Editing Awards

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	|The Glory of the Fallen Samurai consisted of a banner awarded to the next of kin of a great leader who fell in battle and the etching of that fallen leader's name onto the [[Great Wall of Luthien]] alongside the names of those who fell before him. The banner itself was a black-and-red dragon banner and was awarded to the next of kin by the direct superior of the deceased.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/> ''Tai-sho'' [[Tomoe Sakade]] was the first woman to be honored with the Glory of the Fallen Samurai in [[3063]].<ref name=HHK-153/>		|The Glory of the Fallen Samurai consisted of a banner awarded to the next of kin of a great leader who fell in battle and the etching of that fallen leader's name onto the [[Great Wall of Luthien]] alongside the names of those who fell before him. The banner itself was a black-and-red dragon banner and was awarded to the next of kin by the direct superior of the deceased.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/> ''Tai-sho'' [[Tomoe Sakade]] was the first woman to be honored with the Glory of the Fallen Samurai in [[3063]].<ref name=HHK-153/>
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−	|align="center"|[[Image:Honorofwazakashi.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Honor of Wakizashi">Honor of ''Wakizashi''</span>	+	|align="center"|[[Image:Honorofwazakashi.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Honor of Wakizashi">Honor of Wakizashi</span>
−	|The Honor of ''Wakizashi'' is "awarded" to those who placed their personal or family honor above that of House Kurita and the Draconis Combine. Normally the penalty for betraying House Kurita was execution, but high-ranking persons could be granted this "honor" instead. Upon receiving the medal, the officer drove his ''wakizashi'' into his abdomen, and his second then decapitated him immediately thereafter, allowing him to die with honor.<br />The chain was heavy and thick, to remind recipients of the weight of honor and duty.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/><br>In [[3025]] the last recipient of this honor was [[Brigadier General]] [[Djoran Belarguz]], aide to the treasonous [[Syovo Yorioshi]], [[Warlord]] of [[Benjamin]].<ref name=HKDCp140/>	+	|The Honor of Wakizashi is "awarded" to those who placed their personal or family honor above that of House Kurita and the Draconis Combine. Normally the penalty for betraying House Kurita was execution, but high-ranking persons could be granted this "honor" instead. Upon receiving the medal, the officer drove his ''wakizashi'' into his abdomen, and his second then decapitated him immediately thereafter, allowing him to die with honor.<br />The chain was heavy and thick, to remind recipients of the weight of honor and duty.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/><br>In [[3025]] the last recipient of this honor was [[Brigadier General]] [[Djoran Belarguz]], aide to the treasonous [[Syovo Yorioshi]], [[Warlord]] of [[Benjamin]].<ref name=HKDCp140/>
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	|align="center"|<span id="Honor Tree">Honor Tree</span>		|align="center"|<span id="Honor Tree">Honor Tree</span>

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== Inner Sphere Factions == === Capellan Confederation === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="12" | [[Image:Capellan Confederation logo.png|100x100px|center]]<br />Capellan Confederation ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|[[Image:Batonofilustriousservice.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Baton of Illustrious Service">Baton of Illustrious Service</span> |The most prestigious of the military decorations available to those in the [[Capellan Confederation]], the Baton of Illustrious Service was used to recognize those who have served the interests of [[House Liao]], either under extreme risk or extreme hardship, and who had done so to an extent far beyond the normal call of duty.<ref name="FM:CCp41">''Field Manual: Capellan Confederation'', pp. 41–43: "Medals and Decorations"</ref><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><ref name="HL(TCC)p101"/><br>While the Baton was a military decoration it wasn't unheard of for a civilian to receive the award — past recipients included a few of the Sheng nobility and a President of [[Ceres Metals]] — but by far the greater number were awarded to members of the [[Capellan Confederation Armed Forces]]. All of those considered for the award were subject to an investigation conducted by a special team of [[Maskirovka]] agents and officers from the [[CCAF]], to ensure that not only was the award deserved but that the recipient was an upstanding citizen worthy of the recognition it brings.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><br>The Baton had no accompanying ribbon or medal, and had to instead be carried; awarded personally by the [[Chancellor]],<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><ref name="HL(TCC)p101"/> each Baton was thirty-five centimeters long and covered with a white leather braid. At the center of the baton was the crest of the Confederation, etched and enameled on a gold setting, and at the base of the Baton Han ideograms picked out one of Mao Zedong's sayings: ''"Wherever our comrades go, they remain a part of us."'' In social settings, the recipient of a Baton was considered the equivalent of a ''[[Sang-shao]]'' in terms of rank, and all of those below this rank were required to salute the bearer.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111">''Handbook: House Liao'', pp. 111–112: "Medals and Honors"</ref> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="The Chancellor's Colors">The Chancellor's Colors</span> |Associated with the [[Capellan Hussars]], the Chancellor's Colors was a tradition that dates back to an ancient dynasty on [[Terra]] named the Han. Only the Han emperor was allowed to employ the color gold, and the emperor shared that with his favored military and civilian advisors; in keeping with this tradition, uniforms and [['Mechs]] within the CCAF could only use gold at the prerogative of the Chancellor. While a brassy substitute was in common usage, to be able to use actual gold was a point of immense pride. As the premiere line regiment within the CCAF, the Hussars were allowed to wear gold silk cravats with their uniforms, and to add touches of gold paint on the 'Mechs and fighters.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Citationformeritorioushouseservice.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Citation for Meritorious House Service">Citation for Meritorious House Service</span> |A relatively common civilian award,<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> the Citation for Meritorious House Service was presented by local [[Diem]]s to citizens whose actions have proven worthy of emulation by their fellow citizens.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><ref name="HL(TCC)p101A">''House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)'', p. 101: "Civilian Decorations"</ref><br>The decoration consisted of an inverted green triangle set over a disk; the disk was embossed with a red and black yin-yang symbol.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Civilsealofvalorandsacrifice.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Civil Seal of Valor and Sacrifice">Civil Seal of Valor and Sacrifice</span> |The highest civilian award<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> and awarded personally by the Chancellor, the Civil Seal of Valor and Sacrifice was awarded to those who have aided the Capellan armed forces in wartime at grave personal risk or loss.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><ref name="HL(TCC)p101A"/> The recipients deeds were detailed on a rice-paper scroll in Han ideograms, and the conferring of the award carried a number of special privileges on the recipient and their family. The family are given special preference in education for their children or choice of selection for any branch of the civil service for which they qualify. At the Chancellor's prerogative he may also confer a small landhold to the recipient with the seal. All of those nominated for the Civil Seal are investigated by the Maskirovka beforehand to ensure that nothing politically embarrassing occurs.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Liaoclusterofconspicuosheroism.png |150px|center]]<br /><span id="Cluster of Conspicuous Heroism">Cluster of Conspicuous Heroism</span> |To qualify for the Cluster of Conspicuous Heroism a warrior must have displayed extreme bravery under fire in aid of their comrades,<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><ref name="HL(TCC)p101"/> and both the CCAF and Maskirovka conducted a background check to confirm that potential recipients are worthy.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> Although the Cluster was most commonly awarded to [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]], those from other branches of the armed forces were eligible to receive the award,<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><ref name="HL(TCC)p101"/> which was presented at the appropriate commonality capital by a ''[[Jiang-jun]]''.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><br>The award consisted of a ''dao'' sword and the wreathed ''Jiang-jun'' rank device that served as the seal of the Strategios, set on a triangular base.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Confederation Master at Arms">Confederation Master at Arms</span> |To qualify for the Confederation Master at Arms award a warrior must have proven his mastery of the battlefield. The exact conditions for determining such proof vary; typically, the Confederation Master of Arms award was conferred for such acts as the refinement of a theoretical grand stratagem or for inventing and proving a new tactic for use on the battlefield. Some of those who qualified for the award have been commanders who have proven themselves to be masters at combined-arms deployments; others recipients included individuals who fought through the infantry and into the armor force, and who later rose through the ranks to command an aerospace wing or a BattleMech regiment.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><br>The award was presented by the Confederation's [[Strategic Military Director]], and the process for earning the award began with the recipient being nominated by a military officer of at least the rank of ''Sang-shao''. That officer's nomination then had to be conferred by a ''Jiang-jun'', and the paperwork and any supporting evidence — including video testimony and gun camera footage as appropriate — had to be forwarded to the [[Capella War College]] for a review, which could take up to a year.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><br>The award itself consisted of an inverted triangle formed by three miniature silver ''dao'' swords connected point-to-hilt; framed by the swords was a jade field on which a gold yin-yang symbol had been etched, and each corner of the field bore a Han ideogram. The three ideograms represented Mind, Spirit and Weapons.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Duchy Citation Award">Duchy Citation Award</span> |The Duchy Citation award was presented to those units that had performed above and beyond the call of duty whilst in service to the [[St. Ives Compact]] or [[St. Ives Commonality]], and only a handful of units had earned a Duchy Citation prior to the [[Jihad]]. Examples of the conduct that earned the award included the performance of the [[First St. Ives Lancers]] on [[Operation BULLDOG]] and the [[Second St. Ives Lancers]] on [[Operation SERPENT]].<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><br>The award took two forms; a unit was entitled to display a gold ribbon bordered in gold leaf on their standard, and individual members of that unit were entitled to display a similar ribbon on their dress uniforms.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Liaograndcordonofmerit.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Grand Cordon of Merit">Grand Cordon of Merit</span> |All military personnel were eligible for the Grand Cordon of Merit, regardless of rank or branch of service. The award was bestowed on those who had acted above and beyond the normal demands of duty in the defense of the Confederation,<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><ref name="HL(TCC)p101"/> and those receiving the award were usually presented with their award in a ceremony used as a preliminary to the presentation of a Cluster of Conspicuous Heroism. In the absence of such a presentation, the Grand Cordon was delivered by an officer of at least ''Sang-shao'' rank.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><br>The Grand Cordon of Merit consisted of a red disk on which a wreath framed concentric circles made of different materials; the outer circle was jade circle symbolized [[House Liao]], while a thinner gold circle represented the Chancellor. Set in the center of the red disk was the tri-blade symbol representing the 'Mech, aerospace and conventional forces of the CCAF.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Liaosunburstofgalantry.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Liao Sunburst of Gallantry">Liao Sunburst of Gallantry</span> |First created as an award for those who performed admirably against the Federated Suns,<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> the Liao Sunburst of Gallantry was a relatively common military decoration and was given to those who had demonstrated heroism under fire. Members of any rank and branch of service were considered eligible<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><ref name="HL(TCC)p101">''House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)'', p. 101: "Military Decorations"</ref> and the award was presented to the recipient by their commanding officer.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><br>The Liao Sunburst of Gallantry was a circular device vaguely reminiscent of the sunburst associated with the [[Federated Suns]].<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Orderofthelegionofliao.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Order of the Legion of Liao">Order of the Legion of Liao</span> |To be eligible for membership of the Order of the Legion of Liao a potential recipient had to be nominated by either local nobility or a commanding officer<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> for unique self-sacrifice in the defense of the Confederation<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><ref name="HL(TCC)p101A"/> or another, similarly grand contribution. Such nominations had to be confirmed as being appropriate by either a Diem or [[Refrector]], and could only be named members of the order by a duke or duchess.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><br>The medal associated with the Order of the Legion of Liao consisted of a green cross of Liao embossed with a Confederation crest. Those who earned the award were also given preferential choice in their choice of education, civil service placement or military promotion.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="St. Ives Legion of Honor">St. Ives Legion of Honor</span> |The St. Ives Legion of Honor was unique in that it was the only decoration St. Ives military commendation that can also be awarded to civilians, and it was only awarded for service to St. Ives that had been well beyond expectations and which had often included personal sacrifice. Those inducted into the Legion were also given a landhold and a noble title on their homeworld as a part of the award.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/><br>The award decoration consisted of a platinum disc emblazoned with a mailed fist holding a sword, set against the stars of the St. Ives Compact. The disc was worn on a crimson ribbon.<ref name="FM:CCp41"/><ref name="HB:HLp111"/> |} === ComStar === Functioning as a peacekeeping force immediately following its public unveiling, the [[Com Guards]] never had the need of military decorations as it (supposedly) did not engage in any nondefensive military actions. This changed with the Guards involvement in the [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]] and increasing role in Inner Sphere affairs, with [[Precentor Martial of ComStar|Precentor Martial]] [[Anastasius Focht]] introducing a number of number of decorations to commemorate their achievements.<ref name="CS">''ComStar'', p. 83: "New Orders - New ComStar - Organization - Com Guards in Reformation - Com Guard Decorations</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="6" | [[Image:ComStar.jpg|100x100px|center]]<br />ComStar ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Tukayyid Campaign Ribbons">Tukayyid Campaign Ribbons</span> | A two-centimeter ribbon awarded to each member of the Com Guards who fought in the [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]], with a different color to indicate which Clan they faced. A number of divisions faced multiple Clans and thus a few warriors wear multiple ribbons. The colors are gray for [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]], midnight blue for [[Clan Nova Cat]], sky blue with white horizontal stripes for [[Clan Ghost Bear]], scarlet for [[Clan Wolf]], white for [[Clan Diamond Shark]], black with blue stripe for [[Clan Steel Viper]] and green for [[Clan Jade Falcon]]. A black star on the ribbon indicates each Clan BattleMech or fighter defeated by the wearer, while a silver star shows that the wearer was injured during the battle.<ref name="CS"/><ref name="FMCS-CS">''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 18</ref> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Star League Awards">Star League Awards</span> | Awarded to Com Guard troops who have served as part of the [[Clan War]] era [[Star League Defense Force]], the Star League Awards take the form of a two-centimeter silver [[Cameron Star]] hung from variously colored campaign ribbons. Like the Tukayyid Campaign Ribbons, each action has a unique color, white for Operation Bulldog with silver bars bearing the name of each planet fought on, blood red for [[Task Force Serpent]] with a silver bar listing the name of each battle fought, with a black bar added to either if the wearer took part in the [[Great Refusal]]. Those who served during the SLDF's peacekeeping efforts in the [[Chaos March]] and the St. Ives Compact received a two-tone green ribbon.<ref name="FMCS-CS"/> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="The Precentor's Sword">The [[Precentor]]'s Sword</span> | Considered a medal of honor in the Com Guards, this dagger shaped pin is personally awarded by the [[Primus of ComStar|Primus]] or [[Precentor Martial of ComStar|Precentor Martial]].<ref name="CS"/><ref name="FMCS-CS"/> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="The Focht Star of Honor">The Focht Star of Honor</span> | A silver, twelve-pointed star mounted on a red and white ribbon, the Star of Honor is awarded for acts of extreme valor. The award automatically grants the receiver a promotion to the next rank in [[ComStar]], or five years seniority if the receiver is already a Precentor. A total of 146 Stars of Honor were awarded in wake of the Battle of Tukayyid.