AHEM

David, in future please ensure you credit the authors with their
work, this piece was written by Chosen Man from 40k Online, not your
good self. I'll assume this was perfectly innocent though I must
request that you should also credit the author on your own yahoo
group.

That is all.

Col.Gravis

--- In praetorian-IG@..., "david_statter"
<david_statter@y...> wrote:
>
> The World of Praetoria
>
> From their initial planet fall as inexperienced colonists to the
> present day as hive-toughened warriors, the Praetorians have had to
> fight to survive. Over the centuries they have adopted a strict
> discipline which together with their talent for organization of the
> smallest details (essential in a hive where even the air is
rationed)
> serves them well on the battlefield. They detest slovenliness and
> disorder, and even at the height of battle will ensure that their
> uniforms are correctly buttoned and the buckles buttoned on their
> ammunition pouches polished to a brilliant shine.
>
> Praetoria is a heavily populated Hive World that lies in a system
> close to the Imperial naval base at Bakka. The overpopulated hive
> cities of Praetoria are renowned for their squalor and degradation,
> and produce some of the toughest gangers on any of the hive worlds
in
> the Imperium. This vast population work as little more than slave
> labour in the huge factory complexes of Praetoria, producing the
goods
> that have made the planet (and its ruling class) one of the
richest in
> the Imperium, with a huge fleet of merchant craft that trade all
over
> the Segmentum and beyond. Imperial Guard regiments raised on
Praetoria
> are renowned for their iron discipline and bravery, even in the
face
> of the most overwhelming odds. According to the planetary lords of
> Praetoria, it is only through fearsome training and draconian
> punishments for the most minor infringements that the hive-
toughened
> inhabitants of their planet can be made to follow orders and do as
> they are told. Whatever one's views on the training methods used,
they
> seem to work, producing troops that are as ferocious on the attack
as
> they are determined in defense.
>
> Regimental Founding
>
> Nearly every generation, the lords of Praetoria found a new 13th
Guard
> Regiment. The regiment holds a place of honor on Praetoria, among
the
> elite of its foundings. Many up-and-coming new nobles duel for a
> posting in the 13th. The regiment is recruited from many levels of
the
> Praetorian realm.
>
> The officer corps of the regiment is chosen from the three
different
> major social classes. The majority at 66% of the officers are
> nobly-born, with 20% chosen from among the merchant guild houses,
and
> finally 14% are chosen from the remaining PDF forces. Usually the
last
> 14% make up the majority of the armor battalion, as it is the least
> favored by the upper class of Praetorian officers to serve in. Most
> nobly-born feel that the infantry is where the glory is to be had
and
> seek a post appropriate to their status.
>
> The bulk of the regular troops are taken from the Praetorian Royal
> Defense Guards Regiments, which serve as the elite guard of the
> realm's PDF. Praetoria is a realm onto itself much like the Forge
> Worlds of the Adeptus Mechanicus. The vast merchant fleets have
> established many colonies that serve as satellite worlds to
Praetoria.
> The remaining troops as well as all of the armor forces in the
> regiment are drawn from colonial PDFs.
>
> From this gathering of forces the regiment is forged through
> discipline and rigorous training into an elite Imperial Guard
> regiment. The many traditions and past histories of the previous
13th
> Regiments are instilled into the new founding. Many of the
companies
> in the regiment compete with each other for best company during
this
> time, as a source of pride in the regiment. The current 13th was
> officially founded in 988.M41 by order of the Praetorian lords.
>
> Regimental Combat Team
>
> The current organization of the regiment was changed following its
> latest tour of duty in the Eastern Fringe. This was following the
> events of the war with the Eastern Alliance. The regiment has
returned
> to Bakka where it was reorganized and rebuilt into it's current
TO&E.
> Many officers and enlisted veterans have come to calling this
> reformation a second founding of the regiment, as much was changed,
> but the core of the regiment remains. The regiment was enhanced
with
> two new support battalions, a new armored battalion, and fresh
> recruits from the world of Praetoria to replace losses suffered in
> battle. The previous armor battalion was removed to become the
core of
> the new 72nd Praetorian Royal Armor Regiment in the Imperial Guard.
