When one considers a mercenary command that once belonged to the original Star League Defense Force distinguished units such as the Eridani Light Horse, the Blue Star Irregulars and the Blackhawks Armored Cavalry come to mind. One former SLDF unit that turned mercenary after the Exodus has had a career path almost the direct opposite of their more illustrious former comrades......the Redstar Renegades.
Formed by surviving members of the SLDF's 250th BattleMech Division (The Stalingrad Division), the Redstar Renegades were built around a core of ethnic Russians (the Redstar Regiment of the 250th) and this tradition continues to this day. The aptly named 'Renegades' chose not to join the SLDF Exodus and brokered a mercenary contract with the Federated Suns. It went down hill from there.....
Originally the Renegades fielded a full regiment of Star League tech BattleMechs with an additional regiment of conventional armor as support. The brutal course of the long Succession Wars have taken their toll and whittled them down to a mere reinforced BattleMech company.
From the beginning of their mercenary career the Redstar Renegades have had one string of hard luck after another. Battered to near extinction on the battlefields of the Inner Sphere the Renegades managed to commandeer a DropShip and make their way to the Periphery where they resorted to piracy in order to survive. The only thing really distinguishing the Renegades is that they have managed to survive to the present day at all.
Remarkably, the Redstar Renegades have enjoyed an upturn in fortune in recent years. Beginning with an amnesty offered by the Federated Suns, and under the new command of Ivan "Crazy Ivan" Chenkov they have scratched up a few decent contracts in the Chaos March that have enabled them to upgrade their battle-worn 'Mechs with recovered Star League tech weaponry. Some additional 'Mechs have been recently salvaged and upgraded bringing the Renegades strength up to a 'light' battalion of 24 'Mechs and a support lance of tanks. All of the Renegades 'Mechs are of pre-3025 vintage and kept in working order by their over tasked pilots and techs. With all available spare funds being spent on the upgrades, the Renegades are unable to afford such luxuries as fancy custom paint schemes. For the time being all 'Mechs are covered with factory white primer and hand painted red star insignia.
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