Editing Black Heart Roses

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image = [[Image:Blackheartroses.jpg|150px]]
| Designation = Black Heart Roses
| Formed = [[3050]]
| Disbanded = 
| Previous Designation = Stone Hearts
| Nickname = 
| Affiliation = [[Mercenary]]
| Parent Command = Independent
| Sub-Command = Briar Patch Guard
}}

==History==
===Formation===
The somewhat improbably named Black Heart Roses has its roots in two former Mercenary commands: the '''Stone Hearts BattleMech company''' and the '''Briar Patch Guard'''. Inheriting the unit from her father, under her command the Stone Hearts largely become a means to fulfill Sara Heart's eccentric hobby - collecting famous and rare [[BattleMech]]s. Johann Rose's Briar Patch Guard's history was conventional, highly skilled but in serious financial trouble. With both units hired to garrison the [[Arc-Royal Defense Cordon]] world of [[Great X]] in the late 3050s, the dashing and handsome Rose saw the more plain-looking Heart as a means of bailing his unit out of debt. Unaware of his true interest in her, both commanders seemingly fell in love and married following a whirlwind romance, combining their commands into the Black Heart Roses.<ref name=MS2-23>''Mercenaries Supplemental II'', p. 23: "Force Briefs Supplemental - Black Heart Roses: Marriage of Convenience"</ref><ref name=MSU-33/>

===FedCom Civil War Era===
By mid-[[3064]] negotiations over the extension of the Black Heart Roses contract to defend Great X broke down due to Sara Heart's desire to expand her collection, seeking [[Morgan Kell]]'s old ''[[Archer]]'' as part payment for the unit's continued services. With Kell's [[Tempest (Hero 'Mech)|''Tempest'']] a prize exhibit of the [[Kell Hounds]] museum on [[Arc-Royal]], the Hounds had no intention of agreeing to such a demand. Fortunately with the [[FedCom Civil War]] raging, Roses were hired shortly after by [[Baronet]] [[Simon Clease]], CEO of [[Rahne]] branch of [[Zettle Metals Incorporated]] to defend the city of Shawmut Springs. As a leader of a [[Victor Steiner-Davion|pro-Victor]] faction, Clease sought to counter [[Katherine Steiner-Davion|pro-Katherine]] [[Duke]] [[Etsuya Endo]]'s military buildup in Rahne City. While the units fought a series of sporadic skirmishes, the oppressive heat of Rahne's melting season prevented the outbreak of more serious conflict between the subterranean cities.<ref name=MS2-23/>

Following the Civil War, the [[Niops Association]]'s continuing concerns over the strengthened [[Marian Hegemony]]'s intentions led them to hire the Roses to bolster their growing [[Niops Association Militia]], the mercenaries providing skilled troops to operate the NAM's surplus of new equipment and Association providing components and technical assistance to assist refurbish some of the [[Star League era]] machines in Heart's collection.<ref name=MS2-23/>

===Jihad Era Actions===
===Defending Niops and the Rocky Marriage===
Despite the rumblings of imminent Hegemony attacks, the garrisoning of the Niops Association was relatively quiet for the Black Heart Roses, with the Association providing Star League technology to bolster both the unit's BattleMechs and infantry forces, including a battalion's worth of [[Nighthawk]] [[battle armor]]. The marriage between Sara and Johann Rose's however became increasingly rocky after Johann was rumored to be romantically involved with the unit's NAM liaison, [[Captain]] [[Alicia Carmichael]]. While having entirely legitimate reasons for training closely with the infantry officer, Carmichael's beauty resulted in increasing tensions between the mercenary unit's co-commanders, especially after Rose charmed Carmichael into providing the [[Nighthawk]]s for his troops.<ref name=MSU-33>''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 33: "Force Briefs Updates - Black Heart Roses"</ref>

In early February [[3071]]<ref name="WTM"''>Whatever the Mess You Are, You're Mine''</ref> the unit was deployed against elements of the [[VI Legio|VI Legio ''Ripariensis'']] who came to [[Niops V]] to plunder the world's Star League-era technology. As the Legio approached the warehouses they discovered that it was defended by two companies of Niops Association Militia troops.  The Legio's commander, ''[[Legatus]]'' [[Onufry Sopaczak]], attempted to marshal his troops. However Colonel Heart-Rose launched a surprise attack with her battalion of BattleMechs into the rear of his formation. Rose's Briar Patch Guards, newly equipped with advanced Mk XXII Nighthawk battle armor, attacked the spread-out Marian troops. The Nighthawks of the Guard were noted for their take down of VI Legio commander's ''[[Starslayer]]'', the Marian troops breaking at the sight of their commander being defeated by mere infantry.<ref name=MSU-33/><ref>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 12: "Nighthawk Mk. XXII" - unit's not named but actual armor used noted</ref>

Tensions between Sara and Johann increased following the unit's success against the Hegemony, with increasingly public and vocal rows over Johann's relationship with Carmichael and the ever mounting expense of Sara's collection. At the time many openly believed that the unit and its commanders would part ways when the Niops contract was due to expire in [[3073]].<ref name=MSU-33/>

===Political Strife and Alleged Destruction of Black Hearts Roses===
Political strife over the 3070s had affected the Niopian government. The unit attempted to stay neutral in these affairs, but it did not last. In February [[3076]], the ''Briar Patch Guards'' led by Lt. Colonel Rose freed military and political prisoners, as well as his alleged lover Alicia Carmichael.<ref name="JHS:Tp20">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 20: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp55">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 55: "The Jihad in Review"</ref> The Niops Association Militia demanded that Black Heart Roses surrender their prisoners.  Colonel Heart-Rose demanded that her husband return the prisoners to the military authorities of Niops.  When he refused her orders, Colonel Heart-Rose held her 'Mech forces back as NAM forces moved to attack the Briar Patch Guards.  However, NAM did not recognize Colonel Heart-Rose's 'Mechs' neutrality and forced her to defend her unit.

