Talons of the Archon

Talons of the Archon (17th Vanguard Division)
Active:	1696 AN – 1724 AN
Allegiance:	Imperial Humanist Party of Greater Kildare  Humanist Vanguard
Personnel:
Type:
Nickname:	Furious Talons
Current Commander:	Marius Gallo

Organisation

Leadership

Commandants:

1. Royston Anders (32.XV.1696 AN – 23.VI.1703 AN)
2. Daniyal ibn Daniyal Simrani-Kalirion (24.VI.1703 AN – 18.IV.1723 AN)
3. Marius Gallo (18.IV.1723 AN –1724 AN)

Order of battle

Land component

The land component, consisting of Cedrist and Humanist volunteers ideologically motivated to support the Kildari in a revolt against Jing rule, was the first element of the Talons, in the guise of the 17th Vanguard Division, to be formed. Tasked primarily with defending and securing Port Nevermore as a conduit for supplies smuggled via Mirk Bay from Arboria, the Talons established forward operating bases further inland so as to support rebel operations against Jing loyalist formations pinned against the Arboreal frontier and to provide advisory and material support to the chaotic mass of Kildari warbands.

The influence of the Black Legions upon the pattern of the forces the Talons put into the field was noticeable from the outset, both doctrinally and in terms of equipment.