<ref name="CS"/><ref name="FMCS-CS"/> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Sinclair Wings">Sinclair Wings</span> | An award specifically for [[aerospace fighter]] pilots who have demonstrated bravery above and beyond the call of duty, the Sinclair Wings commemorated the valiant sacrifice made by [[Adept]] [[Charles Sinclair]] on [[Tukayyid]].<ref name="CS"/><ref name="FMCS-CS"/> |} === Draconis Combine === Soldiers in the [[Draconis Combine]] are decorated in lavish and formal ceremonies. If the [[Coordinator]] himself is to bestow the honor, the recipient (who is the only member of the assembly allowed to wear his weapons) lays his weapons before him and prostrates himself before the throne, repeating the words "my life for yours" until he becomes hoarse. (In [[3025]] the record was three hours, 37 minutes, and 19 seconds). After the recipient is finished, he rises to his knees. The court chamberlain then brings the decoration to the Coordinator on a steel shield, and the Coordinator makes the presentation.<ref name=HKDCp140>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 140: "Medals and Decorations"</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="16" | [[Image:Draccombine.gif|100x100px|center]]<br />Draconis Combine ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|[[Image:Bushidoblade.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Bushido Blade">Bushido Blade</span> |Awarded to officers, the Bushido Blade is awarded in recognition of the demonstration of great courage or leadership on the field of battle.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/><br>The award consisted of a five-centimeter red circle divided by a black ''katana'' and was worn on the left breast pocket of dress uniforms.<ref name="FM:DCp21">''Field Manual: Draconis Combine'', pp. 21–22: "Medals and Decorations"</ref><ref name=HHK-153>''Handbook: House Kurita'', p. 153: "Pillar of Steel (The DCMS) - Medals and Decorations"</ref> |- |align="center"|<span id="The Fledgling">The Fledgling</span> |The Fledgling was awarded by the Warlord of the [[Pesht Military District]]. The award was presented to green ''[[Chu-i]]s'' who have performed beyond their expected limits, but cannot be worn once the recipient has reached the rank of ''[[Tai-i]]'' or higher. As the award was often received along with a promotion, many recipients never wore the award.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/><br>The Fledgling decoration consisted of a red braid which was attached just below the left collar and looped under the left arm.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Foundation of Galedon">Foundation of Galedon</span> |The Foundation of Galedon was only awarded to those serving in the [[Galedon Military District]] and was only awarded to a single individual each year. The Foundation of Galedon was awarded to a soldier in recognition of extraordinary courage and dedication to the Pillar of Steel; among the requirements for the award was strict adherence to ''bushido'', although that was far from the only or even the least requirement for earning the award.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/><br>The award itself hung from a blue and silver ribbon and consisted of a black pillar around which was coiled a silver dragon. Those who had been awarded the Foundation of Galedon were also eligible to display the award on the [[BattleMech]], aerospace fighter, [[battle armor]], or vehicle in the form of blue and silver bands painted on the arms, wings, or turret of their vehicle.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Guardian of the Lair">Guardian of the Lair</span> |The Guardian of the Lair was awarded to those serving in the [[Pesht Military District]] who had conducted heroic actions in the defense of the District. Worn on the left breast, below all other service ribbons and medals, the award consisted of a diamond-cut smoke-colored gem mounted in a gold setting when awarded to members of the [[Pesht Regulars]]; those from units other than the Regulars who received the award received the gem mounted in a silver setting, rather than a gold setting.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><br>After the defense of [[Luthien]] during the [[Clan Invasion]] the Warlord of the District, ''[[Tai-shu]]'' Ashora, received permission from [[Theodore Kurita]] to send a number of these awards to members of the [[Kell Hounds]] and [[Wolf's Dragoons]] mercenary units in recognition of their efforts during the battle.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Gloryofthefallensamurai.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Glory of the Fallen Samurai">Glory of the Fallen Samurai</span> |The Glory of the Fallen Samurai consisted of a banner awarded to the next of kin of a great leader who fell in battle and the etching of that fallen leader's name onto the [[Great Wall of Luthien]] alongside the names of those who fell before him. The banner itself was a black-and-red dragon banner and was awarded to the next of kin by the direct superior of the deceased.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/> ''Tai-sho'' [[Tomoe Sakade]] was the first woman to be honored with the Glory of the Fallen Samurai in [[3063]].<ref name=HHK-153/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Honorofwazakashi.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Honor of Wakizashi">Honor of Wakizashi</span> |The Honor of Wakizashi is "awarded" to those who placed their personal or family honor above that of House Kurita and the Draconis Combine. Normally the penalty for betraying House Kurita was execution, but high-ranking persons could be granted this "honor" instead. Upon receiving the medal, the officer drove his ''wakizashi'' into his abdomen, and his second then decapitated him immediately thereafter, allowing him to die with honor.<br />The chain was heavy and thick, to remind recipients of the weight of honor and duty.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/><br>In [[3025]] the last recipient of this honor was [[Brigadier General]] [[Djoran Belarguz]], aide to the treasonous [[Syovo Yorioshi]], [[Warlord]] of [[Benjamin]].<ref name=HKDCp140/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Honor Tree">Honor Tree</span> |Awarded to a citizen of Luthien whose actions have benefited the Combine in some significant or extraordinary manner, the [[Keeper of the House Honor]] presents the citizen with a special cutting selected from her garden. Typically the cutting is a bonsai tree, but occasionally different trees have been selected, the reasons known only to the Keeper and the honored citizen. The resulting trees are jointly cared for by the Keeper's staff and the citizen, for the life of the tree. As of 3067, the oldest known Honor Tree was that awarded to optical researcher Iago McMurphy in [[2849]] for his groundbreaking research that resulted miniaturization that saved the Combine billions of K-Bills in manufacturing costs annually.<ref name=HHK-153>''Handbook: House Kurita'', p. 153: "Pillar of Steel (The DCMS) - Medals and Decorations"</ref> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Katanaclusters.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Katana Cluster">Katana Cluster</span> |Consisting of a silver cast of the Kurita dragon banded with five different colors and hung from a green-and-black ribbon, the Katana Cluster was awarded annually to the MechWarrior from the [[Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery]] who achieved the largest number of kills in the preceding twelve months.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Kensai Kami Wreath">Kensai Kami Wreath</span> |Notable because it is not given to the top scoring warrior of each quarter's [[Kensai Kami]] but rather the recipient's parents, guardian or closest kin, the Kensai Kami Wreath honors the wisdom and guidance of the warrior's ancestors for providing the means and opportunities for the recipient's success. First given in [[2820]], the award takes the form of a bronzed wreath surrounding the Kurita dragon and is meant to be placed in the entrance way of the recipient's home, or if deceased, at their memorial marker. The Wreath was reinstated in [[3048]] when ''[[Kanrei]]'' Theodore Kurita resurrected the Kensai Kami.<ref name=HHK-153/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Knightofthesarmakandribbon.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Knight of New Samarkand Ribbon">Knight of New Samarkand Ribbon</span> |The Knight of New Samarkand Ribbon was bestowed personally by the [[Coordinator]] to an officer whose tactics and strategy resulted in a victory in battle against imposing odds.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/><br>Worn on the left side of the uniform, the award consisted of a red-and-black ribbon adorned with a depiction of an oriental tiger.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Orderofthedragon.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Order of the Dragon">Order of the Dragon</span> |The Order of the Dragon was the highest honor an officer could achieve. The Coordinator personally bestowed the medal, typically to those who had made large territorial gains on the Dragon's behalf. Recipients became Knights of the Order of the Dragon.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/><br>The Order of the Dragon hung on a blue-and-black ribbon and consisted of the black-on-red Kurita crest surrounded by a wreath of eight gold-tipped blue points.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Proserpinabar.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Proserpina Bar">Proserpina Bar</span> |Awarded to members of the [[Proserpina Hussars]] who demonstrate great skill or bravery against opponents, the Proserpina Bar consisted of a stylized dragon's claw made from bronze and obsidian.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/><br>Although the Proserpina Bar was unique to the Hussars, most DCMS units had similar decorations they award to their members.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Silver Claw">Silver Claw</span> |The Silver Claw was awarded by the Warlord of the [[Dieron Military District]]. Silver Claws were awarded after a given campaign; a single Silver Claw was awarded to each [[regiment]] of the [[Dieron Regulars]] that participated to the campaign, and was awarded specifically to the warrior within each regiment that achieved the most confirmed kills during the campaign.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/><br> The Silver Claw was a simple dragon-claw pendant that was only worn with informal dress. Those who received more than one Silver Claw often earned the Katana Cluster.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/><ref name=HHK-153/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Whitestarburstofrasalhague.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="White Starburst and Black Starburst of Rasalhague">White Starburst and Black Starburst of Rasalhague</span> |Attached to a blue-and-white striped ribbon, the white starburst resembled a galaxy, with its four arms spiraling outward from the center. A silver lightning bolt was depicted in the center. Prior to the establishment of the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] the Warlord of the [[Rasalhague Military District]] awarded the White Starburst of Rasalhague to a soldier whose action saved the lives of civilians or fellow soldiers.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/> <br />The Black Starburst of Rasalhague was identical to the White Starburst except that the starburst was black. Awarded posthumously to the soldier, this medal was draped over the soldier's coffin or buried beneath the soldier's memorial marker.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/> <br>Both of these awards were retained by the Free Rasalhague Republic, although the remit for awarding the medal expanded to include not just saving the lives of civilians or fellow soldiers but also other acts that served the Republic in an extraordinary fashion.<ref name="FM:DCp21"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Watcherofthedragonseye.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Watcher of the Dragon's Eye">Watcher of the Dragon's Eye</span> |This certificate was awarded to a civilian who actively protected the Draconis Combine. It was awarded for deeds ranging from discovering a spy in the administration, blowing up an ammunition dump behind enemy lines<ref name="FM:DCp21"/> to the sacrifice of entire civilian population of Edo on [[Turtle Bay]].<ref name=HHK-153/> During the Third Succession War, the certificate read: "His Imperial Lordship, Duke [[Takashi Kurita]], Unifier of Worlds, does hereby bestow upon [fill in the blank] the title of Watcher of the Dragon's Eye because of his/her undaunted bravery in the face of the enemy. May the Dragon watch over you." |} === Federated Commonwealth === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="7" | [[Image:Fedcom.gif|100x100px|center]]<br />Federated Commonwealth ! Award ! Information |- | align="center"|<span id="Federated Commonwealth Medal of Honor">Federated Commonwealth Medal of Honor</span> | Awarded to [[AFFC]] soldiers who had shown unflinching bravery at the risk of life and limb in service to the Federated Commonwealth, the vast bulk of those Medals of Honor to be awarded were done so posthumously. Taking the form of a Lyran Fist wielding a Federated Sword atop an engraved sunburst on a platinum disc, along with the medal itself, surviving awardees (or the immediate family of the deceased) automatically received a pension from the AFFC and preferential admission to FedCom academies and universities.<ref name=FMFS-30/> |- | align="center"|<span id="Federated Commonwealth Star">Federated Commonwealth Star</span> | One step lower than the Medal of Honor, the Federated Commonwealth Star was awarded to AFFC soldiers who had shown both unquestionable bravery and honor in combat and who had a positive and notable effect upon a major military action. The award itself was a five-pointed star made from platinum and worn as a medallion.<ref name=FMFS-30/> |- | align="center"|<span id="Order of Steiner-Davion">Order of Steiner-Davion</span> | Successor to the Order of Davion, this prestigious award was given to soldiers who had shown tremendous loyalty to the Steiner-Davion family and could only be awarded by the [[Archon-Prince]], [[First Prince]] or [[Archon]]. Much like its predecessor, the badge itself displayed the combined Steiner-Davion family crest, a crouched fox with Steiner-blue eyes atop a blood-red shield.<ref name=FMFS-30/> |- | align="center"|<span id="Pride of Sarna Medal">Pride of Sarna Medal</span> | One of three regional wards instituted by both the [[AFFS]] and [[LCAF]] following the Fourth Succession War, the Pride of Sarna Medal was awarded to soldiers who fought bravely under fire on the worlds of the [[Sarna March]]. Like the St. Ives Diamond and the Tikonov Sword, both the AFFS and LCAF kept this award active following the formal creation of the Federated Commonwealth.<ref name="FM:FSp30"/><br>The Pride of Sarna Medal was a medallion made from titanium displaying the world of [[Sarna]] framed in laurel, with a Federated Sword superimposed upon it.<ref name="FM:FSp30"/> |- | align="center"|<span id="Tikonov Sword">The Tikonov Sword</span> | The least frequently awarded of the three regional AFFC awards, the Tikonov Sword was awarded to those who performed bravely under fire on those worlds which had once been a part of the Tikonov Commonality within the Capellan Confederation.<ref name="FM:FSp30"/><br>The Tikonov Sword was a rapier with an ornate and intricate sterling-silver guard, and those who received the award were allowed to wear the sword with their dress uniforms.<ref name="FM:FSp30"/> |- | align="center"|<span id="St. Ives Diamond">St. Ives Diamond</span> | Perhaps the most frequently awarded of the three regional awards granted by the Federated Commonwealth, the St. Ives Diamond was issued to those who displayed bravery under fire whilst defending the worlds of the St. Ives Compact.<ref name="FM:FSp30"/><br>The St. Ives Diamond was a diamond-shaped medallion made from silver and inset with eighteen small emeralds, each emerald representing one of the eighteen worlds of the Compact.<ref name="FM:FSp30"/> |} === Federated Suns === Whilst the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] had a wide range of awards including medals and ribbons available that personnel could win, granting the most prestigious awards was the province of the High Command and the First Prince, and those awards were only awarded for heroism under fire or exemplary service to the realm.<ref name="HB:HDp132">''Handbook: House Davion'', pp. 132–133: "Medals and Honors"</ref> Within regiments only the commander of the regiment could recommend a member of the AFFS for an award; tradition within the AFFS maintained that heroic deeds helped glorify the honor of the regiment, and that such heroic deeds were considered actions performed in the line of duty — thereby generating the risk that the personal honor of individuals could be insulted by the offer of awards for acts considered to merely be a part of fulfilling one's duty to the regiment. By making the regimental commander the focus for recommendations for higher awards, the AFFS ensured that those higher awards were legitimately deserved and those further up the chain of command would be in no doubt of the recipient's worthiness. This contrasted somewhat with the tradition among the Dukes of the various Marches to award medals and ribbons for acts in defense of their respective realms, to the extent that an individual trooper could soon have a dress uniform heavy with such provincial awards, making the federation government more conservative again in how it presented awards to maintain the honor and prestige associated with them.<ref name="HD(TFS)p157">''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', pp. 157–159: "Medals and Decorations"</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="16" | [[Image:Federated_Suns_Logo.png|100x100px|center]]<br />Federated Suns ! Award ! Information |- | align="center"|<span id="Badge of Valor">Badge of Valor</span> | The Badge of Valor is distinct from its contemporary Robinson Medal of Valor.<ref name=RU>''Remaining Unperceived''</ref> |- | align="center"|<span id="Crucis Legion">Crucis Legion</span> | The Crucis Legion was one of two awards that were felt to have fed into the interservice rivalries that led to the rise of the [[Davion Warriors' Cabal|MechWarrior Cabal]] in the thirtieth century and eventually the MechWarrior Cabal's attempted mutiny against First Prince [[Peter Davion (30th c.)|Peter Davion]]. The Crucis Legion was retired when the Order of Davion was established.<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> |- | align="center"|[[Image:Dragons_slayer_ribbon.png‎|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Dragon Slayer's Ribbon">Dragon Slayer's Ribbon</span> | The Dragon Slayer's Ribbon was created by [[Hanse Davion]] and [[Archon]] [[Katrina Steiner]] in [[3024]]. The Ribbon was originally Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces commendation for military units who displayed exceptional performance against the forces of the Draconis Combine; the AFFS had a similar unit commendation, the Sword of St. George, but the two rulers felt that it would boost morale on both borders for the troops of each nation to see their allies flying the same commendation, as well as potentially demoralizing the forces of the Combine with the same sight.