Clan Ashen Corsac Touman

## Uniforms and Rank Insignas

### Combat Uniform

The standard combat uniform is the one intended for everyday wear. It is worn by all branches in bases and out in the field. Mech and ASF pilots change to their suits prior to setting out for a mission, but infantry and conventional vehicle crewmen keep it in combat. The original uniforms were made entirely of nylon fibers, but spider silk fiber was mixed in after mass-production was set up on Beitun. The uniforms feature a camouflage pattern in ashen colors, with shades of gray and a little bit of white and black, which functions well as urban camouflage, while the boots and beret are black. The uniforms are light, stretchy, and repel water, with the boots being fitted with foamed soles that maintain comfort even after considerable walking. Infantrymen routinely carry ballistic vests and braces plated with plasticized, foamed steel.

### Pilot Suits

The standard pilot suit worn by Corsac MechWarriors and Aerospace pilots is a tightly fitting cooling suit made of reinforced fibers mixed in with elastane for high stretch. They are rated against minor spall or shrapnel fragments and reasonably fire-resistant, with tall fireproof boots. The suits are dark gray with red highlights and are, when completed by a neuro-helmet or rebreather, generally vacuum sealed, allowing the wearer to survive limited exposure for some time in case of a breach. Aerospace Pilots version is enhanced by a G-suit, while a simplified version that dispenses the cooling apparatus and is merely a tightly-fitting, resistant and vacuum-sealed bodysuit is common on Corsac WarShips.

### Dress Uniform

The dress uniform is reserved for formal occasions and overlaps in function with the ceremonial dress of other Toumans. It is made up of a silver-hued 'Deel' - a loose, long-sleeved tunic of ancient mongolia - made of silk, with red trims, a red sash, and ruby-red buttons. Worn alongside the Deel are a black and red 'Toortsog' - a velvety pointed hat - and a pair of tall, black leather boots with red highlights. Officers of Star Colonel rank and above may also wear a fur coat on top.

## Common Wargear

### Mechs

Clan Ashen Corsac does not generally make use of Light Mechs, finding the role of scout better filled by either cheap combat vehicles, or fast aerial fighters either conventional or Aerospace. The Stalking Corsac is an exception to this rule, a dedicated ECM and TAG platform intended to survive chaotic battles. Medium Mechs make up the bulk of the Corsacs rapid strike and hit and run forces. The locally-produced Fire Eel (and later its IIC rebuild) is preferred, but Shadow Cats, Conjurers, Novas and Stormcrows are all well represented. It is common for the Corsacs to field all-jump-jet Medium Stars capable of rapidly maneuvering around terrains, buildings or hills.

Heavy Mechs are the flexible workhorse of the Touman, with newly-restarted production of the Dragoon-AC intended to become a cornerstone of Heavy Stars, but its numbers are still limited, and Corsac variants of the Jade Falcon-produced Summoner and Mad Dog still dominate. Ebon Jaguars, Night Gyrs, as well as upgraded Warhammers, Crusaders and the occasional Hellbringer or Timber Wolf all feature at least semi-regularly in the Touman's Heavy Mechs arsenal. Starting in 3075, the Corsacs would also start experimenting with the Goliath Tarantula and Kraken tripod heavy OmniMech series. Overall, they feature a diverse mix of fast attackers and fire support Heavy Mechs.

It is with the Assault Mechs that things start to change. The Corsacs make frequent use of Assault Mechs and in higher numbers than average, valuing their ability to pin down an enemy or anchor a battle line. The Leviathan is the cornerstone of Assault Stars. Relatively cheap to build in good numbers, it is preferred because it is extremely durable and trivially easy to repair, allowing them to repeatedly soak damage in battle after battle without few losses or waste of time. Also prominently featured among the Touman's Assault Mechs are Atlases, Executioners and Highlander IICs.

### Aerospace Fighters

The Corsacs have a very streamlined air combat doctrine, which is a descendant of the High-Low doctrine of early modern air combat on Terra. Traditionally, it means to match a large number of cheap, light fighters with a smaller number of powerful, expensive heavy fighters which act as force multiplication and are better than the sum of their parts. On the modern battlefield, it translates to pairing two fast and nimble Medium Fighters with one heavy-hitting Heavy Fighter.

In this, the Corsacs rely on crafts generally at the lower end of their classes weight brackets, to maintain good speed. For nimble and agile fighters, the Touman is actively producing large quantities of Phoenixes and Phoenix IICs, but large numbers of older Lightning and Gotha fighters of old SLDF stock are still present, while a fair number of Turk Omnifighters have been captured in various trials. For heavy fighters, the venerable Rapier still dominates, though it is steadily being replaced by the Saker Falcon, an OmniFighter developed from the Rapier line. A number of deadly Kirghiz can also be found in the Touman, generally reserved for Praetorian Clusters.

