View source for Marik Protectors

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = [[File:Marik Militia -Brigade logo.png|191px|Brigade Insignia of the Marik Militia]]
| Designation = 
| Formed = [[3079]]<ref name=FM3085p90>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 90</ref>
| Disbanded = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname = 
| Affiliation = [[Mercenary]]
| Parent Command = Independent
| Sub-Command = [[1st Marik Protectors|First Marik Protectors]]<br>[[3rd Marik Protectors|Third Marik Protectors]]<br>[[4th Marik Protectors|Fourth Marik Protectors]]
}}

The '''Marik Protectors''' are a [[Mercenary|mercenary]] command formed after the [[Free Worlds League|Free Worlds League's]] downfall in [[3079]] and dedicated to the protection of those worlds left alone and defenseless after the League's collapse.

== History ==
The Marik Protectors originated from the chaos of the [[Jihad]] and the resulting dissolution of the Free Worlds League in [[3079]]. With the fragmentation of the [[Free Worlds League Military]], numerous single worlds that did not belong to the now-independent League provinces were exposed to [[Pirate|piracy]] and predatory neighbors such as the [[Marian Hegemony]].<ref name=FM3145p114>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 114</ref>

Having already disobeyed [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Corinne Marik|Corinne Marik's]] orders in [[3077]] by prioritizing the defense of [[Kendall]] from a Marian annexation attempt, Colonel [[Yoshio Kawamura]] now dedicated himself to ensuring that other such defenseless worlds would not lack for protection. With the remnants of his [[10th Marik Militia|Tenth Marik Militia]] and like-minded soldiers from the [[18th Marik Militia|Eighteenth Marik Militia]], Kawamura formed a new force for this purpose: the Marik Protectors. Comprising six [[BattleMech]] [[Battalion|battalions]] and their supporting elements by [[3085]], the Marik Protectors hired themselves out to former League worlds at very cheap prices, receiving only enough payment to cover expenses and repairs. <ref name=FM3085p90/> <ref>''Spotlight On: First Marik Protectors'', p. 2</ref>

Initially operating under a unified command based on Kendall, repeated Marian attacks on that world forced the Protectors to decide between charging more for their services or leave some worlds defenseless. Divided over the issue the Protectors split in [[3098]], with each battalion conducting operations as it saw fit, although provision was made for joint operations against any foe too powerful for a single Protectors battalion to handle.<ref name=FM3145p114/>

Over the next four decades three of the Marik Protectors units fell to various enemies, while the [[1st Marik Protectors|First]], [[3rd Marik Protectors|Third]] and [[4th Marik Protectors|Fourth]] continued guarding ex-League worlds against raiders from nearly every nation within striking distance. Though the Free Worlds League was reborn in [[3139]] from a merger of several former and new provinces the Marik Protectors continued to operate independently, although the Fourth decided to accept a contract with the FWLM in [[3146]].<ref name=FM3145p114/> <ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 21</ref>

==Tactics==
Different per unit.

== Units of the Marik Protectors ==
* [[1st Marik Protectors|First Marik Protectors]]
* [[2nd Marik Protectors|Second Marik Protectors]]
* [[3rd Marik Protectors|Third Marik Protectors]] 
* [[4th Marik Protectors|Fourth Marik Protectors]]
* [[5th Marik Protectors|Fifth Marik Protectors]] 
* [[6th Marik Protectors|Sixth Marik Protectors]]

==Notes==
:* The Second Marik Protectors were destroyed during a Marian raid on [[San Nicolas]] in [[3099]].
:* The Fourth Marik Protectors were readmitted to the [[Free Worlds League Military|FWLM]] in [[3152]] under the Fourth's original title, the [[18th Marik Militia|Eighteenth Marik Militia]].
:* The Fifth Marik Protectors were rendered combat ineffective in [[3112]] after repelling a [[Regulan Fiefs|Regulan]] attack on [[Cirebon]] and not rebuilt.
:* The Sixth Marik Protectors were overwhelmed by the [[Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces|LCAF]] during [[Operation HAMMERFALL]] while defending [[Sterling]].

== Colors and Unit Insignia ==
During the first years of their existence the various Marik Protector units each had their own insignia, either newly designed or derived from their Marik Militia predecessors. By 3145, in deference to their origins, the Marik Protectors had collectively adopted the old [[Marik Militia]] brigade insignia and paint scheme.<ref name=FM3085p90/> <ref name=FM3145p114/>

<gallery>
Marik Protectors 1st logo.png|[[1st Marik Protectors|First Marik Protectors]]
Marik Protectors 3rd logo.png|[[3rd Marik Protectors|Third Marik Protectors]]
18th Marik Militia.jpg|[[4th Marik Protectors|Fourth Marik Protectors]]
</gallery>

== References ==
<references/>

== Bibliography ==
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Shattered Fortress]]''
* ''[[Spotlight On: First Marik Protectors]]''

[[Category:Free Worlds League Commands]]