First then in my Small H Friction is the Table of Equipment for the unit Pre the Word of Blake Jihad in 3067 and Post Fed Com Civil War

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SMALL H: DEATH STALKERS

This unit was formed around a core of former AFFC members who quit due to Katherine Steiner-Davion taking the throne on New Avalon. Although the initial command staff of this unit was of AFFC origins, the recent addition of clan bondsmen and veterans from other military has changed a lot of the tactical doctrine of the unit. However one thing remains unchanged and that is the commander of Small H is still Colonel Damien Sturm Hanis.

As a mercenary force, Small H has slowly and gradually built up a reputation as one of up and coming units in the Inner Sphere. Though for every battle or mission completed, there would be a loss. But Small H has seen to be emerge each time stronger and wiser for the better. However recent investigation into the past of Colonel Damien Sturm Hanis has turned out something interesting. He was a member of the elite MI6 Rabid Foxes while being the son of a DEST Tai-sa. This would explain the recent assassination attempt on him in the HIT Headquarters. However due to the stringent security measures (A daishi, 2 Masakaris and 2 Behemoths), the attempt was nipped. The attack only has increased the security measures around Colonel Hanis. Another interesting fact is Small H is one of the founding members of Hanis Instellar Trading or HIT in short. On the surface, HIT may seen to be like a normal mercenary association. But HIT is more than that; with investment in mining and shipping on Liberty and the HIT investment fund or HITIF supported by a number of respectable mercenary units. Although MRBC has investigated into HIT, they have not found any discriminating evidence against HIT.

As part of a corporate move, Small H with the rest of HIT members has moved their headquarters from other parts of the Inner Sphere to the planet of Liberty. Small H has basically worked for almost every house in the Inner Sphere and fought the clans on more than one occasion.

PS: Post 3067, HIT was dissolved as the Jihad started with HIT members destroyed or went off the chart in missions around the Inner Sphere. Hence Small H and its assets were relocated the Fed Suns world of Davidsville in the Crucis March.

Key Officers

Colonel Damien Sturm Hanis, the CO of the Small H and CEO of HIT has led this unit from its infancy all the way up to the present day. He was a Colonel in AFFC and a member of 1st Federated Suns Armored Cavalry where he learned his combined arms tactics before he turned mercenary. However it was only known recently that he was also a member of the elite MI6 and was the commander of Ops Team 7 for 5 years before switching to the 1st Cavalry. Hence this would explain the reason of the fast hitting style of Small H.
With the growth in Small H and HIT, he no longer takes on a tactical commander in the field. Instead he delegates to his capable subordinates to handle this while he deals with the strategic and administrative work. However to underestimate his skills as a mechwarrior is a mistake as he still hones his skills regularly with his unit. At the moment, he is paying most of his attention into setting up Freedom City and Camp Tekong on Liberty.

Lieutenant-Colonel John Merson, a former AFFC officer and comrade of Hanis joined the unit in its early days after following Hanis in resigning from the AFFC. Being the right hand man of Colonel Hanis has allowed this brilliant officer to show what he can do on field and much of the current battlefield success Small H has achieved is due to Merson. At the moment, Merson is overseeing much of the tactical deployment of Small H units either on missions or R&R.

Major Charles Bear, a bondsman captured from Ghost Bear and proven himself worthy to be warrior again. Born of Hawkins heritage, Charles was a proven warrior in the 28th Battle Cluster, but was captured in a early Small H mission. Although disdainful of the mercenary ways, Hanis convinced Charles that Small H was worthy unit to join through his actions. Since regaining his warrior status, he has been promoted to the rank of Weapon Master and Major. Much of the success against the clan foes is due to the insight of this clanner turned mercenary.

Major Andrew Smith, formerly of the FWLM, is the current head of corporate accounts of HIT and Small H. A mechwarrior in the 3rd Free World League Guards, he was forced to escape from the FWL after offending a rich noble with one of his crazy investment ideas. On Outreach, Hanis approached Smith with an offer to be the head of corporate accounts as he recognized that Smith was brilliant in the manipulation of figures and makes a good quarter master. Though with a clause that if he found Smith fencing him for his own pockets, Hanis would personally hunt him down. So far, Smith has proven up to Hanis’s expectations and has turned HIT into a quite a profitable organization.

Major Lisa Hanis, a cousin of Damien Hanis, joined the unit as part of the head of the public relations section and has proven a valuable asset in smoothing over relations with the local authorities on Liberty. Graduated from NAIS with a master in social studies, Major Hanis has proven to be an ace in PR so far.

Tactics

Small H has been known as a unit that use innovative ideas in the contracts it has accomplished. Use of artillery with thunder augmented supported with battle armor is a good example of how Small H works. But in general, Small H is a jack-of-all-trades unit with no particular preference for an individual strategy.


Small H
Reinforced Cluster/ Veteran /Fanatical

CO / Command Trinary: Colonel Damien Sturm Hanis
XO / Alpha Trinary: Lieutenant-Colonel John Merson
Bravo Trinary: Major Charles Bear
Charlie Trinary: Major Tim Myers
Delta Trinary: Major Jason Winters

With only a fourth Inner Sphere tech and the rest clan, Small H is considered a deadly enemy. However Small H is quite flexible and equally at home in clan or inner sphere formations and can attach or detach as the situations calls for changes. Small H is now aiming of attaching a supernova to each trinary in the future. In setting up Camp Tekong in conjunction with other HIT members, it is hoped that HIT members would be in future able to recruit warriors directly into the units.