Unit	Commander	Establishment	Garrison
Headquarters Echelon
17th Command Demi-Regiment	Frainan Uihmanzis Poria Kalantar	Officers – 28 NCO's – 95 Other Ranks –600 M1610 7.9 mm Rifle (Semi-Automatic) – 600 M1689 service pistol (9×19mm) – 28 M1690 machine pistol (9x19mm) – 95 Polybolos 12.7mm HMG – 15 Light Trucks – 80	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
17th Control Demi-Regiment	Salbnan Cyrus Namvari	Officers – 28 NCO's – 95 Other Ranks –600 M1610 7.9 mm Rifle (Semi-Automatic) – 600 M1689 service pistol (9×19mm) – 28 M1690 machine pistol (9x19mm) – 95 Polybolos 12.7mm HMG – 15 Light Trucks – 80
17th/1st Demi-Brigade
171st Motorised Infantry Regiment	Salbnan Sepehr Moneri	Officers – 42 NCOs – 201 Other Ranks – 966 M1591(R) marksman rifle (7.62×67mmB) – 15 M1686 assault rifle (7.62×67mmB) – 315 M1689 service pistol (9×19mm) – 42 M1690 machine pistol (9x19mm) – 807 Wren light machine-gun (7.62x67mmB) – 15 Hornet recoilless anti-tank rifle – 15 82mm Mortar – 6 Polybolos heavy machine-gun(12.7×99mm) – 6 Tankgewehr anti-materiel rifle (13.2×92mmSR) – 6 Waspsting man-portable air defence system – 8 CV-56 Horjin infantry fighting vehicle – 46 Pod armoured personnel carrier – 101	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
171st Light Infantry Regiment	Ahmst Bræþstranin Aref Khademi	Officers – 37 NCOs – 180 Other Ranks – 869 M1591(R) marksman rifle (7.62×67mmB) – 108 M1686 assault rifle (7.62×67mmB) – 869 M1689 service pistol (9×19mm) – 37 M1690 machine pistol (9x19mm) – 180 Wren light machine-gun (7.62x67mmB) – 15 Hornet recoilless anti-tank rifle – 15 82mm Mortar – 6 Polybolos heavy machine-gun(12.7×99mm) – 6 Tankgewehr anti-materiel rifle (13.2×92mmSR) – 6 Waspsting man-portable air defence system – 8 Snatch Land Rovers – 181
17th/2nd Demi-Brigade
172nd Motorised Infantry Regiment	Salbnan Aryasp Bhura	Officers – 42 NCOs – 201 Other Ranks – 966 M1591(R) marksman rifle (7.62×67mmB) – 15 M1686 assault rifle (7.62×67mmB) – 315 M1689 service pistol (9×19mm) – 42 M1690 machine pistol (9x19mm) – 807 Wren light machine-gun (7.62x67mmB) – 15 Hornet recoilless anti-tank rifle – 15 82mm Mortar – 6 Polybolos heavy machine-gun(12.7×99mm) – 6 Tankgewehr anti-materiel rifle (13.2×92mmSR) – 6 Waspsting man-portable air defence system – 8 CV-56 Horjin infantry fighting vehicle – 46 Pod armoured personnel carrier – 101	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
172nd Light Infantry Regiment	Ahmst Bræþstranin Bazur Kiamanesh	Officers – 37 NCOs – 180 Other Ranks – 869 M1591(R) marksman rifle (7.62×67mmB) – 108 M1686 assault rifle (7.62×67mmB) – 869 M1689 service pistol (9×19mm) – 37 M1690 machine pistol (9x19mm) – 180 Wren light machine-gun (7.62x67mmB) – 15 Hornet recoilless anti-tank rifle – 15 82mm Mortar – 6 Polybolos heavy machine-gun(12.7×99mm) – 6 Tankgewehr anti-materiel rifle (13.2×92mmSR) – 6 Waspsting man-portable air defence system – 8 Snatch Land Rovers – 181
Pilgrimage of Grace
1st Penitent Brigade	Salbnan Gisilfrid Kempf	Imperial Vicars – 6 Thrones – 20 Vicars – 60 Penitents – 7,253 M1591(R) marksman rifle (7.62×67mmB) – 162 M1656 submachine-gun (9x19mm) – 1,560 M1686 assault rifle (7.62×67mmB) – 2,394 M1689 service pistol (9×19mm) – 7,254 Wren light machine-gun (7.62x67mmB) – 360 Tankgewehr anti-materiel rifle (13.2×92mmSR) – 30 82mm mortar – 36 Hornet recoilless anti-tank rifle – 132 Polybolos heavy machine-gun(12.7×99mm) – 36 Waspsting man-portable air defence system – 42 Support Vehicles – 840	Port Nevermore, Dutchy of Kildare
2nd Penitent Brigade	Salbnan Hardmod Geissler	Imperial Vicars – 6 Thrones – 20 Vicars – 60 Penitents – 7,253 M1591(R) marksman rifle (7.62×67mmB) – 162 M1656 submachine-gun (9x19mm) – 1,560 M1686 assault rifle (7.62×67mmB) – 2,394 M1689 service pistol (9×19mm) – 7,254 Wren light machine-gun (7.62x67mmB) – 360 Tankgewehr anti-materiel rifle (13.2×92mmSR) – 30 82mm mortar – 36 Hornet recoilless anti-tank rifle – 132 Polybolos heavy machine-gun(12.7×99mm) – 36 Waspsting man-portable air defence system – 42 Support Vehicles – 840	Port Nevermore, Dutchy of Kildare
3rd Penitent Brigade	Salbnan Alberich Tanzer	Imperial Vicars – 6 Thrones – 20 Vicars – 60 Penitents – 7,253 M1591(R) marksman rifle (7.62×67mmB) – 162 M1656 submachine-gun (9x19mm) – 1,560 M1686 assault rifle (7.62×67mmB) – 2,394 M1689 service pistol (9×19mm) – 7,254 Wren light machine-gun (7.62x67mmB) – 360 Tankgewehr anti-materiel rifle (13.2×92mmSR) – 30 82mm mortar – 36 Hornet recoilless anti-tank rifle – 132 Polybolos heavy machine-gun(12.7×99mm) – 36 Waspsting man-portable air defence system – 42 Support Vehicles – 840	Port Nevermore, Dutchy of Kildare
Force Support Echelon
17th Area Defence Group	Commander S. Fang	Officers – 56 NCO's – 192 Other Ranks – 1,200 M1610 7.9 mm Rifle (Semi-Automatic) – 1,200 M1689 service pistol (9×19mm) – 56 M1690 machine pistol (9x19mm) – 192 Polybolos 12.7mm HMG – 30 Katzenklavier – 60 Light Trucks – 181 Snatch Land Rovers – 61	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
17th Depot Group	Ahmst Bræþstranin Tjeerd Schmitt	Officers – 56 NCO's – 192 Other Ranks – 1,200 M1610 7.9 mm Rifle (Semi-Automatic) – 1,200 M1689 service pistol (9×19mm) – 56 M1690 machine pistol (9x19mm) – 192 Polybolos 12.7mm HMG – 30 Light Trucks – 181
17th Supply Train	Ahmst Bræþstranin Raimund Atsma	Officers – 536 NCO's – 2,212 Other Ranks – 14,400 M1689 service pistol (9×19mm) – 536 M1690 machine pistol (9x19mm) – 16,612 Misc. support vehicles – 2,858

Maritime component

The maritime component of the Talons, being in no way equipped to go head to head with the naval forces of the loyalist Jing fleet contented itself with focusing primarily on operations carried out in the coastal waters of the Mirkdale peninsula and Hyperion Bay. Typically these endeavours revolved around the delivery of material and personnel, the removal of captured technology and persons of interest for evaluation, and the putting ashore of small raiding and sabotage parties.

