Last Stand of the Black Watch - Original Song - ft. CraicC21

[@theblackpantslegion]

Huh. Small neighborhood.

[@SandwichRobot]

Sup Tex?

[@leaf0nthewind625]

Praise from Caesar!

[@odsts6658]

Yo Tex

[@robertwhite7845]

The precursors to Jade Falcon if I'm not mistaken🤔

[@bohba13]

@@robertwhite7845 and that's why they are the only clan I respect. Even though they have entirely perverted what Kerensky stood for.

[@kazekamiha]

Amaris: **Fucks Around** Blackwatch: **Helps Him Find Out**

[@zachscarbrough2727]

And until his dying days, the echoes of bagpipes would haunt his nightmares. 😂

[@maca673]

Richard Cameron? Dead. Star League? Crumbling. Blackwatch? Activated. Castle Walls? Breached. Amaris Dragoons? Dying. Stefan Amaris? Panicking. Nukes? Deployed. Bagpipes? *iNtEnSifYiNG*

[@SlendHQ]

Hotel? Trivago.

[@GhostBear3067]

(bagpipe music at full volume filling every comms frequency) Enemy CO: "WHAT THE FUCK IS ALL THAT NOISE?!!!"

[@ladywaffle2210]

"The First Lord is dead. Either we will join him, or the enemy will. "Black Watch, to me."

[@rainetheserotoninslurper]

@@GhostBear3067 The finest form of electronic warfare

[@GhostBear3067]

@@BuilderB08 *louder bagpipe music* Enemy CO: "WHAT THE HELL I CANNOT EVEN HEAR MY OWN THOUGHTS!!!"

[@green_creeper288]

"Nemo Me Impune Lacessit." No one attacks me with impunity.

[@rainetheserotoninslurper]

That is such a good moto for a defence force. You can try and kill them, but you aren't coming out unbroken

[@morganahart2575]

Montressor?

[@Meshakhad]

I prefer the Scots "Wha duar meddle wi me"

[@CantusTropus]

@@rainetheserotoninslurper It's also the motto of the House of Stuart, which is very appropriate as the Black Watch are descended from the actual real-life Highlander unit of the same name.

[@rayanderson5797]

Probably because "No one attacks me without getting a satchel charge chucked at his face." would have been a bit on the nose.

[@bohba13]

"... Unfortunately, Ameris had one problem. The goddamned Black Watch." -Tex. And the sound of bagpipes and scottsmen too angry to die haunted the betrayer until his final days.

[@alexh3974]

sounds about right for Scots

[@bohba13]

@@alexh3974 fitting that they had so much plot armor they almost derailed the plot _with_ the authors trying everything they could to railroad them. edit: and I mean this in the best way possible.

[@stormbarnett5644]

​@@bohba13Basically, even the writers suffered in the fight against the black watch.

[@26th_Primarch]

​@stormbarnett5644 and they STILL couldn't kill the Black Watch. Because nukes are merely an inconvenience.

[@jackofblades2007]

So it occurred to me earlier, the Black Watch motto, Translated from Latin, "No One Provokes Me with Impunity"...or to modernize it slightly, "Fuck Around and Find Out." Amaris found out.

[@marseldagistani1989]

Eh... It's more like "No one harrases me with impunity." But then again they have the same meaning, and I am just being pedantic

[@ValeBridges]

It's been loosely translated into Scots as "Wha daur meddle wi' me?", which in English would be "Who dares meddle with me?"

[@midrovar5811]

the 3rd line being "black watch marines are breaching the palace" kinda breaking the build up and explanation is a proper homenage on how fast those Mf were able to respond

[@pinchman2946]

Amaris: *Kills Cameron* Black watch: "That wasn't very cash-money of you"

[@ladywaffle2210]

"Hippity hoppity, the Palace was left to us in Cameron's will so get the *FUCK* off of our property!"

[@Vtgaming-v6c]

but i'm still here

[@dannylamb456]

>Richard Cameron's lifesigns flatline >Amaris grunt triggers security system >The SLDF intercom whines to life "Oopsie doopsie. You have made a fucky wucky. "Get into the forever box."

[@jeremystarkey4641]

*bagpipes intensify* *weapons prime with reckless abandon*

[@stormbarnett5644]

​@@dannylamb456"Start praying to your God for safe entry into the afterlife, because that is the only way you're leaving this place."

[@l0rf]

They are the reason Stefan Amaris had nightmares of distant bagpipes for the rest of his life. Nothing would work, mechs, airstrikes and even nukes just proved a minor inconvenience... all hail the Blackwatch, all hail the Star League Defense Force.

[@evanboll4651]

Apparently that last line translates from Latin to English as "No one provokes me with impunity."

[@nestorgamer9746]

And the Black Watch lived up it, after all it is their moto

[@Nempo13]

That is the motto for all of Scotland. Specifically there are two clans that added the motto to their coat of arms. Montressor which was the royal family had simply that motto attached to it. My own family clan, MacDaniel, added on to it and even the royal family was known to tread VERY CAREFULY around my family clan. "No one provokes me with impunity, for I am always ready." The first part is the Scottish motto and means no one injures, harms, or slanders without retaliation coming. When you add the second line my ancestors did? It means retaliation will be quick, immediate, and FINAL. This was shortened later on (when an ancestor immediately killed a royal for insulting him, and the royal family was too damned scared to do a thing as the whole MacDaniel clan was ready to attack and kill if they dared say one more disrespectful word) to "Always Ready." There were always MacDaniels near the royals acting as bodyguards through the years later on...and they always wore BLACK when acting as such. I like to think that is where the idea of the Black Watch came from.

[@Nostroman_Praetor]

The Greek/Roman way of saying: "Fuck around and find out"

[@TheAKgunner]

@@Nostroman_PraetorLatin.

[@PsychoWulf0]

​@Nempo13 My clans motto is Cave Adsum. Which in english is Beware! I am here. Now that I say that out loud I think of a very angry All Might

[@KageRyuu6]

Fun fact, the nuclear strike actually failed to kill the majority of Black Watch mechs and for the better part of the civil war they continued to perform guerilla actions behind enemy lines on Earth until Kerensky retook the planet. In short, when it comes to a bunch of pissed off Scottish special forces, "Nukes are merely inconvenient." ~Tex.

