"The Kellas"
"Right action is better than knowledge; but in order to do what is right, we must know what is right." - Charlemagne
OOC Info
Image Credit: Doot!
Role: Armoured Support
Permissions: N/A
Links: INVASION "Operation: Shadowdance" TSE Invasion of NIO-held Muunilinst, Orinackra and Ord Thoden
DOMINION "Crucifixion" NIO Dominion of Generis
ANNIHILATION "End of an Era" AC Annihilation of Korriban
DOMINION "Swords of Imperialism" NIO Dominion of Maridun
INVASION "Woken Furies" BOTM Invasion of NIO-Held Nirauan
General Information
Classification: Tank/Armoured-Infantry Warfare Specialists
Affiliation: New Imperial Order
Galidraan Imperial State
Rurik Fel
Willan Tal
Enedina Tal
Arcturus Tal
Aemilio Valaar
Tyrell Lockhart
Shai Krayt
Alex Eldar
Insignia Credits: Doot-Doot!
Doot-Doot-Doot!
Description: An entire array of wildlife roams the hills, valleys and forests of Galidraan III; some real, like the Tuathan Wildcat, fierce and hardy as their frozen homeland would suggest, and some mythic, much like the Wildcat's ancient ancestral progenitor, known locally as the Kellas. It is no wonder then how the young Laird's return to his homeland was viewed at the time, as Aron was always viewed as someone greater than most, even in his early childhood, even as a newborn. However, in spurning the adoration such an epithet implied, something else happened when the (then-) Lord-Captain of Blue-Heart Brigade accepted this attribution to the extinct big-cat and took on some of the renowned traits of their most cunning, most ferocious examples in history and legends alike. After all, if the strong had truly given rise to the strong as was being suggested, then the old legend stated that such an event would end the most vicious of cycles between tribes - giving rise to the necessity for such a change to occur in himself.
Utilising the impetus of his self-discovery, Lord Aron then rose to greater prominence within the Free-State, and as a direct result of this, so did the collective presence of the common Tuath-born elements, especially after the Lord-Protector and the Lord-Commander at the time sanctioned Gowrie's bid to represent the Galidraani Free-State as his own entity, free to prove his worth at something other than junior-command. It is in this freedom where the Wildcat concept arises to often outperform the feats of the larger, better-established contingents within the Free State, attempting to succeed in endeavours that even his former commander would consider outlandish at best. New longshot records have been achieved on the range and in the heat of battle alike, the tanks themselves have been utilised in some of the most inventive ways imaginable, and all of it very adaptable to the allies who serve in battle with them - and the 501st Stormtrooper Legion in particular.
Using the XT-62,"Cataphract", as their main weapon of choice, adhering to Free-State tradition, the Wildcats are more than proficient enough in emulating and exceeding the older contingents, and all mostly down to what was learned from their experiences with Blue-Heart Brigade. From the utilisation of mobile artillery and rocket-ordnance, right down to the smaller answer to the Guardian concept yielded from Barran's experiences in the Second Battle of Bastion, the very framework the Wildcats adhere to is very similar to that which the Fighting-First and the Blue-Hearts depend on specifically. Never the types to fix what wasn't broken to begin with, it only seems fitting that the 1st Tuath would only seek to outperform within the confines of the armoured-doctrine they'd been trained and versed in already, ever giving credence to their confident belief in the strategic advantages offered since the earlier deployments.
And rightfully so, as the Kellas himself always demands much and more of them, especially in the heart of war's very own crucible, as the man leading them was considered able enough to take temporary command of Blue-Heart Brigade on Csilla. Proven able enough to achieve victory in the defence of Muunilinst, proven able enough to leave his mark on any opponent on Korriban, the man leading Wildcat Battalion was every part worthy enough to count himself an equal among his peers in the Free-State's commandry - and all serving with the Lord-Protectors' armies find themselves very inclined to agree with that assessment. To be led in combat by the man (despite Korriban being a strategic defeat for it's attackers) who orchestrated the attack on Mongrel's Hill is a great point of pride among Lord Aron's countrymen, especially in their recounting of the fact their Lord-Colonel fearlessly fought the Hill's namesake at the summit at the time as well.
Social Information
Goals: Defend Galidraan, her people, and her Lord-Protector in the name of the Empire
Reputation: New Imperial Order - Rising stars, suspected Warlord-sympathies.
Brotherhood of the Maw - Dangerous foes and consistent rivals, a good source for trophies and glorious deaths alike.
Enclave - Known entities, amiable dispositions.
Sith Remnants - Imperial scum, destroyers of a civilisation.