Aviation component

Established during 1698 AN as repaired captured airframes and new aircraft manufactured by the Kildare Aviation Company were accepted in to service. Providing air support to the various rebel warbands, including the Kildari, Leftists, and anti-Daocheng cliques became one of the primary objectives of the Talons during their contribution to the liberation wars. Following the declaration of the Greater Apollonian Empire, the scale of material assistance dramatically increased, under the guise of Operation Deadlift in the final two months of 1698, which saw vast quantities of aircraft, armour, and artillery transferred from Elwynn and the UGB to Arboria. Inevitably, some of this aid found its way into the United Thanedom of Dalmacija where the Talons of the Archons employed pilots and groundcrew contracted via the Honourable Company to form the 1^st Kildari Air Wing. Many of those recruited to fly for the Talons were demobilised veterans of the Second Elwynnese Civil War from the UDF, and in some instances their rebel counterparts who proved willing to sign on in preference to continuing to languish in an internment camp awaiting trial.

Unit	Commander	Establishment	Garrison
Headquarters Echelon
Command Demi-Regiment		3 LAC Buladocga	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
Control Demi-Regiment		5 LAC Buladocga	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
Control Demi-Regiment		15 LAC Buladocga	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
Control Demi-Regiment		16 LAC Buladocga	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
Bombardment Group
1st Bombardment Demi-Regiment		28 C-11 Mula	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
2nd Bombardment Demi-Regiment		31 C-11 Mula	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
3rd Bombardment Demi-Regiment		34 C-11 Mula	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
4th Bombardment Demi-Regiment		29 C-11 Mula	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
5th Bombardment Demi-Regiment		37 C-11 Mula	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
Communications Group
1st Communications Demi-Regiment		38 C-11 Mula	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
2nd Communications Demi-Regiment		21 Jan-van-Gent VII Model	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
3rd Communications Demi-Regiment		26 C-11 Mula	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
4th Communications Demi-Regiment		37 C-11 Mula	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
5th Communications Demi-Regiment		34 C-11 Mula	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
Pursuit Group
1st Pursuit Demi-Regiment		30 KAC AF-1 Solentan	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
2nd Pursuit Demi-Regiment		22 KAC AF-1 Solentan	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
3rd Pursuit Demi-Regiment		22 KAC AF-1 Solentan	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
4th Pursuit Demi-Regiment		16 Raven IV Model	Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
5th Pursuit Demi-Regiment		Mirkdale Peninsular, Arboria
1st N&H Expeditionary Air Wing
101 Tactical Aviation Regimemt		24 T-2/A-2 Saeqeh 21 UH-76 Dromosker 8 F-9 Ashavan II	Novi Nigrad International Airport, Novi Nigrad, Sathrati
102 Tactical Aviation Regiment		24 T-2/A-2 Saeqeh 21 UH-76 Dromosker 8 F-9 Ashavan II
103 Tactical Aviation Regiment		24 T-2/A-2 Saeqeh 21 UH-76 Dromosker 8 F-9 Ashavan II

History

Withdrawal to Arboria and disbandment

During 1723 AN–1724 AN the Talons of the Archon was caught up in the low intensity conflict between the Raspur Pact and Shireroth, as Apollonia Command sought to evacuate elements of the General Inspectorate of Apollonia Command from Kildare following reports of Shirerithian moves to remove itself from the integrated command structures of the Pact. These skirmishes also coincided with a more serious conflict with the Tegong, as the Talons of the Archon endeavoured to rescue Humanist cadre members and their families from reeducation camps established by the Jing nobility to punish the Kildari for voting contrary to government instructions during the last Shirerithian general elections.

Faces by a deteriorating situation and mounting losses in manpower and equipment, the Talons of the Archon resorted to its previous expedient of a phased withdrawal out of Dalmacija, via Port Nevermore, and into neighbouring Arboria to the north.

These arrivals, a remnant of the Kildari fighters, were transferred to training camps in the frontier region controlled by the Humanist Vanguard of Natopia, where they were retrained, re-equipped, and augmented by an influx of Humanist volunteers from Benacia and Sathrati, as well as by native levies.

As of 1724 AN the Talons of the Archon had been disbanded, with new formations pledged to the N&H and the Imperial Humanist Party if Greater Kildare beginning to appear in the field during early 1726 AN.