[@TheSlamburger]

Does that mean some of the Black Watch are still running around out there? As in, I could play them in game?

[@eldetraquer]

@@TheSlamburger they became the smoke jaguar

[@laughingsnake1989]

@@TheSlamburger there is the north wind highlanders who keep the spirt of the black watch alive

[@Pistonslap1312]

One of the leaders of the black watch became a founder of jade falcon others that stayed helped start the Northwind highlanders

[@omppusolttu5799]

From what I understand the 5 who lived were in fort Cameron and survived it's nuking, the nine who fought the 4th dragoons were anhilated by the nukes.

[@scottishpanzer]

Being Scottish, I can confirm nukes are ineffective against us, the Russian Uses the Tsar bomb to try and kill a Scottish man and it only slightly burned his kilt.

[@HappyNoob17YT]

Which made him more angry.

[@scottishpanzer]

@@HappyNoob17YT indeed, and then he caused the collapsed of the soviet Union in response

[@Significantpower]

Never forget just how close the Blackwatch came to saving the Star League. Had they rescued even a single Cameron, the Sucession Wars could have been averted.

[@Vtgaming-v6c]

Uh I’m cameron, I just left to get snacks, sooooo this is my fault ain’t it

[@117Jorn]

If you believe the events of the Tirpitz affair... they succeeded. Long live House Cameron - long live the fucking Black Watch.

[@Significantpower]

@@117Jorn I mean, they didn't stop the destruction of the Hegemony, couldn't install a Cameron as First Lord, and then the Inner Sphere went up in flames. Even if some Cameron descendant lives, the Star League certainly doesn't.

[@theomnissiah-9120]

Honestly the most it would likely do is buy time The league was sick by the time of the coup.

[@GhostBear3067]

@@Vtgaming-v6c yeah, dude, you really dropped the ball on that one. lol😜

[@Sleipmon]

The fact that Amaris had the planet locked down, an overwhelming advantage in terms of forces and surprise betrayal on his side and still needed nukes to finish off the Blackwatch speaks volumes of just how dangerous they were. The best of the best from an era where mechs where common. They may have had many mechwarriors that were Natasha Kerensky's equal or better.

[@GhostBear3067]

The Black Watch's Mechwarrior contingent was full of Natasha Kerensky and Kai Allard-Liao caliber pilots.

[@KillerOrca]

@@GhostBear3067 The Gunslinger Program makes no softies. You come out the best...or you end up a mess.

[@GhostBear3067]

@@KillerOrca you come out the best or you are washed out of your battlemech's cockpit with a pressure hose.

[@sirflapfla97]

@@GhostBear3067 and kai and natasha could take dozens of enemy mechs by them selves. the 9 blackwatch mechs held against hundreds. either kai and nat are holding back or the blackwatch are way better. that was worded horribly but i am to lazy to fix it

[@GhostBear3067]

@@sirflapfla97 sorry, l missed some of what I meant to write. I meant that the LOWER LEVEL Mechwarriors in the Black Watch were on Natasha Kerensky's and Kai Allard-Liao's skill level.

[@metalmadness5851]

108 Mechs of Amaris' 4th Dragoons marched out to find the 9 Blackwatch mechs, only for 10 mechs to be cut down before they could fire back. The entire 2nd Battalion was effectively destroyed, along with many tanks and infantry. The nukes that ended the fight also pretty much wiped out what was left. One of the most badass last stands in fiction.

[@spencerjones841]

Given this is the era when mech where more common the 4th Dragoons could have had up to 200 mechs

[@metalmadness5851]

@@spencerjones841 Well, I'm going off of the numbers of a Battalion, which is 3 companies, and each company is 12 mechs. But yes, the 4th Amaris Dragoons, being assigned to Terra, likely was overstrength.

[@patrikgrulich2]

Lemme tell you of Sagyan Mazar in Path to Heaven. TL;DR - 100-ish Traitorous White Scars legionaries (out of ignorance) treated like shit for most of the book made last stand laughing on ship with reactor set to overload on the off chance they might take primarch with them. Why? "Atonement at last"

[@metalmadness5851]

If those were guardsmen, maybe, but those are space marines, they are literally written to always do that stuff. The Black Watch were normal human beings, that trained to be the best, and despite at least 3 nuclear strikes, kept on fighting and almost stopped the fall of a vast space empire. They didn't have genetic modifications, superpowers, and the "will of god" on their side, merely training tactics, and willpower.

[@patrikgrulich2]

@@metalmadness5851 you mistake 40k era SM for 30k era ones

[@jacksonbowns1087]

I like to imagine that the Blackwatch had dedicated membership for pipers who would stand on the outside of Highlanders and play for the duration of any battle they were in. Being members of the Blackwatch they, of course, could still kick your ass, but it was a matter of psychological warfare.

[@Awesomeduud]

In the books, the Northwind Highlanders would blare bagpipes into the open net at a very intense level so that the enemy would have trouble communicating with each other. Blackwatch could very easily do the same or it is also possible the Northwind lads got it from the Blackwatch

[@JPG.01]

Shouldn't mechs have speakers? Why not just blast Bagpipes at the enemy with that? It would be dumb to not have speakers installed on a battlemech, given that 'Mechs tend to be used in urban environments a lot. A pilot can't expect everybody to have a way to communicate via radio and having to get out of the cockpit just to shout at people sounds like a dangerous idea.

[@steelgriffin7716]

@@JPG.01 Pretty sure Northwinders also do that.

[@GhostBear3067]

@@JPG.01 mechs due have PA systems, and who is saying they did not do that ALSO?😜

[@Sumaire_STi]

"...As it turns out, you can't kill the goddamned Black Watch. Nukes are merely inconvenient." This was unexpected, but most certainly welcome. Awesome work! Adding this to favorites for damned sure.