<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/><br>The first Ribbons were awarded just before the [[Fourth Succession War]] and a number of units received the award for their successful campaigning on the Draconis Front.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="FM:FSp30">''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', pp. 30–31: "Awards and Decorations"</ref> The last units to be awarded the Dragon Slayer's Ribbon prior to the [[Jihad]] were the [[Seventeenth Avalon Hussars]] and the [[Davion Assault Guards]], both of whom received the award for their actions during the FedCom Civil War.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><br>The ribbon itself displayed the symbol of the Draconis Combine rent by a sword; the ribbon was green and white.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/><ref name="FM:FSp30"/><br>The award was retired during the regime of [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] due to increasing closeness between the Draconis Combine and Federated Suns after the [[Clan Invasion]]. |- | align="center"|<span id="Emporia Medal of Valor">Emporia Medal of Valor</span> | A small gold medal that could be granted by the [[Count of Emporia|Count of]] [[Emporia]].<ref name=CN39>''Crimson Night'', ch. 39</ref> |- | align="center"|<span id="Federated Suns Medal of Honor">Federated Suns Medal of Honor</span> | Awarded to those soldiers who had displayed unflinching bravery in service to the [[Federated Suns]] and their fellow men despite risk to life and limb, a significant percentage of the total number of Medals of Honor awarded by the High Command were awarded posthumously. In addition to the award itself, living recipients of the Medal of Honor and the families of deceased recipients received an AFFS pension and preferential admission to universities and military academies within the Federated Suns.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><br>The Federated Suns Medal of Honor was a renamed iteration of the Federated Commonwealth Medal of Honor, and was kept on the books after the [[FedCom Civil War]], although none of these awards were issued between the end of the Civil War and the beginning of the Jihad.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><br>The Medal of Honor consisted of a platinum disk showing a gloved hand wielding a sword set upon a sunburst.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/> |- | align="center"|<span id="Federated Suns Star">Federated Suns Star</span> | Awarded to those soldiers who displayed unquestioning bravery and honor while under combat conditions, the bestowing of a Federated Suns Star acknowledged that the recipient had performed actions that had been demonstrated to have a positive and measurable impact upon a major military endeavor.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><br>The Federated Suns Star took the form of a platinum medallion in the shape of a five-pointed star.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/> |- | align="center"|[[Image:Knight_of_the_federated_suns.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Knight of the Federated Suns">Knight of the Federated Suns</span> | As with being granted membership of the Order of Davion, being made a Knight of the Federated Suns was a lifetime award; membership of the Knights was highly limited as only one hundred Knights had been allowed to serve at any one time<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> since the establishment of the Order just before the start of the [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]].<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/><ref name="FM:FSp30"/> Those granted membership were considered part of an elite group of unquestioned leaders, whether they were civilians or members of the military, and along with membership of the Knights the granting of this award also brought a generous annual stipend and a land grant.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/><ref name="FM:FSp30"/><br>Membership of the Order was open to any Federated Suns citizen, regardless of status or occupation, but membership had to be approved by the Royal Court; it was of the utmost importance that any potential candidate have demonstrated both unswerving devotion to the nation and unquestionable expertise in his or her profession. The vast majority of the Order's membership hailed from the military, but the Order also counted individuals from numerous other trades and professions among its ranks, including artists, economists, poets, politicians and even a former prostitute. When it was first established, the Order was a clear imitation of the Order of the Star established by the [[Star League]], but the prominence of the Knights continued to grow long after the demise of the Star League.<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/><br>The insignia worn by members of the Knights of the Federated Suns consisted of a Federated Sunburst embossed with the silhouette of a man or woman holding a sword above his or her head. Whether the insignia depicted the silhouette of a man or a woman was dependent upon the gender of the recipient.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/><ref name="FM:FSp30"/> The Order met in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Avalon City for formal meetings, and during those meetings the Knights wore long capes fashioned from ermine and fox fur. Tradition also dictated that members of the Order also carried a sword in one hand and the holy words of each individual Knight's religion in the other, although by the end of the Third Succession War the Knights had taken to carrying copies of the [[Unfinished Book]] during formal occasions.<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> |- | align="center"|[[Image:Limp_sword_flag.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Limp Sword Flag">Limp Sword Flag</span> | The Limp Sword Flag was granted in acknowledgement of a successful action in which a heavy blow was struck against the Capellan Confederation, and dozens of individual units received the award after the Fourth Succession War.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="FM:FSp30"/><br>The Limp Sword Flag took the form of a smashed BattleMech hand holding a dropping sword, set against an inverted green triangle on a black background.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="FM:FSp30"/><br>It was originally created by a soldier who was defacing a 'Mech he had destroyed with a symbol mocking the CCAF and insulting the reigning Chancellor at the same time over his inability to sire children. It was later adopted as an award after many soldiers carried on the tradition.<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> |- | align="center"|[[Image:Order_of_davion.png‎|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Order of Davion">Order of Davion</span> | The Order of Davion was established in [[2965]], ten years after the attempted mutiny against First Prince Peter Davion by the MechWarrior Cabal. The Order of Davion replaced two earlier awards, the Crucis Legion and the Order of Valor as it was felt that the older awards had fed into the interservice rivalries that led to the MechWarrior mutiny.<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> The Order of Davion was only granted to those soldiers who had demonstrated tremendous loyalty to [[House Davion]]<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> and could only be granted by the First Prince; once granted, membership of the Order was for life. The reputation of the Order of Davion was tarnished during the reign of [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]], but after the FedCom Civil War all of those Orders of Davion issued by Katherine were vacated, an act that restored the prestige associated with the award.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><br>Membership of the Order of Davion was reflected in the wearing of a badge displaying the crest of the Davion family, which consisted of a blood red shield above which was set a crouched, red-eyed fox.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> |- | align="center"|<span id="Order of Valor">Order of Valor</span> | The Order of Valor was one of two awards felt to have contributed to the formation of the MechWarrior Cabal and the subsequent attempted mutiny launched by the Cabal against First Prince Peter Davion. The Order of Valor was disestablished with the creation of the Order of Davion ten years after the events of the mutiny.<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> |- | align="center"|[[Image:Excalibur_medal.jpg|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Medal Excalibur">Medal Excalibur</span> | The highest and rarest honor that an individual in the Federated Suns could be granted, the Medal Excalibur was reserved for soldiers whose actions resulted in some major military or social advancement of the Federated Suns.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name=FMFS-30/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> The Medal Excalibur was awarded just thirty times between the fall of the Star League and the end of the [[Third Succession War]],<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> and despite the numerous and wide-ranging conflicts of the thirty-first century less than thirty-five Medals Excalibur had been awarded in total by the beginning of the Jihad.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name=FMFS-30/><br> The first person to be awarded the Medal Excalibur was [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Jessica Dewitt]] of the [[Third Avalon Hussars]] for the actions of her and a small band of volunteers when holding back forces from the Draconis Combine to allow the evacuation of [[Robinson]].<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/><br>The medal itself consisted of a gold disc engraved with legendary sword Excalibur embedded in an anvil<ref name=FMFS-30/><ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> with the Federated Sunburst behind it.<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> Those who received the Medal Excalibur are also awarded the moniker "Knight of the Realm"<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name=FMFS-30/>, the [[Nobility|Title]] of [[Baronet (noble title)|Baronet]]<ref>''A Time of War'', p. 352: "Baronet"</ref> and a land grant averaging 600 km².<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name=FMFS-30>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', pp. 30–31 "Awards and Decorations"</ref><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/><ref>''A Time of War Companion'', p. 247: "Average Landhold Property Table"</ref> Tradition dictated that the Medal Excalibur be worn on the dress uniform, rather than pinned to the Sunburst Vest alongside other medals. It was also notable that members of [[House Davion]] were ineligible for the medal.<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> :''See Also: [[Recipients of the Medal Excalibur]]'' |- | align="center"|[[Image:Robinson_medal_of_valor.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Robinson Medal of Valor">Robinson Medal of Valor</span> | Similar in many ways to the Syrtis Medal of Honor,<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/><ref name="FM:FSp30"/> the Robinson Medal of Valor was also often granted for political reasons<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="FM:FSp30"/> and could only be awarded by the commander of the Draconis March. The Medal of Valor was officially bestowed to recognize troops who while in service to the Draconis March had gone above and beyond the call of duty.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/><br>The Medal of Valor took the form of a burnished red disk emblazoned with a Sunburst and Federated Suns Sword over a Star of David.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/><ref name="FM:FSp30"/><br>Receiving the Medal of Valor also bestowed the title "Knight Defender of the Draconis March" on the recipient.<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> |- | align="center"|[[Image:Sunburst_medal.png‎|150px|center]]<span id="Sunburst Medal">Sunburst Medal</span> | Issued to soldiers and civilians for exceptional duty, devotion, and sacrifice in the name of the Federated Suns, a Sunburst Medal was awarded for heroic actions of importance or significance to the entire Federated Suns.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name=FMFS-30/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> Whilst many recipients were awarded the medal for military actions such as stemming a crucial enemy attack, the award of a Sunburst Medal wasn't limited to the military; there were instances of a Sunburst Medal being award to those who performed a courageous political or even economic action that was determined to be of great important to the entire nation.<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/><br>The Sunburst Medal could be awarded at one of three ranks: Silver, Gold, and Diamond.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name=FMFS-30/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> The Diamond, being the highest rank of Sunburst, was worn on the opposite breast of the dress uniform to a soldier's other ribbons and medals.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name=FMFS-30/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> The medal was referred to by its ranking: Silver Sunburst, Golden Sunburst, Diamond Sunburst.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name=FMFS-30/><br>The medal itself consisted of a black disk marked with a silver, gold or diamond sunburst.<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> |- | align="center"|<span id="Sword of St. George">Sword of St. George</span> | The Sword of St. George was a unit commendation awarded to units that had performed exceptionally well against forces from the Draconis Combine. The Sword of St. George was effectively retired from use when the AFFS adopted the Dragon Slayer's Ribbon.<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> |- | align="center"|[[Image:Syrtis_medal_of_honor.png‎|150px|center]]<br><span id="Syrtis Medal of Honor">Syrtis Medal of Honor</span> | Awarding the Syrtis Medal of Honor was strictly the provenance of the commander of the Capellan March Command, and the Medal of Honor was only awarded to those troops serving under his or her command. The recipients of the Medal of Honor were also given the right to use the title "Knight of the Capellan People".<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="FM:FSp30"/> It was relatively common for the Medal of Honor to be awarded for political reasons<ref name="HB:HDp132"/> particularly during the rule of Duke [[Michael Hasek-Davion]].<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/><br>The Medal of Honor was a diamond-shaped and was made from a mix of gold, silver and highly polished<ref name="HB:HDp132"/><ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/><ref name="FM:FSp30"/> black<ref name="HD(TFS)p157"/> |} === Free Rasalhague Republic === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="6" | [[Image:Free Rasalhague Republic.jpg|100x100px|center]]<br />Free Rasalhague Republic ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<span id="Golden Sun">Golden Sun</span> ([[apocryphal]]) | The Republic's highest honor, or at least highest honor available to mercenaries. In March [[3051]] it [[MechWarrior_2:_Mercenaries/Nightingale|was to be awarded]] to a mercenary after his successful rescue of two Rasalhague MechWarriors from [[Unzmarkt]], behind [[Clan Wolf]] lines. However, the mercenary had already departed for [[Outreach]].<ref name="MW2:M">[[MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries]]</ref> |- |align="center"|<span id="Miraborg Cross">Miraborg Cross</span> | Named for the heroic sacrifice of ''[[Kapten]]'' [[Tyra Miraborg]], the Miraborg Cross was the [[KungsArmé]]'s most sought after decoration for aerospace pilots, awarded to pilots who had five confirmed Clan fighter kills. Conferring an automatic promotion for the pilot and their standard wingmate, if any, the gold cross took the form of a square with all four sides extending out and tapering.<ref name=FMCS-67>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 67: "KungsArmé Awards"</ref> |- |align="center"|<span id="Raiding Ribbons">Raiding Ribbons</span> | The KungsArmé's Raiding Ribbons indicated the recipient's involvement in a successful raid against Clan forces on captured Republic worlds, with a separate color for each Clan: brown for Clan Wolf, green for the Jade Falcons, blue for the Ghost Bears and most rare of all, red for the Steel Vipers.<ref name=FMCS-67/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Tyr's Hand">Tyr's Hand</span> | Named for the Norse god who sacrificed one of his hands to trick the wolf ''Fenrir'', Tyr's Hand was awarded to any soldier who sacrificed (or makes a notable attempt to) his life to save his comrades or civilians. Often awarded posthumously, the Tyr's Hand took the form of a golden medal shaped like two crossed arms, the left lacking a hand, worn hanging from a black-white ribbon.<ref name=FMCS-67/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Whitestarburstofrasalhague.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="White Starburst and Black Starburst of Rasalhague">White Starburst and Black Starburst of Rasalhague</span> | One of the few Combine-era decorations retained by the Republic, the two Starbursts of Rasalhague were awarded by the ''[[Överbefälhavare]]'' to any DCMS soldier whose actions saved the lives of Rasalhague citizens or otherwise served the Republic some extraordinary fashion. Attached to a blue-and-white striped ribbon, the white starburst resembled a galaxy, with its four arms spiraling from the center and a silver lightning bolt was depicted in the center, while the posthumous Black version changed the starburst to black.<ref name=FMCS-67/> |} === Free Worlds League === Possessed of a particular affection for pomp and ceremony, the [[Free Worlds League]] established a number of awards, all intended to boost the morale and spirit of their fighting troops; with most MechWarriors and aerospace pilots qualifying for at least one higher level award, the personnel of the [[Free Worlds League Military]] looked suitably impressive when in full dress uniform.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110">''House Marik (The Free Worlds League)'', pp. 110–111: "Medals and Decorations"</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="13" | [[Image:Free Worlds League logo.png|100x100px|center]]<br />Free Worlds League ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|[[Image:FWLM awd-Allisons Chain.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Allison's Chain">Allison's Chain</span> | Awarded each year by the [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]], the Allison's Chain represented the [[FWLM]] unit that had demonstrated the most valor under fire during the previous year. Named for [[Harlan Allison]], the former Duke of [[Oriente]], the award took the form of a three-strand chain fashioned from gold, silver and platinum which the winning unit traditionally displayed by wrapping it around their regimental standard. Prior to the Jihad tradition maintained that no pennant adorned with the chain had ever fallen to the enemy.