Composition Information
Army Classification: Expeditionary Brigade
Composition: Tank-Crews
IFV-Crews
Riflemen
Guardian Company
Quartermasters
MLV-Crews
Scope-Platoon
Unit Experience: Elite
Combat Function: Heavy Mechanised Support
Equipment (Vehicles): XT-62 Cataphract-class Main Battle Tank
NSTL-62a Landspeeder
Equipment (Weaponry): SA-65 Repeating Blaster Rifle
AP-25i "SIMP" Particle-Beam Blaster
Members (Commandry Clique): Lord Aron Gowrie - Lord-Colonel [Lord-Commander] PC
Sir Alun Reed - Knight-Captain [Second-in-Command] NPC
Lord Byron Scott - Guard-Captain [Security Advisor/Bodyguard Coordinator] NPC
Benjamin McManus - Commoner-Captain [Lead Combat-Surgeon] NPC
Neill Mabbarden - Commoner-Leftenant [QM-in-chief] NPC
Dean McCallan - 2nd-Leftenant [IFV-Commander] NPC
James Stewart - 2nd-Leftenant [Tank-Commander] NPC
Members (NCO Clique): Darran Walls - Sergeant Major [Scott's Adjutant] NPC
Brian Mortimer - Corporal [ACV-Driver for the Thistle] NPC
Damien Muir - Sergeant [Active ACV/Tank-crewman] NPC
Kevan Davidson - Corporal [Best Rifleman] NPC
Strengths
Highly-Experienced: Drawing from experiences as far back as the Second Battle of Bastion, many of the Wildcats' first generation were able to form the basis of a contingent so unexpectedly proficient that they would shock anyone who opposed them; from the very first deployment it would be felt, and yet, Lord Aron still seeks to impart the need to constantly improve on their manoeuvres and the shooting-accuracy of the tank-crews - a telling sign of how effective the Kellas knows this concept can be. With an effective smoothbore-shooting range of over 2.5km, the Tuaths (much like their Woad-born comrades) can achieve even longer shots with rifle-shooting principles involved, sending their shots almost 3.4km across the field to land with devastating effect, a technique tested both on the range and in the field to give comprehensive, textbook instruction to all who are still new to the procedure.Goidelic Willpower: A thing of legend by this point, as has been proven by the warriors of Galidraan III on many occasions already, something the Sith Empire felt all too acutely near the end, and something the Brotherhood of the Maw knows already and strives to fight again someday. Always the ones who keep fighting when it seems that all hope is lost, it is very obvious to see that when it comes to morale and resolve, the Tuaths can reach within their souls to find both in abundance; convinced that none but their ilk belong in crucibles so wild, their lack of self-regard in the heat of battle is most-certainly a shock factor that can be used against all conventional opposition. There is an aggressive driving force within that must be mentioned also, ever urging to get in their enemies' faces and make them as uncomfortable as possible, something that often aids in pushing back the most stubborn static-lines.
Strategically Adaptable: Despite their wild and rambunctious reputation, pretty much any and all allied presences can rely almost completely on the endearingly collaborative nature, something that has served to save many Imperial lives under fire; from rescue-attempts to alleviations of firepower-pressure, Wildcat Battalion will always endeavour the unaskable, another trait of the 1st Tuaths that has become a thing of legend among their peers in the Imperium. This plays well into their supporting role within the Imperium's community of armoured contingents, as they would always be able to do more with the flexibility, and would always venture to do more for their allies as a direct result of this - much like they did in the Maw's infamous invasion of Nirauan.
Endearing Nature: Besides being of vital help to any and all Imperials who grace the field of battle in their own capacity, a lot of respect is given to the others by their Tuath colleagues, speaking highly of any they see fighting like lions with them. Something the other contingents would be happy to hear tell of, as before it would often be thought that such an insular caste would have nothing but harsh words for the foreigners who fight the same foes, easily put to rest by making actual conversation with any serving within Wildcat Battalion, showing that friendliness need not equate to incompetence if wielded correctly. This makes them very easy for other contingents to work with, as it eliminates any worries of arguments or offences-taken when the blaster-trails start flying, and in the eyes of other Imperial contingents, this goes a long way indeed.
Weaknesses
Poorly-Equipped: With obsolete flak-jackets, niche small-arms weaponry, and low-standard medical equipment to use, the Wildcats would always be bound by the same detrimental trend in the Galidraani military, low-budgets applied to the best of conventional-soldiering stock in the hopes their collective competence overcomes the shortcomings in their own inventive ways. Great operators in their own right, especially on the right sorts of terrain and in the right sorts of weather conditions, but the moment any of their beleaguered comrades find themselves with lone Tuaths in the same predicament, there is a high chance that the aforementioned Wildcat soldier will drop early if cover and safety aren't found quickly. And whether they adapt to the slow evolution or not remains to be seen, as it often appears that they make up for their small-arms shortcomings by scavenging the corpses of their enemies along the way.Rough Accent/Lingual Troubles: Clinging more fervently to Goidelic slang terminologies, native-language chatter amongst themselves, and rougher colloquial inflections, it would never be easy for comrades from other worlds to fully understand the lower-ranked commoners serving with the Wildcats, though Lord Aron certainly has a way with his own that makes it easier for foreigners to decipher and answer accordingly. Besides having a very forthright Woad as his second-in-command, the Lord-Commander of Galidraan's massively downsized array can also rely on a well-spoken Guard-Captain who can be understood quite well by foreigners both near and far-flung alike. But even then, there won't be much chance of understanding the majority in the field, at least not without asking them to slow the f@*k down when they're speaking first.