[@asimplenobody7797]

Tex, get in here.

[@Mire-Drive]

“The Blackwatch had seen enough nukes to find them frankly fucking boring”

[@commanderstorm8874]

No one was supposed to be this hard to kill

[@snaplordmeep6748]

If nukes can’t kill ya just level evrything also strong storm danger room goes amazing with this specifically after black watch

[@commanderstorm8874]

@@snaplordmeep6748 who’s this strong storm I wanna meet them

[@Lunarice98]

Unity City resided in the Puget sound area. And I can imagine the battles in the outskirt forests and hills. I think we should also give Amaris a hand, he might have nuked where Seattle is when he nuked the black watch. And I hate driving in Seattle so imagining it as a irradiated crater does make me smile.

[@marsar1775]

i feel you man. would do wonders for the evening commute tho

[@KillerOrca]

Unity City, by this point in time, was a megatropolis that (as far as I can tell) stretched from near Everett in the north and as far south as Olympia, and to the east and west as far as it probably could go. It was one of, if not THE, largest city on Terra wholesale. Gorst Flats are obviously where Gorst is today, so it went at least THAT far west, and it probably ate everything on the east side of Lake Washington too. We dont know where the Court itself was, or where Fort Cameron stood (if I had to guess its probably JBLM, based on the footprint required to support battlemechs and the fact JBLM existed before FASA formed so they'd know of its existence). So, probably not Seattle specifically. But the city we know today was long since eaten alive by Unity City anyway.

[@Lunarice98]

@@KillerOrca aww but I wanted mass destruction of that specific area. It's what it deserves for being an abomination to city planning.

[@jimvenanzio6561]

Cosmic Karma, but at what cost?

[@ladywaffle2210]

@@Lunarice98 If it makes you feel better, much of it would've been demolished and rebuilt.

[@demonofgundams]

Those last few lines: Nuclear's Fire...an inconvienent grit Nemo me impune lacessit *chef's kiss* Magnifique!

[@Spore9996]

Well, inconvenient was misspelled, but hey, it was kickass all the same.

[@danielsnow4989]

I am no fan of Battletech. But this is impressive in its own right, and loyalty is its own reward...

[@Dillpickle1997]

@@bentim7732 REPENT! FOR TOMORROW WE DIEEEEE!

[@sirflapfla97]

You should try it. It is really great

[@johncaddick5075]

@@auugh43546 Asmodai, make him repent!!!!!!

[@cc-bk3tx]

@@sirflapfla97 tried it myself and couldn't get into it. Too focused on the mechs for me lol

[@ladywaffle2210]

@@cc-bk3tx To be fair, the BattleMech is the entire reason the universe exists. They made giant 'mechs and built the lore around those. Check out the Atlas and the Highlander. Those two 'Mechs are my personal favorites.

[@erwinthedodo9205]

I thought this was about 40k. It wasn't, but it has sparked my maddening descent into the world of battletech

[@poke548]

Welcome to the Inner Sphere! May I ask what you plan on getting into first? Classic, Alpha Strike, MechWarrior (RPG), HBS BattleTech, MechWarrior (video game)? And also, if you're an active 40k player, what faction you like playing the most?

[@erwinthedodo9205]

@@poke548 I have been looking at classic or alpha strike mostly but I have downloaded MechWarrior online to play. My favorite faction was def the mechanicus by far with custodes being a close second

[@poke548]

@@erwinthedodo9205 I see. I'd recommend looking into the Word of Blake faction, then, particularly their Manei Domini Shadow Divisions. Sadly, you can only really play them in the Jihad era, which isn't the most popular, but they're very much a low model-count elite army with lots of really weird tech.

[@somenerd3515]

I'd propose taking a look at the Black Pants Legion channel He makes good introductions to the setting's deeplore

[@26th_Primarch]

Nukes are merely an inconvenience

[@StickWithTrigger]

"Why do I hear bagpipes in the distance?"- Stefan Amaris

[@TurnaboutAkamia]

Bagpipes with Malicious Intent

[@spencerjones841]

If only the nuke smuggled under Fort Cameron hadn't gone off. It wouldn't have been just 9 standing to buy time but the whole damm regiment.

[@dickc.normous6369]

Actually since it's rumored a Cameron got away in the Tripitz affair maybe we'll see them return during the ilClan Era to challenge the ilKhan's leadership of the new Star League

[@xhesarve7109]

its worth mentioning it was more than 9 of the blackwatch, marines were in the palace within minutes and nearly caught and killed amaris there

[@dickc.normous6369]

@@xhesarve7109 but those are BlackWatch marines not Mechwarriors

[@jamesperkins191]

@@dickc.normous6369 wasn't there a Clan Bloodname that's secretly half Cameron - half Amaris? Stefan's brother and Richard's cousin?

[@ronaldmcreagann6343]

@@striderpup1169 The 4th dragoons would only be buying themselves a one way trip to the forever box.

[@bowenorcutt78]

Been reading the lore off and on, and I was pretty surprised to find out that a lot of things that I thought were just backstory information were actually part of an ongoing plot progression between editions, and resulted in major changes to the setting. Edit: I've quickly come to realize that this song is more or less about Battletech's Isstvan III. The Amaris Civil War itself sounds like what would have happened if the Age of Apostasy had resulted in the majority of the Imperium's government on Terra collapsing, followed by the near-entirety of their military running off into the depths of space, and the Mechanicum stepping in to try and keep the nightmare afloat while the leaders of every single sector tried to kill each other. *And in Battletech, IT GOT WORSE from there!*

[@EMesch]

There are a lot of books in the battletech universe which i enjoyed!

[@jamesperkins191]

Well, there's not many true retcons, but we get nuances and reveals other ways. Archaeological expeditions learn the stories of history's losers, and documents get declassified or leaked, perhaps revealing new details to an old story.

[@Deliverygrot]

Right, not like 40k

[@Aodyri]

Yeah, time in the Battletech setting keeps moving forward. We just started a new era (ilClan) which has just got some sourcebooks and events keep unfolding. Fairly major stuff too.