> This reformation of the 13th is a step forward in its evolution to
> becoming a more efficient and valuable asset to the Imperial Guard.
> Rumor among the ranks is that this new 13th will be the core of a
> possible new force being formed to aide the forces of the Cadian
gate
> in their ongoing war with the ruinous powers of Chaos and their
forces.
>
> Organization
>
> Regiment
>
> The regiment consists of six battalions. Three infantry battalions,
> two support battalions, and one armor battalion. The regiment is a
> combined arms force allowing for independent operations in the
field.
> Infantry companies can be enhanced with support units from the two
> support battalions, and armor support from the armor battalion.
Before
> any mission is undertaken, Regimental Command and Control provides
> companies with all the support forces they will need. With the
> available forces in Command's control, battalion and company
> formations can operate independently if needed with existing
support
> forces. A regimental company commands all operations, with each
> battalion having it's own command and control company and working
it's
> way down to company and platoon commands.
>
> Support Battalions
>
> Support battalions are the catch-all of the regiment. They consist
of
> recon, storm trooper, additional heavy weapons, artillery, abhuman,
> sniper, transport, and other forces that are non-standard infantry.
> These battalions exist mainly on paper for organizational reasons,
> since most of the time they are spread out among the regular line
> battalions. With the exception of rear line command support
> formations, these forces can be broken down from near full
companies
> to small squad formations wherever they are needed. The majority of
> the officers in these battalions are mustang officers from the
ranks,
> or Praetorian merchant class members who have bought their
commissions
> into the officer corp.
>
> Armor Battalion
>
> The armor battalion is a similar formation to the standard Imperial
> Guard armored regiments. The majority of the battalion is made up
of
> Leman Russ MBTs with various variants. Widely unfavored by the
noble
> class for officer assignments, most of the armor officers have
risen
> from the ranks. This has given the armor battalion a low rating
when
> it comes to discipline and organization. However this is not a bad
> thing, as tank commanders are more independent in their thinking
and
> operation of their machines. This has given the battalion a
maverick
> cavalry mentality.
>
> Infantry Companies
>
> Infantry companies can vary in size from 150 - 400 troops.
Depending
> on the mission assigned, companies can receive support troops from
> other battalions in the regiment. Officers are encouraged to follow
> the chain of command, and to follow orders to the letter. Most of
the
> command structure of the regiment is nobly-born or of merchant
class
> descent. Of course there are always enlisted men whose leadership
> distinguishes them from their peers, and who receive promotions to
> higher ranks. These mustang officers are more liberal with their
> commands, but still adhere to military discipline when needed.
>
> Praetorian Uniform
>
> Over the centuries Praetorian regiments have changed little in
their
> field and dress uniform. The red tunic and black trousers tucked
into
> calf-high boots are the standard field uniform for all infantry
troops
> and officers. Trousers are also enhanced with a red stripe running
> down the outside of the legs. This is a sign of devotion to
Praetoria
> in the service of the God Emperor.
>
> This is enhanced with gold epaulets, gold buttons, and white
> belt/buckle/webbing. A silver Aquila insignia is worn on the left
side
> of the tunic. The standard Praetorian Pattern white helm completes
the
> uniform. The material used in the uniforms is an advanced form of
> fabric that complies with Imperial Guard ballistic fabric
requirements
> for protection.
>
> Officers may further wear a red greatcoat over their uniform. This
> coat has an elaborate cuff design. It also provides additional
> ballistic protection.
>
> Since the regiment also fields different support branches in the
> field, their tunic and trousers may vary in color. Independent
heavy
> weapons units use blue to dark blue instead of red, chosen men wear
> green uniforms, mounted hussar squadrons use a different pattern of
> color scheme for their uniforms and armor uniforms are gray for
crew
> members. Officers in these branches wear uniforms in accordance
with
> their post, but are also allowed to wear the standard red field
uniform.
>
> Rank pins are worn on uniform epaulets. Any special titles or
branch
> divisions will be incorporated into the rank pin, or other proper
> location. Some troops are allowed to wear different uniforms to
note
> special status, as in the example with chosen men.
