77th Border Observation Battalion



''"Finsterwalde, where the hell is Finsterwalde?" - common expression heard among those being told of the 77th Border Observation Battalion's origin.''

History
Formation

The 77th was formed on Finsterwalde, towards the end of the Star League era after the First Lord's issuance of Executive Order 156 in 2762. In order to side step the First Lord's order to disband all house armies, a small political sub-ministry in the Free Worlds League, found a loophole in the wording and with help from SAFE, exploited it.

With the guidance of SAFE, the Military Operations Ministry on Regulus quietly put forth a proposal that would allow for

border worlds to keep and coordinate forces for security and defense. Marking them as “special support units’, they would not have to be listed as part of the Free Worlds League military rosters and would be seen more like local planetary militias.

Applying pressure where needed, SAFE made sure the proposal was added on to other legislation that passed unnoticed, Using refurbished or older battlemechs, recruiting volunteers, and supplies requisitioned by SAFE filtered through the Ministry, the program was to form over 100 Border Observation Battalions by 2770.

By 2766, the Ministry had begun building and placing battalions all along the border in key locations, starting with the Terran Hegemony first, since relations between the two states were strained at the time.

The Amaris Civil War - The Lost Battalion

However, when the Amaris Coup broke out, several of the battalions were on jointly administered worlds with SLDF units. Due to this program having been forced on the generals involved in overseeing FWL troops in those areas, many commands simply “lost” track of these battalions, leaving them to their fate with the SLDF forces. The 77th had been on the jointly administered world of Talitha, assisted the 8th Army Division in it’s defense.

The 77th fought a vicious guerilla war with Amaris forces. As their numbers would dwindle, they would pick up stragglers or orphans from other units. Anyone unable to reconnect with the rest of their command would fall in with the 77th. The would eventually be forced off Talitha in 2772, and would spend the rest of the war continuing to harass Amaris forces from Van Diemen

When SLDF finally arrived, the 77th was the only unit out of the ones caught in the Hegemony to have survived intact. Having fought the Amaris forces for 10 years with very little support or reinforcement, the Border Observation Battalions suffered 80% casualties. Upon return most of them were either returned to their posts, disbanded, or were absorbed into other units.

1st Succession War

The 77th was sent back the Bolan Thumb and it’s units placed on Feinsterwalde, Herzberg, and Marsalle. While there, it would slowly rebuild receiving parts and supplies from SLDF passing through that had actually heard of them.

When the 1st Succession War broke out, the 77th was divided up with a company on Marsalle, Herzberg, and Finsterwalde. As LCAF forces invaded, they would be bounced back and forth between the 9th Bolan Defenders and the 33rd Marik Militia, as to who’s command they fell under.

This led to the Herzberg company not having the supplies it needed and being forced to retreat to Marsalle with heavy losses in XXX. Because of the same mismanagement by the 33rd, the Finsterwalde company would be forced to join them later, with the entire battalion later withdrawing in 2811.

Instead of regrouping with the Bolan Defenders, the 77th along with stragglers and remnants from other abandoned/disbanded/destroyed units made their way to Acruz. There, they were placed under the command of the 33rd Marik Militia as a special support unit, not officially part of the militia itself.

2nd Succession War - The Unlucky Sevens

The 77th started the 2nd Succession War being broken up and a company assigned to Alphard, Miapplacidus, and Nathan each. With tensions rising elsewhere in the Inner Sphere, the chances of war were increasing with the Lyran Commonwealth.

In 2837, the HPG station on Oriente was destroyed, and a covert war between the Free Worlds League and Comstar began. While SAFE and ROM agents fought in secret, the 77th was dealing with the fallout of the Communications Interdiction put in place by Primus Conrad Toyama, which effectively cut all communications via HPG in the Free Worlds League.

In the chaos that ensued when LCAF forces flooded across the border, the 77th eventually found themselves retreating slowly system by system to Dubhe. Once there, their fortunes would change drastically for the worse, earning the nickname “Unlucky 7s” or “Lost Battalion”.

Still under the command of the 33rd, they were used to bait or divert attention away from operations conducted by the 33rd forces. On Tylarzka, the 77th landed on what was supposed to be a simple raid, but instead found elements of the Lyran Militia waiting. “Bad Intel’ had them facing the 9th and 18th Lyran Regulars on Zdice while the 33rd were launching raids elsewhere.

After barely escaping Zdice, the next objective on Penobscot found elements of the 12th & 9th Lyran Guards, and 6th Arcturan Guards waiting to trap them once they made planetfall. Only their experience in fighting guerilla warfare let them escape.

