Mirandan 17th Infantry Regiment

The Mirandan 17th Infantry Regiment, known informally as the Shrine World's Shame and many less respectful appelations, are an infantry formation of the raised from the of Miranda. As the first all-female regiment to be drawn from Miranda, the unit quickly became a place for cast-offs from the planet's many cathedrals, temples, and to be shuffled quietly out of sight, leading to an unseemly and undeserved reputation. However, given many of its recruits have had the benefit of at least a partial Schola education, the unit has developed an uncommon devotion towards the for an Imperial Guard regiment and has little need of personnel. Instead, the regiment incorporates a relatively large presence, which receive ample assistance from members of the regiment trained to varying degrees in the rites and procedures of the Imperial Cult.
As result of their negative reputation and Ministorum ties, the Mirandan 17th have historically been assigned duties far from both the denser parts of the and predominantly-male Astra Militarum units. This has frequently led to the regiment quartering on frontier worlds in the process of rejoining the Imperium, and working with the Sabine Order of the Ennobling Edict. This seems to suit the Mirandan 17th just fine; at the very least, its normally brash commanding officer has seemed hesitant to protest their assignments. But in spite of their relative inexperience, in the infrequent events it has been called to serve in combat, the women of the Mirandan 17th have acquitted themselves well against Chaos and Ork forces even when deprived of support and reinforcements, recovering on the field of battle whatever honor may have been lost in leading them to join it.
==Organization==
===A Company===
Officially going by the Abbey's Patsies, but more often called the Aged Maids by the rest of the regiment, A Company consolidates the Mirandan 17th's most veteran troops under Major Beulah Langford. As the 17th's senior rifle company, the Abbey's Patsies are charged with being the first in and last out of any engagement. Each woman inducted into their ranks must be either the veteran of multiple battles (whether with the unit or in a previous posting), have accomplished some commendable deed under fire, or in times of need have exceptional training marks. This ensures the regiment's strong right arm is ready to lead their sisters by example against traitors, xenos, or any other threat to the Imperium of Mankind.
While a devoted career woman of the Astra Militarum now, Major Langford has made no secret of her time studying to be a Ministorum priest. According to her, she was wronged by and quarreled with a fellow student who turned out to be the niece of the head , leading to her expulsion. Though she regrets her punishment cost her the friends she'd made, Langford strives to meet every expectation of an Imperial Guard officer, which earned her leadership of the regiment's veteran company. Unfortunately, her rigid adherence to doctrine has also led her to butting heads with Colonel Windermere, especially over her commander's liberal consumption of .
===B Company===
Called the Broken Hearts, B Company field the majority of the Regiment's heavy weapons as fire support for their comrades in arms. These include anti-infantry and anti-armor weapons like , , and , but also a high number of and even . As result, many failed aspirants to the Adepta Sororitas orders who recruit from Miranda are transferred to B Company, where their preliminary training with these weapons is put to good use. Of any unit in the Mirandan 17th, B Company has the most mixed track record when fighting alongside Sororitas orders. Though it's never resulted in discipline-worthy incidents, their morale is noticeably lower and visiting liaisons are treated with veiled hostility.
The company's CO, Captain Henrietta "Hattie" Kirwin, was herself a , and thus commands the respect of others who once (and frequently maintain they still) considered themselves worthy to join the Daughters of the Emperor. Despite being a private person, the story of Hattie's transfer to the 17th is widely known. Having excelled in Schola Progenium and become a favorite candidate for Sororitas orders, Hattie became the object of one Schola administrator's desires, who threatened her spotless record as leverage for untoward favors. This was eventually discovered, and while the administrator was found at fault and made to serve as a , Henrietta's purity was still considered compromised and she was rejected by the Sororitas. While as bitter over the loss of her future as B Company's other former novitiates, Hattie has proven herself able to look past it and risen to command, seeing leadership of the heavy weapons company as the next best thing to serving as a Battle Sister.
===C Company===
Adopting the moniker of the Wayward Progena after the promotion of Captain Janet Vogel to its command, C Company functions as the regiment's reserves and first posting for the majority of new recruits. While many of its troopers are cycled out to fill the gaps left by casualties in the other companies, the Wayward Progena have retained some of the regiment's best NCOs and most of the scant supply of Commissariat personnel. This ensures the unit's replacements who've only ever known Shrine World life are properly broken in and able to serve the regiment effectively.
Having received a battlefield commission to Second Lieutenant due to the unit's casualty rate during the Twenty-Ninth Battle of Vilnix-Pompolnius, Janet Vogel was surprised and initially resistant to her promotion following the demise of C Company's previous commanding officer. Expelled from Schola Progenium on Miranda for unauthorized recreational use of a driver's training , Vogel would have been the last person to think herself fit for command. However, Colonel Windermere's review of her platoon leadership found Vogel took responsibility seriously, if somewhat lax on discipline. While her company's attached Commissariat personnel routinely submit appalled reports of her leadership style and liberal fraternization with the enlisted ranks, Vogel's superior seems content with the results of her informal approach.
===D Company===
Dubbing themselves the Ditch Witches (after their first proposed nickname was rejected for obscenity), the Mirandan 17th's second rifle company hold that they're always given the worst jobs. While the veterans establish perimeters, the heavy weapons set up on the best vantage points, and the newbies pick daisies, D Company has to dig the trenches for all of them. While the truth of these claims is debatable, they are unquestionably loudest in their complaints. Yet, their pride—such as it is—in shouldering the burdens other companies won't makes them stubborn fighters. Despite the regiment's highest attrition rate, Captain Ginevra Sinclair has led D Company to hold their lines against , , and worse abominations without fear.
Though Captain Sinclair has made reference many times to working in a cathedral on Miranda, her precise reason for transferring to the 17th remain known only to Colonel Windermere. Her string of close private relations with other members of the Regiment, however, have led to decidedly specific rumors and bawdy jokes about the cause which Ginevra has yet to deny or address. She has embraced and reinforced D Company's pessimistic but resigned outlook by playing her part as the stern and stalwart leader they need, the object of both their ire and respect.
==Quotes==