Steiner-Grimm Summit on Trell I

Trellwan, Trell I, Trellshire, Tamar Domains, Lyran Commonwealth

Hendrik Grimm is reported to have travelled to the world of Trellwan in order to sign a treaty with the Lyran government. Terms of the treaty are sketchy, but they include a mutual non-aggression pact and provisions for the Oberon Confederation to provide for the defense of Steiner border worlds. Security on the world is reported to be surprisingly light, perhaps because the bandit king represents only a minor power in the Inner Sphere.

Commonwealth BattleMech Units

The composition of the average Steiner unit is very much like those in the other Successor States. Even here in the prosperous, industrial Commonwealth, however, the scarcity of working weaponry makes it near impossible to create more than a few specialized units based on specific weapons systems.

Light lances in the Commonwealth usually have at least one COM-2D Commando BattleMech. Manufactured by Coventry Metal Works, these Mechs are popular among MechWarriors both for their capabilities and their reliability. They are fast becoming as common as Stingers and Wasps in House Steiner's Light and Recon lances.

The LCAF has shown little interest in organizing Medium lances, which is why Lyran units contain the usual hodgepodge of Phoenix Hawks, Griffins, Shadow Hawks and less common designs in the 35- to 55-ton range. It is unknown whether the Steiner commanders will decide to incorporate the highly specialized HCT-3T Hatchetman into front-line units or to reserve them for city garrison duties because of the 'Mechs obvious urban combat abilities. There are new Davion-made DV-6M Dervish 'Mechs now appearing among Steiner units. It is assumed that their sudden appearance is another example of the new alliance between the two states at work.

Heavy lances, the backbone of the Lyran 'Mech regiments, have no real philosophy behind their composition. All heavy units are equipped with a wide variety of BattleMechs in the 60- to 75-ton range. Many of these 'Mechs are of Commonwealth manufacture and are usually in near-peak fighting condition.

All Commonwealth assault lances are centered around the ZEU-6S Zeus and AS7-D Atlas Assault 'Mechs. The pride of the LCAF, the Atlas and Zeus have proven the bane of many an enemy that came up against their deadly combinations of firepower.

From: House Steiner, Ed. Gerald Steiner-Nelson, ComStar Archives

Commonwealth AeroSpace Units

The LCAF's use of AeroSpace Fighters differs slightly from that of other Successor States. Though groups of two fighters are still -- technically -- assigned to every third 'Mech lance as in the old days, in practice, the Steiner commanders are more likely to gather up the regiment's fighters into one group. This Air Wing usually consists of about 18 Fighters and their pilots. The commander of an Air Wing is a Leutnant-Colonel, and is usually assigned a newly made CHP-W5 Chippewa Fighter.

Air Wings have considerably more to do than merely supplying air cover for the regiment. Aside from the duties usually associated with a 'Mech regiment (which the pilots call 'Buddy Duty'), Fighters have three other types of assignments.

Some Air Wings act as escort to protect vital convoys of cargo JumpShips on their way to and from points. The pilots call this 'Dolphin Duty' after the way these aquatic mammals from Terra used to guide large ships as though protecting them. Other Air Wings are assigned to protect a particular planet in concert with the planet's garrison. This duty is called Planetary Intercept, or P.I. Duty. Other Air Wings are assigned to 'Beehive Duty', otherwise known as protecting DropShips, particularly the massive Overlords, during their combat runs.

The CHP-W5 Chippewa, LCR-R15 Lucifer, and the SYD-21 Seydlitz AeroSpace Fighters are the mainstay of the AeroSpace Corps of the LCAF.

From: House Steiner, Ed. Gerald Steiner-Nelson, ComStar Archives

Commonwealth Support Units

Garrison units usually consist of infantry, armored, and artillery regiments, whose personnel are mostly native to the planet. There are usually only a few 'Mech lances that pull garrison duty on a world unless that planet is strategically important. In such a case, special BattleMech units are assigned to bolster the usual regiments of the planet's garrison. 'Mech lances trained to fight in the tight confines of a city, or lances trained for the murky fights beneath the oceans and rivers are frequently assigned to protect these important planets.

There is currently a movement within the LCAF to create more mixed-arms units. This tendency probably began when Lyran officers observed the example set by the Eridani Light Horse, with its special Recon lances and support companies. Several Commonwealth regiments now employ Recon lances that are made up of two AeroSpace Fighters, a recon 'Mech, and one or two Packrat Patrol Vehicles. The performance of these units, though not as successful as those of the Light Horse, has encouraged the high command. Other mixed-arms units will doubtless soon appear in the Steiner military.

On major offensives, each 'Mech regiment is assigned at least three regiments of infantry, armor, and artillery units. This combined group of regiments is called a Combat Team and is identified by the 'Mech regiment's name; thus, three infantry regiments and the 36th Lyran Guards would be called the 36th Lyran Combat Team. The commander of the 'Mech regiment is usually also commander of the whole Team, unless one of the other regimental commanding officers far exceeds the 'Mech commander's experience.

From: House Steiner, Ed. Gerald Steiner-Nelson, ComStar Archives