Inflexible Battle-Doctrine: Though they happen to enjoy more freeform strategies under the Kellas' direction, there is no doubt the Wildcats are still somewhat bound by the limitations of utilising formation-movements, and in an increasingly modernising array of war-theatres, there is no doubt that such tactics will become all the more challenging for the Tuaths as time passes. With more means of standing apart from the pack without heavy armour, more means of targeting distant threats, and more means of intensifying the ebb and flow of a battle at the flip of a single switch, the Wildcats know their time among the Galaxy's best and brightest is limited at best, but the Tuaths were never the types to go out gracefully; too unruly an archetype to allow it of themselves, too far in the Brigade's journey to turn back now, so all that remains is the Tavlarite maxim of,"We march to victory, or we march to defeat, but we go forward - only forward!", beholden to it's magic until the bitter end.
Lingering Clan-War Resentments: Though peace has been established between the most fervent of rivalling clans, the end of the feud between Clans Barran and Gowrie has still done little and less to move past their tribes' rather-tense state ceasefire conditions. The borders at either side of the Highland buffer were still walled, manned and in a constant state of readiness for the breakout of war between clan-confederacies once more, sadly still remaining as such after the Goidelic elements within the Galidraani Free-State reconquered Galidraan III; and to make matters ultimately worse, this has cemented the fact that none in the Galaxy have or will ever see a Tuath contingent deploying with the Woads, not until the ruling clans finally make a point of forging a lasting, true peace between them.
History
*"A-mhàin an làidir!"
**"Only the strong!" - Clan Gowrie's ancient motto
Called in by Lords Erskine Barran and Willan Tal, Lord Aron Gowrie had been summoned in light of then-recent scuffles between Goidelic troops on deployment, (and in the same headquarters they shared with the Galidraani on Archais at the time) and had been required upon invitation to have something of a solution prepared for proffering to the Lord-Protector as soon as he had arrived to Tal's estate. Rumour has it that the Kellas, always thinking on his feet as a result of always being kept on his toes by everyone around him, had come up with the Wildcat Battalion concept on the fly, with further additions from the rumour-mill stating that Gowrie had been much too drunk on the previous night to give it any real thought or planning in the first place. However, the truth of the matter was much simpler than this; the Chieftain of the Tuath clans could see for himself that his kinsmen were praying for a chance to split off from Blue-Heart Brigade already, yearning for their chance to prove their worth as Imperial heroes in their own right.
And then, somewhere in the course of that discussion between nobles, the Lord-Captain's Wildcat concept was born, earning Gowrie a promotion past the rank of Major entire, only to find himself serving as a first-time Colonel in Harnaidan city's stubborn defence against the Sith Empire's attack on Muunilinst. After this, from a successful string of urban operations and Guerilla warfare actions in what would be an overall-successful repulse, to their strange encounters on Generis, the next great deployment the Tuaths would embrace would be the apocalyptic battle for Korriban; a battle that showed the true potential of Lord Aron's contingent as a leading vanguard commander, a fight that would later be dubbed,"The Battle For Mongrel's Hill.", in both rueful and respectful tones alike.
With nothing but a deployment on Maridun cutting through the following stagnation period, there wouldn't be any real signs of military life from Camp Riordan for a good while yet, or at least, until a rather tense deployment for the Battle of New Carannia came to pass. Bravely pushing forth out of line against the Maw, against all odds as the Blue-Hearts once had against the Sith Empire, Lord Aron and his Wildcats would prove their worth as the rightful successors to their long-time clan rivals, earning the prestige of Galidraan's Lord-Commandry as a direct result of their seemingly-small successes in the NIO's otherwise-resounding defeat to the Maw. Whether the Lord-Colonel had vied for such prestige of his own accord is widely disputed, but it is still agreed across the board that Gowrie wilfully set to his task with wild abandon regardless.
The difference a Mandalorian perspective can make, and in the pinnacle moments of the struggle at that.
Forever seen as the Blue-Hearts to call when the real Blue-Hearts aren't around to help, forever seen as the substitute Goidelic powerhouses until the very moment his Cataphracts pushed off from their place in the Free-State's defensive static-line, and as according to the former-IMPMAG troopers who merged into the 501st, the very moments when Commoner-Captain Reed went above and beyond for troopers he barely knew - on both Korriban and Nirauan alike. However, if it proves to be enough or not depends entirely on the future of the empire, and on every path the Emperor chooses henceforth; with the dissolution of the Grand Imperial Assembly considered, this may be a more difficult process for the Tuaths than it ever was for the Blue-Hearts. A Laird without the weight of his ancestral powers is one thing, but fighting against existential threats with fewer resources than before is another entirely, one such that Lord Aron will most certainly need to adapt to.
Especially if he has any hopes of seeing the Tuaths prevail in future battles, conventional or otherwise.
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