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	In order to break the stalemate, the Fourteenth conducted a high-altitude drop in the early evening of 20th February. Despite facing down lethal anti-aircraft fire from [[Pollux ADA Heavy Tank]]s and the ''Unending Faith'' III-beta formation, the drop successfully caught the First between them and the rapidly advancing Revenants crumbling their defenses. What followed was a vicious night melee as the RAF forces pushed the remains of First into their base.<ref name=TP_EE_P7/>		In order to break the stalemate, the Fourteenth conducted a high-altitude drop in the early evening of 20th February. Despite facing down lethal anti-aircraft fire from [[Pollux ADA Heavy Tank]]s and the ''Unending Faith'' III-beta formation, the drop successfully caught the First between them and the rapidly advancing Revenants crumbling their defenses. What followed was a vicious night melee as the RAF forces pushed the remains of First into their base.<ref name=TP_EE_P7/>
−	By the 21st of February, Republic Forces had effectively routed the First Division. Even though Precentor Buhl and most of his executive staff were killed when the base's command post was stormed, the remaining Guards fled the battle. During the next 4 days the RAF played a deadly game of cat-and-mouse among the Shamus Mountains, ending with the last Guard troops detonating explosives to trigger a massive landslide which destroyed 2 lances of the Fourteenth and killed any remaining Com Guard forces. With their deaths, the battle for Epsilon Eridani came to an end and with it the end of the First Division.<ref name=TP_EE_P7/><ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 140</ref>	+	By the 21th of February, Republic Forces had effectively routed the First Division. Even though Precentor Buhl and most of his executive staff were killed when the base's command post was stormed, the remaining Guards fled the battle. During the next 4 days the RAF played a deadly game of cat-and-mouse among the Shamus Mountains, ending with the last Guard troops detonating explosives to trigger a massive landslide which destroyed 2 lances of the Fourteenth and killed any remaining Com Guard forces. With their deaths, the battle for Epsilon Eridani came to an end and with it the end of the First Division.<ref name=TP_EE_P7/><ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 140</ref>
	==Officers==		==Officers==

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{{Update Needed|[[Spotlight On: Unending Faith]]}} {{infoBoxMilitaryCommand | image = [[Image:1st Division (ComStar) logo-3141.png|150px|The First Division insignia (ca. 3141)]] | Designation = 1st Division [[Level IV]] | formed = [[2933]] | Disbanded = | Previous Designation = | Nickname = Strong Retaliation (3050)<br>McGillaray's Legion (3062)<br>Avenging Angels (3141) | Affiliation = ComStar | Parent Command = [[6th Army (ComStar)|6th Army]] | Sub-Command = }} ==Overview== As well as being the first [[Com Guards|Com Guard]] unit formed, the '''First Division''' was among the most active units in the both secret and public phases of [[ComStar]]'s military history. ==History== While formed in [[2933]], the First Division and the Militia as a whole first saw action in [[2979]] during the so-called [[Tripitz Affair]], the Order's attempt to prevent the [[Taurian Concordat]] from recovering an ancient ''[[Black Lion]]''-class battlecruiser, the SLS ''Tripitz'', in orbit around [[New Vandenberg]]. The First were ordered to destroy the ship, painting their equipment stark white to prevent any link to the Order. Despite their lack of practical combat experience, the First's advanced Star League-era equipment allowed them to defeat the Taurian forces in under an hour with only three deaths, before obliterating the WarShip.<ref name=CS-46>''ComStar'', p. 46: "The Tripitz Affair"</ref> The First's success earned them new respect from the Order and [[Primus of ComStar|Primus]] [[Yin Takami]] specifically, who authorized an expansion of the Militia's 'Mech element based on their actions.<ref name=FMCS-13>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 13: "The Com Guards - Bait and Switch"</ref> The First again saw combat in [[3004]] when they were ordered by then Primus [[Allen Rusenstein]] to exterminate the pirate band commanded by "Black" Jack McGirk, which had previously been supported by the Order as part of the so called [[Jolly Roger Affair]] but had since turned rogue. Tracking the pirates to the unmapped world of [[Trisha (system)|Trisha]], the First fought against McGirk's band for the better part of three days. While the 1st successfully completed their mission, the greater combat experience of the pirates gave them a 2.3 to 1 kill ratio against the still relatively untested ComStar forces.