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The wargames proved to be very popular and continued under Richard's successor, First Prince [[John Davion]]; by [[2750]] the prestige that was associated with the "Best Prepared" title inspired troops in every combat region to give their best effort, with some commands making plans years in advance to try and ensure that they were ready. After the close of the 2754 games Prince John activated all of the Combat Region commands as federal troops and formed them into the March Militias; while this move was controversial and provoked a flurry of judicial cases opposing the creation of the commands, it also added twenty [[BattleMech]]-equipped combat commands to the AFFS in a single stroke. Many of the planets that provided troops for the games were resentful of having their best militia troops pressed into federal service, and it would be [[2763]] before the last of the cases worked its way through the courts. With the final ruling going in favor of Prince John, he then moved to allay many of the fears expressed by the planets involved by laying down specific instructions that the March Militias wouldn't be deployed outside their home combat regions except under a small number of very rare and clearly-defined exceptions.<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/>
 
The wargames proved to be very popular and continued under Richard's successor, First Prince [[John Davion]]; by [[2750]] the prestige that was associated with the "Best Prepared" title inspired troops in every combat region to give their best effort, with some commands making plans years in advance to try and ensure that they were ready. After the close of the 2754 games Prince John activated all of the Combat Region commands as federal troops and formed them into the March Militias; while this move was controversial and provoked a flurry of judicial cases opposing the creation of the commands, it also added twenty [[BattleMech]]-equipped combat commands to the AFFS in a single stroke. Many of the planets that provided troops for the games were resentful of having their best militia troops pressed into federal service, and it would be [[2763]] before the last of the cases worked its way through the courts. With the final ruling going in favor of Prince John, he then moved to allay many of the fears expressed by the planets involved by laying down specific instructions that the March Militias wouldn't be deployed outside their home combat regions except under a small number of very rare and clearly-defined exceptions.<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/>
  
When first established each of the March Militias within the Crucis March Militia was based around a standard model that gave each a level of firepower roughly equivalent to a [[Star League Defense Force]] light [[division]]. Each militia consisted of a single BattleMech regiment, three regiments of infantry, two [[Combat Vehicle|armor]] regiments, a battalion of mobile artillery, and two wings of [[aerospace fighter]]s, with each wing consisting of eighteen fighters. This relatively low number of aerospace fighters was a significant difference between the March Militias and their frontline AFFS counterparts or similar [[SLDF]] formations of the era.<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/>
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When first established each of the March Militias within the Crucis March Militia were based around a standard model that gave each a level of firepower roughly equivalent to a [[Star League Defense Force]] light [[division]]. Each militia consisted of a single BattleMech regiment, three regiments of infantry, two [[Combat Vehicle|armor]] regiments, a battalion of mobile artillery and two wings of [[aerospace fighter]]s, with each wing consisting of eighteen fighters. This relatively low number of aerospace fighters was a significant difference between the March Militias and their frontline AFFS counterparts or similar [[SLDF]] formations of the era.<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/>
  
 
The Crucis March Militias were well-equipped, many much more so than the average [[Capellan March Militia]] or [[Draconis March Militia]], to an extent that led to commentators dubbing the [[New Avalon Crucis March Militia]] the Sixth Davion Guard. All of the Crucis March Militias established constant training regimens and were highly active, leading to a readiness level greater than might have been expected of a militia formation. Many of the Crucis March Militias rotated frequently between different worlds, particularly those responsible for Combat Regions bordering the [[Periphery]]; many of the Militias on interior worlds were located near SLDF commands and would regularly challenge those commands to compete in wargames. The SLDF commands were almost universally better trained and equipped, but that didn't dissuade the various Militias from continuing to issue challenges on an annual basis, despite Militias only rarely defeating their SLDF competitors.<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/>
 
The Crucis March Militias were well-equipped, many much more so than the average [[Capellan March Militia]] or [[Draconis March Militia]], to an extent that led to commentators dubbing the [[New Avalon Crucis March Militia]] the Sixth Davion Guard. All of the Crucis March Militias established constant training regimens and were highly active, leading to a readiness level greater than might have been expected of a militia formation. Many of the Crucis March Militias rotated frequently between different worlds, particularly those responsible for Combat Regions bordering the [[Periphery]]; many of the Militias on interior worlds were located near SLDF commands and would regularly challenge those commands to compete in wargames. The SLDF commands were almost universally better trained and equipped, but that didn't dissuade the various Militias from continuing to issue challenges on an annual basis, despite Militias only rarely defeating their SLDF competitors.<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/>
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=== The Succession Wars ===
 
