Editing The Stealths

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = [[File:The_Stealths_logo.png|150px]]
| Designation    = The Stealths
| formed         = [[2650]]
| Disbanded      = 
| Previous Designation = Twenty-third Republic Light Lancers
| Nickname       = 
| Affiliation    = [[Lyran Commonwealth]]
| Parent Command = [[LCAF]]
| Sub-Command    = 
}}
The '''Stealths''', previously known as the '''Twenty-third Republic Light Lancers''' of the [[Republic Light Lancers]], were originally a veteran [[BattleMech]] [[regiment]] with the [[Rim Worlds Army]], later joining the service of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. 

==Unit History==
===Rim Worlds Republic===
The Twenty-third Republic Light Lancers were formed in the year [[2650]] by the order of [[Tadeo Amaris]], cousin to [[President of the Rim Worlds Republic|President]] [[Selanta Amaris]], during the [[Rim Worlds Republic]]'s military buildup.<ref name=HSLC46>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 46</ref>

The unit survived the [[Amaris Civil War]] and the subsequent annexation of most of the Republic by the Lyran Commonwealth.<ref name=HSLC45>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 45</ref>

===House Steiner===
In [[2785]], after Kerensky's [[Operation Exodus|departure]], the Stealths signed on with [[Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth|Archon]] [[Jennifer Steiner]] of the Lyran Commonwealth. Along with the [[Tamar Tigers]], they would represent mobile House Steiner forces along the [[Draconis Combine]] border.<ref name=HSLC45/>

===The First Succession War===
In [[2786]], the [[First Succession War]] began, with full-scale fighting breaking out on all borders on a level not thought possible. The [[Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces|LCAF]] found itself constantly outmaneuvered by the [[DCMS]], who successfully used faster 'Mechs to keep the Lyrans on the defensive.

In April [[2787]], the Stealths, supported by a second Lyran regiment, launched an attack on the critical Combine world of [[Dieron]], capital of the Draconis Combine's [[Dieron Military District]] and a major industrial center. Although their [[WarShip]] escort was lost and they were eventually forced to withdraw, they were successful in inflicting serious damage to several Dieron industries.<ref name=HSLC46/>

After serving with distinction on the Kurita front, the Stealths were eventually transferred to the [[Free Worlds League]] border in December [[2788]]. There, they became a fast-response force, defending against Marik attacks.<ref name=HSLC47>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 47</ref> The Stealths participated in the multination fighting on [[Tyrfing]].<ref name=TP:Tp11/> The Stealths discovered a valley used on Tyrfing as a storage unit for heavily damaged SLDF 'Mechs and tanks and successfully loaded two [[DropShip]]s full of salvage before being driven off by the [[Seventh Oriente Hussars]].<ref>''Turning Points: Tyrfing'', p. 20</ref>

In early [[2789]], the Stealths participated in the defense of several former [[Terran Hegemony]] worlds from [[Federated Suns]] attacks, including [[Thorin]] and [[New Earth]].<ref name=HSLC49>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 49</ref>

In [[2790]], the Commonwealth launched offensives against both the League and the Combine. The Stealths took part in successful attacks on [[Sirius]], [[Graham IV]] and [[Oliver]], inflicting heavy damage on enemy units and supplies. They would spend the next decade continuing to attack and raid Marik worlds, furthering their legend.<ref name=HSLC49/>

In [[2811]], while resting and refitting on [[Poulsbo]], the Stealths were attacked by a large Marik attack force. Unbeknownst to the Marik commanders, two veteran [[aerospace fighter|aerospace]] [[Wing (Military Unit)|wings]] were also in-system, engaging in training exercises. The Stealths proceeded to delay the large Marik force on the ground in a series of brilliant engagements, despite being heavily outnumbered. In doing so, they allowed the Lyran aerospace force to not only attack the Marik DropShips, but also to seize the [[JumpShip]] that brought those troops in-system.<ref name=HSLC49/> The Free Worlds League forces were eventually forced to surrender.<ref name=HSLC51>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 51</ref> Indeed, the failure on Poulsbo forced [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Thaddeus Marik (29th c.)|Thaddeus Marik]] to postpone a major invasion of the Commonwealth.<ref>''House Marik (The Free Worlds League)'', p. 31</ref> Tragically, the defeat on Poulsbo (which he falsely believed to have been a trap for his attacking forces) led Thaddeus Marik to write off the Bolan Thumb and adopt a scorched earth strategy there.<ref>''Cutting Losses''</ref>

In [[2812]], the Lyran High Command, realizing that their military as a whole needed the guidance of the Stealths in their training more than they were needed in the field, disbanded the elite unit.<ref name=HSLC52>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 52</ref>

===Aftermath===
In [[2815]], the Stealths' former commander, [[Colonel]] [[Raymond Hempsted]], commanded the [[12th Lyran Regulars|Twelfth]] and [[Fourteenth Lyran Regulars]] in reclaiming the key world of [[Bella I]] for the Commonwealth (though House Steiner would later lose the world again).<ref name=HSLC52/>

The High Command then had Hempsted and other former Stealths coordinate the training of the ill-fated [[Fifty-fourth Lyran Guards]], a unit composed almost entirely of cadets straight out of the academy who had seen no combat. Though well trained, the High Command insisted on sending the Fifty-fourth to invade [[Otho]] in the Draconis Combine, where they would engage a veteran DCMS unit unsupported. Despite Hempsted's repeated protests, the High Command chose to press on with this plan, only agreeing to allow some former members of the Stealths as aides. The attack was a disaster, and the entire regiment was lost. Hempsted was shortly promoted to [[Hauptmann General]] in charge of both the entire Kuritan front an of the training of new cadets.<ref name=HSLC52/>

