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37th Scorpion Cavalry Cluster

Unit Nickname (Official):  Thunderbolt
Unit Nickname (Unofficial):  Bandits
Experience Rating:  Regular
Loyalty Rating:  Fanatical
Parent Formation:  Gamma Galaxy, Clan Goliath Scorpion Touman

Unit Composition:  100 Nike Strike Tanks, 125 Elemental Warriors
DropShips:  5 Scorpion VI-class Troop Carriers, 1 Warden-class Assault DropShip
JumpShips:  1 Voyager-class JumpShip
Total Assigned Personnel:  790 (plus accommodations for 195 additional Warriors, Technicians, or passengers)

Trinary Alpha
     Star Alpha One:  10 Nike Strike Tanks
     Star Alpha Two:  10 Nike Strike Tanks
     Star Alpha Three:  25 Elemental Warriors

Trinary Beta
     Star Beta One:  10 Nike Strike Tanks
     Star Beta Two:  10 Nike Strike Tanks
     Star Beta Three:  25 Elemental Warriors

Trinary Gamma
     Star Gamma One:  10 Nike Strike Tanks
     Star Gamma Two:  10 Nike Strike Tanks
     Star Gamma Three:  25 Elemental Warriors

Trinary Delta
     Star Delta One:  10 Nike Strike Tanks
     Star Delta Two:  10 Nike Strike Tanks
     Star Delta Three:  25 Elemental Warriors

Trinary Epsilon
     Star Epsilon One:  10 Nike Strike Tanks
     Star Epsilon Two:  10 Nike Strike Tanks
     Star Epsilon Three:  25 Elemental Warriors

In 3062, Khan Nelson Elam conducted a review of equipment and components produced by Clan Goliath Scorpion.  For the most part, he was pleased that nearly five decades of hard work had reduced the once tangled logistical web of his Clan into a streamlined supply of components commonly used by all elements of Clan Goliath Scorpion.

With one notable exception:  the 300XL Fusion Engine used by the Black Harrier OmniMech (a 50-ton design found only within the ranks of the 30th Scorpion Lancers) was the only component Scorpion factories produced that was not in use by multiple 'Mech or Fighter designs.  Of course, with just 18 Black Harriers in the Clan Touman, the Khan could have simply accepted that small bit of inefficiency.

But Elam knew of the plans of his former Khan (Nikolai Djerassi, now the Clan's Master of Instruction) to integrate a limited number of Combat Vehicles into the Clan Touman.

Elam instructed his scientists to design a Combat Vehicle that would utilize the available 300XL Fusion Engines . . . and he began to make preparations to built a new Scorpion Cluster.

Even as his Scientists (assisted by a handful of Horse abtakha Warriors) began to design what would become known as the Nike Strike Tank, the Khan launched an offensive to secure Warriors familiar with Combat Vehicle Operations.

He personally led Alpha Galaxy in a series of raids against Clans Blood Spirit, Hell's Horses, and Star Adders (the three Clans that made the most use of Combat Vehicles).  By the time the design of the Nike had been finalized, Elam had managed to obtain seven Stars of vehicle crewmen from the Spirits, Horses, and Adders.

The remainder of the 37th Scorpion Cavalry Cluster would be recruited from Scorpion free-born Warriors previously relegated to the Clan's Gendarme formations, as well as a handful of sibkin fresh from the Scorpion training regime.

Initially, assignment to the 37th Cavalry was regarded by most (although not all!) as a punishment for failing to live up to the high standards expected of Scorpion Warriors.  The Clan--as a whole--had little experience with combat vehicles and regarded both the vehicles and the Warriors assigned to their crews as nothing of value.

Command of the 37th Cavalry Cluster fell to Star Colonel Tobias Cobb, a true-born abtakha Warrior formerly from the ranks of Clan Hell's Horses.  Over the course of nearly seven months, Cobb mercilessly pushed his Warriors (nearly all free-born) to their limits.  But by the spring of 3064, the 37th Cavalry were ready for action.

Assigned to Gamma Galaxy, the Warriors of the 37th quickly became the object of derision by the remaining Clusters of the Galaxy that defended Roche and the Temple of the Nine Muses.  Tempers flared as these Warriors were shown little but disdain and contempt by the veteran troops of Gamma.  But both Cobb and Elam pushed the Thunderbolts to succeed.

By the summer of 3065, the 37th Cavalry Cluster was ready for its first field exercise . . . and Cobb had prepared his Warriors well.  Squaring off against the four remaining Clusters of Gamma Galaxy (which had bid away many of their Warriors as they knew little glory would come from this fight!), the 37th Cavalry handed the MechWarriors a resounding defeat!

The leaders of Gamma Galaxy had paid little attention to the capabilities of the new Nike Strike Tank, as well as the vehicular crews which Star Colonel Cobb had honed to a razor's edge . . . and their under-estimation of the combat vehicles and the Warriors assigned to them was their undoing.

The Clan as a whole was stunned by this victory and began to pay a bit more attention to what was happening on Roche. 

But the greatest test came when Khan Elam assigned the 37th Cavalry Cluster to raid Niles, sending the Scorpion tankers up against troops from Clan Hell's Horses.  While the raid itself accomplished little in terms of material gain, the Horses were quite impressed by the elan and skill of these new Scorpion Warriors . . . as well as their tanks!  Indeed, the Horses were soon issuing Trials of Possession against the Scorpions for the design of their Nike.

Although still regarded by some Scorpion Warriors as being a unit fit only for free-birth and disgraced true-born, the Thunderbolts have become slowly (and grudgingly) accepted by the majority of the Touman.  Khan Elam, however, has decided against raising any additional Cavalry Clusters at the current time, although that may well change in the future.

The 37th Cavalry Cluster is unique among the Scorpion Touman in that lacks any integral Aerospace Fighters or OmniFighters.  While this is seen as a weakness during offensive operations (when the Cluster must depend on either Gamma Galaxy or the Scorpion Fleet to supply air cover), it is not quite a liability during defensive operations.  Especially as the entire Gamma Galaxy is stationed on Circinus and the 37th Cavalry can call upon air assets from the remaining four Clusters as needed.

The unofficial nickname of the Cluster ("Bandits") came about soon after the 37th Cavalry was assigned to Gamma Galaxy.  With his Warriors being told that only bandits would resort to using mere vehicles in combat, Star Colonel Cobb all but embraced that title.  Although the Cluster remains the least experienced formation within Gamma Galaxy, the Warriors (and Technicians) assigned to the 37th Cavalry are just as fanatically loyal to the Scorpion leadership as the remaining Clusters.  Perhaps because of the opportunity that Khan Elam has given to them, and the honor and respect he has bestowed upon them by assigning them to the Galaxy responsible for the defense of the new Clan Goliath Scorpion capital world.