Editing Always Faithful

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image = [[Image:Always Faithful logo.jpg|150px|Insignia of Always Faithful]]
| Designation = Always Faithful
| Formed = [[2786]]<ref name="FSWp35">''First Succession War'', p. 35: "Those Left Behind (Continued)"</ref>
| Disbanded = [[3069]]<ref name="MSUp11"/>
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname = 
| Affiliation = [[Mercenary]]
| Parent Command = Independent
| Sub-Command = [[Alpha Regiment (Always Faithful)|Alpha Regiment]]<br />[[Bravo Regiment (Always Faithful)|Bravo Regiment]] (disbanded)<br />[[Charlie Regiment (Always Faithful)|Charlie Regiment]] (disbanded)
}}
==History==
The unit was formed in the wake of the [[Operation Liberation|Liberation of Terra]] from a mixture of soldiers of the [[Rim Worlds Republic]] and the [[SLDF]], the '''Always Faithful''' were initially a [[Brigade]]-sized unit.

During the [[First Succession War]], Always Faithful were employed by the [[Capellan Confederation]] and fought against the [[Free Worlds League]]. These engagements cost the unit most of their more sophisticated equipment. The next contract brought them into the employ of the [[Draconis Combine]] and into the [[company store]] trap. Constantly increasing levels of debt to the [[Draconis Combine|Combine]] forced the mercenaries to undertake hazardous assignments, finally managing to settle their accounts and leave for greener pastures after capturing a haul of [[Federated Suns]] [[JumpShip]] parts. It was during the [[Second Succession War]] that Always Faithful had to sell their [[JumpShip|JumpShips]] and [[DropShip|DropShips]] due to the strain that their financial difficulties had imposed on their support infrastructure.<ref name="FM:MRp38">''Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised'', p. 38: "Unit Profile"</ref>

Always Faithful saw extensive service during the [[Third Succession War]] under contract to the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. They were deployed against both the Draconis Combine and the Free Worlds League even though Always Faithful had been reorganized into a single [[regiment]] at the start of the war. Although the regiment was involved in heavy fighting around [[Tamar]],<ref name="FM:MRp38"/> Always Faithful left [[Lyran Commonwealth|Lyran]] service at some point during the war. Hiring Always Faithful again was one of the steps taken by [[Alessandro Steiner]] to improve the military strength of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] after he became Archon in [[2980]].<ref name="HSTLCp77">''House Steiner: The Lyran Commonwealth'', p. 77</ref> During [[3026]], Always Faithful acted as a bodyguard unit for the planet [[Summer]], but they were unable to save [[Duke]] [[Aldo Lestrade (31st c.)|Aldo Lestrade]] from being successfully assassinated by an alleged Kuritan operative.<ref name="W:C">''Warrior: Coupé''</ref>

Although Always Faithful spent the first half of the [[Fourth Succession War]] on [[Summer]], the officer commanding [[Operation Holdur|Operation HOLDUR]] (General Spire) viewed [[Altair]] as the prize of the operation. General Spire enlisted the help of [[Archon]] [[Katrina Steiner]] in committing both Always Faithful and the [[17th Skye Rangers]] to the world, deploying both units as full [[Regimental Combat Team]]s against the elite [[18th Dieron Regulars]] - against the express wishes of [[Duke]] Aldo Lestrade. Although the battle for Altair was ultimately unsuccessful, Always Faithful were directly responsible for the 2nd Battalion of the [[18th Dieron Regulars]] being destroyed during the battle for Hehiro City. A lance from Always Faithful managed to hold up the 2nd Battalion as they attempted to break out between the two [[Lyran Commonwealth|Lyran]] [[Regimental Combat Team|RCTs]]. Although the Always Faithful lance was destroyed, they held the line long enough for combined forces from the rest of the Lyran units to engage and destroy the enemy battalion.<ref name="NFSWMAV2p74">''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2'', pp. 74–75</ref>