[@mauser98kar]

Thankfully, in Battletech humanity has only themselves to worry about(right?). If it would indeed happen in 40k, well... Let's say that amount of surviving (both in body and spirit) members of humankind would be exceedingly and depressingly low. Cause if Battletech is constant free for all civil war between descendants of the very same birthplace, Warhammer is constant free for all war of extermination between species some of whom cannot even properly communicate with each other. And then there is the Warp that makes things somehow even worse by a great margin. So yeah, Age of Apostasy civil war getting out of hand = end of the line for mankind, more of less.

[@solaraura8278]

The Black Watch! Scottish Mechwarriors who were so tough, Nuclear fire was merely an inconvenience! Love it

[@somenerd3515]

Amaris: "AHAHAHAHA I HAVE USURPED STAR LEAGUE" Black Watch: "Allow us to introduce ourselves"

[@jaffarebellion292]

(Angry bagpipe noises)

[@xhesarve7109]

I live in the Puget sound valley where unity city will be built according to battletech. And as a result, I am familiar with the terrain of this battle. It's so cool to imagine, and now I have a kickass song to go with it

[@lordtoademort8124]

Do you just walk outside and picture hulking battlemechs duking it out for the fate of the Star League?

[@xhesarve7109]

@@lordtoademort8124 yeah to be honest. usually some areospace fighters somewhere too

[@lordtoademort8124]

@@xhesarve7109 nice! Going to be honest, I don't know whsre the Piget Sound Valley is! I also don't know much battletech lore so I'm glad I got the senario right

[@xhesarve7109]

@@lordtoademort8124 look it up! its a beautiful place. unity city is also a good read

[@jamesperkins191]

@@lordtoademort8124 Puget Sound is the Seattle region, Washington state

[@Aescapulius]

My body is not ready to be nuked repeatedly by an angry usurper. After listening to this, it will be.

[@GhostBear3067]

After listening to this being nuked will be merely an inconvenience.

[@TurnaboutAkamia]

Angry? My guy, that usurper was probably too busy being scared shitless to be angry. lol The Black Watch, on the other hand…

[@ladywaffle2210]

*Nemo Me Impune Lacessit:* *"No One Provokes Me With Impunity."*

[@DemianArmandSteele]

When you're an Amaris soldier and the walls start speaking bagpipe.

[@slayer6498]

You would be in some DEEP shit, then a one way trip to the forever box

[@ak4390]

Love that part of the about the highlanders hand. It's that middle finger salute to the usurper plans

[@ezekyleabbadon9555]

Unfortunately the Black Watch are no longer a regiment. In 2006 they amalgamated with all other Scottish infantry regiments (excluding the Scots Guards) to form 3rd battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and are generally just known as 3 Scots. 281 years of history and regimental tradition gutted.

[@fenrirshowl1860]

Then we fight to reform it

[@ImperialFister]

There is a Canadian Black Watch that upholds the traditions of the Scottish Black Watch.

[@Darqshadow]

Wouldn't the battalion keep the traditions alive since they are still the same unit just under a different organization?

[@ezekyleabbadon9555]

@@ImperialFister True the Blsck Watch of Canada are still around but are still different Regiments they just carry the name a similar uniform. Strange that Canda has more Highland regiments then Scotland has Highland or Lowland regiments.

[@ezekyleabbadon9555]

@@Darqshadow They do to some capacity. But the battalion is an operational unit, the regiment is a cultural body. So culturally the RRS is this unorganised mix of different cultures with each battalion really scraping at the traditions of their former regiment.

[@brodypullishy932]

Colonel Hanni Schmitt was among the Mechwarriors who made their last stand against Amaris that day. She was survived by her daughter, Colleen Schmitt, who joined Aleksandr Kerensky on the great SLDF Exodus in 2784. Her genetic legacy helped give rise to Clan Blood Spirit. In June, 3082 Clan Star Adder called a trial of Absorption against Blood Spirit, but instead annihilated them completely, civilians and warriors alike. Within 3 years Clan Blood Spirit was no more. It would seem that no matter how far you flee from the Inner Sphere, their mentality of greed and violence is ingrained in everyone.

[@commanderstorm8874]

Don’t forget how they kicked the crap out of an entire crew of a black lion warship and how she ran around with a katana murdering everything

[@retrosquadchannel2.050]

@@commanderstorm8874 that was major Hazen after a headshot, seeing as capellans killed one of the Kerensky's best officers.

[@castor3020]

Clans are scum that spit on Kerensky's memory by claiming they are upholding it. Pay your bills or Space AT&T will get you!

[@retrosquadchannel2.050]

@@castor3020 it's not their fault, that braindamaged Nikolai Kerensky has twisted their human nature. Andrei Kerensky could stop him with help of Sarah McEvedy, as he became too dangerous puppet, but he became KIA. And by the way, haven't Comstar themselves twisted words of Jerome Blake? Well, you know, from "preserve technology until IS will be ready for it" to "We will rule IS! And pay bills!" Let's better praise female warrior of the Goliath Scorpions during Operation Klondike, who managed singlehandedly make whole underground fortress, full of former SLDF officers, to surrender in a MONTH!

[@KillerOrca]

@@retrosquadchannel2.050 Her lover, DeChevallie.

[@relogos]

Great song, great lyrics, great art. The only bad thing about this is that it is too short. We crave more.

[@26th_Primarch]

Also needed a Highlander Burial in one of the art pieces

[@TheArklyte]

Love how the song switches from "they" and past tense to "we" and "will" in last part as if giving the listener a direct answer, who's signing.

[@KillerOrca]

Presumably Elizabeth Hazen or Halley Schmit, who did in fact survive and lead the Ghosts of the Blackwatch for a decade until Kerensky returned to kick Amaris off world.

[@GhostBear3067]

(bagpipe music at full volume filling every comms frequency) Enemy CO: "WHAT THE FUCK IS ALL THAT NOISE?!!!"

[@SwordlordRoy]

Enemy Mechwarrior: "Is that...Boss Music? On Bagpipes?"