This abuse by the 33rd repeated itself on Timbiqui, Dixie, and Colfax. By the end of the 2nd Succession War, the 77th had barely one functional company left and found itself back on Thermopolis. Unable to get funds to rebuild or resupply from SAFE or the Ministry, the 77th was barely in fighting shape.

The Von Schtupps

On Thermopolis, the Von Schtupp family had amassed a modest fortune from trade and ownership of several off world factories that supplied parts to the FWLM. Baroness Ludwina Von Schtupp’s husband had served in one of the few Border Observation Battalions created, the 82nd. The 82nd had been formed right before the Amaris Civil began and was placed along the Lyran border.

Lt.Cmdr Aldus Von Schtupp was killed in action fighting the LCAF on Alula Australis during the end of the 1st Succession War. When his unit returned to Thermopolis, Ludwina watched as supplies meant to rebuild the 82nd were instead commandeered by the 26th Marik Militia. The 82nd was left to rot and eventually disbanded with no regard for their previous service or sacrifice.

Ludwina, seeing the plight of the 77th, used her connections to secure a meeting with SAFE, FWLM Regional Command, and the Commander of the 26th. Wanting to save the 77th, from the same fate as the 82nd, and feeling that she could do a much better job in managing their affairs, she offered to supply and maintain the unit out her family’s pocket, with concessions.

Not having (or wanting) the resources to commit rebuilding and re-staffing the 77th, the arrangement was agreed to. The 77th would be reclassified as a Special Support Force, but allowed to stay along the border under the Home Defense Act. It would still answer to FWLM Command, and be expected to coordinate with FWLM actions in the area, but be left to work on it's own. In exchange, the Von Schtupp family would provide all logistical support. The 77th would be given the right of first refusal over any enemy salvage in actions that it was the sole FWL unit engaged, which would become their primary means of replenishing and rebuilding.

The final concession was the reassignment of Ludwina’s daughter, Cmdr Yves Von Schtupp, from the FWLM, to the 77th without delay. Ludwina wanted her daughter to be with soldiers that she knew were trustworthy and not be thrown away like so many in the regular FWLM. She knew that Yves would get better training from the 77th, than anywhere else and become an even better mechwarrior. Once the agreement was made, the 77th spent the rest of the war rebuilding and recruiting.

3rd Succession War

The 77th went into the 3rd Succession War with a little more than a company of expert pilots, but unexperienced in combat. Due to the low intensity of the war, they were able to gain the experience needed to become a more cohesive fighting force. It was during this time that Yves worked her way into command. During this time, the 77th conducted raids into the Lyran controlled Bolan Thumb and all along the border. This would allow them to take some revenge LCAF forces, punishing the 14th Bolan Defenders on Herzberg in several raids, overrunning Lyran loyalists on Marsalle, and crippling several military outposts on Finsterwalde after stripping them of supplies.

4th Succession War

With the words "My dear… I give you the Capellan Confederation." Hanse Davion started the 4th Succession War. While Davion troops had crossed the Capellan border, the Lyrans launched attacks against the Draconis Combine.

4th succession war spent garrison duty on worlds threatened by Tikonov Republic or LCAF

Clan Invasion

Clan Invasion. 77th used to guard shipments to DCMS troops. various engagements with clans would be fought as the 77th would "mistakenly" deliver supplies to frontline troops. In all those encounters, it would be the 77th's misfortune to face Clan Wolf. Each encounter would end disastrously for the 77th and leave them wanting revenge. By the end of the war, they would be nearly as beat up as most house units along the front and with a bitter hatred for the Wolves.

Fed-Com Civil War

When the Fed-Com Civil War broken out, the 77th was still rebuilding but sent what forces that it could to do "mercenary" work for the Capellans, fighting against both the LCAF and AFFS forces. This turned out to be easy work and helped in the rebuilding efforts.

When the split within Comstar occurred and the Word of Blake moved into the Free Worlds League, not everyone welcomed them with open arms. The Von Schtupp family had had various contacts with both organizations and what Claudia Von Schtupp had heard from both disturbed her. The zealotry of the Word lying just under the surface was something that caused her to be cautious.

The Outback War, Operation Broken Fist, and Uberschatten

When the Word of Blake began it's operations against the various powers, one way it did so was to expose the various operations House intelligences were conducting. As a precursor to it's manipulations in the Lyran Commonwealth, it tipped off LIC to SAFE's usage of uncharted periphery worlds to move contraband and weapons to various insurgents and dissentient groups inside the Commonwealth. This would set off a clandestine conflict known as the Outback War. Elements of the 77th were being used at this time to garrison and ports on these worlds since technically, the 77th didn't exist on any FWLM rosters. This conflict would bleed into the Operation Broken Fist and Uberschatten as the 77th would be recalled to defend worlds from LCAF invasion.