Small H Armored Support
2 Company/Regular/Reliable

Armor Cmder: Major Michael Bell

A key part of any Small H’s operations nowadays. With a number of Behemoth tanks and Demolisher in support, this formation has proven its worth over many occasions though with serious losses in some cases. But still a important part in the war machine of Small H.

As to get myself back into the grove of battletech, I have decided to revive my old campagin with my mercenary unit, Small H and Hanis Instellar Trading (HIT) for the fun of it. Please bear with me.

A quick brief. Small H was my unit during the mercenary campagin run by my friend, Collin, previously. Although it was about 3 years ago when it ended prematurely, but it was an enjoyable campagin where interest in Battletech was restarted in Singapore. The campagin revolves around an player unit where one gets to bid for mission with available assets under the battle value system. One can even play the role of the opposition if one does not want to have a unit under himself like Jason.

You can get to buy new mechs, upgrade them, recruit new warriors and upgrade existing ones. An enjoyable campagin nevertheless.

Review of Descent of Angels

By: Damien

PS: This is review can also be found on Ezinearticles.

Descent of Angels is the sixth book in the Horus Heresy Series of novels by the Black Library Publishing. Following on the release of Fulgrim, Descent of Angels mainly focus on the life of Lion El'Jonson, Primach of the 1st Space Marine Legion, on Caliban.
The whole novel is seen through the eyes and experiences of Zahariel, a knight supplicant, who joins the Order. The Order here is refers to a knightly order on the world of Caliban with the Lion and Luther key figures in the Order.
Throughout the novel, Zahariel started off as a knight supplicant, then a full fledged knight, a space marine and then finally a possible librarian. His encounters with the beasts of his world, his fellow knights and then his brief experience with the space marine legions would catch the reader up into a world where fantasy would meet technology.
Also throughout the novel, the roles of and reference to Lion, Luther and Lord Cypher are all mentioned in details. As most Warhammer 40K players would know from the Space Marine or Dark Angels Codex, the Lion and Luther would engage in a civil war during the Horus Heresy. This would result in the destruction of the Caliban and the hunt of the traitors by the victors. Throughout the course of the novel, the cause of this breaking of brotherhood between the Lion and Luther could be traced. As per in the novel, the relationship of Luther and the Lion can be seen between Zahariel and his cousin, Nemiel.
For one, when our hero, Zahariel, killed off the last Caliban lion, the Lion did mentioned that there would be those jealous of his achievements mainly Luther. The logic is that without killing a Caliban Lion, Luther would not be the equal of the Lion. Another was when Luther discovered that the Saroshi delegation ship was a weapon; thoughts of betrayal greed and power did run through him.
However the final break between the brothers were not explained. That may be a disappointment in the novel though overall it can rated as a good novel by Mitchel Scanlon.

A review of Sword and Dragon

By: Damien

PS: This review can be found on Ezinearticles too.

With the introduction of Total Warefare for Classic Battletech, a starter book would be required to introduce new comers or veterans to the system. What a better way to do so is to have a book of two top companies in services to House Davion and House Kurita respectively.

The two units in question are the McKinnon's Company of House Davion's Seventh Crucis Lancers (Fox's Teeth) and Sorenson's Sabres from House Kurita's Fifth Sword of Light. Both units are companies in size with 12 battlemechs or units. Both are also similar in nature of missions that they have been assigned in history with objective raids and recon raids the main trademark of the units.

Friction for both units are provided in the book where key moments in history of units are highlighted. For the Fox's teeth, is the death of Mark McKinnon in the Ronin War. As for the Sabres, it is the betrayal of supposed allies at the start of the Ronin War.

Followed by a introduction to the history to the respective units and briefs of key units members and their rides. Also introduced is the ever changing unit structure throughout the decades of actions ending with 3072 era. Interestingly enough is that both units have gone missing in action in 3072 time line.

Lastly in the book, is a campaign describing the actions of the two units in a 3049 setting. This is a cool campaign as it would allow players access to a short and enjoyable campagin. Rules for both units and their equipment are also described in details. One can also opt to choose to run a simple battle with rules provided in the book if a campaign is not up their alley.

A plus is the seven new variants of Mechs at the end of the book as over time, changes to configurations were made in view of new technology.

If you wish to try something new to play other than console games or PC games, one can always get this book and try Classic Battletech instead. Do get it to plunge into the exciting world of Battletech.

Hi Gamers,

Being a while since my last post. Therefore an update would be needed. Basically I refocusing the blog away from just battletech to other games too such as Warhammer 40k and Rifts.

Latest happening

- Have just bought "Descent of Angels", 6th in the Horus Heresy series of novels. Would be doing a review soon.

- Into Rifts "Minion War" with the first source book, Hades, out in Singapore. A nice new arch for Rifts especially after the massive Tolken Wars.

- As for my cult favorite, Battletech, I am now in the midst of reviewing the Sword and Dragon Source book and others.

- Another of my new venture is into Hordes; but more for the friction part.