Editing Otomo

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = [[Image:Otomo logo.png|Insignia of the Otomo|150px]]
| Designation    = Otomo
| formed         = pre-[[3000]]
| Disbanded      = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname       = The Dragon's Warders
| Affiliation    = [[Draconis Combine]]
| Parent Command = [[DCMS]]
| Sub-Command    = 
}}
The '''Otomo''' are the Palace Household Guard of the [[Draconis Combine]]. Slightly more than a regiment in size, their sole purpose is to protect Unity Palace on [[Luthien]] and the Coordinator. Members of the Otomo are taken from [[Sword of Light]] regiments and the five military districts. The Coordinator assembles a list of potential members, who are then investigated by the [[Internal Security Force]].<ref name="er3052-28">''Era Report: 3052'', p. 28</ref> Unit composition is a mix of 'Mechs, armor, and infantry. Traditionally, only a member of the [[House Kurita Family Tree|Kurita family]] can become commander of the Otomo.

==History==
Membership in the Otomo is restricted to the most highly skilled soldiers of the [[DCMS]]. However, seeking appointment to the Otomo is seen as self-aggrandizing. Instead one is chosen for a position in the Otomo.<ref name=cmk>''Combat Manual: Kurita'', p. 49</ref>

===First Succession War===
The Otomo would accompany Coordinator [[Minoru Kurita (28th c.)|Minoru Kurita]] during the Combine's [[First Succession War]] drive into the [[Federated Suns]] but were ultimately unable to protect him from assassination by an [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] [[Latha Pischel|sniper]] on [[Kentares]]. After Minoru's successor [[Jinjiro Kurita]] arrived on-world and ordered his troops to [[Kentares Massacre|"Kill them all"]], when one of his generals sought further explanation of his command, Jiniro ordered the Otomo to shoot him which they immediately did as a stark message to his remaining generals.<ref name=HKTDCp56>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 56: "History - The Massacre"</ref><ref name=FSWp87>''First Succession War'', p. 87: "The Succession War (2786-2821) - Bloody Kentares"</ref>

===Fourth Succession War===
As the Coordinator's bodyguard unit, the Otomo spent the [[Fourth Succession War]] on Luthien.

===Clan Invasion===
During the [[Clan Invasion]], the Otomo fought in the [[Battle of Luthien (3052)|Battle of Luthien]]. In the course of the fighting the Otomo separated into company-sized units and opened lines of retreat, stalled enemy breakthroughs, and filled gaps that appeared in the DCMS lines. When outnumbered and isolated, they fought multiple foes at once to ensure that the Dragon would face fewer enemies.<ref name="er3052-28"/> As a result of this, they took heavy casualties.  The regiment was not rebuilt to complete strength until [[3054]].{{cn|Nov 2010}}

===Operation Bulldog===
The ''[[Kokuryu-kai]]'' elements of the Otomo turned on Coordinator [[Theodore Kurita]]. However, the mercenary command [[Camacho's Caballeros]] and the [[9th Ghost|9th Ghost Regiment]] intervened and stopped the traitors.<ref>''Black Dragon'', p. ??{{cn}}: "Camacho's Caballeros and their friends from the 9th stop the Black Dragons at nick of time".</ref> Also, the Coordinator's illegitimate son, [[Franklin Sakamoto]], had arrived to defend his father.  The Otomo went through a brutal purge, with Sakamoto becoming the commander of the Otomo infantry companies.<ref name="fmu119">''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 119: "Pesht Prefecture"</ref>

===Jihad===
====[[Battle of Luthien (3067)|Battle of Luthien]]====
In December in 3067, forces loyal to the [[Black Dragon Society]] invaded Luthien. On [[Battle for the Imperial Palace (3068)|New Year's Day]], [[3068]], the ''Kokuryo-kai'' [[Second Sword of Light]] surrounded and then attacked the [[Imperial Palace]]. The Otomo and their fellow samurai [[Izanagi Warriors]] fought a delaying action while the Loyalist [[3rd Luthien Guards]] retreated, taking heavy casualties (including the loss of [[Griffon Meshune]]) in the process.<ref name=JTPL-6>''Jihad Turning Points: Luthien'', p. 6: "Combatants"</ref><ref name=JTPL8>''Jihad Turning Points: Luthien'', p. 8: "Traitor's Kiss"</ref> When the commanding officer of the Second Sword of Light, ''[[Tai-sa]]'' [[Li Sak To]], attempted to execute a number of captured members of the Otomo one of his own officers defied him. ''[[Chu-i]]'' [[Takiro Hutchinson]] recognized that Li Sak To's actions were wrong, and in an act of defiance maneuvered his ''[[Katana (BattleMech)|Katana]]'' between To's ''[[Akuma]]'' and the prisoners, preventing him from murdering them in cold blood. To and Hutchinson then fought each other savagely, a battle that polarized the Second Sword of Light and gave the prisoners time to escape. Although many of the prisoners including Franklin Sakamoto were subsequently recaptured they were able to sound the alarm and thereby alert the [[First Genyosha]]. Following the battle fragments of the armor from Hutchinson's ''Katana'' were carried by the other members of his lance as reminders of their duty to the Dragon.<ref name="TRO:3050Up94">''Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade'', p. 94: "CR K-5003-2 Katana (Crockett)"</ref>