>
> A properly cleaned and pressed standard uniform is modified for
dress
> uniform occasions, for the ease of procurement. All personnel are
> allowed black berets or forage caps, with officers allowed peaked
caps
> as an additional option. Officers also wear white gloves, and wear
a
> gold sash for being nobly-born or a silver sash for being merchant
or
> lower class. Enlisted personnel wear a white sash similar to an
> officer's but slightly slimmer. All awards and decorations are
> displayed on the sash.
>
> All uniforms and battle gear are expected to be in parade
condition at
> all times. NCOs and officers are encouraged to report all uniform
> violations. All violators will be appropriately disciplined. No
> exceptions!
>
> Ranks
>
> Enlisted Personnel and NCOs
>
> Banner Sergeant
> Master Sergeant
> Sergeant
> Lance Corporal
> Trooper
>
> Officers
>
> General
> Colonel
> Lt. Colonel
> Major
> Captain
> Lieutenant
>
> Special Titles
>
> Noble Houses
> Merchant Guilds
> Chosen Men
> Life Guards
> Hussars
>
> Awards and Decorations
>
> Praetorians are known for their pomp and circumstance when it
comes to
> their uniforms and equipment. Everything has to be in order, and
this
> also goes for any decorations worn on their uniforms. Along with
their
> standard ribbons for campaigns or battles, a few awards stand out
> especially. Awards are worn on their dress uniform sash, with all
> other ribbons. The exception is the Praetorian Cross which is worn
> around the neck from a ribbon.
>
> Praetorian Cross
>
> This award is give those few who have shown valor above and beyond
the
> call of duty. This is the highest award a Praetorian trooper or
> officer can receive from the lords of Praetoria. The recipient of
this
> award is known as a hero to the people of Praetoria, for their
courage
> in the defense of the Imperium and Praetoria.
>
> The award is a 4 inch white bursting cross (like the Black Templar
> space marines cross), with a silver aquila in the center, on a red
> disc background. The bearer's Name, Unit, Date of the action, and
> Location of the action are etched into the 4 sides of the cross.
The
> award is worn on a gold ribbon around the neck. Many have nicknamed
> the award the big red saucer because of its large size.
>
> Cluster of the Lion
>
> This award is given to those who display Praetorian courage on the
> field of battle; those who follow commands and excel in their
> execution; who help attain victory in the field; who never fall
back
> or break in the face of the enemy; who hold the line with iron
discipline.
>
> The award is an image of the Praetorian sun in gold with a leaping
> silver lion in the center. A diamond is placed over the leaping
lion.
> If the recipient is given the award more than once, a new gem is
> placed with the previously received gems. The cluster is worn on a
> blue ribbon.
>
> 1st time: Praetorian Diamond
> 2nd time: Praetorian Sapphire
> 3rd time: Praetorian Jade Crystal
> 4th time: Praetorian Ruby
>
> Silver Sabre
>
> This award is given to anyone who shows exceptional valor in
> hand-to-hand combat. Usually the recipient is given a promotion if
> they are a trooper or NCO. Officers who receive this award are
given
> higher priority when it comes to general promotions.
>
> This award is different because it is given in different versions.
The
> award is a silver sabre in a slashing motion on the background of
the
> race with which the recipient was engaged in hand-to-hand combat.
For
> example a purple Tyranid head, green Ork head or orange Tau head
> background. The award is worn on a brown ribbon.
>
> Sapphire Tear
>
> This award is given to all troops and officers who have been
injured
> in the field. This decoration can be awarded multiple times to
anyone
> who is injured more than once.
>
> The award is a small white lion's head background with a blue tear
> sapphire in the middle, worn on a purple ribbon.
>
> Chosen Brand
>
> Given to members of the Chosen Men units upon joining the Chosen
Men
> ranks. This decoration signifies that they are part of the elite
> Chosen and are entitled to all the privileges and responsibilities
> that come with joining such a special unit.
>
> The decoration is worn on the left arm, as a white ribbon with the
> name of the Chosen unit's name.
