USS Orion Star

Hello and Welcome to the Home of the

378TH MECHA Marine Strike Group

We are a small squad based MECHA unit stationed onboard the Sovereign class star ship USS Orion Star under the command of COL Wayne Smith.

The name of the Mecha unit is:

The Feral Wombats

Our Motto is:

"Throughout the night we strike"

Our slogan is:

Now with 50% more Wombat

We are always looking for new recruits so if you think you have it in you to be a MECHA Pilot please contact the OIC or DOIC, marines have more fun and have better toys to play with just look below.

Please find a breakdown of the Squad below

COMMAND MECHA

This Mecha carries extra command and control equipment to allow the commander to coordinate the activities of widely separated units under his command. This Mecha is classified as an Assault Mecha due to it's weight and heavy armor, but is only lightly armed.

Brigadier Wayne Smith (OIC)

STRIKER MECHA

These are the deadliest of Mecha, falling into the Medium to Heavy weight class. Heavily armed and armored, but still retaining enough speed to outmaneuver most Assault Mecha. These Mecha are used as backups for Recon Mecha or fast moving outriders for Assault Mecha.

Brigadier General Gary Amor (DOIC)

FIRE SUPPORT MECHA

Any weight class of Mecha that specializes in long range combat, usually with bombardment capability. These Mecha usually fall into the Medium to Heavy weight classes, sacrificing mobility and some armor for more long range weapon systems.

LTC Julie Amor

Major Grahame Smith

ASSAULT MECHA

The largest and heaviest types of Mecha, and the slowest. Carrying extremely heavy armor and formidable weapon systems, they sacrifice mobility for sheer firepower. Only Mecha eighty tons or greater can serve as Assault Mecha.

ASSAULT MECHA

1LT Stephen Martin

AIR DEFENCE MECHA

These Mecha are Medium to Heavy weight class and defend against enemy aerospace attacks. These Mecha carry multiple long range weapons systems, excellent sensor arrays and have good mobility and armor. They may also serve as Fire Support Mecha, but usually carry only direct fire weapons, which limit their bombardment capability.

LTC Kieran Bock

Here is some information on MECHA Traditions:

Mecha Branch Motto:

The motto of the Mecha branch is "Wielding the Lightning", and refers to the Mecha's combination of precision accuracy and powerful weapons. Since many Mecha combat missions start with an orbital drop or a beam down, the lightning analogy is particularly appropriate. There is also a saying among Mecha pilots that sums up the esprit de corps that they share - "The reason lightning never strikes the same place twice is because the same place isn't around after the first strike!"

Mecha Branch Slogan:

The slogan of the Mecha Branch is "Big Iron" which refers to their size, stamina and attitude.

Mecha Branch Device:

The device, or symbolic logo, of the Mecha branch is an armored fist clenching a three lightning bolts. The symbol of the armored gauntlet is a symbolic link to the armored knights of Earth's distant past - the first to stride into battle encased in armor. The lightning bolts symbolize the striking power of the Mecha, while the clenched fist denotes the Mecha pilot's control over that power.

Mecha Branch Uniform:

Like other branches of the SFMC, the Mecha Branch has it's own particular uniform specifics that set it apart from the other branches. Since the Mecha branch is the newest in the Corps, there was a lack of 'history' to draw traditions from. The early Mecha pilots were members of the Armor Branch, and some still wear their Armor spurs with their dress uniforms, although it is no longer 'regulation' for them to do so. The main point of difference in a Mecha uniform will be the Sash, worn on Class A, B, and Dress uniforms.

The Mecha Sash:

Mecha officers have worn the Mecha sash since the Officer's Basic Course, Mecha was first established on the campus of what had been the New Macross Military Academy, the training ground for militia officers before the New Macross colony joined the Federation. A badge of pride among the graduates of the NMMA was the blue sash that adorned their dress uniforms, and somehow this sash made it's way into SFMC informal regulations until it's wear could not be ignored and was adopted into Regulations some time during the Dominion War.