[@retrosquadchannel2.050]

Fun fact: in MechCommander 1 when your mechs are locked on target and shoot, bagpipes play in the background.

[@Fenris86]

On Huntress the Northwind Highlanders did precisely that. Flooded the communication channels with bagpipe "music"

[@GhostBear3067]

@@Fenris86 I was very much referencing "McLeod's ECM", one of my favorite tactics from the Twilight of the Clans series.

[@retrosquadchannel2.050]

@@Fenris86 and on Glengarry they did the same, helping Gray Death Legion to sweep the floor.

[@TheAKgunner]

Gotta love that “Middle Finger until Death” response!

[@JRufu]

GLORY TO THE GOD DAMNED BLACK WATCH!

[@sebastianthomsen2225]

🤟😎

[@josepinto2280]

4th dragoons: You are outnumbered The motherfucking blackwatch: Only by the dead corpses of your soldiers

[@ArcadianDevil]

when your mech just got impaled with a tree and you here bag pipes coming over the hill

[@ghost5780]

Certified SLDF Moment. Loved the song and background art, the 2am wait was worthwhile.

[@echo_ironside8006]

SLDF?

[@ghost5780]

@@echo_ironside8006 Star League Defence Force, the military arm of the Star League. The Black Watch are some of it's most elite troops, assigned as the personal guards of the First Lord.

[@echo_ironside8006]

@@ghost5780 ah cheers

[@thepbg8453]

Remember!!!! NUKES ARE INCONVENIENT!!!! *Bagpipes Intensifies*

[@freeinvictus8659]

Last line translates to "No one attacks me with impunity" in this case.. Y E P

[@dinisnascimento4929]

When a handful of crazy Scots faced down the biggest empire in the history of mankind and actually put up a fight

[@TheAchilles26]

What are you talking about, the Blackwatch were Star League loyalists

[@valsioncustom]

@@TheAchilles26 think he means Amaris' reign, though it had just begun

[@TheAchilles26]

@@valsioncustom, which was not even remotely close to the size of Star League, even at its peak, let alone at this moment when he didn't really have control of Terra yet

[@valsioncustom]

@@TheAchilles26 biggest *empire* in the history of mankind, but I can see how his words are easily misinterpreted. Amaris had commenced a coup of massive proportions while SLDF forces were busy. His empire *has* claimed the Hegemony, even if Terra is the first to fall. This is simply the transitory period to end an Emperor's reign as it's being born.

[@TheAchilles26]

@@valsioncustom, Amaris didn't claim the Hegemony until AFTER nuking the Blackwatch. He was still a rebel in the middle of an attempted coup at this point

[@spacetonkbrih3983]

"the black watch is their name. They'll never withdraw!!" absolutely based line 💯

[@KingDerpy13]

I don't know how badass the Black Watch is for surviving nukes. To put it in perspective; America atom bombed Imperial Japan at the end of WWII. Twice. The Atom Bomb is incredibly small compared to the warheads we have today. Two atom bombs were enough to cause a nationalistic imperialist nation to call it quits, which had a specific code of honor that said "Never Surrender, Never Retreat", which was followed to such a point that *civilians committed suicide when the Imperial Japanese forces failed to repel the Americans.* Now, nuclear bombs have a much bigger and destructive force to them. The Black Watch took *several* NUCLEAR BOMBS, and like the giga-mega-omni-ultra-ultimate-scottish CHADS that they fucking are, it was "only an inconvenience". Absolute UNITS.

[@ronaldmcreagann6343]

That’s the Black Watch. They know no fear but a job unfinished.

[@PerForkOp]

That's a really wrong perpspective though, Japan before the bomb were even dropped was already searching an exit to the war, and seeked peace negociation with the URSS as an intermediary. It's never surrendering policy was its only bargaining chip left to try to keep as much as they could during the negociation. With the war cabinet being perfectly split in half between surrendering with no condition ,and trying to leverage that bargaining chip for more advantageous surrendering condition. But the doctrine was starting to show cracks, The battle of Okinawa was the first battle where Japanese surrendered in mass 7000 captured by the end of the battle and the total went up to 16 000 in the following month. an actual first for the pacific campaign. And civilian were more prone to suicide than actually fight to the death. Also between the two bombing a pretty significant event happened the USSR declared war on Japan, and started campaign in in Manchuria. It is pretty much generally accepted that Japan would have surrendered even without the two bombs being dropped on cities. And this was supported by the surviving Japanese leader post surrendering. The debate is generally more centered whether the bombing speed up the surrendering signicatively of if they were in the grand scheme of things insignificant compared to the USSR invasion of Manchuria. So I would say it is not really a compliment to say that the Black watch is more courageous than a state that was trying to negotiate a conditionnal surrender. It really undersell the heroism intrinsinc to surviving a bombing with your morale intact, and keep fighting on.

[@TheTrueAdept]

@@PerForkOp nope, the situation is that the Militarists were using any sort of peace talks to be a rearmament period. The Peace Faction (led by the *_EMPEROR_* no less; he was more or less in a gilded cage as the Militarists basically murdered anyone that decided to stand up against them regardless of status) had *_NOTHING_* to get the moderate militarist leaders to see reason. That was until the US unleashed the sun twice. *_THAT_* was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak, and got the moderate militarists to join with the Peace Faction... and surrender almost didn't happen because of a bunch of middle managers deciding to force everyone to go with their elaborate suicide.

[@Thamian]

Given that I am playing battletech over on the other screen, this was a pleasant little surprise - also teaches me another bit of the lore I'd not been aware of, so good job.

[@poke548]

Tex of the Black Pants Legion has an excellent two-part series on the Amaris Civil War. It's a great listen.

[@ghost5780]

More Battletech songs? Must be an early Christmas.

[@Significantpower]

@@nullakjg767 In Battletech lore, the Blackwatch lasted into the 2700s. Serving the various governments that controlled Terra.

[@GhostBear3067]

@@nullakjg767 and these absolute mad lads and lasses are that real world regiment's descendants.

