Medals

Lyran Commonwealth/Lyran Alliance

As Copied/Quoted From:  House Steiner Battletech Game Sourcebook, Copyright  1987, FASA Corporation, pp. 124-125:

"In time-honored fashion, the Lyran Commonwealth honors its heroes with medals, ribbons and pins.  To honor particularly successful regiments, it bestows banners, streamers and seals.  Individuals can usually pin their decorations to the collar or lapel of their civilian clothes if they so desire.

In addition to awards from the greater Commonwealth government, the Tamar Pact and Federation of Skye have their own honors for soldiers who have shown bravery in their portion of the realm.  Most major awards also include an endowment of land or money.

Among the numerous medals, commendations, and campaign ribbons, the following are most important."

Please cut/paste onto the appropriate Uniform Template, based on your Rank...as noted below:

The best way to cut/paste these onto the uniform templates...

It is best to select BLACK as the background color and cut away the medal, leaving the descriptive text behind.  Paste that smaller section with ONLY the medal and a black background to a new selection and then use the "magic wand" tool (from Paintshop Pro) or a similar tool to "select" the background only.  Then "Invert" the selection so that what remains (the medal itself) is selected. "Copy" that selection, and then you can paste it anywhere.

Unit Citations/Awards

Description

Eagle's Feather (EF) - The Eagle's Feather is an actual black tail feather from the rare Atreus Fighting Eagle, awarded to a regiment that has performed with exceptional skill against House Marik (Free Worlds League). The award is displayed in the Officer's Mess.  The Eridani Light Horse was a recipient of this award.

In the Skye Rangers, this award is given to a Regiment  which is consistently victorious (5+ victories) in online combat against House Marik forces.

Dragon Slayer's Ribbon (DSR) - This is a unit commendation for a regiment that has performed with exceptional skill against House Kurita.  The long light-blue ribbon shows the Kurita Crest being throttled by a Steiner's Fist (recently added by Archon Katherine Steiner.  It is displayed on a regiment's banner alongside its campaign ribbons.  The 17th Skye Rangers had won this award 30 years ago.  The ribbon has not been awarded since the War of '39.

In the Skye Rangers, this award is given to a Regiment  which is consistently victorious (5+ victories) in online combat against House Kurita forces.

Unit Citation (UC) - This award is a unit commendation for any regiment that has bravely fought and triumphed against superior enemy numbers.  The citation is displayed by placing the long black-and-Steiner-blue ribbon on a regiment's standard.  In addition, members of the regiment at the time of the citation receive tokens of the Commonwealth's gratitude.  For non-commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers, this is the McKenssy Ground-Pounders Medal.  Officers receive the McKenssy Hammer.

In the Skye Rangers, this award is given to a Regiment  which has been victorious in an online combat event when outnumbered at a minimum of 2 to 1 or higher odds.

Individual Awards

Description

McKennsy Hammer (McH) - This award is given to officers who have shown particularly effective skills in tactics or strategy. The award is an actual silver block hammer weighting about nine kilograms signifying the weight of responsibility such officers carry.  Those honored are allowed to carry the hammer to all formal occasions as a sign of the Commonwealth's trust and appreciation but at other times it is represented by a silver miniature pinned on the right breast or on the school rag.

In the Skye Rangers, this award is given to an Officer  who has led his/her unit to victory in an online combat event when outnumbered at a minimum of 2 to 1 or higher odds.  It can also be awarded to an Officer who achieves 1,000 confirmed online kills.

McKennsy Ground Pounders Medal (GPM) - Originally conceived as an award only for non-Mech ground force members, over the years, it has been awarded so often to ground force senior officers, and even 'Mech officers, that it has lost its value for officers.  However, for enlisted men and non-commissioned officers, receiving the Ground-Pounder's Medal for valorous action on the battlefield still means a great deal.  The medal is a representation of McKennsy's Hammer and is worn about the neck on a blue ribbon.

In the Skye Rangers, this award is given to an enlisted Mechwarrior  who has been victorious in an online combat event when outnumbered at a minimum of 2 to 1 or higher odds.  It can also be awarded if an enlisted Mechwarrior achieves 1,000 confirmed online kills.

