Editing 472nd Division (ComStar)

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = 
| Designation    = 472nd Division [[Level IV|IV]]-alpha
| formed         =  [[3058]]
| Disbanded      = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname       = Invader Galaxy
| Affiliation    = ComStar
| Parent Command = [[12th Army (ComStar)|12th Army]]
| Sub-Command    = 
}}

The [[Com Guards|Com Guard]] '''472nd Division''', more commonly known as the '''ComStar Invader Galaxy''', was primarily created to serve as an aggressor unit in war games using [[Clan]] matériel and military structure.

==History==
===Formation===
First entering service in [[3058]], the Invader Galaxy was constructed from Clantech salvaged from the [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]] and manned by veterans of that conflict and the [[Operation Odysseus|fighting against]] the [[Word of Blake]] on [[Terra]].<ref name=FMC-43>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 43: "12th Army V-beta (The Broadsword and Shield)"</ref> While a large proportion of the Com Guards had seen action on Tukayyid, [[Precentor Martial of ComStar|Precentor Martial]] [[Anastasius Focht]] knew both newer recruits both among the Com Guards and other houses need to experience the true threat of the invaders, also intending the unit as a showcase of the need for unified focus against the Clans.<ref name=ER3062-40>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 40: "472nd Division (Invader Galaxy IV-alpha)"</ref>

The unit quickly rose to prominence when it served as the opposition for a multinational training exercise on Tukayyid hosted by ComStar in [[3058]], which was interrupted when [[Clan Jade Falcon]] forces staged a thrust towards the [[Lyran Alliance]] world of [[Coventry]]. After [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]] asked her brother [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] for aid saving the planet, Precentor Martial Focht pledged the Invader Galaxy to the multinational force Victor led to retake the world.<ref name=ER3062-40/>

While publicly slated as a ready-reserve unit in [[Operation Bulldog]], the Invader Galaxy was stationed on the FedCom world of [[Defiance (planet)|Defiance]] to conduct exercises against the newly formed [[Task Force Serpent]] in early [[3059]] prior to their long journey.<ref name=HuntersC8>''The Hunters'', ch. 8</ref>

===Second Star League===
After the conclusion of the [[Great Refusal]], the 472nd returned to its role as serving as an aggressor unit for the new [[Focht War College]].<ref name=FMC-43/><ref name=ER3062-40/> The Invader Galaxy would face and defeat the reborn [[SLDF]]'s newly formed [[1st Royal BattleMech Regiment]] twice in [[3061]], before facing them a third time in February [[3062]]. With both units initially trading long-ranged shots, the 472nd then retreated into the hellish Devil's Bath to try and recreate the [[6th Division (ComStar)|6th Division]]'s tactics against [[Clan Steel Viper]] during the Battle of Tukayyid. However the 1st Royal had spent the months since their last encounter in war games against some of the most elite units in the Inner Sphere to mold them into an effective unit and were familiar with the pathways to safely travel through the Bath, the twelve-hour battle concluding with the defeat of the 472nd.<ref name=FMC-103>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 103: "1st Royal BattleMech Regiment (Morgan's Lions)"</ref>

Shortly after the 472nd was engaged in training with [[Clan Nova Cat]]'s [[Delta Galaxy (Clan Nova Cat)|Delta Galaxy]] when the [[Combine-Ghost Bear War]] broke out.<ref name=FMU-97>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 97: "Nova Cat Touman - Delta Galaxy: (Ways of Seeing)</ref>

As well as facing off against other Star League member state units, during this period the 472nd would also serve as the practical sounding board for the tactics and worst-case scenario developed by the [[278th Division (ComStar)|278th Division]] for the Twelfth Army to defend the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] from attacks by the Clans, [[Draconis Combine]] or Lyran Alliance.<ref name=FMU>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 88: "12th Army V-beta (The Broadsword and Shield)"</ref>