<ref name=CS-49>''ComStar'', p. 49: "The Jolly Roger Affair"</ref><ref name=FMCS-13/> ===Clan Invasion to FedCom Civil War=== Prior to the initial [[Clan Invasion]], the elite ranked First was known by the nickname of Strong Retaliation and assigned to the [[6th Army (ComStar)|6th Army]]. Then a IV-pi based formation, the 1st's headquarters world was [[Oriente]] in the [[Free Worlds League]].<ref name=20YU-70>''20 Year Update'', p. 70: "6th V-pi"</ref> As part of the Sixth Army, during the [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]] the First fought against [[Clan Steel Viper|Clans Steel Viper]] and [[Clan Ghost Bear|Ghost Bear]], most notably launching strikes on the Steel Vipers' supply lines. Expecting the defending second-line [[2nd Fang (Clan Steel Viper)|Second Fang Provisional Garrison Cluster]] to be easy prey, the First launched a three prong strike at the supply trains heading towards the beleaguered [[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Steel Viper)|Alpha]] and [[Gamma Galaxy (Clan Steel Viper)|Gamma Galaxies]] in Devil's Bath. While the First was victorious, the warriors of the Second Fang were worthy opponents and inflicted horrendous losses on the division.<ref name=T-79>''Tukayyid'', pp. 79, 83–84: "Clan Steel Viper - Cutting off Supplies (13)"</ref><ref name=ER3052-30>''Era Report: 3052'', pp. 30–31: "Factions - ComStar - First Division (Strong Retaliation)"</ref> During this fight, the Second Fang discovered that a soldier in the First Division had genetic similarities to a [[Clan Wolverine]] warrior.<ref>''Bloodright'', p. 6</ref> The effective leadership of Precentor McGillaray during the battle led the First to adopt the nickname of McGillaray's Legion, one of the few times a Com Guard unit has been named for its commander.<ref name=FMCS-31>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 31: "6th Army V-kappa: Grim Defiance"</ref> Unable to return to their original posting in the Free Worlds League after the [[ComStar Schism]], the elite First remained with the Sixth Army and transferred its headquarters to [[Hall]] in the [[Federated Commonwealth]].<ref name=CS-85>''ComStar'', p. 85: "6th Army V-Kappa (Grim Defiance, Procyon Theater, from 6 to 7 on the "Inner Sphere Clock")"</ref> With the [[Free Worlds League Military]] recapturing many nearby worlds during [[Operation Guerrero]] and with a growing pirate threat on the [[Draconis Combine|Combine]]-[[Periphery]] border, the now IV-xi based First's headquarters was moved to [[Rockland]] after [[Operation Bulldog]]. In [[3061]], Precentor McGillaray sent Legion Beta [[Level III]] into the Periphery to try and identify and neutralize these pirates, but contact with the unit was lost.<ref name=FMCS-31/> By [[3067]] the situation remained unchanged as continuous raids wore down the unit. Precentor McGillaray became convinced that the raiders' success against one of the Com Guards' most elite units indicated they were too well-trained and equipped to be pirates, but attempts to identify the House or Clan sponsoring them as well as the First's attempts at locating the pirate bases had been unsuccessful.<ref name=FMU-87>''Field Manual: Updates'', pp. 87, 98: "6th Army V-Kappa (Grim Defiance)"</ref> ===Jihad=== With the original First Division apparently destroyed sometime in the early stages of the Blakist [[Jihad]], after Precentor Martial [[Victor Steiner-Davion]]'s reduction of the Com Guards from twelve to six Armies, the division was re-formed prior to August [[3076]]. Taking part in a raid against [[New Earth]] as part of [[Stone's Coalition|Devin Stone's Coalition]], the newly re-formed First performed reasonably well given its youth against a [[Clan]]-tech equipped Level-III believed to be from the [[39th Division (Word of Blake)|Thirty-ninth Division]], before the Coalition forces were pushed off-world.<ref name=JHS3076-82>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', pp. 82–83: "The New Earth Raid"</ref> Along with the remaining Com Guards after the conclusion of [[Operation SCOUR]], the First Division was disbanded as part of ComStar's obligations in signing the [[Republic Formation Treaty]], its survivors either retiring or joining the newly formed [[Republic Armed Forces]].<ref name=FM3085-176>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 176: "Republic of the Sphere - The RAF - Administrative Divisions - Department of Military Intelligence"</ref> ===Republic Era=== While the Com Guards were disbanded in the wake of the Jihad, in the peaceful decades after that conflict elements within ComStar would revive its military, with the First Division the first Level IV re-formed. Eager to prevent both the negative public reaction and [[Republic of the Sphere]] reprisals in response to a rearmed ComStar, the First would remain hidden similar to its history prior to the [[Fourth Succession War]]. Because of this the information available about the reborn First Division is exceedingly scant.