Unit Detail:
Capreri 9th Marine Raider Battalion

"A fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi."

Current Command Staff

Combat History

Nicknamed Garibaldi's Shadows, the 9^th Marine Raider Battalion is the Free State of Caprera's most acclaimed, audacious, and decorated unit. Originally raised as a Force Reconnaissance Battalion, the 9^th was converted to the Free State's first Raider Battalion after the debacle of the Doolittle Raid, which highlighted the need for a more specialized unit. Thus, the Shadows were given new and additional training, and outfitted with heavier weaponry and supporting arms, and more organic assets.

While capable of traditional recce, unconventional and guerrilla operations, the Shadows' true forte is raiding. As such, they excel at conducting lightning strikes against vulnerable and/or isolated positions, typically high value targets deep inside enemy territory. Most notably, the 9^th's skills were made famous throughout the galaxy after their deep raid all the way to Babylon and blowing up the Governor-General's mansion.

Given the realities of Caprera's military and political situation vis-à-vis the Terran Military Order, small unit raiding is often one of the few methods of striking back against its much larger neighbor. However, going into the lair of a dedicated, motivated, capable opponent, casualties are typically high on raiding missions, and the Shadows stoically recognize that when they are called upon, some won't be coming back.
 

Notable Members

1^st Lieutenant Eugene Scott

Although he currently leads 2^nd Platoon, Bandit Company, Lieutenant Eugene Scott joined the battalion as a private. Unlike many of his fellow Shadows, Lieutenant Scott originally joined the 9^th to earn extra money to help support his mother and younger brothers and sisters. Nonetheless, Scott proved himself quite adept, with his bravery, intelligence, and attention to detail noted throughout the battalion, and he shot through the ranks to become Bandit Company's First Sergeant, then later Battalion First Sergeant.

After the battalion was decimated during their bloody raid on New Honiara, the Shadows received many new replacement officers and enlisted personnel, including a new Commanding Officer, Major Dan Hubbard. This last proved to be a disastrous appointment for the 9^th. During the Allied campaign to retake the Akashan world of New Edwards, Major Hubbard's incompetence repeatedly proved itself, with the battalion suffering over 70 percent casualties.

First Sergeant Scott did his best to make up for Hubbard's deficiencies and managed to hold together the battalion until it was rotated back for rest and refit. When the 9^th was ready to return to action, it was still short on officers and Scott received a battlefield promotion to 2^nd Lieutenant from the Shadow's new CO, Major Zhu.