The Mecha Sash is a wide cloth sash, traditionally silk or satin, worn around the waist at the sword belt level and knotted on the wearer's left side, in line with the ribbons and com badge (if worn). The sash tails hang naturally down the left leg, and are sometimes decorated with non-regulation markers for combat kills or tours served, a practice that is prevalent, though officially frowned upon. The sash of a Mecha Officer is a royal blue, while NCOs wear scarlet sashes. The sash is authorized to all Mecha branch members of the rank of Corporal and above, but some local commanders are known for withholding the Mecha sash until a young NCO has `seen the elephant'.With the Class A or B uniforms, a duty belt is sometimes worn over the sash and centered on it if a duty belt would otherwise be required. With the Dress Uniform, the sword belt (if worn) is worn over the sash and centered on it.

The Mecha Dress Black Uniform:

The Mecha Branch adopted the older Dress Black uniform as their own when the Corps changed the design to one more reminiscent of the Fleet uniforms from the late 2200s and early 2300s. The Mecha branch keeps the high collar of the older uniform, and the shoulder boards as opposed to the shoulder strap of the newer "Monster Black". The collar and closure flap of an enlisted Marine's uniform is piped in the same Mecha scarlet as their sash, while the Officer's uniform is piped in black, creating a plain, but striking uniform cut.

The SFMC collar pins are worn 1/2" from the collar closure on either side and centered top to bottom. The rank insignia are worn 1/2" from the outer end of the shoulder boards and centered on them. Officers of the Mecha Corps are authorized a knee-length cape of black satin or silk material lined in Mecha scarlet, this cape is attached by buttons under each shoulder board.

MOS

Within each Branch of Duty in the STARFLEET Marine Corps, there are a variety of different specialized jobs called Marine Occupational Specialties, or MOS's for short. Each is assigned a unique number, which allows personnel managers to place individuals into units where they are most effective. In some branches, like Mecha, there are also skill qualification identifiers, or SQI's added to an MOS number to indicate special training or experience. Note that there are separate MOS's for each weight classification. This is deliberate, since there are significant differences in piloting a lighter Mecha versus a heavier one. For more information regarding Mecha Branch MOS's please see the SFMC MOS Manual.

Mecha Branch MOS Listing (500 series)

Branch Command

500 Mecha Branch Director

501 Mecha Commander

510 Mecha Leader

Pilots

520 Mecha Pilot, Light Mecha

525 Mecha Pilot, Medium Mecha

530 Mecha Pilot, Heavy Mecha

535 Mecha Pilot, Assault Mecha

Technicians

540 Mecha Technician, Power Systems

545 Mecha Technician, Armament Systems

550 Mecha Technician, Sensor Systems

555 Mecha Technician, Support Systems

560 Mecha Technician, Defensive Systems

Skill Qualification Identifiers (SQI)

S Special Operations/Reconnaissance qualified

D Aerospace Insertion qualified

X Expert Gunnery qualification

E Engineer Equipment qualification

Z Nonstandard Skill Specialty (Other Branch/MOS, etc.)

V Variable Geometry Mecha (VALKYRIE) Qualified

L Light Mecha qualified

M Medium and lighter class Mecha qualified

H Heavy and lighter class Mecha qualified

A Assault and lighter class Mecha qualified

P Platoon leadership qualification

C Team leadership qualification

F Force leadership qualification

Example: Lieutenant Walker, having seen the light and transferred into Mecha Branch from the infantry, is sent to school. He shows an aptitude for Heavy Mecha and so is trained in that type of Mecha. His MOS is then 530. Because he also has a secondary Branch/MOS of Infantry (from his prior training) he is given an SQI of "Z". He is then considered a 530/Z.

Example: Gunnery Sergeant Phillips is trained to pilot Assault Mecha, and later receives training in the other three weight classifications of Mecha. He qualifies expert on the Mecha Gunnery Range, by shooting the nose hairs off a gnat with his Mecha's main guns, and is thereafter considered an Expert Gunner. His MOS/SQI is 535/AX.

ASSAULT MECHA

2LT Ian Keith

ASSAULT MECHA

1st LT Michael Hayes

FIRE SUPPORT MECHA

Margaret Smith

Edna Smith

FIRE SUPPORT MECHA