The Corsac Touman also features two noteworthy support Aerospace units that are effectively non-combattants, but nonetheless contribute to full-scale battles considerably. These are the Overseer, a command-and-control aircraft that acts as a mobile, flying command center, and the Mirage, a blindingly fast reconnaissance aircraft equipped with high resolution infrared imagery equipment.

### Battle Armor

Battle Armor are a vital component of the Corsac Touman. On typical battlefields, they serve as a screening force that cover the Mechs' flanks and blind spots and flush out ambush groups around and ahead of the Mechs. They are also used as marines to defend WarShips and orbital installations, while their sheer shock and awe factor makes them excellent at counter-insurgency roles. The Salamander and the flamer-Variant of the original Elemental suits of Battle Armor make up the bulk of the Touman's stock, though due to difficulties in buying or appropriating via trials enough suits, work on producing a local Corsac design, the Hellhound, has also begun.

Freeborn Battle Armor soldiers are almost exclusively drawn from the world of Tiegel IV. The volcanic world's heavy gravity has caused its native settlers to evolve to be stronger and tougher on average than people from any other worlds around it. While they are not on the level of Elementals, they are the most capable among Freeborn, and the people of Tiegel tend towards inherent stubbornness and aggressiveness which are good qualities in the role of heavy infantry.

### ProtoMechs

Though the Corsacs were well aware of the existence of ProtoMechs since their introduction in 3060 during the First Battle of Huntress, they did not have much interest in the designs. It was then seen as but a quaint idea that filled a role that could better be played by either a Mech or Battle Armor in any given situation, while the requirement of using Enhanced Imagine - and all of the sacrifices that entailed - was seen as an unacceptable price for little gain. During the Wars of Reaving however, the Corsacs took as Isorla a great number of ProtoMechs, which they had to press into service due to a crucial lack of local manpower. By being forced to use them, they came to recognize that ProtoMechs had many advantages and deserved serious consideration, while their own development of the Augmented Neural Interface made the EI point moot. By the time the Wars of Reaving had ended, the Corsacs were well advanced on the design of their own indigenous ProtoMech, the Einherjar.

### Conventional Vehicles

Combat Vehicles on land, air and sea are a modest but nonetheless important part of the Corsac Touman. They are cheap and easy to manufacture quickly and in large quantities to equip newly formed Garrison Clusters and paramilitary and security forces.

For tanks, the Gorgon MkII is a highly lethal and cost-effective Mech Hunter that can easily protect major cities or strategic installations, while the Enforcer is a cheap and reliable hit-and-run tank that can hit from both short and long range or serve as an anti-air platform. The Skirmisher, for its part, is a heavily armored IFV capable of transporting a full point of infantry or Battle Armor into the fray and supporting them once they disembark. If aerial insertion is preferred, the Peacekeeper IIC is the VTOL of choice, while its Gunship variant is also a dangerous hit-and-run and harassment flyer. Meanwhile, wherever there are shallow rivers, patrolling Prowlers can act as small mobile missile fire bases.

### Infantry and Small-arms

Unlike other Clans, the Corsacs maintain a sizable force of conventional infantry from their sizable Freeborn manpower pool. Most of them serve as internal security forces for everything where Battle Armors would be overkill for, but many take part in frontline battlefields as well either as scouts, or as saboteurs against Dezgra enemies.

The most well-known of these are the Star Rangers. Their commandos wear stealth suits rather than armor and are armed with silent Needler Rifles as well as stunsticks for non-lethal takedowns and interrogation. The mainstay of the Star Rangers however are the motorized infantry, armed with Gyrojet rifle and ballistic vests and helmets equivalent to the standard Clan armor, with each fireteam carrying a single semi-portable infantry-size particle cannon as a support weapon. Their most visible members are the Jump troopers, carrying Gyrojet carbines and shoulder-portable rocket launchers. Generally inserted by air, they often jump from rooftop to rooftop to track the movements of Mechs and combat vehicles and occasionally ambush them with rockets to the cockpit.

## Touman Structure

### Cluster Types

#### Frontline Clusters

##### Corsac Praetorians

Praetorian Clusters serve as Galaxy Command units, and as Keshiks. In theory, they can be personalized as desired by any Galaxy Commander to fit their preferences, but in practice this is rarely done due to wanting to keep a balanced formation and due to the logistical realities around them. Around the size of a half-strength Cluster, they are made up of the best of the best which can be gathered under the Galaxy commander or Khan's personal retinue. The typical Praetorian Cluster is organized as follows:

* Command Nova (5 Mechs, 25 Elementals)
* Mech Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 15 Mechs [Assault])
* Mech Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 15 Mechs [Heavy])
* ASF Binary (2 Regular Stars - 20 Aerospace Fighters [Heavy] )
* Commando Mixed Binary (2 Regular Stars - 125 Jump Infantry, 5 'Peacemaker IIC' VTOL, 2 'Overseer' C3 aircraft, 3 'Mirage' Stealth Recon aircrafts)