The coup devastated the Otomo and the Izanagi Warriors. The two units' survivors joined the [[First Genyosha]] in fighting the traitors, operating under the control of ''Sho-sho'' [[Sajori Mitsotisa]].  They performed as raiders, noted for their precision and later salvage operations.<ref name=JTPL-6/>

On 23 August [[3072]], the joint unit - in a concerted effort alongside the [[Xi Galaxy (Clan Nova Cat)|Xi Galaxy]] of [[Clan Nova Cat]] - assaulted a large [[Word of Blake|Blakist]] supply base defended by the Forty-second Shadow Division, in the [[Battle of the Kyoto Zen Arcology Project]]. The DCMS flanking attack was intended to sow confusion within the Blakist defenses, and though deflected, did just that. A [[Star]] was able to breach the rear of the base and set off an enormous chemical explosion, resulting in the destruction of multiple units on both sides and a significant loss to the Blakist ammunition supply.<ref name=JTPL9>''Jihad Turning Points: Luthien'', p. 9: "Feline Ferocity"</ref>

On March 14th [[3074]], the Word of Blake [[ROM]] had leaked information regarding the presence of [[Buda Weapons]] Chief Researcher [[Hideoshi Yamika]] and his prototype [[Large X-Pulse Laser]] to the ''Kokuryu-kai'' as a means of wearing down Loyalist defenders in [[Skytower City]]. The resulting [[Battle of Skytower City|battle]] ended with Yamika and his prototypes being hustled aboard a Blakist [[DropShip]].<ref name=JTPL-10/11>''Jihad Turning Points: Luthien'', pp. 10–11: "Light Machine"</ref>

After the liberation of Luthien in December [[3074]], the unit was scheduled to be rebuilt around the survivors.<ref name=JTPL-6/>

The Otomo relocated to [[New Samarkand]] when the [[Coordinator]] moved the Draconis Combine capital to that world. Though they were highly skilled raiders, the Battle of Luthien inflicted heavy casualties on the Otomo. They could have avoided many of these casualties, but they refused to sacrifice Combine civilians.<ref name=FRD-12>''Field Report: DCMS'', p. 12</ref>

===Republic Era===
The Otomo's ranks dropped to a third of their pre-Jihad strength, and as of [[3085]] they were barely above the halfway point of their nominal strength. Though they could rebuild more quickly from the ranks of elite warriors in the DCMS, the Coordinator chose to build more slowly. This decision slowed the growth of the Otomo, the DCMS as a whole benefiting from the presence of elite soldiers. The three survivors of the [[3rd Night Stalkers]] regiment were inducted into the Otomo to reward their continual resistance to the Word of Blake.<ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 43</ref>

===Dark Age===
The Otomo as of [[3145]] now carries more than a full regiment of BattleMechs and an expanded battalion of battlesuit infantry. Though there is much criticism of this as other units struggle to fill their ranks. The only justification given is that of its CO says the extra security is needed due to the current war with the [[Federated Suns]], and in order to not let a failure like the death of [[Vincent_Kurita_(31st_c.)|Vincent Kurita]] happen again.<ref name=FM3145p57>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 56: "Otomo"</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 the Otomo'''
|-
| ''[[Tai-sa]]''||[[Takashi Kurita]]||[[3000]]
|-
| ''Tai-sa''||[[Marcus Kurita]]||[[3024]]
|-
| ''Tai-sa''||[[Oda Hideyoshi]]||[[3050]] - [[3058]]<ref name=20Yp42>''20 Year Update'', p. 42: "DCMS Deployment Table - 3050"</ref><ref name=ORp28>''Objective Raids'', p. 28: "DCMS Deployment Table - 3054"</ref><ref name=FMDC80>''Field Manual: Draconis Combine'', p. 80: "Otomo Unit Profile"</ref>
|-
|'' Tai-sa''||[[Griffon Meshune]]||3058 - [[3068]]<ref name="fmu119"/>
|-
| ''Tai-sa''||[[Franklin Sakamoto]]||3068<ref name=DotJ66>''Dawn of the Jihad'', p. 66</ref>
|-
| ''Tai-sa''||[[Emory Durante]]||[[3085]]<ref name=FM3085p51>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 51: "DCMS Deployment Table - 3085"</ref>
|-
| ''[[Tai-sho (rank)|Tai-sho]]''||[[Rikichi Kodami]]||[[3145]]<ref name=FM3145p67>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 67: "DCMS Deployment Table - 3145"</ref>
|}

