Van Halen's Heavy Cavalry was formed in 3053 by survivors of the Clan Invasion who gathered together to take missions specifically putting them up against the invading Clans.
Through the 3050s Lyran Guards veteram Colonel Van Halen brought the unit up to a reinforced battalion of heavy and assault 'Mechs backed up by fast-moving reconnaissance vehicles and moble artillery platforms. The bulk of the unit was wiped out when their main transport dropship was brought down by Clan Jade Falcon, leaving only two survivors from the ship. Having landed his Banshee in shallow waters, Lieutenant Colonel Hrolfsen rallied those elements who had been on other ships and took over command, finding the disaster more than sufficient motivation to maintain the condition that all contracts must throw "the Cav" against one of the Clans.
While Hrolfsen lacks Van Halen's charisma and business savvy, he's proven to be an able tactical mind and the Heavy Cav can field two combined arms battalions, each with a company each of 'Mechs, recon vehicles and Arrow IV artillery carriers. The unit have upgraded over 70% of their equipment with Clantech but combined with a considerable number of the vehicles being non-standard equipment cobbled together from salvage, it's a constant race between breakdowns, financial issues and the Clans to see who'll finish them off. None of these factors have succeeded... yet.
Lieutenant Colonel Ninyu Hrolfsen, a Kungsarme mechwarrior who lost his father in the early stages of the Clan Invasion, commands First battalion directly. His battered Banshee has been modified almost beyond recognition, with a Clan targeting computer and medium lasers backing up triple-strength myomers and a battle ax.
Major Emiko Hrolfsen-Miya, ex-Ghost Warrior and Hrolfsen's wife, leads Second Battalion. Although trained as a Mechwarrior she was originally a scout-specialist and her Raven doesn't fit with the generally heavy line up of the Cav's 'Mech companies so she uses it as a command post for the battalion's recon company. This leaves the 'Mech company under Captain Erich van Halen, a cousin to the Cav's founder who's being groomed as a possible successor to Hrolfsen.