##### Corsac Regulars

Regulars Clusters are the standard formation among the Touman, being the most flexible and straight-forward. They are the the most apt to take the frontline against a foe with unknown or uncertain capabilities. A Regulars Cluster is generally organized as follows:

* Command Star (5 Mechs)
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 15 Mechs [Medium])
* Mixed Trinary (1 Nova, 2 Regular Stars - 15 Mechs [Heavy], 25 Elementals)
* Mixed Trinary (1 Nova, 2 Regular Stars - 15 Mechs [Heavy], 25 Elementals)
* Mixed Trinary (1 Nova, 2 Regular Stars - 15 Mechs [Assault], 25 Elementals)
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 30 Aerospace Fighters [20Medium/10 Heavy] )

##### Corsac Reiters

Reiter Clusters were a short-lived formation created in the first decade of the Corsacs' Touman as a fast, highly mobile force made of relatively medium and heavy Mechs with large numbers of Battle Armor and Aersoapce support. These were originally created because the Corsacs had more Aerospace Fighters readily available and quickly produced than it had Mechs. However, as the Corsacs started building up their Naval Forces, great numbers of ASF Fighters were needed and had to be pulled back from 'ground' Clusters, and likewise for Elementals, who had to be purchased in large numbers. After 10 years, Reiter Clusters had long stopped being formed, and they were all re-structured into Dragoon Clusters. They were organized as follows:

* Command Nova (5 Mechs, 25 Elementals)
* Mixed Trinary (3 Novae - 15 Mechs [Medium/Heavy], 75 Elementals)
* Mixed Trinary (3 Novae - 15 Mechs [Medium/Heavy], 75 Elementals)
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 30 Aerospace Fighters [20Medium/10 Heavy] )
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 30 Aerospace Fighters [20Medium/10 Heavy] )

##### Corsac Dragoons

Dragoon Clusters replaced Reiter Clusters after their restructuration during the Jihad. They remain focused on mobility and rapid strikes but feature a greater number of Mechs. Compared to Regulars, they lack any Assault Mechs, but have greater numbers of fast Mechs and Elementals, with a specialist Trinary made up of all-jump Mechs, generally Mediums, but sometimes supported by a few Jump-capable Heavies.

* Command Nova (5 Mechs, 25 Elementals)
* Specialist Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 15 Mechs [Medium(All Jump)])
* Mixed Trinary (3 Nova - 15 Mechs [Medium], 75 Elementals)
* Mixed Trinary (1 Nova, 2 Regular Stars - 15 Mechs [Heavy], 25 Elementals)
* Mixed Trinary (1 Nova, 2 Regular Stars - 15 Mechs [Heavy], 25 Elementals)
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 30 Aerospace Fighters [20Medium/10 Heavy] )

##### Corsac Executioners

A type of Cluster that first started to appear during the Jihad, they were generally never used in 'civilized combat' under their 'Prime' configurations and only brought to bear against highly 'dishonorable' foes that need to be annihilated with utmost prejucide. They make use of a wide variety of tactics and weapon systems that would be otherwise be considered completely Dezgra under Zellbrigen and are the effectively reasonable middle-ground between civilized combat and torching a general area in nuclear hellfire. Executioner clusters are made up entirely of Assault Mechs and Heavy Mechs in the fire support or artillery role. They make widespread use of TAG and artillery weapons.

* Command Star (5 Mechs)
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 15 Mechs [Assault]
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 15 Mechs [Assault]
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 15 Mechs [Heavy]
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 15 Mechs [Heavy]

#### Support Clusters

##### Star Rangers

While Intelligence duties were often neglected by the other Clans, Clan Ashen Corsac was founded with a core of former Intelligence operatives with tremendous experience in intelligence operations and keen insight in various forms of insurgency, counter-insurgency, and pacification techniques. Each Galaxy was assigned a Cluster of Star Rangers, loosely based on the SLDF Striker regiments formed during the Reunification Wars. On the assault, Star Rangers scouted out battlefields to turn ambushes on their heads and defuse traps or conducted sabotage and harassment of their own against Dezgra enemies. They gather precise and up-to-date information on enemy forces including their numbers, equipment, apparent level of readiness and current operations. After the battle is won, Star Rangers hunt down relentlessly any would be guerillas and dismantle cells of underground resistance on conquered worlds.

