Sanguine Reapers

RAF Update 01-01-3145

Background

Once a part of the now-defunct Circrinus Federation, Andiron was apparently attacked by the Word of Blake, supposedly their allies, at the end of the Jihad. The attacks shattered the world's infrastructure, leading to a collapse of its central government. Combined with the destruction of the Federation, Andiron collapsed into a near-lawless state, becoming a haven for pirates and other outlaws.

The Sanguine Reapers are one such group, albeit one of the larger and better-armed ones. Born out of a mixture of natives, failed mercenaries, renegades and other such groups, the Reapers have been a constant threat to nearby worlds for over fifteen years now. Equipped with a mixture of BattleMechs and conventional vehicles, many of which are salvaged from the ruined Federation or possibly even Blakeist stockpiles, the Reapers are a constant threat.

Much of their strength comes not from force of arms but their surprising level of cohesion for a pirate band. While the exact origin of the raiders is unclear, many of their members are natives to Andiron or the former Federation, and some are second-generation members of the unit. Their members look out for each other, as long as they are pulling their weight and do what is needed. A member who fails to measure up tends to find themselves 'retired' in short order

With the losses suffered by the Lyran Commonwealth in recent years, the Sanguine Reapers have become more adventurous as they take advantage of the situation. With the LCAF damaged, in retreat and stretched perilously thin, the Reapers have been presented with a smorgasbord of targets, ripe for the picking. The Raiders have been known to go for both equipment that would be useful in maintaining their world, such as water purification technology, as well as military supplies and valuables. In addition, the Reapers have been known to engage in slaving operations, as well as kidnapping for ransom.

The current leader of the Reapers is Matthias Kaine, a cruel and ruthless man who has displayed a level of brutality unusual even for a pirate. Kaine seized command of the Reapers after deposing their previous leader, reportedly leaving his body on display for months as a grisly reminder of his trophy and power. Little is known about Kaine's past, although it is believed that he is a native to Andiron and well connected within what passes for the planetary leadership.

Force Strength

The Sanguine Reapers sport at approximately a company of BattleMechs, mostly older designs with the occasional piece of Lyran or Word salvage among them. In support they are equipped with approximately a company of light armour, composed almost entirely of hovertanks. Usually used in support of the main 'Mech force, the hovercraft are also used as transports to haul off whatever they have taken.

Finally, the Reapers support a smattering of conventional infantry, usually drawn from the poor and desperate masses that Andiron has in abundant supply. Armed with whatever comes to hand and used primarily for looting duties, the value of these units is questionable at best. They also tend towards having a high turnover rate, but to the common man from such a desperate background, it would be seen as an acceptable risk.

Support

The Sanguine Reapers’ supply situation could be best described as “whatever they can get their hands on”. The unit’s ‘Mechs and Vehicles are maintained mostly through scavenging and stolen supplies, which has resulted in a hodge-podge of units in varying degrees of decrepitude, with repairs done as supplies become available. The support situation is not helped by a lack of qualified technicians, with much of the work being makeshift or jury-rigged.

Transport

In order to Conduct their raids, the Reapers require both interplanetary and interstellar transport. In order to accomplish this, the pirates poses a pair of Trojan/Danais-class (the actual class is hard to tell, given their age, decrepitude and clear improvised repairs) ships, the Bloodbath and the Grimdark. In addition, the pirates have regular access to a Merchant-class jumpship; the exact identity of this ship is unclear, given its propensity for operating under false flags.

Colours and Insignia

The Sanguine Reapers use a flat red colour scheme with varying highlights, simply based on whatever paints are available at the time. Many of their units are worn or have unpainted parts, or wear fragments of other colour schemes. However, with their often poorly maintained equipment, visual identification is often the only reliable way to tell friend from foe.

The insignia of the raiders is a bloodied scythe, painted wherever the raiders can find space on their ‘Mechs.