===The Return===
In [[2826]], now-[[General]] Hempsted re-formed the Stealths as a single [[company]] to rescue the Lyran freighter ''[[Chahar Profit]]'' that had been stranded in the Combine system of [[Darius]]. Despite averaging the age of sixty-three, the unit pulled off the incredibly daring rescue operation.<ref name=HSLC56>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 56</ref>

In [[2828]], House Kurita attempted to gain its revenge over the incident by striking at [[Chandler]], where the ''Chahar Profit'' had delivered its grain supplies. Two regiments landed on the planet only to find the Stealths, now back to regimental strength, leading a very determined militia. Badly mauled, the DCMS troops soon retreated.<ref name=HSLC56/>

[[2830]] brought the start of the [[Second Succession War]] and a renewed Kurita offensive. Facing massive numbers of enemy troops on Chandler, the Stealths were forced to retreat.<ref name=HSLC57>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 57</ref>

===The Black Pearl===
In [[2863]], the final chapter would be written in the saga of the Stealths. When House Kurita took the world of [[Sakhalin (LC) |Sakhalin]] in [[2860]], it threatened to split the Kurita-Steiner front into two theaters, restricting troop movement and cutting off a number of Lyran worlds. The LCAF sent a taskforce including the Stealths and the elite [[3rd Donegal Guards]] to retake the world. Though their tactics were again effective, the Stealths were caught out of position at a critical moment, and two lighter battalions were severely mauled by a Kurita assault battalion. Losses to the regiment exceeded 50 percent.<ref name=HSLC66>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 66</ref> 

[[Lieutenant Colonel#Lyran Commonwealth and Lyran Alliance|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Angela Franks]] had been a holovid star before suddenly applying to [[Sanglamore|Sanglamore Academy]] in [[2853]]. After her graduation, she had joined the Stealths and quickly rose through the ranks on merit. By the time the battle of Sakhalin transpired, she was in command of the unit's heavy [[battalion]], and next in line to assume regimental command. When she saw the regiment was in danger of being destroyed, she charged her unit forward with her ''[[BattleMaster]]'', Franks successfully held the line long enough for the Stealths to withdraw. At one point, her 'Mech's cockpit appeared to have been destroyed when an entire battalion fired upon her. Franks' 'Mech nevertheless opened fire, killing the enemy commander in his cockpit before the panicked Kuritans completely destroyed her machine. The legend of her death continued to arouse debate for centuries afterward.<ref name=HSLC65>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 65</ref>

Archon [[Elizabeth Steiner]] decided to permanently retire the famous unit. The unit's commander, Colonel [[Raymond Winfield]], was granted a [[Duke#Lyran_Alliance|Dukedom]] on the planet [[Treeline]]. That planet would be renamed "Winfield" in his honor.<ref name=HSLC66/>

===Legacy===
In [[2874]], the Duke of [[Tamar]] formed a "[[mercenary]]" unit to avoid the old laws against individual nobles purchasing heavier BattleMechs. He named this unit the [[Stealthy Tigers]], hoping to recapture the tactics and spirit of both the Stealths and the Tamar Tigers. With three battalions of light 'mechs and a fourth of heavy 'Mechs, this approach proved successful.<ref name=HSLC68>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 68</ref> 

During the reign of Archon [[Alessandro Steiner]], Winfield's Guards (later called [[Winfield's Brigade]]) was formed, named in honor of Colonel Winfield and patterned after the Stealths and the [[Eridani Light Horse]], who taught the Lyran military the value of [[Combined-Arms|combined arms]] tactics. This command soon became the premier unit of the LCAF.<ref name=HSLC81>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 81</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 Stealths''' / '''23rd Republic Light Lancers'''
|-
| [[Colonel]]||[[Raymond Hempsted]]||[[2788]] - [[2812]]<ref name=TP:Tp11>''Turning Points: Tyrfing'', p. 11</ref><ref name=HSLC56/>
|-
| Colonel||[[Raymond Winfield]]||[[2863]]<ref name=HSLC66/>
|-
|}

==Tactics==
Although the Stealths' doctrine preached mobility, the regiment did include several heavy BattleMech companies. A favored tactic was to identify a weakness in the enemy line, push it open with their heavy 'Mechs, thus allowing the regiment's lighter 'Mechs to exploit it, punching through to the enemy's rear.<ref name=HSLC46/>

==Composition History==
=== 2786 - 2821===
'''Stealths''' (Regiment/Green/Reliable)<ref name= FSSp139 >''First Succession War'', p. 139</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Syrma]]. In [[2821]], the command was reduced to 83 percent of its strength and was deployed on [[Poulsbo]].<ref name= FSSp139/>

=== 2830 ===
'''Stealths''' (Regiment/Green/Reliable)<ref name=2ndSSp100>''Second Succession War'', p. 100</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Chandler]] with an operational readiness of 138 percent.<ref name=2ndSSp100/> The unit was disbanded during the war.<ref name=2ndSSp100/>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Cutting Losses]]'' (in: ''[[Interstellar Operations]]'')
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)|First Succession War]]''
* ''[[House Marik (The Free Worlds League)]]''
* ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]''
* ''[[Second Succession War (sourcebook)|Second Succession War]]''
* ''[[Turning Points: Tyrfing]]''


[[Category:Lyran Commands|The Stealths]]