* Command Star (10 'Overseer' C3 aircrafts)
* Heavy Nova (5 'Dragoon-AC' Heavy Mechs, 25 'Salamander' Battle Armor)
* Airborne Trinary (3 Novas - 375 Jump Infantry, 30 'Peacemaker IIC' VTOL)
* Mixed Triad (3 Regular Stars - 125 Foot Infantry, 25 Battle Armor, 10 'Skirmisher-B' IFV)
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 375 Motorised Infantry)
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 375 Motorised Infantry)
* Specialist Star (10 'Mirage' stealth recon aircrafts)

Chevauchée

Intended to be capable of operating independently, Chevauchée Clusters were created during the Wars of Reaving in order to better utilize the relatively large amount of ProtoMechs that the Clan had absorbed in various ways. They also constitute a sort of middle-ground between Frontline Clusters and Garrison Clusters, being used in both capacities thanks to the relatively cheap expense of ProtoMechs. Though well capable at raiding, ambushes and targeting rearguard assets, Chevauchées are also effective at taking strategic assets such as war factories intact thanks to their limited size and more restrained firepower.

* Command Star (5 Mechs)
* Supernova Binary (10 Mechs[Assault], 50 ProtoMechs)
* Supernova Binary (10 Mechs[Assault], 50 ProtoMechs)
* Supernova Binary (10 Mechs[Assault], 50 ProtoMechs)
* Binary (20 Aerospace Fighters)

##### Chasseur Garrison

Chasseurs are a type of Garrison Clusters raised from local populations and equipped with light and cheap but fast and reliable combat vehicles. They are the militia equivalent of a rapid response force and can use their speed and knowledge of the terrain to hound down superior foes and use an equal mix of Peacekeeper transport and Gunship versions.

* Command Star (5 Mechs [Medium])
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 30 'Enforcer' tanks)
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 30 'Enforcer' tanks)
* Airborne Trinary (3 Novas - 375 Jump Infantry, 30 'Peacemaker IIC' VTOL)
* Airborne Trinary (3 Novas - 375 Jump Infantry, 30 'Peacemaker IIC' VTOL)

##### Aegis Garrison

Aegis are a type of Garrison Clusters raised from local populations and equipped with relatively heavy but still cost-effective combat vehicles, Their purpose is to be the shield that on the brunt of an hostile Mech assault, and as such they are trained specifically to defend high value targets such as large cities and industrial centers in urban ambush warfare.

* Command Star (5 Mechs [Heavy])
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 30 'Gorgon' tanks)
* Trinary (3 Regular Stars - 30 'Gorgon' tanks)
* Mixed Triad (3 Regular Stars - 125 Jump Infantry, 25 Battle Armor, 10 'Skirmisher-B' IFV)
* Mixed Triad (3 Regular Stars - 125 Jump Infantry, 25 Battle Armor, 10 'Skirmisher-B' IFV)

### Known Galaxies

#### Alpha Galaxy (Vanguard Spirits)

1st Corsac Reiters
1st Star Rangers
1st Corsac Regulars
2nd Corsac Reiters
3rd Corsac Regulars
1st Star Rangers
1st Corsac Executionners
1st Corsac Regulars
2nd Corsac Dragoons
3rd Corsac Regulars
1st Star Rangers
1st Corsac Executionners

#### Beta Galaxy (The Custodians)

1st Corsac Reiters
2nd Corsac Regulars
3rd Corsac Reiters
2nd Star Rangers
1st Corsac Dragoons
2nd Corsac Regulars
3rd Corsac Dragoons
2nd Star Rangers
2nd Corsac Executioners

#### Gamma Galaxy (The Exodites)

5th Corsac Regulars
1st Chevauchée
4th Corsac Reiters
4th Corsac Regulars
5th Corsac Regulars
4th Corsac Dragoons
3rd Star Rangers

## Naval Assets

With most of their few naval assets salvaged or captured and limited possibilities for expanding it, the Corsac naval forces must make the most with what few WarShips they do have, and supplement them with DropShip-based Q-Ships and Aerospace Fighters. To this purpose, nearly all Corsac Warships have been refitted for hangar capacity, and a new design of purpose built Q-ships based on the extant production lines for the venerable Mule Dropship, the Defender, has been created.

* *CAS 'Ambitions'* Lola III-Class Destroyer
* Multiple Defender/ASF squadrons
* *CAS 'Ascendancy'* York-Class Destroyer
* *CAS 'Diligence'* Sovetskii Soyuz-Class Cruiser
* *CAS 'Humility'* Lola III-Class Destroyer
* Multiple Defender/ASF Squadrons
* *CAS 'Ascendancy'* York-Class Destroyer
* *CAS 'Diligence'* Sovetskii Soyuz-Class Cruiser
 Beta Naval Star
* *CAS 'Ambitions'* Lola III-Class Destroyer
* Multiple Defender/ASF Squadrons
* *CAS 'Ambitions'* Lola III-Class Destroyer
 Gamma Naval Star
* *CAS 'Humility'* Lola III-Class Destroyer
* Multiple Defender/ASF Squadrons