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/><ref name="FMFWL-25"/><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> Mercenary units were eligible to be awarded Allison's chain whilst in service to the Free Worlds.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:FWLM awd-Conquest Ribbons.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Conquest Ribbon">Conquest Ribbons</span> | Awarded for participation in the conquest or liberation of a planet, Conquest Ribbons also used the same color-coding system as the Raiding Ribbons, adding a purple border<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/> and the name of the planet embroidered in black text.<ref name="FMFWL-25"/><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> Originally, the color of the thread used for the text varied, with white thread being used for conquests on the Lyran front and black for conquests on the Capellan front.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:FWLM awd-Crest of the Eagle.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Crest of the Eagle">The Crest of the Eagle</span> | The Crest of the Eagle was established during the tenure of Captain-General [[Kenyon Marik]], who bore the nickname "The Eagle".<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/> Awarded to Free Worlds League Military MechWarriors who played key roles in successful campaigns, the Crest of the Eagle was generally given to formations of battalion size or greater, with many veteran League MechWarriors earning a number of Crests during their military service. The award of a Crest was subject to approval by Parliament<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/><ref name="FMFWL-24"/><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> — although, by the [[thirty-first century]], this was little more than a formality that served to allow members of Parliament to sing the praises of the units from their respective provinces and worlds<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/> — with the Captain-General nominating deserving units to Parliament for their approval. The Crest was displayed on a scarlet or purple sash.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/><ref name="FMFWL-24">''Field Manual: Free Worlds League'', p. 24</ref><ref name="HB:HMp106">''Handbook: House Marik'', pp. 106–107: "Medals and Honors"</ref> |- |align="center"|[[Image:FWLM awd-Defensive Operations Ribbons.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Defensive Operations Ribbon">Defensive Operations Ribbons</span> | Instituted by [[Thomas Marik]],<ref name="FMFWL-25"/> the Defensive Operations Ribbons indicated the successful defense from outside aggression. Each Defensive Operations Ribbon consisted of a purple ribbon with green edging, embroidered with the name of the world that had been defended; the color of the embroidery signified the origin of the attacker and used the same color scheme as the Raiding Ribbons.<ref name="FMFWL-25"/><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:FWLM awd-Distinguished Service.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="FWL Distinguished Service Award">Distinguished Service Award</span> | The Distinguished Service Awards were a series of medals representing the recorded kills claimed by the recipient. The award took the form of a bronze leaf-shaped lapel pin inset with a gemstone. The gemstone inset into the pin signified the tonnage of the enemy kills claimed; ruby signified that 500 tons of enemy 'Mechs or fighters have been disabled or destroyed, while emerald signified 1,000 tons, sapphire signified 2,500 tons and diamond signified 5,000 tons. For each 5,000 tons beyond the first 5,000 an additional diamond-inset pin was awarded.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/><ref name="FMFWL-2425">''Field Manual: Free Worlds League'', pp. 24–25</ref><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> Distinguished Service Awards were considered heirlooms and were passed down within families across the generations; if the stone from a Distinguished Service Award was ever offered for sale, it was a sign of true desperation on a part of the owning family or House.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="FWL Hall of Heroes">Hall of Heroes</span> | Induction into the Hall of Heroes was the greatest military honor awarded by League. The order maintained seven halls across the League, with the individual hall masters determining the requirement for issuing invitations to join. Invariably those inducted into the Hall had performed a great service or act of heroism for the FWLM or performed a similarly significant contribution to the military. Whilst any living member could use the title "Hero of the League", the greater proportion of members are inducted posthumously via a dedication ceremony; living recipients received a much more elaborate ceremony.<ref name="FMFWL-25"/><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> Of the seven halls, the most prestigious — and famous — were the Marik Hall, located on [[Atreus (FWL)|Atreus]] and the Orloff Hall, located on [[Vanra]].<ref name="HB:HMp106"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:FWLM awd-Life Service Medal.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Life Service Medal">Life Service Medal</span> | Awarded by the Captain-General, the Life Service Medal was an etched silver eagle's head mounted on a black ribbon and was automatically earned upon reaching 20 years of continuous service in the FWLM. For each additional decade in service beyond the first twenty an extra bar was added to the Medal's ribbon. The medal was derisively referred to as the "Old Buzzard's Crest"<ref name="FMFWL-25"/><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> or the "Chicken Hawk's Crest"<ref name="HB:HMp106"/> by many younger officers.<ref name="FMFWL-25"/><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:FWLM awd-Order of the Saber.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Order of the Saber">Order of the Saber</span> | The highest decoration awarded by the Free Worlds League, induction into the Order of the Saber was personally received from the Captain-General and recognized extraordinary heroism. The Order maintained chapter houses on a number of worlds across the League where members in need could receive free food and lodging.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/><ref name="FMFWL-25"/><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> The first four chapter houses were created on Atreus, [[Harmony]], [[New Olympia]] and [[Orloff]] and were constructed shortly after the [[Marik Civil War (28th c.)|first Marik Civil War]] in [[2737]]. These first four houses were protected fiercely by members of the Order, and were the subject of speculative rumors stating that technological artifacts predating the Succession Wars were contained within each chapter house.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Oriente Legion of Merit">Oriente Legion of Merit</span> | The highest decoration awarded by the [[Duchy of Oriente]], the Legion of Merit was primarily awarded to the Duchy's provincial forces, the [[Fusiliers of Oriente]] and the [[Oriente Hussars]]. Conferring on the recipient membership in an honorable society of the same name,<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/><ref name="FMFWL-25"/> there were exceptional cases were members of units from formations other than the Fusiliers and the Hussars but which were stationed in the Duchy received the award.<ref name="HB:HMp106"/> The decision on whether to issue the award was made by a three-person committee comprised of the commanding officer of each of the Fusiliers of Oriente and Oriente Hussars brigades and the current Duke of Oriente.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/><br>The award took the form of pin of crossed swords over a palm branch worn on the right lapel of a dress uniform. Tassels that hung beneath the pin showed the amount of time in the legion, with each red tassel indicating one year and each blue tassel denoting five years.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/><ref name="FMFWL-25"/><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:FWLM awd-Raiding Ribbons.png|150px|center]]<br /><span id="Raiding Ribbon">Raiding Ribbons</span> | Awarded to units with significant involvement in successful raiding missions, each Raiding Ribbon was color-coded to indicate the realm that had been raided; blue signified a raid against the Lyran Commonwealth or Lyran Alliance, gold the Capellan Confederation, red the Federated Commonwealth and green a minor Periphery power. Some of the bolder recipients of a Raiding Ribbon painted slashes of the same color on their 'Mech or fighter to advertise their exploits.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/><ref name="FMFWL-25">''Field Manual: Free Worlds League'', p. 25</ref><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:FWLM awd-Regulan Ankh.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Regulan Ankh">Regulan Ankh</span> | The official medal of honor for units from the [[Principality of Regulus]],<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/><ref name="FMFWL-25"/><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> the Regulan Ankh was awarded to the [[Regulan Hussars]] and other units who serve the Regulan state with distinction.<ref name="FMFWL-25"/> Traditionally accompanied by a land grant,<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/><ref name="FMFWL-25"/> the Ankh was forged from white gold set with turquoise and was alleged to provider the wearer a reserve of strength in times of need.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/><ref name="FMFWL-25"/><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:FWLM awd-The Silver Cross.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Silver Cross">The Silver Cross</span> | Frequently awarded posthumously, the Silver Cross was the League's highest decoration for aerospace pilots and is awarded for acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. The award followed the pattern of the ancient [[Terra]]n Maltese Cross with the addition of a diamond set in its center, and conferred a knighthood on the recipient.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/><ref name="FMFWL-24"/><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> A number of recipients of the Silver Cross started an organization named "The Order of the Silver Cross" in mimicry of the "Order of the Saber"<ref name="FMFWL-24"/><ref name="HB:HMp106"/> with the intention of countering alleged bias towards MechWarriors in the FWLM, although the Order remained a form of loyal opposition even when disagreeing with decisions made by the Captain-General.<ref name="HB:HMp106"/><br>The Silver Cross was established as an award during the [[Reunification War]] and was first awarded to pilots fighting in the campaign against the Magistracy of Canopus. Tradition dictated that if a recipient of the Silver Cross encountered another individual fraudulently wearing a Silver Cross awarded to another person, the recipient was obliged to challenge the offending party to a duel.<ref name="HM(TFWL)p110"/> |} === Lyran Commonwealth/Lyran Alliance === The [[Lyran Commonwealth]]—and, for its brief existence, the [[Lyran Alliance]]—issued a number of awards intended to reward exemplary service. Many of the awards issued were relatively minor, particularly as the Commonwealth had a tradition of awarding campaign ribbons for more than direct combat deployments, allowing even those who hadn't seen combat to qualify for a variety of ribbons and medals denoting where and against whom they served. Whilst this practice was derided by many as an act of vanity, a number of awards demanded a higher degree of service or bravery.<ref name="HB:HSp113">''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 113–114: "Medals and Honors"</ref> The campaign ribbons issued were generally very similar in design; most consisted of two-centimeter silver discs hung on blue ribbons. The Silver discs were inscribed with the relevant world and date of service; those commemorating Lyran victories were larger and more ostentatious than those signifying defeats. When signifying battles the blue ribbons were intertwined with colored threads, with the colors representing the opponents faced in battle; green signified the Capellan Confederation, red the Draconis Combine, gold the Federated Suns, purple the Free Worlds League and black the Clans.<ref name="FMLA-33"/> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="15" | [[Image:Lyran_Alliance_Logo.png|100px|center]]<br />Lyran Commonwealth/Lyran Alliance ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Alliance Star">Alliance Star</span> | The retained Lyran Alliance version of the Federated Commonwealth Star, the Alliance Star was awarded in recognition for uncommon acts of bravery and honor in combat situation that benefited the Lyran military.<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="FMLA-33"/><br>The medal was a five-pointed star made of platinum and hung from a red ribbon worn around the recipient's neck.<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="FMLA-33">''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', pp. 33–34: "Medals and Decorations"</ref> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Archon Award for the Arts">Archon Award for the Arts</span> | A famous prize for eminent citizens who had distinguished themselves in the field of the arts, it carried with it an automatic grant of [[noble|nobility]], to the rank of Baron.<ref name=HSLCp87>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 87</ref> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Medalofhonr.png|100px|center]]<br /><span id="Commonwealth Medal of Honor">Commonwealth Medal of Honor</span> | The Commonwealth Medal of Honor (and, briefly, the Alliance Medal of Honor) was the highest award the Lyran nation could give to an individual and was awarded in recognition of uncommon valor and self-sacrifice. Living recipients were also inducted into the [[Knights of Donegal]], although a significant number of the Medals were awarded posthumously.<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="HS-126">''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', pp. 126–127: "Medals and Decorations"</ref><ref name="FMLA-32">''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 32</ref><br>The exact form of the Medal of Honor varied slightly. The basic medal consisted of a large silver disk with a gold star set on it, and hung on a green-and-silver ribbon. The ribbon supporting the medal hung from a gold bar, divided into either three or five segments; the Commonwealth Medal of Honor had a three-segment bar,<ref name="HS-126"/> while the Alliance Medal of Honor had a five-segment bar; the bar on the Commonwealth Medal symbolized the three nations that came together to form the Commonwealth, while the bar on the Alliance Medal symbolized the five provinces of the Lyran Alliance.<ref name="FMLA-32"/> Both the Commonwealth and Alliance Medal of Honor were available in three grades, each of which had its own signifier — a silver bar, a gold oak leaf cluster or a diamond cluster.<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="HS-126"/><ref name="FMLA-32"/> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Dealby Prize for the Advancement of Science">Dealby Prize for the Advancement of Science</span> | A famous prize for eminent citizens who had distinguished themselves in the field of science, it carried with it an automatic grant of [[noble|nobility]], to the rank of Baron.<ref name=HSLCp87>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 87</ref> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Dragonslayerribbon.png|100px|center]]<br /><span id="Dragonslayer's Ribbon">Dragonslayer's Ribbon</span> | Awarded to regiments that had performed with exceptional skill against the forces of the Draconis Combine,<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="HS-126"/><ref name="FMLA-34"/> the Dragonslayer's Ribbon took two forms. Both the Commonwealth iteration and the Alliance iteration of the Dragonslayer's Ribbon used a green-and-white pennant hung from the regimental standard,<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="HS-126"/><ref name="FMLA-34"/> but [[Archon]] [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]] added a depiction of the dragon of the Draconis Combine being throttled by a Steiner fist to the banner<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="FMLA-34"/> where the Commonwealth Ribbon merely displayed the Kurita crest.<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="HS-126"/><ref name="FMLA-34"/> The Alliance iteration of the award was only issued once - to the [[First Skye Jaegers]] — prior to the end of the FedCom Civil War, and Archon [[Peter Steiner-Davion]] ordered that the dragon-and-fist emblem be removed from the Ribbon.<ref name="HB:HSp113"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Eaglesfeather.png|100px|center]]<br /><span id="Eagle's Feather">Eagle's Feather</span> | Similar to the Dragonslayer's Ribbon, the Eagle's Feather was awarded to regiments that had performed with exceptional skill against the forces of the Free Worlds League. Unlike the Dragonslayer's Ribbon the award is an actual black tail feather from the rare [[Atreus Fighting Eagle]] and was displayed in the recipient unit's officer's mess.<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="HS-126"/><ref name="FMLA-34"/> Mercenary units in Lyran employ were eligible to win the Eagle's Feather.<ref name="HS-126"/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Falconslayer's Medallion">Falconslayer's Medallion</span> | Introduced in the wake of the [[Jade Falcon Incursion (3064)|Jade Falcon Incursion]] in [[3064]], the Falconslayer's Medallion was awarded to Lyran regiments who performed with exceptional skill against Clan Jade Falcon. The award took the form of a golden disc with an engraved Steiner Fist over two crossed feathers enameled in jade green. The medallion was displayed beneath the Steiner banner in the receiving command's main lounge or briefing room.<ref name="HB:HSp113"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Honorofskye.png|100px|center]]<br /><span id="Honor of Skye">Honor of Skye</span> | Awarded not by the Lyran High Command or Archon but instead by the leader of the [[Federation of Skye]], the Honor of Skye was given to soldiers who demonstrated exemplary bravery while defending a planet within the Federation.<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="HS-126"/><ref name="FMLA-33"/><br>The medal consisted of a large gold disc which depicting an ancient Scottish warrior brandishing a claymore and was worn on an emerald green ribbon around the neck.<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="HS-126"/><ref name="FMLA-33"/> |- |align="center"|<span id="McCleary Award for Heroism">McCleary Award for Heroism</span> |Honoring the heroic sacrifice of aerospace fighter pilot [[Dan McCleary]], the medal is awarded for heroism in battle.