<ref name=ER3145-84>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 84: "Factions - ComStar - First Division"</ref> The First Division would be publicly unveiled in the wake of [[Gray Monday]], when Precentor [[Malcolm Buhl]] revealed its existence to capture [[Tucker Harwell]] on the Republic world of [[Wyatt]] in [[3135]].<ref name=ER3145-84/> Harwell who had developed a method to restore the [[HPG]] on Wyatt, was considered to be key to his plan of ending the Blackout and thus rebuild ComStar into the organization it once was. Buhl knew that the reveal would cause the [[Republic of the Sphere|Republic]] to hunt his reborn Division down, but hoped the preparations he had the Order set up would buy them enough time to complete his plan. Unfortunately Alexi Holt, an undercover [[Knight of the Sphere]], would track them down to their secret ''Omega'' base on [[Luyten 68-28]] and would escape with the rescued Harwell to alert the Republic of the re-formed Com Guards' unit's location. Just prior to Republic troops making planetfall on Luyten, Buhl would order a full withdrawn to their ''Alpha'' base on [[Epsilon Eridani]]. Over the next 4 months the First Division would quietly gather whatever remaining assets they had, and evade the Republic to take refuge on Epsilon Eridani.<ref name=TP_EE_P7>''Turning Points: Epsilon Eridani'', p. 7: "Avenging Angels"</ref> Again however the Republic would catch up with them, as information recovered on Luyten eventually revealed their destination. The [[RAF]] would dispatch the heavy cruiser ''[[Auspicium]]'' to Epsilon Eridani to investigate the claims. At the system's nadir [[jump point]] they had a chance encounter with an arriving ComStar fleet, confirming the suspicions. The ''Auspicium''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s two fighter squadrons of ''[[Schrack (Aerospace Fighter class)|Schrack]]'' [[OmniFighter]]s engaged the fleeing ''Acolytes of Vision'' [[Level III|III-gamma]] formation. They destroyed the Guard's ''[[Achilles (DropShip class)|Achilles]]''-class assault DropShip ''[[Purity of Purpose (Individual Achilles-class DropShip)|Purity of Purpose]]'' in a high-speed pursuit, though only four fighters would ultimately survive the engagement.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3145 Republic of the Sphere'', pp. 50–51, 133: SCK-O Schrack - Schrack fluff notes the Auspicium's actions during the ComStar conflict in the Republic</ref> The ''Auspicium'' neutralized the enemy [[JumpShip]]s to keep them from escaping, then used its functional [[HPG]] to alert the Republic.<ref name=TP_EE_P7/> On February 11th [[3141]], the [[XIV Hastati Sentinels]] landed on planet and attempted to move toward the Guard's base of operations. They were soon caught in well-laid traps and were forced almost back to their landing zones by ''Stalwart Covenant'' III-eta and ''Chastity of Faith'' III-zeta formations using their superior knowledge of the terrain. Then in the morning of the 12th, they were hit with a successfully raid by ''Stalwart Covenant'' III-eta, and ''Heralds of Pious Light'' III-delta formations which allowed for a fair amount of damage to their line and the loss of a portion of their supplies. Keeping on the defensive, the Fourteenth would be later supported by the [[Stone's Revenants]] on the 15th which then allowed for the combined RAF force to advance towards Guard positions.<ref name=TP_EE_P7/> The heavy fighting in the Thaynes foothills almost cost the First their ''Chastity and Faith'' III-zeta formation, but thanks to the sacrifice of the Division's aerospace fighters most of remaining formations were able to retreat into the Shamus Mountains. This delay in fighting was cut short by RAF forces using a combination of explosives and combat engineers that were able to break into the mountains to pursue. There the RAF forces fought against the Guard's ''Blake's Guardians'' III-epsilon and ''Acolytes of Vision'' III-gamma formations, and by the 19th of February despite artillery from hidden batteries the RAF force almost broke through their lines. The First then surprised the RAF forces with the arrival of ''[[Celerity]]'' OmniMechs and hidden ''[[Duat]]'' DropShips loaded with cruise missiles to further stall the RAF's advance. This sudden revealing of new and effective equipment seemed to produce the intended effect on the RAF forces. However because the First revealed their ''Duat''s, the RAF forces were able to learn of the location of the First's remaining DropShips. Wasting no time, the RAF forces then ordered brutally counterbattery fire and used the ''Auspicium'' to conduct orbital bombardment to neutralize any forces found at those locations.