[@yapyaptheking8077]

@@nullakjg767 if you’re looking at it in the eyes of the Periphery states, then yes

[@GhostBear3067]

@@nullakjg767 why? Are from the Rimward Periphery?

[@yapyaptheking8077]

@@GhostBear3067 Amaris family is full of assholes don’t get me wrong, but It’s pretty understandable that everyone from the periphery hate the inner Sphere and the star league for their actions during and after the reunification war, the Taurian have to abandon almost half of their colonized world because of war crimes and other matters, not to mention that they lost around 100 million population thanks to the war. I’m a FedRat through and through but the inner sphere is definitely not the good guys during that time period.

[@crysisrevelation6132]

Even in death! THE BLACK WATCH STANDS!!!

[@AronFigaro]

Love the shout out to Tex in the lyrics.

[@H9092-2]

Clan Wolverine. Just about them and ending with "And yet we survive under Minnesota's Banner"

[@ladywaffle2210]

Forgive me, I'm still new, but... Clan Mary Sue? Why do I get the feeling that's a Jade Falcons dig?

[@TheIroncladResearcher]

@@ladywaffle2210 Clan Wolf dig unfortunately.

[@Spore9996]

@@ladywaffle2210 Absolutely a dig at Clan Wolf, lol.

[@ladywaffle2210]

@@Spore9996 Ah, I see, I see. As I said, I'm new.

[@ganondorfdragmire2818]

For the king for the land for the mountains For the green valleys where dragons fly For the glory the power to win the black watch I will search for the emerald sword

[@seanrydell112]

"I understood that reference!"

[@z3r0_35]

Nuclear weapons are merely inconvenient to men and women too angry to die.

[@1lostmuffin]

The String Storm effect is real. At first I wasn't really feeling this one. But now I have it on repeat at full volume. Awesome as usual!

[@snaplordmeep6748]

I have no idea what this is about but I love the tone of this song that I just keep on watching it over and over

[@thehammer4607]

Battletech song about the last stand of the Blackwatch, a royal battlemech regiment in service to House Cameron of the Star League

[@snaplordmeep6748]

Ok

[@panzerbarracuda3708]

Nukes are merely inconvenient

[@lasttemplar9160]

The thought of 9 mechs standing in a field facing down a platoon oposing mechs is badass to me

[@TallboyDave]

It was..... considerably more; the 4th Amaris Dragoons was likely at that point a full brigade, consisting of at least three regiments; that means the nine surviving mad lads that were the Black Watch were going up against AT LEAST 50:1 odds, since a regiment has at minimum 108 Battlemechs, and as many as 180. Ergo, that means they were probably fighting at least 324 battlemechs, and whatever infantry, aerospace and armoured assets the Dragoons had.

[@KillerOrca]

@@TallboyDave Extensive amounts of all three. The fighters that nuked them were attached to the 4ths air wing, if I remember right.

[@tyvernoverlord5363]

@@KillerOrca Yes, Battlemech Regiments in Battletech in this part of the history of the lore were basically like Marine MEU MAGTF's in many respects.

[@canislupus3655]

The Northwind Highlanders Scenario Pack lists the Amaris forces engaging the Blackwatch as two full companies, so it was about a 2.6:1 fight

[@scurrystopthat9985]

Fun little bit of history for those who don't know, the blackwatch from battle tech were based of the real life black watch who were formed in 1881 as the 42nd regiment of foot, it then was merged with the 72nd regiment of foot, but they still kept the name the black watch, or black watch royal highlanders from 1881 to 1931 and then the blackwatch royal Highland regiment from 1931 to 2006, it is now only a battalion, the name orginaites back to the jacobite rising, I recommend you do some research into these mad Scots, as a scot who is very proud in the history of the country, I love that the blackwatch are in battletech. Maybe a bit to happy. Extra fun fact bagpipes are a weapon of war.

[@Sol_Invictuvs0301]

As someone who is descended from Scottish clans it fills me with pride that my decedents have a small chance to take the head of a deceitful bastard.

[@tomsimpkins1211]

Oh hell yeah! More recognition for one of the most badass groups in fiction.

[@makrosthegreat8793]

The song that played in Amaris head on loop until his final days

[@GOJICENTRENUMBER15FAN]

NOW LETS ALL RENEMBER THE THE LAST SOUND THOSE HOUNDREDS OF ENEMY TROOPS,MECHS,PLANES,AND TANKS HEARD WAS BAGPIPES PLAYING SCOLTLAND FORVER

[@saeyabor]

Amaris would wake in a sweat from dreams of distant bagpipes approaching in the fog for the rest of his life.

[@KillerOrca]

Some say it was a hallucination. Others say it was Elizabeth Hazen, sneaking into the Palace with bagpipes in hand, murdering guards as she went to mess with him before slipping away to the darkness once more.

[@dmtribaltyphoon5001]

remember folks: For the Black watch Nukes are merely inconvenient.

[@MerlinCross13]

There is no FEAR but a job Undone!

[@Mouseforatu]

Let's go!!! FOR HOUSE CAMERON!!

[@primarchoftheunnamed3237]

Though I do not know these black-watch characters, they are quite honorable.

[@JollyOldCanuck]

They're the royal guard to the ruler of Star League (A.K.A. Space Rome).

[@Darqshadow]

Descendants of the current era black watch (Scottish Elite Forces) that took on an entire battalion of light/medium mechs and ate them from breakfast. Took several nukes to kill them and that didnt do much

[@primarchoftheunnamed3237]

@@Darqshadow Though I appreciate the explanation on what they did here, it still doesn’t explain much about who they are.