>
> Leman's Lion
>
> This award is given to armor crews who have shown exceptional
service
> on the field of battle. Through the execution of their mission,
valor
> on the battlefield, excellence in the operation of their armor, or
any
> other exceptional feat that merits recognition.
>
> This award is given to the entire crew of the armored vehicle. It
is a
> roaring gray lion's head over the background of a black Leman Russ
> turret. It is has been known that crews will sometimes paint a gray
> lion's head or an image of the award on the side of their vehicle
to
> denote that they have been awarded this medal. The award is worn
on a
> black and red striped ribbon.
>
> Standard Weapons Issued
>
> MK III Praetorian Pattern Lasrifle
> MK X Praetorian Pattern Longlasrifle (Special Issued)
> Kantrael Pattern Laspistol (NCO, Officer, and Special Issued)
> Mark IX Rechargeable Power Pack
>
> Armageddon Pattern Autopistol (NCO Issued)
>
> MK III Plasma Pistol (Officer and Special Issued)
>
> Model 482 Boltgun (Officer and Special Issued)
> MK III Bolt Pistol (Officer and Special Issued)
>
> MK V Mordian Pattern Grenade Launcher (Special Issued)
> Ultima Pattern Meltagun (Special Issued)
> MK II Catachan Pattern Flamer (Special Issued)
> M35 Megacore Plasma Gun (Special Issued)
>
> Doctrines
>
> Iron Discipline
> Close Order Drill
> Veterans
> Ratling squads
> Rough Riders
>
> Battle Histories of the Black Guard
>
> Double 13
>
> Following the events on Montar VII, where the 24th Praetorian was
> crushed by an Ork Waaagh!, word soon reached Praetoria. When word
> reached the lords of Praetoria, the 13th was finishing up its
founding
> training and was serving as garrison troops on Praetoria. The
13th's
> officers and troops petitioned command to assign them to the
> counter-attack on Montar VII; they wanted to avenge the 24th, their
> sister regiment. When the surviving members of the 24th returned,
the
> regiment underwent rebuilding; officers and regular troops of the
13th
> requested transfers to be part of the new 24th. In a rare event,
> Imperial Guard Command allowed a high number of transfers to the
24th
> for fast rebuilding reasons. The Praetorian command also provided
more
> elite palace guards from the PDF for both regiments. Everyone
wanted
> pay-back and both regiments were aiming for major retribution. Both
> regiments were brought back up to full strength and built a blood
bond
> between them.
>
> When the 24th and 13th were deployed in the reconquest of Montar
VII,
> the Black Guard was sent in to retake Glazer's Creek; the site of a
> small victory in the first battle of Montar. The 13th mounted a
full
> assault on the small Ork garrison. Disorganized and leaderless, the
> Orks stood no chance against the 13th's righteous fury.
>
> The Black Guard soon set up a firebase and prepared for a
> counter-attack. While the main force lead by the 24th sacked the
> central Ork village, the 13th prepared to be the anvil to crush the
> Orks upon. Driven towards the creek by Imperial forces, the orks
> fought a fighting retreat. Lord Sherdan allowed the Imperial Guard
to
> drive the Orks towards imperial outpost by the creek. The orks
> couldn't let such a sweet target escape them: more battle, more
blood,
> more WAAAAAGGGHHH!!! The Orks amassed in a valley that ran beside
the
> creek, divided by a low rise.
>
> The Orks rushed over the hill screaming in their foul Orkish
tongue.
> The first thing to surprise them was the heavy barrage of
artillery.
> Still they kept coming, wanting to destroy the base and all the
> guardsmen there. A Speed Kult led the assault on the firebase. Soon
> they were working their way into the creek valley. At the same time
> from behind, an Imperial air strike forced the rear elements of the
> Ork warband onwards into the Praetorians' guns. Pressed into a box,
> the Orks fought on to the death.