==Tactics==
The Otomo specialize in defensive tactics, performing like an elite support unit.  The regiment is always the last to leave any battlefield.<ref name=FMDC80/> Despite this specialization in defense, they are skilled at all forms of combat, from small unit action raids to planetary invasions.<ref name=cmk/>

==Composition History==
[[Image:Infan34.png|right|thumb|An ''Otomo'' personal guard with [[Vibrokatana]] and [[Ballistic Plate Armor]]]]
===3000===
* CO: [[Takashi Kurita]]<ref name="HKp85">''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 85: "The New Millennium"</ref>

===3040===
''' Otomo''' (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=HWo3039p139/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Luthien]].<ref name=HWo3039p139>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 139</ref>

===3050===
'''Otomo''' ([[Regiment]]/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=20Yp42/>
:* CO: ''Tai-sa'' Oda Hideyoshi<ref name=20Yp42/>

: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Luthien.<ref name=20Yp42/>

===3054===
'''Otomo''' (2 Battalions/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=ORp28/>
:* CO: ''Tai-sa'' Oda Hideyoshi

===3059===
'''Otomo''' (1 [[Regiment]]/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FMDC80/>
* CO/1st [[Battalion]]: ''[[Sho-sho]]'' Oda Hideyoshi
:* XO: ''Tai-sa'' Ling Sayamoto
* 2nd Battalion: ''[[Chu-sa]]'' Griffon Mashune
* 3rd Battalion: ''Chu-sa'' Date Tadakatsu

'''Otomo Infantry''' (Expanded [[Battalion]]/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FMDC80/>
* Troop Commander: ''Chu-sa'' Minoro Hamitsu

===3067===
'''Otomo''' (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name="fmu119"/>
:* CO: ''Tai-sa'' Griffon Mishune

:'''Otomo Infantry''' (4 [[Company]]s/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name="fmu119"/>
:* CO: ''Chu-sa'' Franklin Sakamoto

===3079===
'''Otomo ''' (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=“frdcms12“>''Field Report: DCMS'', p. 12</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[New Samarkand]].<ref name=“frdcms12“/>

===3085===
'''Otomo''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM3085p51/>
* CO: ''Tai-sa'' [[Emory Durante]]

'''Otomo Battlesuit Infantry''' (1 Battalion/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM3085p51/>
* CO: ''Chu-sa'' [[Nkosana Tinashe]]

===3145===
'''Otomo''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM3145p67/>
* CO: ''Tai-sho'' Rikichi Kodami

'''Otomo Battlesuit Infantry''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM3145p67/>
* CO: ''Chu-sa'' [[Susumu Volkoff]]

==Unit Insignia and Colors==
The unit's insignia is a gold shield with the official Kurita crest painted on the 'Mech's upper left torso. The Otomo 'Mechs use a flat black paint scheme with gold highlights in battle and on parade.

<div class="gamerules">

==Game Rules==
*During the [[Battle of Luthien (3067)|Battle of Luthien]], NPCs will generally attack the closest Black Dragon unit, ignoring all other units unless the Modified To-Hit number is beneath a certain amount. Unit members receive a negative modifier to hit in all ranged combat and physical attacks against the Black Dragon.<ref name=JTPL-6/>

===Combat Manual: Kurita===
* The Otomo can use the Espirit de Corps, Focus (Iron Will), and Tactical Adjustments special command abilities.<ref name=cmk/>
* Otomo units must have an experience level of at least Veteran (Skill 3).<ref name=cmk/>
* If there are any non-Otomo friendly Units on the field, the Otomo may not retreat (leave via home edge) from the battlefield.<ref name=cmk/>
</div>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[Black Dragon (novel)]]''
* ''[[Combat Manual: Kurita]]''
* ''[[Dawn of the Jihad]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 3052]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Draconis Combine]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Field Report: DCMS]]''
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)]]''
* ''[[Jihad Turning Points: Luthien]]''
* ''[[Luthien (scenario pack)]]''
* ''[[Objective Raids]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3085]]''

[[Category:Draconis Combine Commands|Otomo]]