<ref name=TRO3025-162>''Technical Readout: 3025'', p. 162: "CHP-W5 Chippewa"</ref><ref name=TRO3025R-170>''Technical Readout: 3025 Revised'', p. 170: "CHP-W5 Chippewa"</ref><ref name=TRO3039-216>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 216: "CHP-W5 Chippewa"</ref> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Mckennsygroundpoundersmedal.png|100px|center]]<br/><span id="McKennsy Ground-Pounder's Medal">McKennsy Ground-Pounder's Medal</span> | Originally conceived as an award for non-'Mech ground force members for valor on the battlefield, the McKennsy Ground-Pounder's Medal became an award for enlisted troopers in all combat arms over time. Once the Ground-Pounder's Medal became associated with enlisted personnel across all of the services it stopped being awarded to officers; officers were instead awarded the McKennsy Hammer. The medal was a stylized representation of the full McKennsy's Hammer and was worn about the neck on a blue ribbon.<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="HS-126"/><ref name="FMLA-34"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Mckennsyhammer.png|100px|center]]<br/><span id="McKennsy Hammer">McKennsy Hammer</span> or <span id="McKennsy's Hammer">McKennsy's Hammer</span> | Physically the largest award issued by any military, the [[Bearer of McKennsy Hammer (CCG - CommandersEdition)|McKennsy Hammer]] took the form of a nine-kilogram silver block hammer<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="HS-126"/><ref name="FMLA-34"/> stylized after the hammer associated with the ancient Norse deity Thor,<ref name="HB:HSp113"/> and was awarded for particularly effective leadership and battlefield skills,<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="HS-126"/><ref name="FMLA-34"/> intended to represent the weight of responsibility such officers carry.<ref name="FMLA-34"/> Normally carried only on formal occasions, a silver miniature is also pinned to the right breast of the recipients dress uniform or school rag.<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="FMLA-34"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Orderofkatherinesteiner.png|100px|center]]<br /><span id="Order of Katherine Steiner">Order of Katherine Steiner</span> | Named for the original [[Katherine Steiner]], the Order of Katherine Steiner was reserved for Lyran aerospace and naval personnel who distinguished themselves in combat. Worn on a blue ribbon, the medal consisted of a gold Steiner Fist set against a silver propeller,<ref name="HS-126"/> with a silver bar added to the ribbon for each additional time the recipient had received it.<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="FMLA-34"/> |- |align="center"|[[File:Orderoftamartigers.png|100px|center]]<br /><span id="Order of Tamar Tigers">Order of Tamar Tigers</span> | Awarded by the leader of the [[Tamar Pact]] or [[Tamar Domains]]<ref name="HS-126"/><ref name="FMLA-34"/> and later by the Duke or Duchess of [[Tamar]],<ref name="HB:HSp113"/> the Order of the Tamar Tigers conferred membership in a fellowship of the same name.<ref name="HS-126"/><ref name="FMLA-34"/> The medal took the form of a large silver sunburst engraved with the insignia of the Tamar Tigers,<ref name="HB:HSp113"/><ref name="HS-126"/><ref name="FMLA-34"/>and normally took pride of place on a dress uniform or on formal clothes for retired soldiers, worn separately from other medals.<ref name="HS-126"/><ref name="FMLA-34">''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 34</ref> The Order of the Tamar Tigers was awarded for those acts of valor made in defense of the Lyran nation, rather than solely to honor those who served the interests of the former Tamar Pact.<ref name="HB:HSp113"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Unit-Citation-of-Merit.png|100px|center]]<span id="The Unit Citation of Merit">The Unit Citation of Merit</span> |The Unit Citation of Merit was awarded to any regiment that had fought bravely against superior enemy numbers and emerged victorious. In addition to the unit citation, members of the regiment at the time of the victory received either the McKennsy Ground-Pounder's Medal or the McKennsy Hammer, as appropriate.<ref name="HS-126"/><br>The Unit Citation of Merit took the form of a long black-and-Steiner-blue ribbon which was displayed on the regimental standard.<ref name="HS-126"/> |} === Republic of the Sphere === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="5" | [[Image:Republic of the Sphere logo.png|100x100px|center]]<br />[[Republic of the Sphere]] ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<span id="Exarch's Badge">Exarch's badge</span> | Awarded for embodiment of the Republic's ideals, the Exarch's badge was the highest award that can be given by the Republic of the Sphere and symbolized that the wearer could be considered the embodiment of [[Devlin Stone]]'s ideals having met the highest standards of service. Only four recipients are selected from among the military or (less commonly) the civilian citizenry by the [[Exarch of the Republic|Exarch]] each year, based on recommendations by the [[Paladin of the Republic|Paladins]]. The award was presented in a ceremony at the Magnum Park in Geneva on Terra, and each was presented by the Exarch personally; those receiving the award were brought to Terra along with their families at the expense of the Republic government, and the award brought with it a sizeable monetary sum and a land grant on a planet chosen by the recipient.<ref name="FM:3085p171">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 171: "Awards and Decorations"</ref><br>Each Badge consisted of the ten-pointed Republic Star cast in gold; in the center of the star was an embossed image of Terra. The Badge hung on a red-and-blue ribbon, and the ribbon bore a gold crossbar inscribed with the surname of the recipient.<ref name="FM:3085p171"/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Medal of Freedom">Medal of Freedom</span> |The Medal of Freedom was the highest of the purely civilian awards available in the Republic and was considered an approximate equivalent to the Silver Republic Cluster. Recipients for the Medal of Freedom were nominated by a governor or senator; nominations reflected actions undertaken to preserve and protect the liberty of citizens and residents of the Republic, and foreign nationals could be awarded the Medal, although this was a rare occurrence and those foreign nationals had to have performed a worthy service to the people of the Republic.<ref name="FM:3085p171"/><br>The Medal of Freedom consisted of a silver five-pointed star hanging on a blue and silver ribbon; adorning the ribbon was a silver crossbar inscribed with the Republic motto "Ad Securitas Per Unitas."<ref name="FM:3085p171"/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Redburn Cross">Redburn Cross</span> |Named for [[General]] [[Andrew Redburn]], any Republic soldier wounded or killed in combat was eligible for the award of a Redburn Cross. The Redburn Cross differed from the other awards given in the Republic in that there was no specific ceremony for awarding each Cross, and Crosses were normally presented to the recipients by their commanding officer once the RAF personnel administration had confirmed the recipient's eligibility. Each eligible incident could result in the award of a Redburn Cross; by [[3085]], just a few short years after the founding of the Republic, one individual — [[Corporal]] [[Elias Goodspeed]], a soldier within the [[IX Hastati Sentinels]] — had received no less than six Crosses for injuries sustained during the conflicts with the Capellan Confederation.<ref name="FM:3085p171"/><br>The Redburn Cross was made from deep crimson stone, cut in the shape of a Canterbury cross and polished, and was gilded along the edges and down each arm. In the center of the Cross was a small gold representation of the emblem of the Republic, and the Cross hung on a crimson ribbon.<ref name="FM:3085p171"/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Republic Cluster">Republic Cluster</span> |The Republic Cluster actually consisted of three different awards, the Gold Cluster, Silver Cluster and Bronze Cluster, and all represented either acts of merit or exemplary service on the part of the recipient. Each Cluster could also be awarded to the same recipient more than once during their lifetime or be awarded posthumously.<ref name="FM:3085p171"/><br>The Gold Cluster was the highest purely military decoration available in the Republic. The Gold Cluster consisted of the Republic crest cast in gold and set against a gold starburst.<ref name="FM:3085p171"/><br>The Silver Cluster consisted of the Republic crest cast in silver and set against a silver starburst and was the highest Republic decoration that could be awarded to noncitizens or foreign nationals.<ref name="FM:3085p171"/><br>The Bronze Cluster differed from the Silver and Gold Clusters in that it was usually awarded for acts undertaken outside of combat. The Bronze Cluster consisted of the Republic crest cast in bronze and set against a bronze starburst.<ref name="FM:3085p171"/> |- |} === The Star League === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="14" | [[Image:Star League Logo.png|100x100px|center]]<br />Star League ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|[[Image:SLDFawardDeKirk Medal.png|75px|center]]<br><span id="DenKirk Medal">DeKirk Medal</span> | The DeKirk Medal was awarded to diplomats and politicians for exemplary work in improving the moral stature of the government.<ref name=TSL-136/><ref name="FM:SLDFp30"/> To qualify for the DeKirk Medal an individual had to be nominated by a district administrator in the [[Bureau of Star League Affairs]]; the various nominations were then voted on by the [[Star League Council]] members during the annual Winter Meeting. The recipient of a DeKirk Medal was usually an individual who had successfully improved the bureaucracy of the Star League, rather than making it more burdensome.<ref name="FM:SLDFp30"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:SLDFawardGeerson Flying Cross.png|75px|center]]<br><span id="Geerson Flying Cross">Geerson Flying Cross</span> | Named for [[Lieutenant]] [[Naomi Geerson]], the SLDF's first aerospace ace, the Geerson Flying Cross was awarded annually to the best aerospace fighter pilot.<ref name=TSL-136/><ref name="FM:SLDFp30"/> The Geerson Flying Cross was presented in the same ceremony as the McKenna Wheel in December of each year, and a part of the tradition was for the chosen recipient to receive the Flying Cross from the winner of the previous year.<ref name="FM:SLDFp30"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:SLDFawardHegemony Medal.png|75px|center]]<br><span id="Hegemony Medal">Hegemony Medal</span> | Awarded to soldiers from the [[Terran Hegemony]] for their nonmilitary conduct, particularly when dealing with members of the other member states, to be considered a worthy recipient of the Hegemony Medal a candidate must have performed actions that would serve as examples to others of what a Star League soldier should be. A potential recipient must also have received a nomination from an SLDF officer of the rank of Colonel or higher.<ref name=TSL-136/><ref name="FM:SLDFp29">''Field Manual: SLDF'', p. 29: "Medals and Decorations"</ref> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Sldfawardmckennawheel.png|75px|center]]<br /><span id="McKenna Wheel">McKenna Wheel</span> | Issued annually, the McKenna Wheel was awarded to the crew of the [[WarShip]] selected as the best trained and most efficient within the Star League Navy, and was awarded in a ceremony overseen by the fleet admiral of the Navy in December of each year.<ref name=TSL-136/><ref name="FM:SLDFp30"/> One of the few SLDF awards retained intact by the Clans, the McKenna Wheel was also among the awards revived by the second Star League.<ref name=FMCS-82/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Sldfawardmedalofvalor.png|75px|center]]<br /><span id="Medal of Valor">Medal of Valor</span> |Awarded for gallantry and professionalism in the face of enemy forces, the Medal of Valor was a Cameron Star made from precious metals hung around the recipient's neck from a black and silver ribbon. Presented by the [[Commanding General of the Star League Defense Force|Commander of the SLDF]] and included a substantial cash bonus and automatic advancement in rank, unless the recipient was already at the rank of [[Colonel]] or higher. The recipient was also usually inducted into the Order of the Sword upon retirement.<ref name="FM:SLDFp30">''Field Manual: SLDF'', p. 30: "Medals and Decorations"</ref><ref name=TSL-136/> The Medal of Valor was among the awards revived by the second Star League.<ref name=FMCS-82/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Sldfawardmedalofdove.png|75px|center]]<br /><span id="Order of the Dove">Order of the Dove</span> | Membership of the Order of the Dove was awarded to those men and women who had devoted themselves to peace, and to the unity of the Star League. The director of the BSLA was the head of the Order of the Dove, and most of those selected to become Knights of the Dove were drawn from the BSLA, although others including artists and business leaders were also chosen.<ref name=TSL-136/><ref name="FM:SLDFp31"/><br>Membership of the Order entitled the recipient to wear a large medallion on a sash.<ref name="FM:SLDFp31"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Sldfawardmedalofpalm.png|75px|center]]<br /><span id="Order of the Palm">Order of the Palm</span> |Awarded to administrators who increased efficiency of the Star League or who exposed corruption within the bureaucracy.<ref name=TSL-136/><ref name="FM:SLDFp31"/> The Order of the Palm was formed at the request of the BSLA, and the First Lord was convinced to establish the Order because of the Order's charge to expose corruption. The inspiration for the Order was believed to have been a movie from Ancient Terra in which a naval officer battled against a pompous and cruel superior officer.<ref name="FM:SLDFp31"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Sldfawardorderofstar.png|75px|center]]<br /><span id="Order of the Star">Order of the Star</span> | Membership of the Order of the Star was the highest lifetime award available to both civilians and soldiers for advancing the Star League. The leader of the Order of the Star was the First Lord, and to have been chosen to become one of the one hundred Knights of the Star indicated that the chosen recipient's life was littered with examples of them advancing the Star League. The rewards of being selected to be a member of the Order of the Star included money, a grant of land, and the honor of giving their opinions to the First Lord.<ref name=TSL-136/><ref name="FM:SLDFp31">''Field Manual: SLDF'', p. 31: "Medals and Decorations"</ref> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Sldfawardorderofsword.png|75px|center]]<br /><span id="Order of the Sword">Order of the Sword</span> |Awarded to soldiers who honored the tenets of the SLDF, membership of the Order of the Sword reflected that an individual had shown repeated bravery and adherence to the tenets of the SLDF. Those admitted to the Order were given the title "Knight of the Sword", and the head of the Order was the serving Commanding General.<ref name=TSL-136/><ref name="FM:SLDFp31"/><br>Members of the Order displayed a large medallion on a sash.<ref name="FM:SLDFp31"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:SLDFawardShandra Noruff Ribbon.png|75px|center]]<br><span id="Shandra Noruff Ribbon">Shandra Noruff Ribbon</span> | Awarded to the winners of the [[Martial Olympiad]] and named for the SLDF's first Commanding General, [[Shandra Noruff]], the Ribbon consisted of a wide gold and green streamer depicting a charging lion, the Noruff family symbol, with the year it was earned affixed to the ribbon in gold. Individual winners were also allowed to paint the Noruff lion on their vehicles.<ref name=TSL-136/><ref name="FM:SLDFp30"/> The last Shandra Noruff Ribbon was awarded in [[2736]].<ref name="FM:SLDFp30"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Sldfawardmedalofhonor.png|75px|center]]<br /><span id="Star League Medal of Honor">Star League Medal of Honor</span> |This was the highest award which could be given to a citizen of the [[Star League]], either for extreme courage in combat or, if civilian, for extraordinary individual actions.<ref name=TSL-136/><ref name="FM:SLDFp29"/> Typical actions worthy of a Medal of Honor included extreme courage upholding the honor of the SLDF in defiance of overwhelming odds, or actions that raised the standard of living for members of the Star League or led to a marked improvement in the relations between member states.<ref name="FM:SLDFp29"/><br>Presented by the [[First Lord]] himself<ref name=TSL-136/> in a ceremony conducted at the Court of the Star League, the Medal of Honor also came with the honorary title "Keeper of the Star League's Honor", and it almost always<ref name="FM:SLDFp29"/> came with membership in either the Order of the Sword or the Order of the Dove.<ref name=TSL-136>''The Star League'', pp. 136–137: "Medals and Decorations"</ref><ref name="FM:SLDFp29"/><br>The Medal of Honor consisted of [[Cameron Star]] made from precious metals and jewels hung around the recipient's neck on a blue, green and white ribbon.<ref name=TSL-136/><ref name="FM:SLDFp29"/> The Medal of Honor was among the awards revived by the second Star League.<ref name=FMCS-82>''Field Manual: ComStar'', pp. 82–83: "Star League Defense Forces - Awards"</ref> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Sldfawardredcross.png|75px|center]]<br /><span id="Star League Red Cross">Star League Red Cross</span> | The Star League Red Cross was awarded annually to either the best doctor or group of doctors and nurses who had saved lives through their actions; both military and civilian medical personnel were eligible for the award, and while it was often awarded for valor under fire, actions demonstrating exemplary service outside of combat were also eligible. One of the more famous examples of a civilian medical team receiving the Red Cross was the team led by Doctor [[Enid Gustafsson]] who were responsible for isolating the vaccine that ended the [[2699]] [[Cromarty Superflu]] Epidemic.<ref name="FM:SLDFp30"/> |- |align="center"|<span id="SLDF Campaign Ribbons">SLDF Campaign Ribbons</span> | Created by the Second Star League, each uniquely colored campaign ribbon denotes which battles the recipients fought in under the banner of the new SLDF. Each two centimeter ribbon was worn on the left chest of dress uniform.<ref name=FMCS-82/> |- |} === Word of Blake === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="3" | [[Image:Wob.gif|100x100px|center]]<br />Word of Blake ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Liberation Star">Liberation Star</span> | Created in the wake of [[Operation Odysseus]], the Blakist replacement for the Star of Honor, the Liberation Star, was awarded for acts of extreme valor and automatically grants the receiver a promotion to the next rank in the Word of Blake, or five years seniority if the receiver was already a Precentor.<ref name="FMCS-WoB"/> |- |align="center"| <br />Tukayyid Campaign Ribbons | While sharing a common origin, the Tukayyid Campaign Ribbon was only the [[ComStar Schism|pre-Schism]] Com Guard decoration retained by the [[Word of Blake Militia]].<ref name="FMCS-WoB">''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 50</ref> |- |} === Mercenaries === As a profession, mercenaries were largely dismissive of medals and decorations, regarding them in many cases as being little more than cheap flattery; a limited number of awards did carry more weight within the mercenary community, however.