[@poke548]

To put it in 40k terms, they were essentially the Custodes to House Cameron's Emperor. When the usurper Stefan Amaris' (think Horus if he was a sneaky sleazebag) grand scheme to assassinate Richard Cameron as the first act of his coup paid off, a silent alarm led to the Black Watch Marines' first-response jump troops crashing through the skylights and windows of the Royal Palace within seconds, firing lasguns until they overheated and chucking satchels of C4 larger than a man's head like grenades. Amaris barely got out of there alive, and the sheer impact is widely credited for the paranoia and night terrors that would haunt him for the rest of his life. While the Black Watch Marines attempted to rescue any remaining members and heirs of House Cameron, Amaris had arranged for a nuclear warhead to be detonated in Fort Cameron, the base of the Black Watch's main BattleMech force. Unfortunately for Amaris, there's a reason the Black Watch have been given the slogan "nukes are merely inconvenient" by fans. Nine MechWarriors and their BattleMechs from the 1st Royal Black Watch would survive and, in a bid to buy time for the Black Watch Marines in the palace, would hold off a full regiment of Amaris Dragoons (Amaris' elite BattleMech division) with less than a company of their own. They held the line for hours, killing scores of Dragoon BattleMechs by skill, determination, and sheer willingness to fight as dirty as possible. Eventually, the Amaris Dragoons were forced to withdraw as they were left only with Plan Z: nuke them again and hope it works this time. While this did kill Black Watch commander Hanni Schmitt and the rest of the elite regiment's BattleMech forces (eliminating one of the largest obstacles to Amaris' uncontested rule over Terra), remnants of the Black Watch would continue to arm, train, and direct underground Cameron-loyalist resistance movements for over a decade, with many of the Black Watch, their children, and their closest resistance allies resurfacing during General Aleksandr Kerensky's final push to reclaim Terra for the Star League.

[@primarchoftheunnamed3237]

@@poke548 I see, it reminds me vaguely of Hive Helsreach and the third war of Armageddon. I thank you for taking your time to explain this to me.

[@midrovar5811]

the crazy part about the black watch is that they failed, but man did they almost succed, amaris had years of planning and preparation, his troops were trained by the best to fight the death watch, his personal guards were the best of the best, they were in an advantageous position they had the suprise element, they nuked the black watch base killing most of them. Yet the few who survived gave amaris and his troops a run for their fucking money... and man when you switch from frag granades to satchel charges you know they mean business

[@tyvernoverlord5363]

I mean the Gunslinger Program of which EVERY Black Watch member was trained in, made absolute legendary soldiers. Amaris needed his troops so trained and his plans laid for so long to even hold a candle to the elite level badassery that was the Black Watch and the Black Watch Marines. And even then, like the Harkonen and the Emperor's own fucking Sardaukar on Arrakis in the final assault on the Atreides forces in Arakeen: The Black Watch nearly almost WON . . . . .

[@KillerOrca]

@@tyvernoverlord5363 Level 0 Mechpilots, the best humanity can possibly be. True nightmares.

[@connorwheatley5640]

There's a very good reason Stefan Amaris had nightmares about the Black Watch for the rest of his life after the events of the Amaris Coup.

[@zanewarp3970]

Gotta say, out of all the Battletech songs and honestly songs in general you've posted recently, this one is by far the best. The pacing and vocals are incredible. Amazing work as usual

[@geoffreyhebel2438]

Dont forget that when after decades of war Kerensky fought his way to terra and the black watch popped up to help with the final push on Amaris' last holdout. They got nuked multiple times and kept guerilla war going the whole time

[@tyvernoverlord5363]

SURPRISE PIKACHU! Doesn't even begin to cover it . . . .

[@117Jorn]

Black Watch: Nukes are merely an inconvenience.

[@itsashane1552]

So this is how I get convinced to learn about Battletech

[@Strettger]

*Angry Whisky and Bagpipe noises*

[@ArcadianDevil]

THAT S SCOTCH DARN IT!

[@GhostBear3067]

(bagpipe music at full volume filling every comms frequency) Enemy CO: "WHAT THE FUCK IS ALL THAT NOISE?!!!"

[@joelaroche8103]

When the odds are overwhelmingly against you and you just shrug it off They got : Nukes, numbers, guns, supply and speed. The Black Watch: so its a fair fight then, i like those odds. *Gets Nuked by the 4TH Dragoon* The Black Watch: okay we`ll call it a draw then... Pricks...

[@barondiamondo6676]

Glory to the founders of the Jade Falcon Clan! Assemble to honor it, clan warriors!

[@comediccomrade5716]

I have no clue whats going on besides that this is something battletech related and i fucking love it

[@connorwheatley5640]

The (very) dumbed down summary? In the future, the Scottish Black Watch become the royal guards of the First Lord of the Star League because the man who created the Star League was a Scotsman named Ian Cameron, and his family took the place of First Lord because of it. Stefan Amaris was a wanker who usurped his descendant Richard II Cameron, and the Black Watch attempted to stop him, and nearly succeeded despite Amaris planning for decades on how to get rid of them in a single masterstroke. He ended up using up most of his elite forces attempting to kill them, and I do mean attempt; what the song doesn't mention is that the Dragoons were still fighting the Black Watch when the Nukes fell; he effectively took out his own elites to make sure the Black Watch stayed dead. Even then, he failed; the Black Watch regrouped and organized a resistance movement on Terra with them as the centre, and rejoined Kerensky in the re-taking of the planet when he and the SLDF arrived.

[@exiledadrian103]

I got shivers at ‘The Blackwatch is their name’

[@darkjackl999]

Great song as always string, as always Baird killed it with the art too Never underestimate an avenger, they no longer have anything to lose and will fight tooth and nail til the end

[@Dragonspirit223]

I think this story might be what I need to bring my 40k buddies into Battletech. A coup successful, immediately intercepted by effectively Custodian level trained troops, some of which marching about in small Titans (as 100 Ton Mechs are just slightly shorter than the smallest Titan), who required at least 2 Nuclear Warheads to wipe out, which still didn't actually kill them all. Problem is I gotta establish a ground level of lore... Star League, House Cameron, House Amaris, how freaking planned the Civil War was, it'll take a lot of talking

[@fluxuous6907]

just show them Tex Talks Battletech

[@KillerOrca]

The story will sell itself, once you get them into it.