=== The Succession Wars ===
On the 1st of May [[2787]] the Draconis Combine launched a massive invasion of the Federated Suns, with the [[Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery]] troops under the command of [[Jinjiro Kurita]], son of the [[Coordinator]]. Jinjiro had learned from the battles on [[Towne]] earlier in the [[First Succession War]] and had recognized that interservice cooperation between the different branches of the Federated Suns military had largely been replaced by rivalry and that the various Combat Regions across the Federated Suns had become dangerously parochial, with units being very protective of worlds within their Combat Region but the staff of the various Combat Regions rarely coordinating or cooperating with each other. Jinjiro's forces took full advantage of that; his first wave attacked worlds along the border, overwhelming many before they had a chance to call for help. Each of the Combat Region commanding officers attempted to deal with the attacks on their own, focused completely on the defense of their own Combat Region with little exchange of information between Regions. Jinjiro's second wave capitalized on this, striking in force against the Clovis Combat Region; despite a dogged, fierce defense by [[Field Marshal]] Simons and forces directly under his command such as the [[1st Clovis Guards Regiment|First Clovis Guards Regiment]] on Clovis he was cut off and, after a week, killed when his [[DropShip]] attempted to retreat from the planet. The loss of Smith caused organized resistance in the Clovis Combat Region to collapse, and before the other senior officers within the AFFS had realized what happened, DCMS forces poured through the Clovis Combat Region and deep into the heart of the Federated Suns.<ref name="HD(TFS)p62">''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 62: "The Storm Breaks (PDF edition)"</ref>
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On the 1st of May [[2787]] the Draconis Combine launched a massive invasion of the Federated Suns, with the [[Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery]] troops under the command of [[Jinjiro Kurita]], son of the [[Coordinator]]. Jinjiro had learned from the battles on [[Towne]] earlier in the [[First Succession War]], and had recognized that interservice cooperation between the different branches of the Federated Suns military had largely been replaced by rivalry, and that the various Combat Regions across the Federated Suns had become dangerously parochial, with units being very protective of worlds within their Combat Region but the staff of the various Combat Regions rarely coordinating or cooperating with each other. Jinjiro's forces took full advantage of that; his first wave attacked worlds along the border, overwhelming many before they had a chance to call for help. Each of the Combat Region commanding officers attempted to deal with the attacks on their own, focused completely on the defense of their own Combat Region with little exchange of information between Regions. Jinjiro's second wave capitalized on this, striking in force against the Clovis Combat Region; despite a dogged, fierce defense by [[Field Marshal]] Simons and forces directly under his command such as the [[1st Clovis Guards Regiment|First Clovis Guards Regiment]] on Clovis he was cut off and, after a week, killed when his [[DropShip]] attempted to retreat from the planet. The loss of Smith caused organized resistance in the Clovis Combat Region to collapse, and before the other senior officers within the AFFS had realized what happened, DCMS forces poured through the Clovis Combat Region and deep into the heart of the Federated Suns.<ref name="HD(TFS)p62">''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 62: "The Storm Breaks (PDF edition)"</ref>
  
 
It would be thirty years before the AFFS had finally recovered and fought its way back to something approximating the prewar border;<ref name="HD(TFS)p67">''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 67: "March Militia and Planetary Guard Units (PDF edition)"</ref> the risk posed to the Federated Suns as a result of the entrenched parochialism and separation between Combat Regions highlighted the weaknesses of the system within the Capellan and Draconis Marches, leading the [[Marshal (rank)|Marshal]]s of the AFFS to restructure both Marches, replacing the Combat Regions with a number of smaller Polymorphous Defensive Zones (PDZs), each with its own March Militia. The Crucis March continued to use the system of Combat Regions, as it was considered to be a safer March less at immediate risk than the Capellan or Draconis Marches.<ref name="HD(TFS)p135">''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 135: "Deployment of AFFS Forces (PDF edition)"</ref>
 
