In 2993, Lori Harewood left her home on Exeter for Galatea, with the intention of forming a mercenary unit. She knew that recent losses in the Federated Suns would likely result in Prince Andrew hiring more units for garrison duty. With minimal training in ‘Mech piloting, Captain Harewood threw together a unit from whatever freelance warriors were available. With 2 lances of ‘Mechs and a platoon of jump infantry, the average hardened solider gave long odds on the Harvesters being hired – and even longer odds on them surviving to complete the contract.
Those soldiers, however, had not counted on two things: Lori’s tenacity and salesmanship, and the Federated Suns desperate need for more garrison units. Although hired under a less than favorable contract, Captain Harewood was sure the once the unit proved itself, it would receive better compensation. Her plans didn’t quite work out as the unit was posted to garrison duty in the spinward area of the Crucis March. With little else to do, the Harvesters trained constantly and agitated for a transfer to the Draconis or Capellan Marches, where it could prove itself.
After 2 years, the unit got its wish and was posted in the Draconis March to defend the planet Crossing against any raid or assault. For three years, the Harvesters watched over Crossing, and beat back several Draconis raiding parties. The Combine decided it had had enough in the last year of the mercenaries’ garrison contract, and sent a battalion of the elite 5th Sword of Light to destroy the company and loot the military warehouses.
Against all odds, the Harvesters managed to sting the 5th repeatedly and retreat into the hills. Though the 4-month long cat-and-mouse game took a vicious toll on the mercenaries, they were able to hold on until Davion reinforcements arrived. Though bloodied and now without an employer, the Harvesters had achieved Lori’s goal - they had impressed Prince Ian Davion.
Though offers came from several other Successor States, Lori quickly signed back on with the Federated Suns, this time under an upgraded contract. Now allowed to recruit personnel from Davion military academies and given a line of credit though the department of quartermaster, the Harvesters could grow, but grow slowly. After all new recruits and equipment acquired at the beginning of the contract, the unit was still just under 2 companies. For three years, the unit swept up and down the Draconis March, hammering all comers. But, near the end of the contract, the 11th Legion of Vega landed almost on top of the unit’s base, resulting in an embarrassing defeat.
Until 3014 the unit rotated around garrison posts all over the Suns, serving admirably. In early 3015, Prince Hanse Davion ordered the unit to make several deep raids into the Capellan Confederation. For three years the Harvesters planed and executed raids deep into the Capella Commonality. In addition to valuable salvage for the Suns and damage to several of the Capellans’ garrison units, Lori picked up many Capellan defectors, enlarging the unit.
During the Fourth Succession War the unit served as a garrison unit, and only rarely was committed to assaulting Liao planets. On Halloran V they annihilated Freemont’s Cuirassiers and capture almost all their remaining equipment. Their only single assault of the war took place on Menkib, where they faced a numerically superior but demoralized and untrained militia. They shattered the militia and captured a Liao Overlord Dropship, which the Prince allowed them to keep as a reward for their loyal service.
The Harvesters sat out the War of 3039, busy with pirate hunting duties beyond the Crucis March. Through the decade after the War of 3039 the unit grew in leaps and bounds – that all changed after the Clans arrived. With the Clan war machine tearing chunks out of the Lyran state the Harvesters were quickly sent to help stall the invasion. Bloodied and forced off every world they tried to defend, the Harvesters were still able to inflict an large amount of damage on both Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Wolf.
The only time the Harvesters have accepted contract outside the Federated Suns occurred only recently during Operation: Bulldog, when they signed on with the Draconis Combine to help blunt any Smoke Jaguar counter attack. After crushing the Jaguar force, they returned to garrison duty in the Draconis March. At this time, the unit reached its apex, containing one regiment of ‘Mechs and one of vehicles along with assorted infantry, due to recruiting and some personnel exchanges with Comstar units that had participated in Operation: Bulldog.
At the flashpoint of the Civil War, the unit was stationed on Mirage in the Mayetta PDZ opposite a very hostile pro-Katherine militia, along with several free regiments. As soon as Victor’s call to arms when out, the so-called Second Royal Cavaliers laid immediate siege of Fort Locke, catching the Harvester’s unprepared. The Second soon called for reinforcements, which came in the form of a Fox-Class Corvette. Bombarded by a Loyalist Warship for almost a week, the Harvesters nearly ceased to exist.
Later, the remains of unit supported actions by Tancred Sandoval against the Archon-Princess in the name of Victor Steiner-Davion. Recently, they were fully integrated into the AFFS, losing mercenary status. They serve as a guard to the palace as well bodyguards for Yvonne Davion.
The Harewood family has commanded the Harvesters since its creation. Traditionally, command is handed down from mother to daughter; currently the commander is Marie Harewood. She was trained at Sakhara and is known to be patient and deliberate with everything she does, as well as loyal to the Davion family.
Having spent so many years on garrison duty, the Harvesters are above average in defensive operations. Some have commented that moving a planet might be easier than moving a Harvester who won’t give ground.
Harewood’s Harvesters have recently been reorganizing into an RCT, despite the fact that they have nowhere near the forces to be fielded in such a manner. The unit has been all but deactivated; its only duties are protecting Yvonne Davion while the First Davion is reconstituted. On paper, the unit contains the Harvesters’ Mech regiment, 3rd Baxley Aero Wing, 45th Draconis Interceptor Wing, 302nd Federated Light Armored Regiment, 803rd Federated Mechanized Regiment, 278th Crucis Artillery Battalion, 309th New Avalon Commando Regiment, 10th Mirage Armored Infantry and 58th New Avalon Support Group. In reality, they are little more than two and a half mixed battalions. They hope to be rebuilt to RCT statues by 3075.
The unit is almost completely upgraded with advanced Inner Sphere technology, due to gifts from (now) Precentor Martial Victor Steiner-Davion in acknowledgement of years of loyal service and also from First Princess Yvonne’s recent rebuilding efforts. Despite successful action against the Clans, the unit uses no clan technology, having traded it all for advanced Inner Sphere components. Most of the designs the unit uses are pre-3050 designs with heavy upgrades. The unit is rated 70 percent upgraded.
The field uniform for ‘Mechwarriors is a green cooling undershirt, beige cooling vest and beige shorts. Infantry, technicians and off-duty ‘Mechwarriors wear simple grey shirts with camouflage jackets, caps and cargo pants. Rank insignia is worn on the collar and color denotes service branch; gold for infantry, silver for Mechwarriors and copper for aerospace and ship crews. The formal uniform is simply the Federated Suns dress uniform.
The RCT insignia is a ‘Mech’s hand holding a Federated Sword on a green starburst. It is painted on ‘Mechs wherever the pilot desires and worn as a patch on the left shoulder and right breast of uniform jackets and cooling vests. Parade colors are Davion green, fading to grey at lower leg of the ‘Mech. For battle, appropriate camouflage is used.