<ref name="FM:Mp31">''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 31: "Medals and Decorations"</ref><ref name="FM:MRp35">''Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised'', pp. 35–36: "Medals and Decorations"</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="6" | Mercenaries ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<span id="Blue Star">The Blue Star<br><br>The Blue Star of Kerensky</span> | The Blue Star or Blue Star of Kerensky was originally an award established by Commanding General Aleksandr Kerensky of the Star League Defense Force during the [[Amaris Civil War]]. Kerensky awarded thirty-seven Blue Stars during the Amaris Civil War in recognition of "unswerving loyalty in the face of great hardship", but the awards outlived the Star League — when Kerensky led the bulk of the SLDF on the Exodus, all thirty-seven recipients of the Blue Star chose to remain in the Inner Sphere, refusing to break the pledges they had given. In the aftermath of the Exodus thirty-two of those thirty-seven Blue Star recipients formed the mercenary command known as the [[Blue Star Irregulars]] — three of the thirty-seven recipients having retired and passed away, and two having dropped out of sight within a year of the Exodus.<ref name="FM:Mp31"/><ref name="FM:MRp35"/><br>The Blue Stars became items that were passed on from person to person for several centuries; whenever a medal holder died or retired from active duty, the entire membership of the Blue Star Irregulars voted on a new recipient to take on the medal from the previous holder; previous holders were allowed to nominate a successor, and each nomination counted as fifty votes. During the existence of the Blue Star Irregulars no nomination made by a retiring member was ever overturned by the popular vote. Those nominated had to have demonstrated loyalty to the Blue Star Irregulars and a commitment to the honorable conduct of war, however.<ref name="FM:Mp31"/><ref name="FM:MRp35"/><br>On two occasions a holder of a Blue Star left the Blue Star Irregulars to join another mercenary command; on each occasion that individual's Blue Star was returned to the Blue Star Irregulars following that individual's death in combat. Only once was a medal actually lost due to damage in combat, and in that instance a new medal was fashioned from the metal of the [[Rommel]]-class tank operated by the warrior in question.<ref name="FM:Mp31"/><br>In terms of appearance each Blue Star was a piece of blue steel with a gold-etched shield in the center, and each medal was edged in red enamel.<ref name="FM:Mp31"/><ref name="FM:MRp35"/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Hound's Tooth">The Hound's Tooth</span> | Created by the mercenary command known as the [[Kell Hounds]] in the thirty-first century, the Hound's Tooth was awarded to warriors who had fought alongside the Kell Hounds and who had done so in a fashion that earned the respect of the Hounds through a combination of skill, courage and honor, attributes strongly associated with [[Morgan Kell|Morgan]] and [[Patrick Kell]], the two brothers responsible for founding the Kell Hounds.<ref name="FM:Mp31"/><ref name="FM:MRp35"/><br>The Hound's Tooth took the form of a white enamel pin shaped like a large canine tooth.<ref name="FM:Mp31"/><ref name="FM:MRp35"/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Legion of Karsskhov">Legion of Karsskhov</span> | The Legion of Karsskhov award was founded by the mercenary unit known as [[Avanti's Angels]] in [[3058]]; the award was created specifically to recognize a sacrifice made beyond the call of duty to protect either a member of the Angels or the entire unit. Of the first three recipients to be inducted into the Legion, two were inducted posthumously, including [[Brent Karsskhov]], the individual for whom the award was named.<ref name="FM:Mp31"/> By [[3067]] five individuals had been awarded membership of the Legion — four posthumously.<ref name="FM:MRp35"/><br>Each individual inducted into the Legion of Karsskhov received a pledge from the Angels to extend whatever aid they could whenever the recipient requested it; each award recipient was entitled to display the emblem of the Legion, which consisted of a black silhouette of a ''[[Phoenix Hawk]]'' 'Mech flanked by two golden angelic wings, on his or her BattleMech.<ref name="FM:Mp31"/> |- | align="center" |<span id="Shield of Valhalla">The Shield of Valhalla</span> | The Shield of Valhalla award was commissioned by Lord [[Jarvo Parmus]], a nobleman and former mercenary who lived in Silesia, a section within [[Solaris City]] on [[Solaris VII]]. The Shield was awarded to those mercenary MechWarriors who could verifiably prove that they had successfully destroyed at least one enemy BattleMech of each weight class during a mercenary contract, with the proviso that the contract had to have been taken on Solaris VII.<ref name="FM:MRp35"/><br>The Shield was established as an award in [[3064]] and consisted of a bronze medallion in the shape of an ancient Viking helmet set against two crossed battleaxes on a circular field, and was worn on a short blue and gray ribbon.<ref name="FM:MRp35"/> |- | align="center" |<span id="Walls of Honor">The Walls of Honor</span> | The [[Mercenary Review and Bonding Commission]] established the Walls of Honor on Outreach in [[3060]] with the intent of honoring those mercenaries killed or declared missing in action during Operation BULLDOG, but the award was extended over time to include those who had been killed or lost since the Clan Wars.<ref name="FM:MRp35"/><br>The Walls of Honor consisted of a series of three-meter wide, five-meter tall rectangular columns of polished black marble; four such walls were in place by 3067, with two more sections due to be added. The row of marble columns stood on a special ferrocrete deck overlooking the shores of Lake Kearny, and the two additional sections were intended to honor those mercenaries who fell in the FedCom Civil War or other related combat actions.<ref name="FM:MRp35"/><br>Etched into each column face and lacquered in gold were the details of each of the mercenaries who had fallen; each warrior had an entry consisting of their name, the logo of the mercenary force they were a member of and the year in which he or she had fallen or was declared lost.<ref name="FM:MRp35"/><br>Only those mercenary commands with the highest citations for honor and excellence were allowed to add the names of their fallen warriors to the wall, and the decision on whether they were worthy or not was adjudicated by a review panel chaired by the MRBC; the panel included permanent representatives from the Kell Hounds, [[Northwind Highlanders]] and [[Wolf's Dragoons]] along with members from three other additional highly rated mercenary commands chosen each year.<ref name="FM:MRp35"/> |- |} == Periphery Nations == === Magistracy of Canopus === The Magistracy of Canopus operated a system of lower-level awards that may be obtained through a combination of a certain degree of skill or bravery and a payment to the [[Magistracy Armed Forces]], although the request to obtain such an award had to be endorsed by a superior officer of the rank of Colonel (or equivalent) and higher. In addition to these lower level awards the Magistracy created three awards between the founding of the Magistracy and the end of the [[thirty-second century]] that either required extraordinary levels of service to the Magistracy or which couldn't be purchased.<ref name="HB:MPSp87">''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 87: "Awards and Decorations"</ref> While awards in general attracted little significance, thanks in large part to recognition being a purchased commodity, the three highest awards represented excellence and loyalty, and merited respect throughout the length and breadth of the Magistracy.<ref name="FM:Pp27">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 27: "Awards and Decorations"</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="9" | [[Image:Magistracy of Canopus logo.png|100x100px|center]]<br />Magistrate of Canopus ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|[[Image:Award_-_canopus_cluster.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Canopus Cluster">The Canopus Cluster</span> | The Canopus Cluster was the only higher-level award issued by the Magistracy that can be awarded for acts of heroism outside the military arena; while the award was partly purchased, it was also only available to those who had performed an act that spares the Magistracy harm.<ref name="HB:MPSp87"/><ref name="FM:Pp27"/> The award could be given in recognition of political,<ref name="HB:MPSp87"/><ref name="FM:Pp27"/> economic or even artistic achievements.<ref name="HB:MPSp87"/><br>The award took the form of an earring molded in a twist and designed to be worn on the upper portion of the left ear.<ref name="HB:MPSp87"/><ref name="FM:Pp27"/> The form of the Canopus Cluster was a manifestation of the strong female bias that always pervaded Magistracy society.<ref name="FM:Pp27"/> The metal from which the award was molded signified the nature of the act for which the award was given; platinum represented military heroism, gold represented economic accomplishment, bronze represented political achievement and brass represented any other form of service. The recipient of a Canopus Cluster could choose to donate a sum of money to add a single gemstone to the Cluster; depending upon the amount donated, the gemstone could be either a ruby (100,000 C-bills), a diamond (50,000 C-bills), an emerald (25,000 C-bills) or a lapis lazuli (10,000 C-bills).<ref name="HB:MPSp87"/><ref name="FM:Pp27"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Award_-_fist_of_raventir.png‎|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Fist of Raventhir">Fist of Raventhir</span> | First established in [[2997]] to celebrate the unwavering loyalty demonstrated by the Raventhiri bloodline during their centuries of service to the Magistracy, the Fist of Raventhir was awarded by the Magestrix following a vote in which every commissioned officer in the MAF voted for the soldier they felt best exemplified such dedication. Once the votes had been cast, the [[Magestrix]] spent a month reviewing the service record of each candidate and deliberating the results before making the final choice and bestowing the award on the recipient.<ref name="HB:MPSp87"/><ref name="FM:Pp27"/><br>The Fist of Raventhir consisted of a titanium medallion showing an armored fist holding the crest of the Magistracy in a protective grasp, and was worn on a red silk ribbon.<ref name="HB:MPSp87"/><ref name="FM:Pp27"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Award_-_ribbon_of_the_magestrix.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Ribbon of the Magestrix">Ribbon of the Magestrix</span> | The last of the three higher-level awards to be created by the Magistracy, the Ribbon of the Magestrix was initially established to honor those Canopian units that fought during the [[Capellan-St. Ives War]] of the 3060s, although since the award was created the Ribbon was also presented to units that have taken part in bandit-hunting raids outside the borders of the Magistracy. While the citizens of the Magistracy and the personnel of the MAF came to recognize the Ribbon of the Magestrix as an appropriate addition to the various MAF honors, the award remained somewhat controversial to those units that had a history of fighting against Capellan forces.<ref name="HB:MPSp87"/><ref name="FM:Pp27"/><br>The Ribbon of the Magestrix consisted of a black or white circular battle banner within which was displayed a stylized Magistracy logo; the colors of the award represented the type of mission that had been completed. Members of units presented with the Ribbon of the Magestrix were allowed to weave black or white ribbons into their hair when entering battle, although this remained an optional choice.<ref name="HB:MPSp87"/> When the award was first created [[Senior General]] [[Hadji Doru]] attempted to argue that the latter display brought an air of unprofessionalism to the MAF, but his advice was overruled by the Magestrix.<ref name="FM:Pp27"/> |} === Marian Hegemony === Within the [[Legiones Marianes]] there were five decorations available as awards for those who offered sterling service to the realm, a number of which brought with them not just the immense prestige associated with an award but also a range of financial awards or social advancement. Collectively, the five awards available represented the highest honors any Marian citizen could receive.<ref name="HB:MPSp159">''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 159: "Awards and Decorations"</ref><ref name="FM:Pp74">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 74: "Decorations and Medals"</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="9" | [[Image:Marian Hegemony logo.png|100x100px|center]]<br />Marian Hegemony ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Aquilifer">Aquilifer</span> | The Aquilifer had the distinction of being a position of honor within a military unit, rather than a medal. The Aquilifer was the position given to the individual responsible for carrying the unit standard — or "Aquila" — into battle. The soldier honored with the position of Aquilifer wore a patch on his or her uniform depicting an eagle perched atop the unit's colors, and recipients of the award were those perceived as being exemplars of the morals and standards of the professional soldier, possessing attributes that included steadfast courage in battle and pushing themselves beyond their limits when required. In battle, fellow soldiers would rally to the Aquilifer and to the flag carried from his or her BattleMech or vehicle.<ref name="HB:MPSp159"/><ref name="FM:Pp74"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:MhCoronaarea.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Corona Aurea">Corona Aurea</span> | Presented to commemorate either a single-handed victory over a superior enemy or another suitable act that caused a spectacular triumph for the Hegemony, the Corona Aurea — "Crown of Gold" — consisted of a gold medallion cast in the shape of a laurel wreath.<ref name="HB:MPSp159"/><ref name="FM:Pp74"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:MhCoronaCivica.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Corona Civica">Corona Civica</span> | The counterpart to the Corona Aurea, the Corona Civica or "Oak Leaf Crown" was awarded in recognition of acts of selflessness in service to others, whether those others were civilians or fellow soldiers.<ref name="HB:MPSp159"/><ref name="FM:Pp74"/><br>The Corona Civica took the form of a silver oak-leaf cluster.<ref name="HB:MPSp159"/><ref name="FM:Pp74"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:MhCoronaGramina.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Corona Graminea">Corona Graminea</span> | The Corona Graminea — "Crown of Grass" — was awarded in recognition of acts of valor far beyond the call of duty. The requirements for earning such an award were extremely high, befitting the status of the Corona Graminea as the most prestigious award in the Marian Legions.<ref name="HB:MPSp159"/><ref name="FM:Pp74"/> Actions that earned the award of a Corona Graminea included such examples as the actions of the ''Secunda Cohors'' of [[IV Legio]] during the conquest of [[Trondheimal]] during the campaign to annex the [[Illyrian Palatinate]], actions that kept the ''Prima Cohors'' of IV Legio intact long enough to defeat the spirited and strenuous Illyrian defense.<ref name="HB:MPSp159"/> Between the founding of the [[Marian Hegemony]] and the beginning of the Jihad the Corona Graminea was awarded just five times — and none of those awards were won by a plebeian.<ref name="HB:MPSp159"/><ref name="FM:Pp74"/><br>The Corona Graminea award consisted of two physical pieces: a crown fashioned from woven grasses, and a jade medallion carved to resemble a grass blade.<ref name="FM:Pp74"/><ref name="HB:MPSp159"/> The grass used to weave the crown was sourced from the world or battlefield on which the deeds that earned the award, where possible,<ref name="HB:MPSp159"/> and the crown was only worn during the ceremony in which it was presented. Once the ceremony was over, the crown was preserved in the recipient's home in a suitable place of honor. In addition to the crown and medallion, each award also granted the recipient a land grant and a position within the Marian Senate.<ref name="HB:MPSp159"/><ref name="FM:Pp74"/> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Order of Scipio">Order of Scipio</span> | Named for Scipio Africanus, the famed Roman general from the history of ancient Terra, the Order of Scipio was awarded to an entire unit in recognition of an overwhelming victory achieved by that unit on the battlefield. Actions such as capturing a planetary capital qualified a unit for the Order of Scipio, and when the award was presented, all members of the unit were inducted into the Order. Those inducted into the Order were entitled to wear a pin depicting an eagle perched atop a Roman ''gladius'', and in addition to membership of the Order the award also bestowed a pension and a small land grant on each recipient.<ref name="HB:MPSp159"/><ref name="FM:Pp74"/> |} === Outworlds Alliance === The [[Outworlds Alliance]] is unusual in that it managed to remain a proudly pacifistic nation for the greater part of its existence, and the few military awards that were issued by the Alliance reflected the conscious choice by the [[Alliance Military Corps]] to recognize actions that save lives, rather than using awards in manners that could come uncomfortably close to glamorizing or glorifying warfare.<ref name="HB:MPSp140">''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 140: "Awards and Decorations"</ref><ref name="FM:Pp90">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 90: "Awards"</ref> There was one notable exception to the rule; within the aerospace community, the pilots of the [[Alliance Aerospace Arm]] granted an informal award when they bestowed the title of "ace" on pilots with five or more accredited kills. The title brought with it no medal or ribbon, but nevertheless it carried considerable prestige, and it was very unusual for the Chairman of the AAA to not be an ace.<ref name="HB:MPSp140"/><ref name="FM:Pp90"/> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="4" | [[Image:Outworlds Alliance_logo.png|100px|center]]<br />Outworlds Alliance ! Award ! Information |- | align="center"|[[Image:Cerberus Cluster.png|100px|center]]<span id="Cerberus Cluster">Cerberus Cluster</span> | The Cerberus Cluster was established as an award in [[3066]] and was intended to both be the equivalent of the Gallucci Cross for those forces in the Alliance Ground Defense Arm and to form part of a servicewide effort to improve morale and performance within the AGDA. As with the Gallucci Cross the Cerberus Cluster was awarded once per year to the AGDA whose combat abilities showed the greatest improvement, as judged by his or her commanding officer. The Directors within the AGDA each nominated one candidate per year — assuming that each had a candidate deemed fit to receive the award — and each candidate's nomination and recent simulator scores were submitted to the Military Review Board for adjudication. While members of the Military Review Board made the final decision on who would receive the Cerberus Cluster, simply being nominated to receive the award carried a certain cachet.