Another of My Companies for Alpha Strike, Campbell's Company, Black's Battalion - 7th Crucis Lancers

Campbell’s Company, Black’s Battalion, 7^th Crucis Lancers, ca. Civil War era.

Rivas’s Striker Lance

Leftenant Krystal Rivas, Skill 3, HSN-7D Hellspawn (Speed Demon SPA)

Staff Sergeant Guillermo Clark, Skill 1, CN9-D5 Centurion (Speed Demon SPA)

Sergeant Charlie Williams, Skill 3, ENF-5D Enforcer

Sergeant Jitika Rossi, Skill 4, VLK-QD Valkyrie (Speed Demon SPA)

Richard’s Assault Lance (Demoralize or Multi-Tasker SPA)

Leftenant Vilhemina Richard, Skill 1, NSR-9J Nightstar

Staff Sergeant Haley Bell, Skill 1, FLC-8R Falconer

Sergeant Braden Szabo, Skill 3, RFL-5D Rifleman

Sergeant Keeshawn Hogan, Skill 3, RFL-6D Rifleman

Campbell’s Command Lance

Captain Broderick Campbell, Skill 1, PPR-5S Salamander (Tactical Genius SPA)

Master Sergeant Anika Yilmaz, Skill 1, TLR-01B Templar

Sergeant Stephan Bell, Skill 1, SGT-8R Sagittaire (Marksman SPA)

Sergeant Moses Kennedy, Skill 1, PTR-4D Penetrator (Antagonizer SPA)

Total PV for the Company is 642 Points, A set of Alpha Strike cards for the company can be found here.

Bios of Company Mechwarriors

Leftenant Krystal Rivas: Every Company Commander in the Inner Sphere has at least one cross to bear. And, for Captain Cambell? Leftenant Rivas is his cross. She is a graduate of NAMA, class of ’61, and won’t let anyone forget it. The idle speculation around the battalion is that she graduated near the bottom of her class. Simply put, Rivas is incompetent as a leader, but a passible ‘Mechwarrior. There is a betting pool in some of the other companies in Black’s Battalion on when she finally leads her lance into an ambush, much to the chagrin of the rest of her lancemates. The worst part is, as bad of a leader as she is, she actually is cocky enough to think she is doing a good job and that she is the best ‘Mechwarrior in the Company. Neither, is of course, true. She is insufferable when she gets a ‘Mech kill, and the rest of her lance has been fortunate in that SSG Clark is a far better leader, and has proven to be competent enough to get the lance out of whatever trouble Leftenant Rivas gets them into. Her only virtues, thus far, is her utter loyalty to Victor’s cause and her calm nature under fire, even if she is making all the wrong decisions.

Noone can figure out where the attitude comes from, as her background is that of humble origins, her parents were tailors who owned their own small shop on Conroe. Krystal had barely qualified for a scholarship to NAMA, except for her excellent kinesthetic reactions. Captain Campbell is stuck for now, none of the other battalions want Leftenant Rivas, so all he can do is hope and pray she doesn’t get the whole lance killed before SSG Clark can take over.

Staff Sergeant Guillermo Clark: Staff Sergeant Clark has a real problem on his hands, his lance leader’s toxic leadership is threatening to tear apart the lance. He’s already defused several “plots” to “frag” Leftenant Rivas, and he is aware they’re stuck with her. He is hoping the Loyalists will solve the problem and kill her, but she seems to have the devil’s own luck in getting out of the situations she puts the lance in. SSG Clark is dreading when that luck runs out. It’s keeping him up at night, and contributing to a nasty case of insomnia.

For all the problems he has, SSG Clark is one of the best NCOs in the Battalion, and he realizes he is there to step in when Leftenant Rivas finally screws up so badly, she has to be relieved. At least, that’s what Captain Campbell has told him. Clark himself is from middle class origins, he grew up the son of middle class government bureaucrats on Exeter and from all accounts, was a studious and mild-mannered child, so it was a surprise when he applied for, and got into the Albion Military Academy in 3033, graduating with the class of ’37 in time for the ’39 War with the 2^nd Crucis Lancers. He then spent his career with the Crucis Lancers, moving from one regiment to another. His wilder off-duty nature came out at the academy, and away from the company, he is a playboy and dedicated bachelor, but he is careful not to let that side of his life sully his military career. In a fight, he is a solid leader and even tempered. He is the rock that the lance always gathers around in a tough spot. It is this nature, plus his ability to always find fun when off duty on any planet that makes him a popular member of the company.

Sergeant Charlie Williams: Sergeant Williams is a ticking time bomb. Simply put, Charlie has become addicted to pain medication. He became addicted when a doctor overprescribed codeine to treat a recent sports injury. To make matters worse, Williams has only recently graduated to Oxycodone. It hasn’t affected his performance, either on the battlefield, or in his other duties, yet, but it is a matter of time before it does. He goes to great lengths to hide his addiction, because to him, being a ‘Mechwarrior is all he has, and all he ever wants to be.