3067 the LCAF swept across the border striking at Free Worlds League systems. The 77th would defend Thermopolis savagely along side the Fifth Fusiliers of Oriente. However, they would have to evacuate unable to keep the Skye and Bolan forces from taking it.

Falling back to Preston, they launched raids on LCAF forces until they finally invaded the world in 3068. The LCAF would only be able to hold the world for a few weeks. The 77th maintained a guerrilla war against them keeping them off balance until the FWLM counterattack.

Jihad - Gibson and Paradise

When the 9th Regulan Hussars had been shattered by Lyran forces, the 77th took in a good number of the orphans from that unit. Stephen von Schtupp would help integrate them into the 77th. When the treachery of the Word of Blake was out in the open, with the 49th Shadow Division openly fighting with Regulan forces, many of 9th wanted to fight.

Von Schtupp used his family's massive resources to help acquire stealth tech. He then formed a secret unit within the 77th. While the 77th was dispatched on humanitarian missions to recently liberated Word of Blake worlds,  the Regulans would slip off to hunt Blakists. Stephen's contacts within SAFE made sure that the unit was kept out of FWL records. Without no official account, the Regulans were like ghosts, WoB spies were unable to find them. It was then the Regulan Ghost Hunters were formed.

As the Jihad progress, the 77th became further involved. Often they were seen fighting on along side many Regulan forces. The 77th became very familiar with fighting in city ruins and irradiated areas. This included the fighting on Gibson.

Dec. 21st, 3078, following the massive bombardment, the 77th landed on Gibson to assist with mop up operations in retaking the planet from the Word of Blake. For several months, the 77th worked along side the Regulans fighting Manei Domini units left behind. This prepared the 77th for the horrors that they would encounter on Paradise.

Joining the second wave that landed on Paradise after the bombardment. Adapting to fighting in the radioactive ruins was not easy for the 77th. Many of them were horrified by the damage and loss of life and were horrified by the Regulan action. However that was short lived as remnants from WoB, including Shadow Division units that survived the bombing were savage in their attacks. The next year of fighting was brutal and unforgiving. The 77th would survive in tact, resuming the protection of Thermopolis and the surrounding worlds, but they would be wary of working with any other House units again.

Dark Ages - Lyran and Wolf Invasions

When the FWL disbanded in 3079, the 77th returned to Thermopolis. With no central command, it was one of many worlds left to fend for itself.

In 3130, the LCAF would once again come to Thermopolis and battle with the 77th. They were able to hold off the Lyrans while assisting with evacuation efforts. Once again, the 77th and Von Schtupp family were forced to flee their home for nearby Preston.

The 77th returned to Thermopolis in 3145, and in a few short weeks, had nearly crushed the Lyran defenders. They would soon have their home back. However, during mop up efforts, the 77th was taken by surprise when Clan Wolf forces entered the system.

The 77th dug in and fought the Wolves for every inch of the system. When the 77th was forced to retreat off world, it would be the last time they would ever set foot on Thermopolis. The offensive by the Wolf Empire drove the 77th off world and with every world they fell back to defend, more of their numbers were lost. When the offensive finally ended, the 77th had been reduced to a single company, with two thirds of it's force either killed, wounded, or missing in action.

FWL Reborn

Lead by Force Commander Ilse Von Schtupp, the 77th is currently on an independent world outside of the Magistracy of Canopus. All of the remaining family assets having been sold off, she has rebuilt the unit so that it may have a place in the Free Worlds League reborn. It has currently rebuild by adopting "orphans" from other FWL units destroyed by the Lyran/Wolf Invasion and by hiring former MoC pilots disillusioned with the outcome of the war against the Federated Suns.

Tactics
Even though the 77th is a flexible unit capable of various missions, it has extensive experience in digging in and holding the line against enemy forces, usually buying time either for a larger force to relieve them, or buying time for retreating assets to flee a superior force. They have often been considered stubborn by allied and enemy commands alike, refusing to give ground unless forced to.

Composition History
Because of the recent losses and rebuilding efforts, the 77th is currently in the middle of a reorganization. Having only 16 of the original battalion it started with at the beginning of the Lyran/Wolf invasion, it has started the task training and acquired 20 more mechs and pilots and working them into a cohesive fighting force.

Game Rules
Canopus - 3145