<ref name="HB:MPSp140"/><ref name="FM:Pp90"/><br>The Cerberus Cluster consisted of a brass clover leaf two inches square and hung from a blue-and-white ribbon emblazoned in silver in the middle of the clover leaf was the year in which the award was won, and as with the Gallucci Cross being selected as the recipient also brought a pay raise.<ref name="HB:MPSp140"/><ref name="FM:Pp90"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Oagalluccicross.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Gallucci Cross">Gallucci Cross</span> | Named for [[Ed Gallucci]], the first accredited ace in the Alliance Military Corps, the Gallucci Cross was awarded once each year to the most improved pilot within the AAA. Although the award was officially granted by the Military Review Board, the actual winner was decided by a vote of all of the aces within the AAA, with the Military Review Board deferring to the collective judgment of the community of aces.<ref name="HB:MPSp140"/><br>The Gallucci Cross was a brass equal-armed cross two inches square and hung from a green and white ribbon; the ribbon featured the year in which the cross was won, detailed in molded silver. In addition to the award of the Cross itself, being selected as the recipient also brought a pay raise.<ref name="HB:MPSp140"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:OaPitcairnstar.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Pitcairn Star">Pitcairn Star</span> | The award known as the Pitcairn Star was created in honor of a soldier from another realm — [[Colonel]] [[Elias Pitcairn]], the former [[Davion Brigade of Guards]] officer who led the forces of the [[Pitcairn Legion]] in the defense of the Outworlds Alliance during the [[Reunification War]]. The Pitcairn Star was awarded to members of any unit that defied enormous odds to keep civilians safe, as judged by the Military Review Board; by the thirty-first century bandit attacks on the Alliance were common enough that ten or more Pitcairn Stars were being awarded each year, many of them posthumously.<ref name="HB:MPSp140"/><ref name="FM:Pp90"/><br>For living recipients the Pitcairn Star consisted of an inch-wide blue-steel disc from which eight half-inch silver points radiated outwards in the eight cardinal directions, and the Star hung from a short white ribbon. Those Pitcairn Stars issued posthumously replaced the central disc with a black central disc and used a white ribbon trimmed in black.<ref name="HB:MPSp140"/><ref name="FM:Pp90"/> |} === Taurian Concordat === The Taurian Defense Force had issued enough campaign and special-achievement ribbons to make them relatively commonplace and such awards were recognized as such. In addition to the commonplace awards the TDF issues a small number of higher-level awards that recognize a higher level of accomplishment.<ref name="HB:MPSp116">''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 116: "Awards and Decorations"</ref><ref name="FM:Pp54">''Field Manual: Periphery'', pp. 54–55: "Awards and Decorations"</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="5" | [[Image:Taurian_Concordat_1.jpg‎|100x100px|center]]<br />Taurian Concordat ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|[[Image:TcConcordatsunburst.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Concordat Sunburst">Concordat Sunburst</span id> | Presented by the [[Protector of the Realm|Protector]], the Concordat Sunburst was only granted to an individual or dedicated to a group that had won an awe-inspiring victory on behalf of the Concordat. Those victories that earned the award were usually victories achieved in the face of seemingly impossible odds, were nearly thwarted by unforeseeable conditions, or were of such magnitude that their amazing success demanded attention, and once a Concordat Sunburst had been awarded, a request for a Taurian Brand often followed.<ref name="HB:MPSp116"/><ref name="FM:Pp54"/><br>The award was approximately ten centimeters in diameter and took the form of a gold disk with eight gold tines radiating outwards; each of the tines was edged in red enamel, and the Concordat emblem was displayed in the center of the disk.<ref name="HB:MPSp116"/><ref name="FM:Pp54"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Tchaydesheart.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Hyades Heart">The Hyades Heart</span> | Often awarded posthumously, the Hyades Heart was awarded to individuals who had undergone great personal sacrifice in the defense of the Concordat, sacrifices that could and did include valiant last stands. Those few to be awarded the Hyades Heart whilst still alive included those who have been left scarred and disabled to an individual who was forced to lead a fight through his village and live with the fact that he was responsible for sacrificing his family and the majority of his friends during the fight.<ref name="HB:MPSp116"/><ref name="FM:Pp54"/><br>The Hyades Heart consisted of a white heart trimmed in gold leaf and is worn dangling from a gold and blood-red ribbon.<ref name="HB:MPSp116"/><ref name="FM:Pp54"/> |- |align="center"|[[Image:Tcstandardoftaurus.png|150x150px|center]]<br /><span id="Standard of Taurus">The Standard of Taurus</span> | Only issued to those soldiers who epitomize the standard to which all Taurian soldiers might aspire, the Standard of Taurus signified such attributes as extreme bravery, exceptional talent, an unimpeachable moral code or proven dedication and all have been considered worthy of the award at one time or another.<ref name="HB:MPSp116"/><ref name="FM:Pp54"/><br>The Senior Marshal or a Corps Marshal handed out the Standard of Taurus; the award consisted of the emblem of the Concordat hanging from a gold bar.<ref name="HB:MPSp116"/><ref name="FM:Pp54"/> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Taurian Brand">The Taurian Brand</span> | The origins of the Taurian Brand predated the Taurian Concordat and were believed to have begun within the ethnic group on ancient Terra referred to as "Native Americans". The Taurian Brand became a popular military tradition among the TDF after the first battle between Taurian and Federated Suns forces, during which a popular Taurian naval commander took a hit across his brow from laser fire. The wound created a mask-like scar and left the commander blind, and to honor the commander and commemorate the battle many of those who survived tattooed a red mask around their eyes.<ref name="HB:MPSp116"/><ref name="FM:Pp54"/><br>During later years the TDF used the Taurian Brand to recognize those units that had performed a feat or been involved in an action that earned them the immediate acclaim of the Taurian citizenry; in such an event, the regimental commander was allowed to request the privilege of wearing the Brand. If the request was granted, the award was presented to the unit by the senior marshal, although those looking to wear the brand had to also request permission from their [[battalion]] commander. In each generation thereafter one direct, name-bearing descendant may take the Brand. MechWarriors qualifying for the Brand were also allowed to paint the Brand on their machines.<ref name="HB:MPSp116"/><ref name="FM:Pp54"/> ''The Brand is not always a mask over the eyes; each time the Brand is awarded the facial tattoo is different and unique to the event it was awarded for. NO person is yet known to bear more than a single Brand.'' |} == Clans == The Clans as a whole bestow very few awards; only two forms of achievement were universally recognized and awarded across the Clans, and those two were the award of a [[Bloodname]] and the issue of a Remembrance Insignia. The Remembrance Insignia was named after [[The Remembrance]], and while the Insignia took a slightly different form from Clan to Clan, the criteria for the award remained constant: the recipient had to have merited specific mention in The Remembrance of either their own Clan or another Clan. Traditionally, the Remembrance Insignia was worn on the right breast of a uniform.<ref name="FM:CCp12">''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 12: "Decorations and Awards"</ref> ===Clan Blood Spirit=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="2" | [[Image:Clan Blood Spirit logo.png|100x100px|center]]<br />Clan Blood Spirit ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<span id="Blooding">Blooding</span> | The only award to be created by [[Clan Blood Spirit]], the Blooding was considered an honor secondary only to earning a Bloodname. To be considered for a Blooding, a Blood Spirit warrior had to have been seriously injured in battle while trying to save his or her [[Star|Starmates]], and must also still have achieved victory. Whilst the award was considered a recognition of the warrior's commitment to their fellow warriors and to Clan Blood Spirit as a whole, such actions were also considered to be no more than what any Blood Spirit warrior should do; recognizing such actions helped to reinforce the practice from generation to generation, however, and Bloodings were awarded if a minimum of ten out of the fourteen other warriors within the candidate's [[Trinary]] petitioned the [[Khan]] to have their comrade receive the award. If the votes were cast and the candidate was found worthy a Blooding medal would be bestowed in person by the Khan.<ref name="FM:CCp28">''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 28: "Decorations"</ref><br>Worn on the left breast of the dress uniform, the Blooding medal took the form of a marbleized, blood-red Cameron Star.<ref name="FM:CCp28"/> |- |} ===Clan Cloud Cobra=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="4" | [[Image:Clan Cloud Cobra.jpg|100x100px|center]]<br />Clan Cloud Cobra ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Cross of Devotion">Cross of Devotion</span> | The highest decoration awarded by Clan Cloud Cobra, the Cross of Devotion was awarded only to those who have performed the noblest service to both their Clan and the Way. An exceedingly rare award, all Bloodnamed warriors and current bearers of the award in that warrior's cloister had to unanimously approve the warrior in question's service, as well being approved by the warrior's Galaxy Commander, [[ecKhan]], [[saKhan]] and [[Khan]]. Taking the form of a star cluster atop a Maltese cross set over the Clan's insignia or emblazoned on the Cross of Fellowship if the warrior was a fellow in their Cloister, the award could only be presented by the Khan, saKhan and ecKhan at a gathering of the warrior's Cluster or Cloister. Each supplementary award added an additional star cluster, the clusters balanced evenly on the cross.<ref name=FMWC-29/> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Cross of Fellowship">Cross of Fellowship</span> | A medallion signifying fellowship in a [[Clan Cloud Cobra]] [[Cloister]], the Cross of Fellowship was presented to a warrior upon their ordination within a Cloister. Each Cloister used a slightly different cross, though most took the form of a Maltese cross emblazoned with the Cloister's emblem.<ref name=FMWC-29>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', pp. 29–30: "Clan Cloud Cobra - Uniforms and Insignia - Decorations"</ref> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Clan Cloud Cobra Remembrance Bar">Remembrance Bar</span> | Like many Clans, the Cloud Cobras awarded the Remembrance Bar to any warrior who earned a place in ''The Remembrance''. Inscribed with the passage and verse in which the warrior was named, the Cloud Cobra variation mounted the bar above a Maltese cross set over the Clan's insignia. The bar was generally mounted above the Crosses of Fellowship and Devotion if the recipient has received those awards.<ref name=FMWC-29/> |- |} ===Clan Coyote=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="4" | [[Image:Clan Coyote.jpg|100x100px|center]]<br />Clan Coyote ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"| <br />Campaign and Battle Ribbons | Bestowed by the Coyote leadership, each individual warrior could be awarded an array of campaign and battle ribbons, as well as special citations awarded to [[Trinary|Trinaries]] or [[Cluster]]s by the Coyote Khans. These citations were mounted on a unit's standard and carried with pride into combat.<ref name=FMWC-48>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 48: "Clan Coyote - Uniforms and Insignia - Decorations"</ref> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Coyote's Claw">Coyote's Claw</span> | In some respects a more prestigious version of the Remembrance Bar, the Coyote's Claw recognized courage and honor far above the call of duty. The first part of the award was a silver coyote's paw inscribed with the details of the warrior's mention in ''The Remembrance'', the second a light-weight gauntlet fashioned like a coyote's paw, complete with titanium-diamond claws.<ref name=FMWC-48/> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Clan Coyote Remembrance Bar">Remembrance Bar</span> | Like many Clans, the Coyotes award the Remembrance Bar to any warrior who earned a place in ''The Remembrance''. Inscribed with the passage and verse in which the warrior was named, the Coyote variation is mounted on the right breast under the Clan's insignia.<ref name=FMWC-48/> |- |} ===Clan Diamond Shark=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="3" | [[Image:Clan Diamond Shark.jpg|100x100px|center]]<br />Clan Diamond Shark ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="The Diamond Fin">The Diamond Fin</span> | Awarded by the [[Merchant Caste]] to anyone who had enhanced the profits of Clan Diamond Shark, the Diamond Fin took the form of exquisite diamond in a setting molded like a shark fin, worn as either an earring or ring.<ref name=FMWC-67>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 67: "Clan Diamond Shark - Rituals and Decorations"</ref> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Deathstrike">Deathstrike</span> | The only martial decoration awarded by Clan Diamond Shark, the Deathstrike was spawned by — and named for — [[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Diamond Shark)|the Shark's Deathstrike Galaxy]], awarded to MechWarriors or fighter pilots who could claim to have taken down three times their machine's tonnage in a single battle, or an [[Elemental]] when a single [[Point]] took down fifty tons of BattleMechs without assistance.<ref name=FMWC-67>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 67: "Clan Diamond Shark - Rituals and Decorations"</ref> |- |} ===Clan Fire Mandrill=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="2" | [[Image:Clan Fire Mandrill.jpg|100x100px|center]]<br />Clan Fire Mandrill ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<span id="Feud Ribbon">Feud Ribbon</span> | Only one form of decoration was adopted by the warriors of [[Clan Fire Mandrill]] beyond those decorations common to all of the Clans; that decoration was the Feud Ribbon. Feud Ribbons were awarded to those warriors who had slain a warrior from a Clan with which the Fire Mandrills were feuding. Whilst official feuds were uncommon, the relative availability of Feud Ribbons was a benchmark as to where relations stood between the Fire Mandrills and other Clans. A case in point was the continuing issue of [[Clan Burrock]] Feud Ribbons to individual warriors after the [[Trial of Absorption|Absorption]] of the Burrocks by [[Clan Star Adder]].<ref name="FM:CCp45">''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 45: "Rituals, Decorations and Awards"</ref> |- |} ===Clan Ghost Bear=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="3" | [[Image:Clan Ghost Bear logo.png|100x100px|center]]<br />Clan Ghost Bear ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Shield of Tseng">Shield of Tseng</span> | Bestowed by the saKhan to one warrior per year, the Shield of Tseng was awarded to those who show selfless dedication to Clan Ghost Bear, even at the expense of their personal honor. The award took the form of a two-centimeter silver shield worn as a pin on the left collar of a warrior's dress uniform.<ref name=FMWC-87>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 87: "Clan Ghost Bear - Uniforms - Awards and Decorations"</ref> |- |align="center"|<br /><span id="Spear of Jorgensson">Spear of Jorgensson</span> | Awarded to warriors who won the Shield of Tseng a second time, the recipient instead received the Spear of Jorgensson, marking them as being among the Ghost Bear's most elite warriors. In a solemn ceremony the Ghost Bear's Khan painted a spearhead design on the Shield of Tseng's pin, using red enamel paint mixed with a drop of blood from both the Khan and the recipient.<ref name=FMWC-87/> |- |} ===Clan Hell's Horses=== [[Clan Hell's Horses]] established only two forms of award unique to their Clan.<ref name=FM:CCp61>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 61: "Awards"</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="3" | [[Image:Clan Hell's Horses.jpg|100x100px|center]]<br />Clan Hell's Horses ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<span id="Mark of the Horse">The Mark of the Horse</span> | The Mark of the Horse, is the most significant award short of a [[Bloodname]] or a mention in [[The Remembrance]] for Hell's Horses warriors. To be awarded with the Mark of the Horse a warrior from Clan Hell's Horses had to successfully complete a ritual known as the Branding. Each warrior had the opportunity to take part in the Branding rite at some point in their careers; the rite had been created to represent the founding principles of the Clan, man before machine and cooperation over glory.<ref name=FM:CCp61/><br>The rite was conducted twice a year, once on Founding Day and once on the anniversary of the [[Operation Exodus|Exodus]] from the Inner Sphere; each rite saw a number of selected warriors dispatched to hunt the Circian [[Hell's Horse (species)|hell's horse]]. The hunters have to capture a hell's horse, brand it, and then release it back into the wild; the nature of the ritual demonstrated respect for the Hell's Horses totem and the value of cooperation. Those who survived the rite had the event recorded in their codex and were awarded the Mark of the Horse by the Khan. Successfully acquiring the Mark of the Horse significantly enhanced a warrior's chance at achieving high rank in a [[Trial of Position]] or of being nominated for a Bloodname.<ref name=FM:CCp61/><br>The Mark of the Horse is a gold pentagon set on a platinum eight-pointed star with oversized cardinal points. The brand design used in the Branding rite is engraved in gold on the pentagonal shield. The Mark of the Horse measures 8 centimeters across. The medal is worn on an iron chain around the neck, which symbolizes the strength of the warrior's commitment to the values of Clan Hell's Horses. The Mark of the Horse may be worn with the Clan's ceremonial uniform.<ref name=FM:CCp63>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 63: "Awards"</ref> |- |align="center"|<span id="Hell's Horseshoe">Hell's Horseshoe</span> | Awarded to warriors who have twenty battlefield kills, measured in [[Point (Formation)|Points]], in other words, two full [[Binary|binaries]].<ref name=FM:CCp63/> The Hell's Horseshoe is awarded to individual MechWarriors and aerospace pilots; but for infantry it is awarded to Points, which complicates record-keeping for kills when infantry Points are reorganized. Additionally MechWarriors and aerospace pilots have an advantage in earning this award because two enemy infantrymen are considered a Point for the purposes of counting kills. The Hell's Horseshoe is considered an outdated award and presented with little fanfare.