Editing 44th Shadow Division

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = [[File:44th_shadow_div.png‎]]
| Designation    = 44th Shadow Division
| formed         = 
| Disbanded      = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname       = Avitue's Avenging Angels
| Affiliation    = [[Word of Blake]]
| Parent Command = [[Shadow Divisions]]
| Sub-Command    = 
}}

==Unit Description==
The '''44th Division''', '''Avitue's Avenging Angels''', was an elite "hidden" military formation of the [[Word of Blake]].  The Division was staffed with cybernetically enhanced warriors known as the [[Manei Domini]]. The unit is noted for its notorious actions during the Third Battle of [[New Avalon]].

==History==
The entirety of the unit appeared in their first major action in [[3072]] in the conquest of [[Yunnah]] under the command of [[Precentor]] [[Avitue]].  However, other elements of the command have seen combat since [[3068]]<ref>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 20</ref>, where they have been seen assisting special operations groups such as the [[Opacus Venatori]] throughout the Inner Sphere.

In late 3072, the unit was deployed to [[New Avalon]], where it reinforced the remnants of the [[31st Division (Word of Blake)|31st]] and [[37th Division (Word of Blake)|37th Divisions]] in an attempt to finally consolidate control of the [[Federated Suns]]' capital world.  The arrival of the 44th reversed the Blakists' previous trend of using weapons of mass destruction due to the unit's preference to avoid civilian casualties and collateral damage.<ref>''Jihad Turning Points: New Avalon'', p. 7, "44th Division profile" - Unit noted for preventing WMDs from being used.</ref>

In early [[3073]], the 44th helped fight for a narrow victory in the Third Battle for New Avalon. Precentor Geoffrey Zucker of the [[36th Division (Word of Blake)|36th Division]] coordinated the majority of the Blakist forces, while Spector Precentor Avitue led a smaller force on a mission that resulted in the death of [[Marshal of the Armies]] [[Jackson Davion]], allowing the Blakists to secure Mount Davion and the ruins of [[Avalon City]]. 

However, [[3074|a year]] later, the division was ordered to withdraw, due to the increasing Davion resistance. The 44th Division fought off the [[Davion Heavy Guards]] and remnants of the other surviving AFFS forces on-planet as they withdrew, dropping napalm and fuel-air-explosives onto the ruins of Avalon City and planting explosives that destroyed the [[Fox's Den]], collapsing Mount Davion into itself.<ref>''Jihad Turning Points: New Avalon'', p. 10, "Scenario Davion Falling"</ref>

The last known location of the 44th was on New Avalon in [[3074]], but the division was reported as "missing in action" during the end of the Jihad.<ref>''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 125, "Shadow Divisions Status"</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 44th Shadow Division'''
|-
| [[Manei_Domini#Manei_Domini_Ranking_.26_Classes|Specter Precentor]]||[[Avitue]]||[[3075]]
|}

==Tactics==
The unit specialized in both mountain tactics and urban fighting.

==Composition==
Unknown

==Notes==
The 44th Shadow Division is noted for its preference for avoiding noncombatant casualties or damage to civilian structures.

==Rules==
<div class="gamerules">
===Game Rules===
''Avitue's Avenging Angels'' receive a +1 to their initiative when fighting on mountainous and urban terrain. Opposing forces need to apply a +1 to their to-hit modifiers when shooting at any unit of the 44th.

The Angels also receive the standard Force Specific abilities all Shadow Division are endowed with, specifically an immunity from [[Forced Withdrawal]] Rules and negating any Overrun Combat or [[Forcing the Initiative]] abilities an opposing force may have.<ref>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 142 - "Rules Annex/Force Specific Rules" - Shadow Division (General) Force Specific abilities.</ref>

The Avenging Angels are trained to avert damage to civilian structures and avoid harming noncombatants.  Any ''Avenging Angel'' will not fire on any civilian structure not occupied by an enemy in that respective turn. Infantry units of the Division will not move into civilian structures unless they are occupied by enemy.<ref>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 142 - "Rules Annex" - 44th Division special rules in scenarios.</ref>
<div>

==Reference==
<references />

==Bibliography==
*''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
*''[[Jihad Turning Points: New Avalon]]''
*''[[Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents]]''
*''[[Technical Readout: 3075]]''

[[Category:Word of Blake Commands|Shadow Division, 44th]]