>
> The final element of the plan came into play when the 24th
Praetorian
> led the counter-attack on the Ork remains from behind, while the
13th
> held them off. As the Orks were about to the reach the firebase,
the
> 13th's armor battalion rushed forward to challenge the Ork Speed
Kult,
> and closed the trap. The Orks were smashed between the 24th's
hammer
> and the 13th's anvil. This would finish the Orks' dominion of
Montar
> VII. Following this victory all that was left to do was to clean up
> the last remains of the Ork Waaagh!. The 13th was given this
mission
> which took a few months to accomplish.
>
> War with the Eastern Alliance
>
> The Eastern Fringe is the Wild West of the Imperium. Following the
> events of the Damocles Crusade, Imperial forces fell back to more
> secure lines. Many worlds were left to their own fate, abandoned
due
> to alack of forces to protect them. Smugglers, renegades, rogues,
> pirates, Xenos, they all came to this interstellar no-man's-land
for
> different reasons. Several worlds on the fringe came together to
form
> an alliance of worlds outside of Imperial control. Run by a
coalition
> of humans and Xenos, the worlds first began to work together for
> mutual defense. The pact prospered as well as can be expected in a
> stellar desert. The worlds held their own against outside threats.
The
> pact was also ignored by the Imperium, which didn't have the
resources
> to deal with a minor power, and which wasn't under threat from the
> alliance at the time. Rumors also state that the Ordo Xenos
operated
> out of such worlds for intelligence reasons.
>
> The pact grew to 13 worlds, with the Tau looking to make an
alliance
> with them as well. Then around 985.M41, Imperial worlds started
coming
> under raids from pirates operating out of the Eastern Alliance as
they
> were calling the coalition. The raids grew in frequency and size
over
> the years, pirates taking everything from hardware to enslaved
> Imperial citizens. In 994.M41, a group of pirate bands mounted a
> devastating raid on an Imperial naval convoy transporting weapons
and
> heavy hardware for Imperial worlds in the sub-sector. The entire
> convoy was taken by the raiders, and was never heard from again
except
> for the remains of a few patrol ships that were found later on by a
> local sector battlefleet.
>
> The Imperium was forced to play its hand in a resourceless sector
of
> space. An attack on this alliance was going to be organized, to
free
> the enslaved Imperial citizens and rid the Imperium of this thorn
in
> its side. A gathering of forces was called for, and the 13th
> Praetorian answered the call along with several other Imperial
Guard
> regiments. The majority of the invasion force was made up of local
> PDFs and Militias from the sector dragooned into Imperial service
due
> to the lack of resources. A strike force of the Adeptus Astartes
Space
> Sharks Chapter also joined the invasion. The Ordo Xenos also
provided
> some additional forces as well as much of the intelligence on the
> alliance.
>
> The 13th joined the 101st Tallarn Desert Raiders, the 8th Brimlock
> Dragoons and several PDF regiments to form Taskforce Z. The
taskforce
> was also joined by a rogue trader, who was able to raise the
> equivalent of an additional three regiments of his own personal
guard
> and mercenaries. The taskforce was given orders to take the world
of
> Rudolpho's Den. Other taskforces were given different assignments
to
> attack the alliance on different worlds to keep them off balance.
The
> world of Rudolpho's Den was a pirate world which had two major
> settlements and a few known fortresses. It was also known that the
> main alliance defense fleet and raider fleets used this world as
their
> home port. For this reason the Imperial Navy provided several heavy
> detachments to Taskforce Z.
>
> The initial entry into the system was met with a major fleet action
> that would rout the battlefleet of the alliance and keep the
Imperial
> Navy busy for the remainder of the system's invasion. With the
local
> space defenses broken and on the run for the time being, the Navy
made
> a run in-system to deploy the Imperial Guard regiments. The 101st
made
> the initial landing to scout and prepare for the main troop drop.
The
> consecutive landings went as planned with a central command base
being
> established. With the Guard and its allies now on the ground, plans
> were underway to take both of the major settlements on the world.