<ref name=FM:CCp63/> Further, it is seen as a mark of vanity and therefore something contrary to the Clan's values of unity and cooperation.<ref name=FM:CCp61/><br>The Hell's Horseshoe is a gold horseshoe centered on a hexagonal pin that is twice as big as the Hell's Horses' rank insignia pin. It may only be worn on the dress uniform.<ref name=FM:CCp63/> |- |} ===Clan Ice Hellion=== The warriors of [[Clan Ice Hellion]] awarded two awards unique to the Clan; the first, the Remembrance Bar, was the Ice Hellion iteration of the Remembrance Insignia. The second award, Cage's Clasp, was unique to the Ice Hellions. The Ice Hellions bestowed awards in ritual ceremonies that praised Clan Ice Hellion, [[Nicholas Kerensky]] and the recipient, in that order; the ceremonies were usually held on the battlefield upon which the recipient performed the deeds that earned the award. The Ice Hellions also enforced a distinction between how freeborn and trueborn warriors were allowed to display their awards.<ref name="FM:CCp82">''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 82: "Honors"</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="3" | [[Image:Clan Ice Hellion.jpg|100x100px|center]]<br />Clan Ice Hellion ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<span id="Cage's Clasp">Cage's Clasp</span> | Only Bloodnamed warriors were eligible to receive the award known as Cage's Clasp. The Clasp was intended to honor those who emulated [[Stephan Cage]], the first Khan of Clan Ice Hellion, but over the years the award became more political than military in nature.<ref name="FM:CCp82"/><br>To earn the award, the recipient was required to have extensive contact with the other Clans, usually within the [[Grand Council]], and the recipient must have conducted themselves honorably in those dealings. Only a Khan could judge the worthiness of a potential recipient, but an individual warrior who believed that he or she deserved the Clasp could request to undergo a modified Trial of Possession known as a "Trial of Award" during which that warrior would fight either the Khan or a warrior of the Khan's choosing in a Circle of Equals. If the potential recipient won the Trial, they were granted the award; if they lost, they were disgraced for their presumption in requesting the Trial.<ref name="FM:CCp82"/><br>Cage's Clasp took the form of a medallion depicting the raised profile of Stephan Cage with a pouncing Ice Hellion in the background.<ref name="FM:CCp82"/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Ice Hellion Remembrance Bar">Remembrance Bar</span> | To earn the Remembrance Bar an Ice Hellion warrior had to have made an exceptional sacrifice — that sacrifice typically involving loss of life, limb or personal honor — for the betterment of the entire Clan, as well as demonstrated great tenacity and skill on the battlefield. The Khan awarded a Remembrance Bar personally, and in addition to the award the recipient earned a passage in the Ice Hellion ''Remembrance''.<ref name="FM:CCp82"/><br>The Remembrance Bar took the form of a small gold bar streaked with silver; engraved onto the bar were the appropriate passage, line and verse numbers. The award of a Remembrance Bar to a freeborn warrior usually resulted in that freeborn being treated without the contempt normally displayed towards the freeborn by trueborn warriors within the Clan.<ref name="FM:CCp82"/> |- |} ===Clan Jade Falcon=== As a Clan, the [[Clan Jade Falcon|Jade Falcons]] didn't believe in providing awards for actions in combat; the promotions earned from excellence in combat and the death or flushing out of those who performed poorly were sufficient. Three awards did eventually come into being, two officially and one unofficially.<ref name=FM:CCp98>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 98: "Decorations"</ref><br>The unofficial award took the form of kill markers, worn to denote the victories achieved by a warrior; most kill markers only lasted for the duration of the current deployment, and senior officers turned a blind eye to the practice despite the breach of the dress conformity code in the interests of maintaining morale. In some instances, a particularly notable action — such as the destruction of a [[DropShip]] by an aerospace pilot — would remain a part of that individual's livery throughout their career.<ref name="FM:CCp98"/> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="3" | [[Image:Clan Jade Falcon.jpg|100x100px|center]]<br />Clan Jade Falcon ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<span id="Inner Sphere Invasion Bar">Inner Sphere Invasion Bar</span> | Following the invasion of the Inner Sphere the Jade Falcons established the Inner Sphere Invasion Bar, which was awarded to signify the recipient taking part in combat against Inner Sphere forces during [[Operation REVIVAL]], either during the initial waves of the invasion or in any of the raids conducted after the battle at Tukayyid. The Bar was worn on dress uniforms.<ref name=FM:CCp98/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Memorial Ribbon">Memorial Ribbon</span><br><span id="Dark Band">(Dark Band)</span> | The Memorial Ribbon was unique to the Falcons. It is not an award per se, but rather a form of punishment.<ref name=TCWoKp63>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 63: "Law and Order"</ref> Also known as the Dark Band, the Memorial Ribbon was presented to those who had caused wasteful loss of life or sometimes the loss of resources, and who subsequently refused to undertake the Rite of ''[[Surkai]]''. Recipients had no choice but to wear the Ribbon; the Memorial Ribbon imposed strict limits on how the recipient could interact with other warriors and could only be removed in the privacy of the recipient's own quarters, unless he or she was given permission otherwise by a superior officer. Whilst wearing a Memorial Ribbon the recipient was not allowed to speak unless spoken to first.<ref name=FM:CCp98/><br>The Memorial Ribbon is a black band of cloth worn around the torso with the image of the warrior whose death the wearer caused.<ref name=FM:CCp98/><ref name=TCWoKp63/> It is usually worn for a month.<ref name=TCWoKp63/> |- |} === Clan Nova Cat === Clan Nova Cat issued no awards.<ref name="FM:Cp112">''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 112: "Decorations"</ref> ===Clan Snow Raven=== The warriors of [[Clan Snow Raven]] were in many ways the exception among the Clans when it came to issuing awards; the Snow Ravens viewed awards as something that fostered a sense of teamwork among warriors and encouraged them to higher levels of performance. As with the other Clans, rank and position within the Snow Ravens were the primary indicators of the achievements each warrior had earned, but the Snow Ravens acknowledged that the awards had an added benefit: they provided motivation.<ref name="FM:WCp126">''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', pp. 126–127: "Decorations"</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="5" | [[Image:Clan Snow Raven Insignia.png|100x100px|center]]<br />Clan Snow Raven ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<span id="Bloodline Pins">Bloodline Pins</span> | Every trueborn warrior within Clan Snow Raven wore a Bloodline Pin. A warrior's pin signified which House that warrior belonged to; the pin was worn as a thumbnail-sized pin on the collar of dress and ceremonial uniforms and as a larger cloth patch on the left shoulder of field dress uniforms. Bloodline pins were intricate, colorful emblems; the Pins worn by Bloodnamed warriors were edged in gold, while those of unblooded warriors were edged in silver.<ref name="FM:WCp126"/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Kerensky Pennant">The Kerensky Pennant</span> | The Kerensky Pennant was awarded on an annual basis to the best-performing Cluster within the [[Clan Snow Raven Touman|Snow Raven ''touman'']] and was analogous to the McKenna Wheel awarded to the best-performing WarShip crew. In terms of appearance the Pennant was a royal blue field crossed with black bars, and was emblazoned with a white daggerstar. The unit which won the Pennant displayed it in a place of honor within its mess hall, and a selected member of the unit would carry the standard into battle. In addition to the pennant itself, those within the unit were entitled to wear a miniature version of the pennant on their collars. Any unit that lost the pennant suffered a major disgrace, and the loss provoked feuds that could last for decades.<ref name="FM:WCp126"/> |- | align="center"|The McKenna Wheel | The Snow Ravens continued to award the McKenna Wheel to the best WarShip crew within the ''touman'' and considered the award to be a direct descendant of that issued by the Star League Defense Force during the era of the Star League. The Wheel itself was the wooden steering wheel of an oceangoing ship, and was displayed on the bridge of the winning WarShip. The crew members of the winning WarShip were entitled to wear a small winged lapel badge; the lapel badge was designed to be reminiscent of the original McKenna award.<ref name="FM:WCp126"/> |- | align="center"|<span id="Order of the Raven">Order of the Raven</span> | To earn membership of the Order of the Raven, a warrior had to have demonstrated acts of notable gallantry where he or she had put both the goals and honor of the Clan above his or her own personal goals or honor.<ref name="FM:WCp126"/><br>Those awarded membership of the Order were inducted in lavish ceremonies, and members were accorded great respect by the other warriors within the ''touman''. No Snow Raven was able to hold the position of Khan, saKhan or [[Loremaster]] without being a member of the Order, nor could a warrior hold the rank of [[Galaxy Commander]] or [[Star Admiral]] unless they had received the award.<ref name="FM:WCp126"/><br>Those inducted into the Order wore a silver version of the Snow Raven insignia on their dress and ceremonial uniforms.<ref name="FM:WCp126"/> |} ===Clan Star Adder=== When Clan Star Adder was founded, the first Khan of the Clan, [[Absalom Truscott]], established a number of decorations based upon similar decorations that had existed within the Star League Defense Force, and which signified such things as bravery and battlefield prowess. The awards never carried the significance of SLDF awards, however; almost all of the soldiers within the Clan qualified for most of the awards upon reaching warrior status, and those few remaining awards were effectively earned when warriors earned either a Bloodname or higher rank, which rendered the awards effectively meaningless. As a consequence Khan Banacek made the decision to remove almost all of the awards. Only two of the awards persisted into the thirty-first century.<ref name="FM:CCp120">''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 120: "Decorations"</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="3" | [[Image:Clan Star Adder.jpg|100x100px|center]]<br />Clan Star Adder ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<span id="Kill Stripe">Kill Stripe</span> | Warriors in Clan Star Adder wore a black ribbon on the right breast of their ceremonial and dress uniforms; the black ribbon was adorned with a number of thin vertical stripes, with each stripe representing a kill. The stripes were colored in the daggerstar color of the type of unit destroyed.<ref name="FM:CCp120"/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Legion of Gallantry">Legion of Gallantry</span> | Only the Star Adder Khan could honor a warrior with the Legion of Gallantry, and such awards were made only to recognize great accomplishments achieved in the face of extreme adversity. The award could be granted at one of three levels; each of which was signified with the bestowing of a commemorative laser pistol on the recipient. Each pistol was plated with platinum and the level of the award could be distinguished by the material from which the grip had been fashioned. The lowest level of the award was signified with a grip fashioned from ebony; the intermediate level of the award was signified by a pistol grip made from Arcadian red granite, whilst the highest level of the award earned a pistol grip carved from the ivory tusk of an Arcadian mammoth. It was very rare for the highest level to be awarded; even an event as significant as the Absorption of Clan Burrock only resulted in the award of three of the highest level award.<ref name="FM:CCp120"/> |- |} ===Clan Steel Viper=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="4" | [[Image:Clan Steel Viper logo.png|100x100px|center]]<br />Clan Steel Viper ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|<span id="Honor Medal">Honor Medal</span> | Usually awarded to participants in a successful Trial of Refusal against another Clan, the Honor Medal denotes an action that upholds the honor and traditions of the Steel Vipers. The medal takes the form of an ornately engraved five-centimeter by three-centimeter silver daggerstar worn on a green ribbon. Earning the award additional times adds a bar under the medal.<ref name=FMWC-142/> |- |align="center"|<span id="Mercer Cross">Mercer Cross</span> | An exceedingly rare award, the Mercer Cross is given to those warriors who make a significant and notable contribution to the Steel Viper cause. Worn on the left breast of the dress uniform, the Cross takes the form of a two-centimeter silver disc bearing the Steel Viper insignia surrounded by four two-centimeter points at each cardinal point separated by four equally spaced one-centimeter points.<ref name=FMWC-142/> |- |align="center"|<span id="The Viper's Coil">The Viper's Coil</span> | Recognizing the wearer's participation in combat actions in the Inner Sphere, the Viper's Coil is a three-centimeter snake about to strike. The award comes in two forms, those troops who fought against Inner Sphere forces prior to and including the Battle of Tukayyid receive a version made from gold, while those who fought in battles after Tukayyid receive one made from silver. One award is made per battle so some warriors wear multiple decorations. Those who traveled to the Inner Sphere but did not see combat do not earn the right to wear the Coil.<ref name=FMWC-142>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 142: "Uniforms and Insignia - Decorations"</ref> |- |} ===Clan Wolf (in Exile)=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="2" | [[Image: Clan Wolf logo.png|100x100px|center]]<br />Clan Wolf (in Exile) ! Award ! Information |- | align="center"|<span id="Kerensky Star">The Kerensky Star</span> | Created after the majority of the Warden members of Clan Wolf became exiles, the Kerensky Star was a white daggerstar enameled with red. The back of the daggerstar was marked on the back with a number of famous Kerenskys; Nicholas Kerensky's name was inscribed in gold on the back of the longest point of the star, and the front of the long point was enameled red in his honor. Four of the smaller points were also enameled red, with the names of those honored inscribed on the back: [[Andery Kerensky]], [[Anya Kerensky]] — the Wolf Khan who, during the Golden Century, fought a heroic last stand that prevented the Smoke Jaguars from capturing the Kerensky genetic legacy; the legendary [[Natasha Kerensky]], and [[ilKhan]] [[Ulric Kerensky]].<ref name="FM:WCp157">''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 157: "The Kerensky Star"</ref><br>The Kerensky Star was awarded to any warrior who demonstrated extraordinary devotion to both the Way of the Clans and to Clan Wolf, honoring those whose honor and deeds inspired the creation of the award. The Kerensky Star was considered a personal badge of honor by the members of the Kerensky Bloodname House, each of whom aspired to have their name be judged worthy of being inscribed on the award one day.<ref name="FM:WCp157"/> |- |} == IlKhan == {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | rowspan="12" | [[Image:Star League Logo.png|100x100px|center]]<br />Third Star League ! Award ! Information |- |align="center"|[[Image:BloodRibbon.jpg|150px|center]]<br /><span id="BloodRibbon">BloodRibbon</span> |A '''BloodRibbon''' was an award granted to all participating warriors of the [[ilClan Trial]] for [[Terra]]. Following the interment of the Great Father, [[Aleksandr Kerensky]], on April 28, [[3151]],<ref name=HotWc40>''Hour of the Wolf'', ch. 40; "Court of the Star League 28 April 3151, 0900 Hours"</ref> the BloodRibbon was conceived and awarded by [[ilKhan]] [[Alaric Ward]] to commemorate all of the warriors who fought in the ilClan Trial for Terra between April 17-19, 3151. The award was also intended as a means of healing the centuries-long rift between [[Clan Jade Falcon]] and [[Clan Wolf]]. All warriors of Clan Jade Falcon, Clan Wolf, and [[Wolf's Dragoons]] who fought in the Trial were awarded the BloodRibbon, including those who died during the Trial. Worn over the heart, the color of the BloodRibbon differs based on the origin of the recipient: green for Clan Jade Falcon, red for Clan Wolf, and gray for Wolf's Dragoons. Those who are awarded the BloodRibbon are held in higher regard than those who do not have it and are afforded the greatest respect.<ref name=HotW1>''Hour of the Wolf'', pp. 349–351</ref><ref name=IlClan1>''IlClan'', pp. 105–106: "In Honor of the Lost and Living"; "BloodRibbons"</ref> Bearers of the BloodRibbon are afforded a special salute: the greeter extends the index and forefinger of the right hand, then they touch their fingers to their heart, regardless if they have a BloodRibbon or not.<ref name=HotW2>''Hour of the Wolf'', p. 351</ref> Currently, the BloodRibbon has only been awarded to Warriors who fought during the ilClan Trial. Members of the [[Technician Caste]] who repaired and refitted [['Mechs]] that fought in the Trial have not been awarded the honor<ref name=IlClan2>''IlClan'', p. 106: "BloodRibbons"</ref> |- |} ==References== <references/> ==Bibliography== <div class="desktop-3-col"> * ''[[ComStar (sourcebook)|ComStar]]'' * ''[[Crimson Night]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Capellan Confederation]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: ComStar]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Crusader Clans]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Draconis Combine]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Federated Suns]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Lyran Alliance]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Periphery]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: SLDF]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Warden Clans]]'' * ''[[Handbook: House Davion]]'' * ''[[Handbook: House Kurita]]'' * ''[[Handbook: House Liao]]'' * ''[[Handbook: House Marik]]'' * ''[[Handbook: House Steiner]]'' * ''[[Handbook: Major Periphery States]]'' * ''[[Hour of the Wolf]]'' * ''[[House Davion (The Federated Suns)]]'' * ''[[House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)]]'' * ''[[House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)]]'' * ''[[House Marik (The Free Worlds League)]]'' * ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]'' * ''[[IlClan (sourcebook)|IlClan]]'' * ''[[Remaining Unperceived]]'' (in: ''[[BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction]]'') * ''[[The Star League]]'' * ''[[Technical Readout: 3025]]'' * ''[[Warrior: Coupé]]'' (novel) </div> [[Category:Inner Sphere Culture]]

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