With the expiry of their contract with the Lyran Commonwealth in [[3028]], Always Faithful took up an undisclosed number of contracts with the [[Free Worlds League]] where they saw extensive service under [[Duncan Marik|Duncan]] and later [[Thomas Marik]]. Based on [[Vanra]] in [[3028]], Always Faithful were deployed on [[Iknogoro]] in [[3032]] and [[Mosiro]] in [[3035]].<ref name="H:BWp87">''Historical: Brush Wars'', pp. 87–88</ref> Always Faithful were in the employ of the Lyran Commonwealth during the [[War of 3039]] but did not actively participate on the Draconis Combine front. Always Faithful left the employ of the [[LCAF]] after the war.<ref name="H:WO3039p140">''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 140</ref>

By [[3039]] Always Faithful were fighting as a [[combined arms]] regiment, but the [[Battle of Andurien (3039)|fighting]] on [[Andurien]] against first the [[6th Defenders of Andurien]] (with additional forces from the [[1st Defenders of Andurien]]) changed that; months of grueling city fighting at Baroda cost Always Faithful almost all of their [[Combat Vehicle|armor]] and [[infantry]].<ref name="H:BWp81">''Historical: Brush Wars'', pp. 81–82</ref>

By [[3050]], [[Colonel]] James Burrill Riel had become the command officer of Always Faithful. Immediately prior to the [[Clan]] invasion they were stationed on [[Conquista]] under contract with the Free Worlds League.<ref name="20YUp57">''20 Year Update'', p. 57</ref> Always Faithful were still there in [[3054]], but that would soon change.<ref name="ORp39">''Objective Raids'', p. 39</ref>

Always Faithful were one of a number of units loaned out to the [[Capellan Confederation]] for operations in the [[Sarna March]] during [[Operation Guerrero]]. The unit was deployed on [[Caph]] in [[3059]]<ref name="FM:Mp110">''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 110</ref> and were still there when the [[Word of Blake]] arrived and began the process of turning the world into a [[Word of Blake|Blakist]] protectorate. By this time the mercenary unit had already taken a battering during the extensive factional conflict for the world.<ref name="FM:MRp38"/>

In [[3067]] anti-Capellan factions on [[Hsien]] had banded together and hired Always Faithful as an attempt to resist an anticipated takeover by forces of the [[4th Division (Word of Blake)|4th Division]] and the [[Word of Blake|Blakist-employed]] [[Hsien Hotheads]] who had been stationed on the planet. In January of [[3069]] the [[4th Division (Word of Blake)|Wanderers III-iota]] and the [[4th Division (Word of Blake)|Keepers of the Gates III-beta]] combined with the [[Hsien Hotheads]] and successfully destroyed Always Faithful during a local uprising organized by the Commanding Officer of the Hsien Hotheads, Brenn Twohy.<ref name="MSUp11">''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', pp. 11, 72"</ref>

==Officers==
==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 Always Faithful'''
|-
| [[Colonel]]||[[Louise Pound]]||[[3025]]<ref name="HSTLCp82"/>
|-
| Colonel||[[James Burrill Riel]]||[[3050]] - [[3069]]<ref name="20YUp57"/><ref name="ORp39"/><ref name="FM:Mp110"/><ref name="FM:MRp38"/>
|-
|}

==Tactics==
Following the losses inflicted during the [[Andurien Secession]], Always Faithful used mobile components to pin an enemy in place and then the heavy components to deliver the final blow. The exception to this was the 7th Striker Battalion which preferred a much more mobile style that allowed them to avoid a head-on confrontation while continuing to erode the enemy strength from the flanks.<ref name="FM:MRp38"/>

==Support==
The command had few support assets (50% technical support) and no transport assets.<ref name="FM:MRp38"/>

==Mercenary Rating==
===3059===
'''Dragoon Rating: B-'''<ref name="FM:Mp110"/>

===3067===
'''Dragoon Rating: B-'''<ref name="FM:MRp38"/>

==Composition History==
=== 2786 - 2821===
'''Alpha''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=1SWp136>''First Succession War'', p. 136</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Aodh]]. In 2821 the command was reduced to 46 percent of its strength and was deployed on [[Aodh]].<ref name=1SWp136/>