> General Gordon of the 13th had overall command of ground
operations in
> this campaign. The combined forces would march on the main
spaceport
> of Freemeza, also the capital of the world. It was known that the
main
> slave pens were located outside of the city and the general wanted
> nothing more than to free the Imperial citizens and wipe out the
> pirate scum. His rogue trader ally was given 3 militia regiments to
> augment his forces, and was assigned the job of taking the smaller
> settlement of Laz Zerpentaz. The 8th Brimlock would remain in
reserve
> at the main beachhead base, along with another dragooned PDF
Regiment.
> The 4 remaining dragooned PDF regiments would join the 13th in
their
> assault on Freemeza. The 101st would split up into smaller units
and
> perform forward scouting operations as well as conduct any
> counterinsurgency in the event of raiders taking on the main Guard
> columns moving to their objectives.
>
> It was not known at the time of the invasion, but the Tau had begun
> making overtures to the alliance to join their larger Tau Empire.
> Several Gue'vesa Cadres had been sent to the alliance as a gesture
of
> mutual cooperation between the two nations. The Gue'vesa were
deployed
> to several of the alliance worlds to serve alongside their defense
> forces. The Tau still didn't trust the alliance; so they only sent
> their lesser human troops, instead of frontline Fire warrior
Cadres.
> Two Gue'vesa Cadres were deployed on Rudolpho's Den and were
posted at
> the main barracks of Freemeza. Rudolpho's Den's defense force was
made
> up of 15 regiments spread over the two main settlements and the
> spaceport. Ten regiments were all-human and the other five were
made
> up of Xenos and human mercenaries. Several pirate bands also
operated
> in the wastelands, although they were very irregular and varied in
> size and firepower.
>
> The alliance put up no resistance to the initial landing of the
> Guard's regiments. This gave Gordon the chance to deploy his
forces as
> he saw fit. This lull did not last long as a response force of 5
> regiments was sent out once the Imperial Guard drop zone had been
> located. The 101st Tallarn were the first to meet this initial
force
> as they mounted counter-raids on the alliance forces. The general
> finally made a stand in the mountains near the spaceport. There
for 2
> months, Taskforce Z smashed the initial alliance counter-attack.
The
> main engagement came at Razorz Pass, where the general committed
his
> entire armor force and crushed the better part of 4 alliance
regiments
> in one day of fighting. After this battle, the 13th continued on
its
> push to the city of Freemeza unopposed. Taskforce Z split up to
their
> objectives, and pressed the alliance into retreat. Gordon's
casualties
> were still light, and he pressed on to assault both the main city
and
> the spaceport. The 13th would be given the objective of taking the
> spaceport.
>
> Colonel Felix, the acting second-in-command of the 13th would lead
the
> attack on the spaceport. At this time the presence of the Gue'vesa
was
> still unknown to the Imperial Guard. Alliance forces at first gave
way
> to the 13th's push into the spaceport complex. This was a trap
> however, and once most of 1st battalion was committed to the
attack,
> the Gue'vesa mounted a devastating counteroffensive on them. The
> fighting in the complex was fierce and brutal. The general refused
to
> retreat while Colonel Felix rallied the battalion and pressed an
> assault on the main HQ building of the alliance forces. At the same
> time a company of Chosen Men made a surprise attack on the Gue'vesa
> command and control. The dual attack succeeded in breaking the
Tau's
> troops command and control, while also smashing into the alliance's
> main defense force. Colonel Felix gave his life leading the main
> assault on the alliance command bunker. The Gue'vesa fell back
> demoralized into the wasteland. The other Imperial Guard and PDF
> Regiments were deployed to support the 13th and took the spaceport.
>
> With the spaceport taken and being held by Imperial forces, Navy
> support ships began to resupply the Imperial Guard, as well as
taking
> care of the casualties. General Gordon began a siege of the main
city.
> Over the next month the 13th would mount an offensive to take the
> slave pens and outer perimeter of the city. Gue'vesa forces
attempted
> to harass the effort, but the 101st Tallarn kept them occupied for
the
> remainder of the siege. The spaceport became the hub of the
Imperium's
> effort to take the world's capital. Reinforcements and supplies
> arrived to help in the effort, along with a welcome surprise in the
> form of a strike force of Space Shark Space Marines. The Strike
> Cruiser Imperial Jaws, along with its escort of 2 Gladius Class
> Frigates, a Hunter Class Destroyer and 3 Nova Class Frigates joined
> the Imperial Navy in cleaning up the system. Along with them came
> roughly half of the Space Sharks' 4th Company. With the help of the
> marines, General Gordon would mount the final push to take the
city.