Charlie came from an average middle-class upbringing on Zilang, his parents were moderately successful farmers and he was the youngest of four siblings. When Charlie graduated from Warrior’s Hall in 3052, he half expected an assignment with the Syrtis Fusiliers, but was instead assigned to the 7^th Crucis, which was a happy surprise for Charlie, as he had never invested that much in the “hate the Capellans” mantra that pervaded Warrior’s Hall. He has been with the 7^th ever since, and has served well, being a competent ‘Mechwarrior that has the potential to go far. He is an even-tempered fellow in a fight and a solid professional, but the slowly burgeoning addiction threatens all this.

Sergeant Jikita Rossi:  Sergeant Rossi is fresh from the Coventry Military Academy, Class of ’60. But she earned her slot as a ‘Mechwarrior for her conduct under fire as part of the Timbiqui Militia as an infantryman during a Marik raid in 3059. She won the Alliance Star, and a slot at Coventry when she came to the attention of Duke Bradford. The Duke, noting she was an orphan whom had grown up in an orphan’s home that was part of a network of such homes established by the Duke’s late wife. Her scores at the academy were stellar, and she graduated 2^nd out of 357 that year. She turned down OCS, stating she preferred to be a humble mechwarrior, and instead asked for posting to the 7^th Crucis Lancers, which struck many as an odd choice, but she has found a home with the 7^th, and the Lance. She is a solid, even tempered ‘Mechwarrior, and though a bit naïve off-duty, often being shocked at the behavior of Staff Sergeant Clark, she is popular with just about everyone. She has even managed to make time for a family of her own, getting married in February 3062 to a fellow ‘Mechwarrior in the battalion. The marriage is a happy one, and has produced a baby girl, though securing child care on short notice can be troublesome, but she and her wife are doting parents.

Leftenant Vilhemina Richard:  Leftenant Richard is everything Leftenant Rivas is not. A graduate of the Sakahara Academy, Class of ’56, she is a careful, studious officer dedicated to improving herself as both a ‘Mechwarrior and an officer. She appreciates the trust Captain Capmbell has placed in her by putting her in charge of the Assault Lance and is determined to not let him down. This can occasionally make her a bit personally reckless under fire, (though she is a deadly shot, and that ability has gotten her out of more trouble than not) even if she is careful with the lives of the rest of her lance. It has gotten her lectured by Captain Campbell on “What is a dead Leftenant worth?”, but overall, she has proven to be a solid, competent leader of the Assault Lance.

Personally, Leftenant Richard is a bookworm, constantly studying the Clan enemy, and if she isn’t doing that, then she is studying the Lyran Stock market. She is a far-sighted woman, and realizes she cannot be a ‘Mechwarrior forever, so she might as well make some money for her retirement, and has made some very judicious and smart stock trades that have already made her a rich woman. So much so, she is often asked for financial advice by other members of the Battalion. It’s another reason she hates the “proto communist Clans”.

Staff Sergeant Haley Bell:  Staff Sergeant Bell is a competent, solid NCO who pairs well with his more reckless Lance Leader (and often finds himself trying to rein her in). He is a coarse, cigar chomping fellow whose nature hides a deep intellect, and an ability to spot an opportunity, both battlefield, or financial, and with careful assistance from Leftenant Richard, he too has become a very rich man. He and the Leftenant often joke they should open a brokerage house once their ‘Mechwarrior days are over. He likes to make money, the honest way, and it’s this ability that makes him love the Federated Commonwealth.

Staff Sergeant Bell hails from Liao in the Sarna March, and attended the Sarna Martial Academy, class of 45, last in a long line of Capellan ‘Mechwarriors steeped in the Lorix Order. That he was willing to become a FedCom ‘Mechwarrior has made no difference to his family, as it matters more someone is carrying on the Bell warrior line, than whom that line serves. Since the Capellan Confederation has retaken Liao, and most of his family, he worries he might one day have to kill a member of his family, he hopes not, but it is a worry in the back of his mind.

Sergeant Braden Szabo:  Sergeant Szabo is a competent ‘Mechwarrior in the field, level headed in a fight, and responds to orders quickly. In garrison? No so much. He falls for every sad story and get rich scheme imaginable, often to the consternation of Leftenant Richard and Staff Sergeant Bell. It’s gotten him the unflattering nickname of “Szabo the Sucker”. Szabo is a graduate of Bryceland Academy, class of ’58 and has been an otherwise competent warrior, who came up through the ranks after some rather conspicuous gallantry (that got him the Silver Sunburst) during a pirate raid as a tank crewman on Marlette. He then was assigned to the 7^th Crucis on graduation at his request.

Szabo fights for his family back on Marlette. His father is a retired police officer, and his mother a school teacher who have been happily married 30 years, Szabo sends home a vid of every ‘Mech kill he gets so they can know what he does. (He edits them for the less than pleasant bits). Were he less gullible, Staff Sergeant Bell would consider him for an SNCO slot for another company, as it is, he doesn’t dare because he’s afraid of what his own men would do to him.