<ref name=TP_EE_P7/> In order to break the stalemate, the Fourteenth conducted a high-altitude drop in the early evening of 20th February. Despite facing down lethal anti-aircraft fire from [[Pollux ADA Heavy Tank]]s and the ''Unending Faith'' III-beta formation, the drop successfully caught the First between them and the rapidly advancing Revenants crumbling their defenses. What followed was a vicious night melee as the RAF forces pushed the remains of First into their base.<ref name=TP_EE_P7/> By the 21th of February, Republic Forces had effectively routed the First Division. Even though Precentor Buhl and most of his executive staff were killed when the base's command post was stormed, the remaining Guards fled the battle. During the next 4 days the RAF played a deadly game of cat-and-mouse among the Shamus Mountains, ending with the last Guard troops detonating explosives to trigger a massive landslide which destroyed 2 lances of the Fourteenth and killed any remaining Com Guard forces. With their deaths, the battle for Epsilon Eridani came to an end and with it the end of the First Division.<ref name=TP_EE_P7/><ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 140</ref> ==Officers== {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Rank ! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Name ! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Command |- | colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the 1st Division (ComStar)''' |- | [[Precentor]]||[[Peter McGillaray]]||circa [[3040]] - [[Tukayyid]] and beyond (until at least [[3062]])<ref name=20YU-70/><ref name=T-79/><ref name=CS-85/><ref name=FMCS-31/><ref name=FMU-87/> |- | Precentor||McClellan||[[3076]]<ref name=JHS3076-82/> |- | Precentor||[[Malcolm Buhl]]||[[3141]]<ref name=TP_EE_P8>''Turning Points: Epsilon Eridani'', p. 8: "Combatants"</ref> |- |} ==Tactics== The 1st Division have formed the basis of all Guards and the basic tactics they established went on to influence the organization as a whole. As the Guards have grown and expanded, the unit has continued to focus specifically on the anti-pirate and small unit actions that the pre-Schism Guards publicity machine pointed to as the organization's purpose. ==Composition History== ===3050=== '''1st Division''' (Division/Elite)<ref name=20yup70>''20 Year Update'', p. 70</ref> : Note: At this point in time the 1st Division was stationed on Oriente.<ref name=20yup70/> ===3055=== '''1st Division''' (Division/Regular)<ref name=CSSp85">''ComStar'', p. 85</ref> : Note: At this point in time the 1st Division was stationed on [[Hall]].<ref name=CSSp85"/> ===3062<ref name=FMCS-31/>=== '''1st Division''' :* ''Legion Alpha'' [[Level III|III]]-nu: [[Demi-Precentor]] XII [[Kathy Issel]] :* ''Legion Beta'' III-mu - Suspected lost: Demi-Precentor XI [[John Lemein]] :* ''Legion Gamma'' III-xi: Demi-Precentor XV [[Amit Singh]] :* ''Legion Delta'' III-pi: Demi-Precentor IX [[Jesus Martinez]] :* ''Legion Epsilon'' III-omicron: Demi-Precentor XIV [[Kevin Stein (ComStar)|Kevin T. Stein]] :* ''Legion Zeta'' III-xi: Demi-Precentor X [[Gregory White]] ===3141=== '''1st Division''' :* ''Unending Faith'' III-beta<ref name=TP_EE_P7/> :* ''Acolytes of Vision'' III-gamma<ref name=TP_EE_P7/> :* ''Stalwart Covenant'' III-eta<ref name=TP_EE_P7/> :* ''Chastity of Faith'' III-zeta<ref name=TP_EE_P7/> :* ''Blake's Guardians'' III-epsilon<ref name=TP_EE_P7/> :* ''Heralds of Pious Light'' III-delta<ref name=TP_EE_P7/> ==Rules== <div class="gamerules"> ===Game Rules=== The First Division can make use of [[Banking Initiative]] and [[Overrun Combat]]. BattleMechs operated by First Division may add an Improved C3 Computer to their machines at no additional cost, after freeing up the necessary critical space and tonnage.<ref name=TP_EE_P8/> </div> ==Notes== *The First Division's post–Clan Invasion insignia was a helmet of a Roman soldier resting atop a large marble pillar.<ref name=FMCS-31/> After its post-Jihad rebirth, the First Division insignia was a winged angel holding a Word of Blake sword blade down.<ref name=ER3145-84/><ref name=TP_EE_P8/> ==References== <references/> ==Bibliography== * ''[[20 Year Update]]'' * ''[[Bloodright (scenario pack)|Bloodright]]'' * ''[[ComStar (sourcebook)|ComStar]]'' * ''[[Era Report: 3052]]'' * ''[[Era Report: 3145]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: ComStar]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]'' * ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3076]]'' * ''[[Tukayyid (scenario pack)|Tukayyid]]'' * ''[[Turning Points: Epsilon Eridani]]'' [[Category:ComStar Division Commands|Division, 001st]]

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