros, Mars, Empire of Amaris

My Liege,

 I beg to report that Mission #AE-35 has been completed.  The 406th Battle Regiment has been eradicated.  All deceased personnel have been matched to the rosters in our possession.  Attempts to persuade personnel to cooperate were unsuccessful.

I regret to inform you that the 23rd Republican Dragoons have been rendered combat ineffective as a result of this mission.  As per standing order 127A, the command staff have been publicly executed for their crimes against the Empire.

Paul von Strang
Colonel, 5th Amaris Dragoons

//Message Ends//

Analysis:
Sir,
Apparently the Republican forces penetrated the Gunslinger's cover.  While the Council Lords never knew of the 406th's true nature, their penetration of the SLDF must have been to the SANDBOX level at least.  We have verified the rosters attached to this report and confirm the DNA profiles for all 4 members of the Regimental Command Lance, 52 of 54 Students and 51 of 54 Gunslinger Instructors.  The use of tactical nuclear weapons to destroy the Regiment and surviving students from Aphros and WAM lead us to assess the survival of any members of the Regiment as LOW.//



Notes:
The 406th Battle Regiment was a unique unit; its true nature was hidden by the witholding of the Royal title.  This led the Council Lords and their intelligence agencies to assess the Regiment as being composed of colonial personnel and technology.  Its charter was to train the Gunslingers.  Each student was paired with an instructor until graduation.  Since each student was already a veteran (especially once the Periphery rebellion began) this meant that an elite Regiment was available at all times within the Terran System.  Sufficient DropShips were maintained to allow this unit to react quickly to any threat within the System.  While not as skilled overall as the Royal Black Watch, the 406th was sufficiently trained and equipped to provide a credible threat to a force outnumbering it 6 to 1.

The SLS Joseph John Rochefort is a Bug Eye class vessel that managed to escape detection for four months after the Coup, fleeing to the Ross 248 Fleet Base after its detection.

Comment from Takiro:  For peer review which I would encourage you can post this SL era unit in Alternate Eras if you intend to follow canon time line for the discussion.
Logged
"It matters little how we die, so long as we die better men than we imagined we could be -- and no worse than we feared." Drago Museveni, CY 8451

Takiro

  • General
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 10,175
  • For the Last Cameron!
Re: So where do Gunslingers come from...
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2010, 10:28:42 PM »
Glad to see your posting your big idea. I'd love to hear some other opinions. ;)
Logged

muttley

  • Lojtnant
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 303
Re: So where do Gunslingers come from...
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2010, 10:41:57 PM »
I've always laughed at the SF and other high-speed units that claim to want secrecy but walk around with logo'd ball caps even in war zones. 
The best way to hide is to sound boring for example-the 59th Quartermaster Company.  Who'd suspect a unit like that of being trained to fast rope from a Chinook, kick in doors, and conduct raids in urban environments to secure high-value targets?
Logged
"It matters little how we die, so long as we die better men than we imagined we could be -- and no worse than we feared." Drago Museveni, CY 8451

Ice Hellion

  • Protector of the Taurian Concordat
  • KU Player
  • General
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4,481
  • Beware of the all-seeing eye: Ice Hellion
Re: So where do Gunslingers come from...
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2010, 06:53:55 PM »
This 406th is a training regiment, quiaff?
Logged


"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

muttley

  • Lojtnant
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 303
Re: So where do Gunslingers come from...
« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2010, 08:46:46 PM »
Aff.  But a very dangerous one.  58 of 112 personnel were already Gunslingers.  The rest were considered good enough to train to be gunslingers.
Logged
"It matters little how we die, so long as we die better men than we imagined we could be -- and no worse than we feared." Drago Museveni, CY 8451

Ice Hellion

  • Protector of the Taurian Concordat
  • KU Player
  • General
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4,481
  • Beware of the all-seeing eye: Ice Hellion
Re: So where do Gunslingers come from...
« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2010, 04:24:49 PM »
Do we have any info on the number of Gunslingers trained at the same time?
Where did you get your teacher-student idea?
Logged


"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

Hessian

  • SD Developer
  • Kapten
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 375
Re: So where do Gunslingers come from...
« Reply #6 on: March 27, 2010, 03:52:39 PM »
Interesting idea. Certainly a realistic scenario.

Just my two € cents.

Ciao
Hessian
Logged

muttley

  • Lojtnant
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 303
Re: So where do Gunslingers come from...
« Reply #7 on: March 27, 2010, 04:06:57 PM »
@Ice Hellion from the SL Sourcebook p59:

Deep within the Hegemony military, certain MechWarriors
were undergoing extensive retraining as part of the ACMS
(Advanced Combat and Maneuvering Skills) Project. From ancient
Oriental martial philosophies to advanced neural-thought
technology, these warriors relearned almost everything about
piloting a BattieMech. The 52 warriors in the first graduating class
became the SLDF's champions.

