5th Wolf Garrison Cluster (Kappa Galaxy)

RAF Intel report; 01-01-3145

Wolf Empire Kappa Galaxy

Much like the rest of the Empire’s Kappa Galaxy, the 5^th Wolf Garrison Cluster has both spent years as a target for the Rasalhauge Dominion while also remaining near the bottom of the Empire’s supply chain. Even after the formation of the Wolf Empire, the Cluster has remained heavy with vehicles and conventional infantry, with very few BattleMechs or Battle Armour to speak of.

The 5^th has the added disadvantage of being at the bottom of Kappa's food chain for new recruits and replacement crews. It only receives the rawest of recruits and those that the other Clusters have allready rejected, leaving it both with poor quality and inexperienced warriors, but also mounting morale and discipline problems. Star Colonel Angela has repeatedly requested new transfers, but the simple fact that the 5th is the closest cluster to full strength in Kappa has undermined her case.

To compound these problems, the 5^th has been assigned to guard the vital factory world of Keystone, making them a prime target for potential raids, or any League efforts to reclaim their lost worlds. Despite the cease-fire between the Empire and the FWL, the result is a feeling of being in the crosshairs, one that has not helped the unit's morale situation any. Keystone’s polluted atmosphere also limits the unit’s effectiveness; its infantry are dependent on life-support equipment to operate outside, effectively tying them to either sealed structures or their transports. Similarly, its vehicles are vulnerable to hull breaches, making their commanders reluctant to commit to action.

Presently, intelligence suggests that the 5^th has been divided into Binary/Trinary-sized units to cover specific parts of the expansive and sprawling Earthworks facilities. Its few BattleMech forces are held as a quick reaction reserve force to bolster defences as needed or deal with the largest possible threats, but it is questionable how effective such a small force would be in the face of a full-scale invasion. For now, the 5^th’s greatest strength lies simply in the lack of an opponent who can readily threaten them.

 

Binary Bravo

Officially a trinary on paper, Bravo has been under strength for decades as a result of Kappa's unfailingly bad supply situation. To make matters worse, some of its equipment is so old as to predate operation REVIVAL, and requests for replacements have fallen on deaf ears. One Star Captain was said to have a request turned down with a note of "If we gave you anything new, then the Bears would just destroy it", to which he simply replied to say that "this is why we can't have nice things".

Under the current structure of the Binary, Armour One acts as both a command unit and its main offensive punch. Equipped mainly with heavy tanks, the Star concentrates on firepower at the expense of mobility.  Conversely, Armour Two is tasked mainly with transporting and working in support of the Clusters infantry assets, several ancient APCs giving it ample capacity. Both stars are expected to remain close to their designated operational bases, simply due to the limitations of operating in such a hazardous and polluted environment.

The Binary's problems are not helped any by their commander. Star Captain Svetlana is a resentful, burned-out Trueborn who failed their Trial of Position to become a MechWarrior. That she is a Kerensky only makes her even more embittered, leading to her taking out her frustrations on her troop and only contributing to the unit’s morale issues. Her command style consists mainly of shouting, and her soldiers follow less out of loyalty and more out of a desire not to contradict her or make things any worse.

Conversely, Star Commander Ralphus is her polar opposite. A freeborn from the old Wolf Clan OZ, being selected for combat training was a massive improvement to his life. Managing to somehow work his way up to Star Commander, he has remained jovial and friendly towards those under his command. However, he also lacks in ambition, and as such rarely will do anything more the the minimum needed in a given situation.