It would be thirty years before the AFFS had finally recovered and fought its way back to something approximating the prewar border;<ref name="HD(TFS)p67">''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 67: "March Militia and Planetary Guard Units (PDF edition)"</ref> the risk posed to the Federated Suns as a result of the entrenched parochialism and separation between Combat Regions highlighted the weaknesses of the system within the Capellan and Draconis Marches, leading the [[Marshal (rank)|Marshal]]s of the AFFS to restructure both Marches, replacing the Combat Regions with a number of smaller Polymorphous Defensive Zones (PDZs), each with its own March Militia. The Crucis March continued to use the system of Combat Regions, as it was considered to be a safer March less at immediate risk than the Capellan or Draconis Marches.<ref name="HD(TFS)p135">''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 135: "Deployment of AFFS Forces (PDF edition)"</ref>
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=== The Jihad ===
 
=== The Jihad ===
During the [[Jihad]] several CrMM units joined breakaway nations like the [[Filtvelt Coalition]] or [[Malagrotta Cooperative]]. This placed the members of the CrMM who stayed in the Federated Suns in the uncomfortable position of fighting friends and allies. As a result, the loyal Crucis March Militia units didn't put as much pressure on the new nations as they might have otherwise. General Raymond-Roger Marsin, commander of the Remagen CrMM, led his troops against all sorts of enemies ranging from forces of the new [[Outback]] nations to pirates of all stripes. His efforts to stabilize the Federated Suns Outback have finally led to results, with the Malagrotta Cooperative worlds rejoining the Federated Suns.<ref name="fra17">''Field Report: AFFS'', p. 17</ref>
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During the [[Jihad]] several CrMM units joined breakaway nations like the [[Filtvelt Coalition]] or [[Malagrotta Cooperative]]. This placed the members of the CrMM who stayed in the Federated Suns in the uncomfortable position of fighting friends and allies. As a result the loyal Crucis March Militia units didn't put as much pressure on the new nations as they might have otherwise. General Raymond-Roger Marsin, commander of the Remagen CrMM, led his troops against all sorts of enemies ranging from forces of the new [[Outback]] nations to pirates of all stripes. His efforts to stabilize the Federated Suns Outback have finally led to results, with the Malagrotta Cooperative worlds rejoining the Federated Suns.<ref name="fra17">''Field Report: AFFS'', p. 17</ref>
  
 
==Officers==
 
==Officers==
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==Notes==
 
==Notes==
* ''Field Report 2765: AFFS'' attributes the Preparedness Act of 2735 to both [[Richard Davion]]<ref name="FR2765:FSp3"/> and [[Roger Davion (27th c.)|Roger Davion]].<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/> Because other sources indicate that Richard Davion was First Prince in 2735 and that Roger Davion died in 2703, the latter attribution is probably an error.
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* ''Field Report 2765: AFFS'' attributes the Preparedness Act of 2735 to both [[Richard Davion]]<ref name="FR2765:FSp3"/> and [[Roger Davion (27th c.)|Roger Davion]].<ref name="FR2765:FSp21"/> Because other sources indicate that Richard Davion was First Prince in 2735, and that Roger Davion died in 2703, the latter attribution is probably an error.
* The Malagrotta Crucis March Militia formed the core of the breakaway Malagrotta Cooperative's army until it and the Cooperative were destroyed by privateers.<ref name="fra17"/>
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* The Malagrotta Crucis March Militia formed the core of the breakaway Malagrotta Cooperative's army, until it and the Cooperative were destroyed by privateers.<ref name="fra17"/>
* The Marlette Crucis March Militia fought as part of [[Operation SCOUR]] and was nearly destroyed on [[Terra]].  Many of the survivors of the unit chose to retire and remain in the world after its liberation.<ref name="fra17"/>
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* The Marlette Crucis March Militia fought as part of [[Operation SCOUR]] and was nearly destroyed on [[Terra]].  Many of the survivors of the unit chose to retire and remain on the world after its liberation.<ref name="fra17"/>
 
* The Remagen Crucis March Militia was the busiest CrMM unit during the [[Jihad]], and received a full refit of their weapons, vehicles, and equipment at the conclusion of the Malagrotta campaign.<ref name="fra17"/>
 
* The Remagen Crucis March Militia was the busiest CrMM unit during the [[Jihad]], and received a full refit of their weapons, vehicles, and equipment at the conclusion of the Malagrotta campaign.<ref name="fra17"/>
  
 
==Color Schemes and Unit Insignia==
 
==Color Schemes and Unit Insignia==
The Crucis March Militia colors are blue, white, and red, similar to the [[Davion Brigade of Guards]].
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The Crucis March Militia colors are blue, white and red, similar to the [[Davion Brigade of Guards]].
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

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