<snipped>

Realizing that he could not prevent duels, the First Lord tried
another tack. He began to send envoys to Combine bases, not to
challenge their champions but to offer them commissions in the
SLDF. There was little the outraged Coordinator Urizen could do
about it, either. As the First Lord expected, only a few champion
Kurita MechWarriors wanted to join the SLDF, but those who did
became instructors in the Regular Army's expanded ACMS
program. Renamed the "Gunslinger Program," the intensive
training regimen eventually became an important part of the
Military Academy of Aphros. Only the Academy's most skilled
MechWarrior graduates won spots in the Gunslinger Program . To
wear the crossed six-shooters on their uniforms became a great
honor among Star League MechWarriors.
Logged
"It matters little how we die, so long as we die better men than we imagined we could be -- and no worse than we feared." Drago Museveni, CY 8451

muttley

  • Lojtnant
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 303
Re: So where do Gunslingers come from...
« Reply #8 on: March 27, 2010, 04:15:26 PM »
Obviously you can't have quantity to build the quality of the Gunslingers...

I got the mentor/trainer student idea from the SL Sourcebook with the defecting Kuritans... and a healthy dose of Mr Miyagi.  Blacktiger's mentioned several times the Regimental Gunslinger is the holder of the unit's honor- this speaks to the Kuritan/Miyagi code of a Bushido tempered with chivalry.

It looks like the lieutenants of the 'Mech units- already having worked their way up from Sergeant (their rank after graduating from the military academies) would be evaluated during their first assignments.  The best would be watched then sent to the program.  Undoubtedly not everyone completed the program.  Exceptional personnel could be selected early.  General Kerensky went right after he finished in the Nagelring (SL SB p68). 
Logged
"It matters little how we die, so long as we die better men than we imagined we could be -- and no worse than we feared." Drago Museveni, CY 8451

Ice Hellion

  • Protector of the Taurian Concordat
  • KU Player
  • General
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4,481
  • Beware of the all-seeing eye: Ice Hellion
Re: So where do Gunslingers come from...
« Reply #9 on: March 28, 2010, 03:11:23 AM »
It makes sense.
Logged


"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

muttley

  • Lojtnant
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 303
Re: So where do Gunslingers come from...
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2010, 11:26:27 PM »
Right so here's the next logical question-  Where do new Gunslingers come from?

The 406th is gone; the Regimental Gunslingers must have been heavily attritted; and some percentage of them must have left with Kerensky's traitors.

So how is The Last Cameron getting Gunslingers?
Logged
"It matters little how we die, so long as we die better men than we imagined we could be -- and no worse than we feared." Drago Museveni, CY 8451

Ice Hellion

  • Protector of the Taurian Concordat
  • KU Player
  • General
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4,481
  • Beware of the all-seeing eye: Ice Hellion
Re: So where do Gunslingers come from...
« Reply #11 on: April 06, 2010, 03:16:06 PM »
Creating a new training unit? Or a specialised class?
After all, they should have enough veterans available for that.
Logged


"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

muttley

  • Lojtnant
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 303
Re: So where do Gunslingers come from...
« Reply #12 on: April 06, 2010, 11:14:23 PM »
I don't know.  In the latest Black tiger's- the regimental CO is appointing one.  This pushes the gunslinger more to the keeper of the regimental honor than a supremely skilled duelist.
Logged
"It matters little how we die, so long as we die better men than we imagined we could be -- and no worse than we feared." Drago Museveni, CY 8451

Ice Hellion

  • Protector of the Taurian Concordat
  • KU Player
  • General
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4,481
  • Beware of the all-seeing eye: Ice Hellion
Re: So where do Gunslingers come from...
« Reply #13 on: April 07, 2010, 04:54:47 PM »
I gave it a second thought today.
Keep it in the regiment as with the veterans, you don't need for now new schools for that or just drop it as hidden warfare is not really a thing of the foreseeable future.
Logged


"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

muttley

  • Lojtnant
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 303
Re: So where do Gunslingers come from...
« Reply #14 on: April 07, 2010, 11:52:38 PM »
Good point.  Warfare has changed after the Amaris Civil War.
Logged
"It matters little how we die, so long as we die better men than we imagined we could be -- and no worse than we feared." Drago Museveni, CY 8451
Pages: [1] 2 3   Go Up
« previous next »