===Jihad and Destruction===
After years of simulated battle, the 472nd would see real combat when the Word of Blake launched a [[WarShip]] assault against Tukayyid in January [[3068]]. The [[aerospace fighter]]s of the 472nd would join those of the 278th in assisting the ''[[Sovetskii Soyuz]]''-class ''[[Sovetskii Soyuz#Named_Vessels|Blake's Vengeance]]'' and the ''[[Essex]]''-class ''[[Essex#Named_Vessels|Hammerstrike]]''s unsuccessful counterattack against the [[McKenna (WarShip class)#named_vessels|''McKenna''-class ''Blake's Sword'']] and the [[Essex#Named_Vessels|''Essex''-class ''Deliverance'']]. While able to inflict heavy damage against the ''Deliverance'' the 472nd's forces in orbit were shattered along with the rest of the Com Guard defenders, with the ''Blake's Sword'' then able to unleash orbital bombardments against ground based troops. Caught away from their underground bunkers, the bulk of ground elements of the 472nd suffered severe casualties.<ref name=DotJ>''Dawn of the Jihad'', pp. 88–89: "Tide of Fire - Tukayyid Hit, Heavy Casualties Reported"</ref><ref name=BA>''Blake Ascending'', pp. 88–89: "Tide of Fire - Tukayyid Hit, Heavy Casualties Reported"</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="3" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the 472nd Division (ComStar)'''
|-
| [[Precentor]]||[[Lisa Koenigs-Cober]]||[[3058]] - [[3068]]<ref>''Malicious Intent'', pp. 35–36</ref>
|-
|}

==Tactics==
When acting as the opposing force during training operations, the Invader Galaxy operated under the tenets of Clan ''[[zellbrigen]]'', though to what degree varied depending upon exercise. While primary serving in a training capacity, the Invader Galaxy was a fully functional combat unit, dropping any of the Clan restrictions they operated under when seeing action in the field.<ref name=FMC-43/><ref name=ER3062-40/> Due to the unit's "split personality", the Invader Galaxy did not adopt any other tactical specialties.

==Composition==
As per its role, instead of Com Guard standard base-6 formation the Invader Galaxy was structured along Clan lines, using [[Point]]s and [[Star]]s. The Galaxy consisted of 4 [[Cluster]]s, each a mix of [['Mech]]s and [[battle armor]] roughly analogous to a reinforced [[Level III]], the extensive use of Clantech giving them as much firepower as a regular [[regiment]].<ref name=FMC-43/>

2/3 of the unit used Clan [[OmniMech]]s or [[OmniFighter]]s salvaged from the fighting on Tukayyid. The heavy use of Clan equipment allowed opposing forces to go up against and discover the strengths and limitations of real Clan weaponry and sensors instead of often flawed or incomplete simulations. The balance was made up of [[Draconis Combine|Combine]] OmniMechs outfitted with Clantech weaponry and a few scattered "standard" Com Guard designs. Attached aerospace forces followed a similar mix, the only area where [[Inner Sphere]] tech outnumbered Clantech was the unit's battle armor Stars, solely due to the size disparity between Inner Sphere troops and [[Elemental]]s.<ref name=FMC-43/>

==Composition History==
===3062 to 3067<ref name=FMC-43/>===
* ''1st Assault Cluster'' (Sword of Truth) - Precentor IV [[Catherine Vitale]]
* ''2nd Assault Cluster'' (Spear of Loyalty) - Precentor IV [[Jong Lee]]
* ''1st Battle Cluster'' (Shield of Honor) - Precentor IV [[Lisa Finnegan]]
* ''1st Recon Cluster'' (Wings of Purity) - Precentor IV [[Christopher Campise]]

==Notes==
* The insignia of the 472nd Division was the letter I surrounded by five stars.<ref name=FMC-43/>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Blake Ascending]]''
* ''[[Dawn of the Jihad]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: ComStar]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Malicious Intent]]''
* ''[[Shattered Sphere]]''
* ''[[Twilight of the Clans]]''


[[Category:ComStar Division Commands|Division, 472nd]]