17th Skye Rangers

17th Skye Rangers: "Boys of Summer"

This nickname came from the fact that at least half of all MechWarriors in the unit must be from the planet Summer, per the Household Troop Agreement of 2883.

"Once counted among the elite of the LAAF (Lyran Alliance Armed Forces), the Seventeenth Skye Rangers faced Clan Jade Falcon twice during the invasion: first on Barcelona (subsequently regained by the Federated Commonwealth) and then on Black Earth. Both times the unit acquitted itself well but at considerable cost. Abandoned by the AFFC (Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth) on Barcelona, only the actions of an insubordinate JumpShip commander allowed elements of the unit to escape. However, the effort cost the Seventeenth almost all of its supporting forces. This wasteful loss of their RCT (Regimental Combat Team) fanned the separatist sentiment within the survivors, with the unit's pro-Skye sentiments cited as a reason for the AFFC's neglect.

Despite this and a subsequent ejection from Black Earth, the Seventeenth maintained its combat effectiveness, eventually returning to garrison Barcelona after the war. In the end, however, the unit's greatest enemy was not the Clans but the Lyran military. Seen as a hotbed of dissent, order AO-5730023 led to their relocation to Lost on the Periphery fringe and the re-assignment of key officers and troops to other units. Despite vehement protests - this action violated the Household Troop Agreement of 2883 that guaranteed at least half the mechwarriors in the Seventeenth would be natives of Summer - the LAAF turned the regiment into a "sink" unit. Problem cases from across the LAAF were consigned to the Seventeenth, from petty criminals and those incapable of operating within military discipline to those professing loyalty to Archon-Prince Victor.

The result was a steady erosion of of the unit's effectiveness, but the new "recruits" - combined with a dislike of the new Archon - placed the Rangers in an unusual position: favoring Prince Victor. With war brewing, the Seventeenth has finally thrown in its lot with Prince Victor Steiner-Davion, hoping to barter its support in exchange for improved conditions and postings in the aftermath. However, there are still plenty of hard-line pro-Skye elements in the unit that will likely make trouble if the Seventeenth finds itself in actual combat against Lyran units.

The regimental patch is a gold disc forming a stylized sun. Gold is used for highlights on the regiment's BattleMechs and aerospace fighters.

Tactics

The loss of their aerospace force on Black Earth has forced the Seventeenth to rely on the two lances that remain of its Lightning Company for reconnaissance information. Effectively blind, the regiment is ill suited to offensive operations. However, this has not prevented the force drilling in a wide range of offensive tactics.

...The Seventeenth is well down the LAAF's supply chain. The regiment doesn't have enough spare parts to keep all it 'Mechs in working order, let alone fully arm those it can deploy. Several pirate raids against Lost have demonstrated the unit's vulnerability, but the LAAF has shown now signs of changing its stance."

The lost RCT units of the 17th Skye Rangers are being brought back to full fighting strength. The new Skye Front Brigade Commander (GN Arturus Steiner) is now concentrating his attention on regaining the integrity and lost pride of the Seventeenth as it regroups on Summer.

Regimental Statistics

Experience Level: Regular

Home Planet/Base: Summer

LIF Loyalty Rating: Questionable

Military Assets: