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Grey's Shadows: The Dark Hand
{AUTHOR'S NOTE: I began playing Battletech in high school in 1986. The Shadows were one of several mercenary units that I created in those early days. Twenty real years later, the Shadows are still alive and well, and have evolved through countless games and stories. I hope you enjoy reading about the Shadows, as much as I have enjoyed playing and writing about them over the last twenty years. Their story is dedicated to the Archon Melissa Steiner...rest in peace, milady.}
The roots of Grey's Shadows are set in the "glory days" of Inner Sphere feudalism, in the times when Mechwarriors were akin to medieval knights. In those days, the Greys and Wests were two families of landed Mechwarrior nobility, allied in the service of House Davion. The unique history of Grey's Shadows begins in 3025; at that time, Captain David Grey in his TDR-5S Thunderbolt, and Leftenant Hiero West in his GRF-1N Griffin, were assigned to lead an AFFS Mech company in the Draconis March Militia.
In 3025, David Grey's battalion was sent into the Draconis Combine on a typical disruption raid, targeting a DCMS supply depot. Unfortunately, the AFFS didn’t know that the depot was also a staging area for the elite 5th Swords of Light. The outclassed DMM battalion was swiftly routed, the Major in charge was killed, and the AFFS dropships hastily lifted off, abandoning the raiders as a sacrifice to the Dragon. As the senior surviving officer, David rallied the survivors and led them to the depot's landing field, where they hijacked a Union dropship. The first twelve Mechs on board, and a few extra AFFS Mechwarriors who had to abandon their Mechs, were all that escaped the deathtrap. David looked back during liftoff, and saw the dropship's shadow eclipse the battlefield below. From that came the inspiration for the unit’s name: the Shadows.
Upon his return to the Federated Suns, David Grey ignored both the official apologies, and any further orders from the AFFS. He gathered the Shadows’ dependents, bought needed supplies, and secured passage for his unit aboard a Lyran trader. Upon arrival at Galatea, the Shadows officially deserted from the AFFS on grounds of betrayal, and joined the LCAF as mercenaries.
During the Fourth Succession War, the Shadows were sent to the Marik front, as part of a group formation of small mercenary units. Ironically, the Shadows first big rise to fame came in defeat; when the FWLM counterattacked Shiloh in 3030, the Shadows' fighting retreat bought valuable time for the LCAF to evacuate its forces. For that brave action, Archon Katrina Steiner awarded the Shadows both the Eagle's Feather and the Unit Citation of Merit; that event marked the start of the Shadows’ political (and sometimes personal) relationship with the Archons. The Shadows also took successful part in other, smaller actions as the Fourth Succession War wound down. Melissa Steiner became particularly fond of the Shadows, and she persuaded Hanse Davion to pardon the Shadows' desertion from the AFFS. But that did little to heal the wounds of treachery, and the Shadows’ distrust of the Federated Suns still lingers to the present day.
The Shadows spent the decade after the Fourth Succession War slowly building their strength, using a combination of selective recruiting, aggressive scavenging, and financial management. The effort paid off when the War of 3039 broke out; the Shadows faced the Dragon again, but this time they fielded a veteran Mech battalion with integral artillery support. The Shadows took part in many actions, and received the Dragonslayer’s Ribbon after the war; their biggest success was the defeat of an opposing mercenary unit, after which the survivors were absorbed into the Shadows’ own ranks.
The decade after the War of 3039 was relatively quiet for the Shadows. They spent most of the 3040’s as “troubleshooters” and pirate hunters, as they continued to build both their strength and their relations with House Steiner. By the end of the decade, the Shadows’ political situation was such that they had effectively become an AFFC unit. But David Grey preferred the independence of working under contract, and so the Shadows remained classified as mercenaries, if only in the most technical sense of the term.
3050 began with two gifts to David Grey from Archon Melissa Steiner: the Commonwealth Star, and a new ZEU-9S Zeus. The Shadows were then dispatched to the FRR, for a joint war game with the Kungsarme in the coreward system of Helseggen. The war “game” turned out to be the real thing; the Shadows arrived just in time to meet Clan Wolf, at the point of the Clan invasion. Flying the banner of the AFFC, the Shadows honorably battled the Wolves to exhaustion before accepting hegira. That engagement set the tone for the next two years; the Shadows stayed in the FRR on expeditionary duty, fighting beside the Kungsarme, until the Truce of Tukkayid was signed in 3052. With hostilities temporarily over, the Shadows returned home to Galatea for a period of well-deserved leave.
When their leave ended, the Shadows were sent to the Arc-Royal Defense Cordon, where they established good relations with the Kell Hounds and Warden Wolves, and began their long rivalry with Clan Jade Falcon. David Grey received the Hound's Tooth in 3055, and one year later, the Shadows’ strength reached its peak as a reinforced combined arms regiment. The Shadows reacted coldly to Katherine Steiner-Davion's ascent to Archon; the Shadows had been close to Melissa Steiner, and their suspicions of Katherine would later prove correct.
During their incursion of 3058, the Jade Falcons wrecked David Grey's Zeus, and nearly killed David himself. The incident left David physically and mentally scarred, so he passed command of the Shadows to his son, Michael Grey. David then retired to Galatea, to manage the Shadows' business affairs. The AFFC marked the change of command with a gift to Michael: an ancient THG-11E Thug, handed down from the old SLDF. Michael still pilots that Thug today; now named Evil Eye, it has been upgraded with Clan technology and is the villain of several fearful tales (some true, others exaggerated) whispered among the Invading Clans.
For their first tour under Michael Grey's command, the Shadows were assigned to reinforce the contested world of Blair Atholl. For three hard years, the Shadows repeatedly fought the Jade Falcons to a standstill, and earned a reputation for honor and ruthlessness that rivaled the Jade Falcons themselves. By the close of 3061, Michael had received both the Alliance Star and the Hound's Tooth, and the Shadows had earned special mention in the Jade Falcons' Remembrance, an unusual honor given to a respected foe.
In 3062, just months before the FedCom Civil War broke out, David Grey passed away from complications from his old injuries. Accordingly, Michael Grey requested a garrison assignment for his tired and grieving unit to restore itself. The LAAF honored Michael's request with an assignment to a border post at Poulsbo, near the piratical Circinus Federation. After standing firm against the Clans for twelve years, fending off the Black Warriors’ petty raids was restful enough by comparison.
Soon after the Shadows arrived at Poulsbo, the long-awaited FedCom Civil War burst into full fury. As the AFFC divided against itself, Michael Grey took decisive action to protect his unit: he publicly declared the Shadows to be neutral non-participants in the civil war, and “extended” the Shadows’ contract to protect Poulsbo until the civil war was over. The Shadows thus remained at Poulsbo, and out of the meat grinder that chewed up many other mercenary units, until New Avalon fell in 3067. The Shadows then offered their services to the reformed LAAF. The new Archon, Peter Steiner-Davion, personally endorsed the Shadows' new contract, and the Shadows returned to the ARDC just in time for a surprise offensive campaign that lasted until August 3068. That campaign’s primary objective was to rock the Jade Falcons back on their heels, before they could take advantage of the Lyran Alliance’s weakened state.
That campaign's first stage, the liberation of Goat Path, was a near disaster. An intelligence failure led the Shadows to expect a second line garrison; instead, they found themselves facing a first line nova cluster. Heroic sacrifices by the Shadows’ infantry and armor units saved the victory, but in return, the Shadows suffered the worst casualty count of their history. That Pyrrhic victory forced the Shadows to dramatically alter their TO&E to remain viable, and affected the Shadows' collective psyche in many ways.
After Goat Path, the Shadows took a short break to repair and reorganize their surviving units, then quickly jumped to Chahar, where the campaign's next stage was in progress. With revenge for Goat Path in mind, the Shadows ignored zellbrigen, joined the battle and rolled up the Jade Falcons' flank. The surprise attack crushed the Jade Falcons’ morale, and paved the way for the 17th Donegal Guards RCT to carry the world. The Shadows then struck swiftly at Black Earth, where they solidified the LAAF’s gains by destroying the Jade Falcon's regional reserves. This bloodiest campaign of the Shadows' history ended with the induction of Michael Grey into the elite Order of Tamar Tigers, for his role in the liberation of the former Tamar worlds.
After that intense campaign, the Shadows returned to Galatea for a long period of R&R that lasted through the end of 3068. While the Shadows rested, the Crusader Wolves came to a bloody end; the Star Adders and Hell's Horses killed Vlad Ward and Katherine Steiner-Davion, and took over the Wolf Occupation Zone. Phelan Kell thus became Khan of the reunited but horrifically injured Clan Wolf. Faced with an immediate need for warriors, Phelan called in favors from units all over the ARDC, inviting their bondsmen to return to the Clans as Wolves. Many of the Shadows' bondsmen accepted Phelan's invitation, and he has promised future favors to the Shadows in return for Michael Grey's support.
The Shadows returned to action in the spring of 3069, supporting the 17th Donegal Guards RCT in a short campaign to liberate Ballynure from the Jade Falcons. Unfortunately, the Shadows' dropships were jumped in mid-drop by a Clan fighter trinary; a massive dogfight ensued, which cost the Shadows most of their fighters and the ancient Leopard CV dropship that had been their primary aerospace escort since the War of 3039. After the liberation of Ballynure, the Shadows returned to Galatea, where they are preparing for their next assignment.
The Shadows' badge shows a blue and green planet grasped by a shadowy hand. The Shadows wear their own badge on standard LAAF uniforms, and have adopted the LAAF ranking system; bondsmen are allowed to wear insignia and awards from their former Clans. The Shadows' units, when not in mission camouflage, are painted dark dusky gray, like shadows themselves. The Shadows decorate their units with kill counters; these show the banner of an enemy faction, followed by the number of kills from that faction.
The Shadows' battle standard is called the Dark Hand. It is decorated with awards and campaign ribbons, and dutifully guarded by the Shadows' infantrymen. A heavy square case, made from a dead Mech’s armor and engraved with the Shadows' badge, hangs by a chain from the Dark Hand's flagstaff. That locked case is always ominously cold, and protects a simple black leatherbound book: the Muster of Fallen Shadows. The Muster is the Shadows' most sacred possession, for its parchment pages preserve the hand-written names of all whom have died honorably under the Shadows' banner. The Fallen are listed by their time and place of passage, but without ranks; all are equal in memory. Many Shadows (including Michael Grey himself) believe that the Muster is haunted, or connected to the Fallen in some spiritual way. The Muster also includes the names of a few special friends and allies, whom the Shadows count among their own; among those so honored are the late Archons Katrina and Melissa Steiner.
Dragoons Rating: A*.
CHARACTERS
The many personalities of the Shadows could fill a book by themselves. The following are just a few of the higher ranking members of this diverse unit.
Colonel Michael Grey, OTT, is the son of David Grey; he was born in 3031, and raised from birth to lead the Shadows. Michael graduated from the Coventry Military Academy’s OCS with honors. He combines strong ideals with natural talents for gunnery and leadership; he respects the Clans and their ways, and has never lost a zellbrigen duel. He openly despises Lyran social politics; when he must attend functions, he always wears his dress uniform and drinks Skye whisky, served neat or in a Rusty Nail. Michael’s deep devotion to the Shadows carries with it an emotional burden that he allows few people to share; one of the few is his wife and personal tech, Elaine Grey. She is a strong-minded, redheaded tomboy, and “maintains” both Michael and his Mech through the stress of the Shadows’ campaigns.
Leutnant Colonel Hiero West II is the XO of Grey's Shadows. Hiero and Michael Grey grew up together and are best friends today. Hiero’s devotion to Michael has caused rumors about his sexual preferences, but he pointedly ignores such gossip. Hiero served in Michael’s command lance before his recent promotion to XO, as his father did for David Grey; Hiero would be more comfortable following Michael than leading on his own, but he trusts Michael’s judgement and works hard to be worthy of his position. Hiero leads by both direction and example, and is highly respected among the Shadows. Hiero grew up in his father's GRF-1N Griffin, and received his own GRF-6S Griffin upon his promotion to XO. The senior Hiero is still alive; he is proud of his son's accomplishments, and still serves the Shadows from retirement as their business manager.
Kommandant Rudolf Weiss is a Shadow by proxy; he is an LAAF officer, assigned to assist the Shadows by the Mercenary Liaison Command. As the Shadows' liaison officer, Rudolf is both a command link to the LAAF, and consultant in mercenary affairs. Rudolf is from the "new school" of LAAF officers; he graduated from the Coventry Military Academy into the 26th Lyran Guards, and fought his way up on the front lines of the FedCom Civil War. Being a professional soldier, Rudolf gets along well with Michael Grey; they went to the same school, and have similarly dim views of Lyran social politics. Rudolf’s BNC-7S Banshee assault Mech towers over most of the Shadows’ other units, and fittingly serves in Michael's command lance.
Hauptmann Jacob Osis is a trueborn Smoke Jaguar. He earned his bloodname with two kills, receiving the rank of Star Captain only months before Operation Bulldog reached Huntress. His binary was assigned to protect civilians evacuating ahead of the invasion, and he escaped with the evacuation fleet. When the fleet scattered to evade possible pursuit, Jacob ended up in the Inner Sphere. Since he had to support himself, and the warrior’s path was all he knew, he swallowed his Clan ideals just enough to become a mercenary. He moved from unit to unit in search of a home, and eventually settled with the Shadows. Jacob now leads the Shadows’ Echo Company, where he sets the example for the Shadows’ bondsmen. Jacob has become quite comfortable with the Shadows, but is still a proud Clan warrior at heart; he still holds a grudge against the other Clans for allowing the Jaguars to be Annihilated, and enjoys meeting them in battle. Jacob still pilots his deadly Stormcrow OmniMech; as a personal touch, his Mech bears the Smoke Jaguars’ badge together with the Shadows’ standard colors, as a reminder to his foes of the Clans' past sins.
Hauptmann Caitlyn "Catseye" Macdonald is a spunky native of the Skye province. She is better known by her call sign than her real name, and is one of the few women that looks good even in an LAAF "Elephant" flight suit. Catseye was an LAAF pilot, but left the regular service for political reasons; her connections to the Free Skye movement are an open secret among the Shadows. She earned her position as the Shadows' "air boss" under fire; when her predecessor was shot down over Ballynure, Catseye literally shouted her way into command and rallied the Shadows’ fighters in defense of their dropships. Michael Grey confirmed her battlefield self-promotion afterwards, formally placing her in charge of the Shadows’ fighter wing. Catseye has an impish sense of humor and a fiery temper; she misuses open channels to verbally harass her foes, and tends to slip into her native Gaelic when excited or angry. Her energetic personality and physical beauty are attractive to many among the Shadows, but she has yet to show any real interest in romance.
Chief Warrant Officer Liam Fetladral is a trueborn Wolf. He was originally a Mechwarrior, but was critically injured in a Trial before the first Clan invasion; his bald head and stiff walk are reminders of his close brush with death. Because of his injuries, Liam left the warrior caste, and became a technician so that he could remain around Mechs; Liam still indulges in simulator practice, but he has not piloted a real Mech in over two decades. When Clan Wolf divided against itself, Liam sided with the Warden Wolves and Phelan Kell. Later, when the Shadows needed help maintaining their salvaged Clan materiel, David Grey turned to the Warden Wolves for aid; sensing a unique opportunity, Liam volunteered to join the Shadows, and became the Shadows’ master technician. Liam is professional yet personable, with a level head and even voice; many among the Shadows regard him as a supportive or fatherly figure.
TACTICS
Philosophically, the Shadows fight much like the Clans, at least in spirit. They are as honorable as the situation permits; against the Clans, they often offer batchalls and usually observe zellbrigen. But when honor fails or is not an option, the Shadows respond with shameless brutality, and will use almost any means necessary to overwhelm their foes as swiftly as possible.
Strategically, the Shadows prefer to dictate the terms of battle to their enemies, and let their opponents defeat themselves. They believe in winning the battle before it begins. One does not charge the Shadows; the Shadows allow you to charge. The difference is subtle, but such subtle differences are the key to the Shadows' many victories.
Tactically, the Shadows usually anchor their position with a firing line of heavier Mechs. Mobile units then fan out in luring and flanking maneuvers, designed to isolate enemies and corral them into the big guns of the anchoring units. The Shadows make good use of terrain in these tactics, and take great pains to keep their units in range of mutual support. The Shadows' strength thus remains concentrated, while their foes wind up spreading thin as they attempt to break the Shadows' position.
SUPPORT
The Shadows maintain both 100% tech support and 100% transport. Their home away from Galatea is the Lady Melissa, a Star Lord jumpship. Their combat dropships include a pair of Overlords and an Excalibur. The Shadows also have a modified Mule dropship, the MacGyver, that serves as a mobile repair depot and support vessel. The MRBC rates the Shadows overall as 80% upgraded.
Grey's Shadows
Mech Battalion/Elite/Reliable
CO: Colonel Michael Grey.
The 1st Battalion is the fighting heart of the Shadows. Its Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie Companies consist of rugged post-3050 Spheroid Mechs with a Lyran emphasis on size, many of which have been upgraded with salvaged Clan equipment. Colonel Grey's command lance is a fully upgraded assault unit, and can change the course of battle by its simple presence.
West's Shadows
Mech Battalion/Veteran/Reliable
CO: Leutnant Colonel Hiero West II.
The Shadows' 2nd Battalion is more eclectic in both machinery and experience, hence its lower skill rating. The command lance and Delta Company are similar to the 1st Battalion. Echo Company's warriors are all Clan bondsmen, driving salvaged Clan Mechs. Foxtrot Company's warriors are all relatively new recruits to the Shadows, and drive unmodified Spheroid designs of varying age and quality.
Shadow Artillery
Vehicle Company/Elite/Reliable
The Shadows’ artillery unit is their second oldest element, dating to the Fourth Succession War, and has been the margin of victory in many battles. The Shadows presently field a full artillery company, split into three batteries. Each battery includes two Demolisher tanks armed with twin Arrow IV launchers, and two Sprint VTOL spotters.
Shadow Recon
Vehicle Company/Elite/Fanatical
This company of twelve heavily customized Pegasus hovercraft helps to make up for the Shadows' relative shortage of light Mechs. The Shadows' scouts are infamously dirty fighters; they harass their foes to death with a chaos-inducing blend of high speed strikes, ambushes, spotted artillery and shock tactics (such as "hard-boiling" Elementals with inferno missiles). The Shadows’ scouts are proud of their dezgra reputation; they hate following zellbrigen, and are always eager for a chance to break loose and wreak havoc.
Shadow Security
Infantry Company/Veteran/Fanatical
The Shadows’ infantry and armor elements were decimated at Goat Path; over 300 infantry and armor crew, the largest casualty count in the Shadows' history, fell in a heroic delaying action against the Jade Falcons. Today, the Shadows field only a single company of foot infantry, armed with laser rifles. These footsoldiers are usually assigned to secondary roles, such as dropship security, or guarding the Shadows' support units. The Shadows' infantry troopers are proud of their unit’s history of sacrifice, and carry out their various duties with unquestioning loyalty.
Shadow Wings
Two Aerospace Squadrons/Veteran/Reliable
CO: Hauptmann Caitlyn "Catseye" Macdonald.
The Shadows' aerospace arm took heavy losses over Ballynure, but fortunately, at least some of the pilots were rescued after being shot down. To compensate for their losses, the Shadows have purchased enough EST-R3 Eisensturm assault fighters to equip two squadrons and fill their bays. Aerospace recruiting is a priority for the near future, but for now, the Shadows are making up for lack of numbers with raw firepower.
Shadow Support
Mixed Battalion/Veteran/Reliable
The Shadows have a variety of support assets, organized into their own "battalion" formation. The HQ unit includes a mobile HQ vehicle, and three Sprint VTOL's that act as its eyes. The Shadows field a full platoon of medics, who staff a MASH vehicle and drive three flatbed trucks equipped as ambulances. The Shadows’ salvage unit includes two heavy and two standard Mech recovery vehicles, and the supply unit has twelve flatbed trucks at its disposal.
_________________ Be careful what you wish for. I might let you have it. 
Last edited by Shades of Grey on Sat Oct 06, 2007 2:07 am, edited 6 times in total.
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