'''Bravo''' (Regiment/Elite/Reliable)<ref name=1SWp136/>
: Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on [[Carbonis]]. The unit was destroyed during the war.<ref name=1SWp136/>

'''Charlie''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=1SWp136/>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Bithinia]]. In 2821 the command was reduced to 29 percent of its strength and was deployed on [[Campertown]].<ref name=1SWp136/>

=== 2830 ===
'''Always Faithful: Alpha''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=2SWp96>''Second Succession War'', p. 96</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Aodh]] with an operational readiness of 75 percent.<ref name=2SWp96/>

'''Always Faithful: Charlie''' (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=2SWp96/>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Campertown]] with an operational readiness of 92 percent.<ref name=2SWp96/>

=== 2864 ===
'''Always Faithful: Alpha''' (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=2SWp96/>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Pell]] with an operational readiness of 20 percent.<ref name=2SWp96/>

'''Always Faithful: Charlie''' (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=2SWp96/>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Campertown]] with an operational readiness of 26 percent.<ref name=2SWp96/>

===3025===
'''Always Faithful ''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=HSTLCp118>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 118: "LCAF Deployment Table"</ref>
:* CO: Colonel Louise Pound<ref name=HSTLCp118/>
In 3025 Always Faithful were a heavy [[BattleMech]] regiment supported by a medium aerospace fighter contingent and infantry, but with no Armor, [[DropShip]] or [[JumpShip]] support at this point in time. Additionally they were in debt to the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. Always Faithful were based on [[Alarion]] along with the [[19th Lyran Guards]].<ref name="HSTLCp120">''House Steiner: The Lyran Commonwealth'', p. 120</ref><ref name="HSTLCp82">''House Steiner: The Lyran Commonwealth'', p. 82</ref>

=== 3028 ===
'''Always Faithful''' (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=HBSp87/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Vanra]].<ref name=HBSp87>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 87</ref>

===3029===
'''Always Faithful''' (1 Regiment/Regular)<ref name="NFSWMAV1p45">''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1'', p. 45</ref>

===3038===
'''Always Faithful''' (1 Regiment/Regular)<ref name="H:WO3039p140"/>

===3040===
''' Always Faithful''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=HWO3039>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 140</ref>

===3050===
'''Always Faithful''' (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name="20YUp57"/>
:* CO: Colonel James Burrill Riel
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Conquista]].

===3054===
'''Always Faithful''' (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name="ORp39"/>
* CO: Colonel James Burrill Riel

===3059===
'''Always Faithful''' (1 Regiment/Regular/Questionable)<ref name="FM:Mp110"/>
:* CO: Colonel James Burrill Riel
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Caph]].<ref name=FMMercsp110>''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 110</ref>

===3067===
'''Always Faithful''' (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name="FM:MRp38"/>
* CO: Colonel James Burrill Riel
* XO: [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Brian Renollds]]
* 2nd Assault Battalion: Major [[Akira Sugioka (Always Faithful)|Akira Sugioka]]
* 5th Dragoon Battalion: Major [[Mordred Chivas]]
* 7th Striker Battalion: Major [[Deng Xiao (Always Faithful)|Deng Xiao]]

At the end of [[3067]], Always Faithful were operating at 75% strength following the conflicts within the Chaos March, but 40% of the unit were upgraded to [[Star League]] levels of technology.<ref name="FM:Up183">''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 183</ref>

==Notes==
* Rules for Always Faithful can be found in ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised]]''.<ref name="FM:MRp128">''Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised'', p. 128: "Force-Specific Rules"</ref>
*Always Faithful were members of the [[Allied Mercenary Command]].

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)|First Succession War]]''
* ''[[Historical: Brush Wars]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]''
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental Update]]''
* ''[[NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2]]''
* ''[[Objective Raids]]
* ''[[Second Succession War (sourcebook)|Second Succession War]]''


[[Category:Mercenary Commands|Always Faithful]]