After the ensuing battle, Lt. Colonel Rose surrendered and took responsibility for his action so his troops would survive the battle.  The unit's 'Mech forces suffered heavy damage, with only a company of 'Mechs left and none fully operational.  The infantry force remained operational and its ability to fight lead to withdrawal of their amnesty.

The Niops Association agreed that the militia forces that had attacked Heart-Rose's 'Mechs were clearly only defending themselves. The merc unit was allowed to leave without any charges pressed against them.  However, the DropShip carrying only the 'Mech forces of Black Hearts Rose's 'Mech force was lost due to an engine explosion.  Salvage tugs which recovered the wreck did not find any signs of Colonel Heart-Rose nor her 'Mechs.  Media reports hint at possible sabotage being the cause. The [[MRBC]] struck the unit name from the active rolls of mercenaries and declared them defunct.<ref name="JHS:Tp20"/><ref name="J:FRp55"/><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', pp. 88–89: "Black Heart Roses Dead" - Unit actions on Niops and its alleged destruction by sabotage</ref>

==Officers==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Rank
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Command
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of Black Heart Roses'''
|-
| [[Colonel]]||[[Sara Heart-Rose]]||Late [[3050]] - [[3076]]<ref name=MS2-23/><ref name=MSU-33/><ref name="WTM"/>
|-
| [[Leutnant-Colonel]]||[[Johann Rose]]||Late 3050 - 3076<ref name="WTM"/><ref name=MSU-33/>
|-
|}

==Tactics==
Known more for its co-commander's eccentric hobby than its skill on the battlefield, one of the combine Black Heart Roses' specialties was isolating individual enemy BattleMechs to force them to surrender or render them more susceptible to anti-'Mech infantry attacks, best shown during the fighting against VI Legio ''Ripariensis''.<ref name=MS2-23/>

==Support==
* As part of Sara Heart-Rose attempts to restore her entire "collection", the Black Heart Roses boasted the technical support staff for a full [[regiment]].<ref name=MS2-23/>
* The unit formerly owned a ''[[Union]]''-class [[DropShip]], but Heart-Rose sold it supply additional funds to expand her collection.<ref name=MS2-23/>

==Dragoon Ratings==
===3067===
'''Dragoon Rating: D'''<ref name=MS2-23/>

===3071===
'''Dragoon Rating: D'''<ref name=MSU-33/>

==Composition History==
===3067===
'''Black Heart Roses''' (1 BattleMech [[Battalion]]/Regular/Questionable)<ref name=MS2-23/>
* CO: [[Colonel]] Sarah Heart-Rose
* XO: [[Major]] Shah Khan
- 40 'Mechs with mixed equipment

'''Briar Patch Guards''' (2 Infantry Battalion//Regular/Questionable)<ref name=MS2-23/>
* CO/1st Battalion: [[Lieutenant Colonel]] Johann Rose
* XO/2nd Battalion: Major David Ling
- Trained in anti-'Mech tactics

===3071===
* '''Black Heart Roses''' (1 BattleMech Battalion/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=MSU-33/>
* '''Briar Patch Guards''' (3 Infantry Battalion/Veteran Reliable)<ref name=MSU-33/>

===3076===
* '''Black Heart Roses''' (1 BattleMech Company/Veteran/Reliable)

==Notes==
* The Stone Heart and Black Hearts Roses were both best known for Sarah Heart-Rose eccentric collection of BattleMechs. As of 3067 her collection included [[Gray Noton]]'s famed ''[[Rifleman]]'' ''[[Legend-Killer]]'', an ''[[Axman]]'' allegedly owned by [[Adam Steiner]], a ''[[Victor]]'' previously piloted by Victor Ian Steiner-Davion and sold for scrap by his sister following her rise to power, an antique [[Striker (BattleMech)|''Striker'']], and a pair of rare ''[[Spartan]]''s. At this point only a battalion of her collection were combat ready, with an additional battalion's worth of 'Mechs in varying states of repair.<ref name=MS2-23/> Though lacking the [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] to pilot them, by 3071 thanks to Niops Association technicians and salvage from the Marian Hegemony raid against the Association, an additional company Heart-Rose's collection was brought back online, with many of unit's ''[[Thug]]''s, ''[[Highlander]]''s and ''Black Knight''s restored to [[Star League Defense Force]] specifications.<ref name=MSU-33/>

* The Black Heart Roses uses no standard color scheme. Instead, individual 'Mechs commonly employ the colors of other famous commands, with the unit insignia - a red rose on a black heart — replacing the original unit or house markings.<ref name=MS2-23/>

* The ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3076]]'' article does not state if the Briar Patch Guards remained with the unit. It only notes that the surviving BattleMech Company "lost" its DropShip. Reports leave the possibility that the unit isn't dead, unless further articles disprove this.

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3076]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental II]]''
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental Update]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3075]]''
* ''[[Whatever the Mess You Are, You're Mine]]''


[[Category:Mercenary Commands|Black Heart Roses]]