>
> Meanwhile, the 13th was making up its battle losses by taking in
> replacements from the PDF forces. This would keep the 13th at full
> battle readiness, but began to degrade the regiment's efficiency
due
> to the increasingly low quality of its troops. Gordon pulled the
13th
> from the line and allowed them a little bit of time before the
final
> push to integrate the new troops into the regiment. As the final
push
> was about to begin, the 13th came back to the line at nearly 100%
> manpower.
>
> The final push into the capital began with two companies of the
13th's
> Chosen Men mounting several deep strikes into the city to take out
the
> main power and also destroy as many communication nodes as could be
> located. Once a sufficient amount of chaos had been created in the
> city, the 13th's armor battalion along with the Space Shark strike
> force made a frontal assault. A deep push was made before the
city's
> defenders were able to mount any kind of organized counter-attack.
It
> was too late for the alliance as the Imperium held its ground long
> enough to deploy the rest of the regiments into the city. From this
> point on, it became a grind out house-to-house battle in the entire
> city. The 13th would lead the Imperial Guard into the heart of the
city.
>
> The battle for Freemeza would last just short of a week. It ended
with
> the 13th leading the final rush into the alliance HQ that was built
> into a mountain-side. Fierce battles between alliance defense
forces
> and the 13th ensued inside the palace. Major Sharpe led a team of
> Chosen Men into the main command bunker and took the high command
of
> the alliance prisoner.
>
> The city was taken and the flag of the 13th flew over the alliance
> palace. Gordon took over as military governor for the world until
such
> time that the Imperial high command would be able to relinquish
> command to the proper Imperial authority. The 13th would take a
much
> needed rest to lick its wounds and prepare for the next push.
>
> The next phase of the invasion of the alliance never came for the
> 13th. Out of the initial 5 worlds targeted by the Imperium, only 3
> were taken; the other 2 were not taken and the Imperial forces had
to
> fall back. The 13th was given garrison duty and began the process
of
> rebuilding the world. For the next 4 years the 13th would remain on
> Rudolpho's Den rebuilding, while the war with the alliance
continued.
> At the end of this tour of duty the regiment was pulled back to
Bakka
> for reforming into its current state.
>
> Notable Personnel
>
> Col. Tarlton Felix
>
> Col. Felix was an old school officer who never took no for an
answer.
> He drove his officers hard, and expected exceptional results. He
was
> never one to sit back and let his subordinates do all his work
either.
> He always set an example for his men to follow and they respected
him
> as a result. He led from the front and because of this trait he was
> given the post of XO of the regiment following Gen. Gordon. His
final
> mission during the assault on Freemeza's spaceport was a perfect
> example of how Felix commanded his troops.
>
> Once the trap was sprung on his 1st Battalion, he rallied the
entire
> battalion around him. In the battles for the main complex of the
> spaceport, Felix employed the signature square formation of the
> Praetorian regiments; folding the battalion to a fighting core that
> would hold its own again the various assaults by alliance and Tau
> forces. The battalion held their lines, but time was working
against
> them as reinforcements were not coming and casualties were
mounting.
>
> In an attempt at breaking the enemy and forcing them onto the
> defensive, Felix led a counter-attack out of the center of the
> battalion's formation into the alliance forces. Demoralized from
not
> being able to break the 13th's defense, the alliance formation was
> smashed into by Felix. Little did the 1st Battalion know that due
to
> communication jamming, a relief force was also working its way in
to
> save them. Felix's attack climaxed when his force smashed into the
> field command center of the alliance forces and they fought it out
in
> the complex. Col. Felix was struck down as he led the charge into
the
> command center of the alliance forces at the spaceport complex.
>
> For his courageous actions in the spaceport, Col. Felix was awarded
> the Praetorian Cross posthumously.
>