Order of Katherine Steiner (OKS) - This medal is reserved for Aerospace Fighter, DropShip and Jump Ship pilots who have distinguished themselves in combat.  The medal is a gold Steiner Fist set against a silver propeller and worn on a blue ribbon.  A soldier may receive the award multiple times though only one is worn.  Instead a silver bar is added to the ribbon for each individual award.

This award is typically not granted to Mechwarriors in the Skye Rangers, but Warrant Officers, Aerospace Fighter, and DropShip/Jump Ship pilots.  Those who have distinguished themselves in their technical contribution to the Skye Rangers can achieve this medal.

Order of Tamar Tigers (OTT) - This medal differs from most in that it bestows membership in an order of honored heroes.  The award is considered a great honor, as not only does it take pride of place on the dress uniform (or formal clothes in the case of retired soldiers) but it also confers membership in a fellowship whose history dates back to the founding of the Tamar Pact.  The badge is silver, engraved with the regimental patch of the famed Tamar Tigers set within a sunburst.  It is usually worn separate from the other medals.  Though awarded by the Duke/Duchess of Tamar, it is not limited to acts of valor carried out in the former Tamar Pact or Tamar Domains (now Pandora Theater and elements of Melissia Theater).  The Archon or General of the Armies of the Lyran Commonwealth is typically the Grand Officer of the Order of the Tamar Tigers.

In the Skye Rangers, this award is given to any  Mechwarrior  who has achieved 2,500 confirmed online kills.

The Honor of Skye (HoS) - The Duke/Duchess of Skye awards this medal to any soldier serving in or with the Skye Rangers who has shown exceptional bravery while defending a planet within the Federation of Skye. The medal depicts an ancient Scottish warrior brandishing a claymore. It is made from gold and is worn on an emerald green ribbon around the neck.  A famous past recipient of this medal was MechWarrior Mitchell Simmons of the 17th Skye Rangers, for his gallant defense of a group of civilians against a Kurita lance during the Battle for Alexandria in 3024.

In the Skye Rangers, this award is given to any Skye Ranger Mechwarrior  who has been victorious in an online combat event while on a defensive drop on a Skye Federation Planet against 3 to 1 or higher odds.  It can also be awarded if a Mechwarrior achieves 5,000 confirmed online kills.

Alliance Star (AS) - Formerly known as the Federated Commonwealth Star, the Alliance Star recognizes acts of uncommon bravery and honor in combat situations that benefit the LAAF.  The Alliance Star is made of platinum (or gold in the Federation of Skye) and is hung by a red ribbon around the recipient's neck.

In the Skye Rangers, the Alliance Star is typically awarded for confirmed recruitment of new cadets/recruits (must be active 3+ months).  In the Federation of Skye, the medal is worn on the right breast of the dress uniform.  For each new recruit beyond the first, a small silver number is hung from the base of the Alliance Star depicting the total recruits to date.

Commonwealth/Alliance Medal of Honor (MoH) - The highest award the Alliance government can give an individual.  It recognizes actions of uncommon valor and self-sacrifice, gaining a victory for the Alliance irrespective of the cost.  The few recipients who survive the act for which they are decorated are inducted into the Knights of Donegal.

It honors any soldier in the LAAF who, by his or her actions, snatches victory from the jaws of defeat.  The medal is a large silver disk with a single gold star upon it.  It hangs from a gold bar made of three pieces, each symbolizing one of the three allied domains comprising the Old Commonwealth.  The Medal of Honor has three grades: Silver Bars, Gold Oak Leaf Clusters, and Diamond Clusters.

In the Skye Rangers, this award is given to any Skye Ranger Mechwarrior  who has been victorious in an online combat against 3 to 1 or higher odds.  It can also be awarded if a Mechwarrior achieves 10,000 confirmed online kills.  Additional kill awards are granted as follows: Silver Bars (15,000 kills), Gold Oak Leaf Clusters (25,000 kills) and Diamond Clusters (50,000 kills).

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