Sergeant Keeshawn Hogan: Sergeant Hogan is a quiet, meek fellow for a ‘Mechwarrior. Hidden under that quiet exterior is a burning, almost fanatical loyalty to Victor Steiner-Davion. He graduated in the middle of his class from Albion last year and he is a native of New Avalon. His parents were long serving veterans with the Davion Guards. They died with the 1^st Davion Guards when they mutinied against Katherine’s rule. Hogan has a burning desire to avenge their deaths, as well as the round up and disappearance of his sister, who was also on New Avalon as a grade school teacher. He is a competent warrior, even if he never says much, even tempered in a fight, and a good man to have beside you.

Captain Broderick Campbell:  Captain Campbell is the product of the “fighting nobility” one often sees in the Federated Suns. He is the heir to the Dukedom of Markesan, or at least was before his parents were arrested due to their loyalty to Victor. It was enough that he is Victor’s man, through and through. He is a very skilled officer, and very good tactician, with his contagious optimism leading the company out of one tight spot or another when the situation required it. He is also calm and unflappable in a fight, often chiding his subordinates for screaming on the radio. He is a graduate of NAMA, class of ’45, and graduated with honors, soon attending OCS where he again, graduated with honors. He is fiercely proud that even with his noble birth, nobody in the AFFC ever gave him a damn thing. He earned it.

Captain Campbell is the rock, along with Master Sergeant Yilmaz, that the company depends on, and were Captain Campbell to die, it isn’t clear what would happen to the company.

Master Sergeant Anika Yilmaz: Master Sergeant Yilmaz has seen and done it all since 3039. She is a graduate of the War College of Goshen, class of ’37 and first saw action in the War of ’39 with the 33rd Avalon Hussars and survived the unit’s destruction at the hands of the Steel Vipers on Orkney in 3051. After a hospital stay, she was reassigned to the 7^th Crucis Lancers, where she has remained. The experience has made her a bit reckless facing the Clans, especially the Steel Vipers, on some level, wishing to avenge the lost souls of her fellow warriors. Outside the cockpit, she is a woman of culture, and probably the only ‘Mechwarrior who has taken the time to take up a very expensive hobby, wine collecting. It’s this hobby that has made her eager to find the proverbial “pot of gold” salvage, so she can retire and be a bon vivant full time.

As a cultured person, she doesn’t resort to that old standby of SNCOs, profanity. That doesn’t mean she cannot professionally dress down anyone around, she can, and do so in rich English that would make any English professor at an Inner Sphere university weep with joy at the rich and proper use of English.

On the battlefield, she and Captain Campbell make a deadly team, often their plans and actions complement each other, without needing to say so much as a word to the other. It’s the intense training schedules both leaders insist upon that in this case, pays off in spades.

Sergeant Stephan Bell:  Sergeant Bell (no relation to Staff Sergeant Bell) is a rather odd bird, even by Company standards. His fickle nature is legendary, as he will often spend hours agonizing over the most trivial of non-military decisions, much to the consternation of all around him. That, coupled with his fanatical devotion to his New Avalon Catholic faith, make him an acquired taste. He isn’t pushy about his faith, but he is willing to talk when asked, much to the chagrin of the listener, but for the most part, he is private about his faith. But secretly, he is convinced the Clans are the agents of the antichrist, even if the Pope on New Avalon hasn’t said as much. He doesn’t think much of Katherine either, seeing her as someone who has “forsaken God”. Sergeant Bell is from Imbrai III, his parents are both university professors at the local college. He is reckless on the battlefield, seemingly ignoring incoming fire, which often miraculously doesn’t touch him (this is more to the fact that most pirates have bad aim and lousy training than anything else). It’s something that concerns Captain Campbell, as he worries the recklessness will only get worse the more the pirates miss.

Bell is a graduate of the Sakahara Academy, Class of ’50 and missed the Clan invasion, as he was doing duty with the 5^th Crucis Lancers, but was soon reassigned to the 7^th (His Company CO found him odd, and just wanted him out of there). In short, he is an odd, but solid ‘Mechwarrior, who is a deadly shot and a solid member of the Command Lance.

Sergeant Moses Kennedy: Sergeant Kennedy is, on paper, an above average ‘Mechwarrior from a minor Davion ‘Mechwarrior family. Yet somehow, he is still a disappointment and a blacksheep of the family. Perhaps it was a hedonist nature that came out during his days at the Robinson Battle Academy. Perhaps it was his actions since, multiple paternity suits, the fights in casinos and the plain personal mayhem he has left in his wake, he has been disowned long ago by his family, it doesn’t matter to Moses really, he made a pile of money in the Rochester Luxury Lotto and is using it as a nest egg for when his enlistment runs out in 3 years. You see, Moses never wanted to be in the military, Moses wanted to be a musician. The truth is, Moses is quite a good guitarist, and if given an opportunity, could probably make it big. But the fact is, his lifestyle would probably get him in a lot of trouble.

Kennedy is pretty lazy in garrison, but a tiger in a fight, often with the rest of the Command Lance having to wade in to get him out of whatever trouble he got himself into, whether it be off or on the battlefield. In short, he keeps the Company interesting, but it’s an “interesting” many in the company would rather do without.  

An aerial done shot of elements of Campbell's Company, ca. early 3065

Three quarters of the Command Lance, ca. 3065