[@Stoppingjbomb]

To quote a great man, "Nukes are fucking inconvenient"

[@Nostroman_Praetor]

The sense of acceleration of that Atlas in the video is terrifying. It makes me think its moving almost twice the speed of a standard Atlas

[@KillerOrca]

Closer to three times. The only color that moves faster than red is Blackwatch tartan.

[@knightpal1545]

Amaris-did ya nuke them a second time? Soldier-yes sir Amaris-so there all dead good Soldier-yes the ones near the base are Amaris-so no work from the city batalian? Soldier-i thought you heard from them? *Boss music starts* Amaris-so shi- *30 death watch Marines charge the two*

[@knightpal1545]

Man I hate phones auto currect

[@Flipdagoose]

I fucking *LOVE* the instrumental of this song, like the rest is great, but the instrumental? The instrumental is fucking perfect. Bravo.

[@BlackPsionic]

Listening to this, I feel like trying to make a custom flashpoint for the HBS BattleTech game where it's just your lance vs wave after wave of enemy 'mechs and vehicles, with artillery getting called down around you at random to try and keep you on your feet, or at the very least uncomfortable. Like, you're hired to protect some local House Lord or Lady, and then out of the blue it's the Amaris Coup in miniature with small changes. They get locked in the throne room and pinned down, but in a twist their guards are keeping them safe from the worst of it, but they need time as the sudden betrayal did kill off too many to keep the palace completely secure. If any enemy reinforcements get to them, it's over. And then your lance is in the middle. Wave after wave of hostiles that have to go through you. After the first two lances are down, the coup leader gets desperate. They call in artillery. They call in fire bombers to limit your movement. As they lose ground in the palace, you start facing outright overwhelming odds. Halfway through, Sumire attempts a battlefield exfiltration during a lull in enemy air power. You get a few turns to extract, and if you do the coup succeeds and you don't get paid, but you also aren't paying out the ass for repairs and new pilots. Or, you can stay, Sumire leaves, and you face down the aggressor. 'Mech after 'Mech falls before you, vehicles lay wrecked, the landscape alight with flame and smoke. And if you hold out for long enough and prevent any enemy from getting to the end, you get a call from the betrayed lord - the coup failed, the leader is dead after they tried to fight back in a blind panic with their designs falling to shreds before them. The Amaris Coup in miniature, and your badass band of mercs nip it in the bud. And throughout the fight, the instrumental of this song is playing.

[@averagevirusbombenjoyer]

I dont know shit about battletech lore but this is one of the best songs you have ever made

[@valsioncustom]

8 mechs hold the line against the destruction of the star league, buying time to end the reign of the traitorous emperor, Amaris. Battalions fall to bring them down, and in the end, it took nuclear weaponry to put them down. Entire elite regiments of battlemechs fell to the weaponry of Scottish royal guardsmen too angry to die, fighting for the sake of mankind.

[@GhostBear3067]

@@valsioncustom and the craziest thing: the nukes still were not enough. Some of the Black Watch survived to continue carrying out a guerrilla resistance until General Kerensky returned to Terra, including the future founders of Clans Jade Falcon and Blood Spirit.

[@xXSpaceMexicanXx]

The spirit of Elizabeth Hazen rises 🤘🤘

[@voiddragon903]

Tex needs to see this

[@simplewrites]

Aight, New music video, let's see what this is. *listens to the first second* *aggressively bangs head*

[@johndudesmen48]

Oh shite this shall be awesome

[@brayachdragonbane7529]

i feel a need to report as far as we know, the nuclear strike did NOT knock out the FULL unit in the flats, Amaris lost multiple dragoons to their own nukes and only roughly 50% of the active BW forces were casualties... the 4th dragoons were essentially decimated in their entirety by the end of the INITIAL coup

[@nikoclesceri2267]

Can’t wait

[@Deridus]

As a life-long 'Mech nerd, it pleases me to see so many people getting at least a little interested in my favorite universe. Whelp, time to hop on my King Crab and smash some Capellans.

[@26th_Primarch]

I'll be right behind you in my Bushwacker... Someone has to cover the noob in the Urbie

[@elchjol2777]

Might have stolen a prototype Cataphract and upgraded the hell out of it just to anger the Capellans so here's some ECM cover for ya.

[@starstrider885]

well if we all joining in I'll go grab my black knight will quick

[@Deridus]

@@26th_Primarch I would like to point out that I mounted a Gauss and a pulse laser on my Urbie... Just say'in. It may only be good for a few minutes but a cockpit shot is a cockpit shot, especially with a gauss rifle.

[@nikoclesceri2267]

@@26th_Primarch Hey, my Urbie has an AC 20, so watch yourself

[@aegisghost]

Absolutely wonderful cover! I've loved the Black Watch since forever!

[@GhostBear3067]

So how long until the female vocalist version drops, or do we need to go to another site for that awesomeness? Very cool and very much worth the wait, ROCK ON STRINGSTORM!!!!!!🤘😆🤘

[@TheAchilles26]

Allegedly middle of the month

[@midgetydeath]

No, it sounds way better with a manly man vocalist. We're talking about giant killer robots and Scottsmen, after all.

[@RC-eb1qd]

Still waiting for that my friend

[@bthsr7113]

@@midgetydeath under the command of a Scottswoman. Neither gender nor sex is a barrier to being a good mech jock.

[@comradedragon]

@@midgetydeath well, I mean, the commander of those remaining mechs was woman. So I'd think it'd be pretty fitting if a woman performed the vocals here.

[@midrovar5811]

so your telling me this is a song about a special force that got caught by surprise and still made the enemy pay in blood, soo much blood that they needed to nuke their location otherwise it would mean the annihalation of the ambushing force

[@workingscribe7929]

Exactly that, yes. The Black Watch is what you get if the special forces of every world government is funneled into one force and given nuclear grade plot armor

[@Significantpower]

And some still managed to walk away and formed the core of a brutally effective partisan organization.

[@littleshep5502]

@@Significantpower not the mech force. The final stand of Hanni Schmitt ended with all 8 Royal mechs destroyed, their pilots incinerated. The ghosts of the Black watch were five survivors from Fort Cameron, led by captain Elizabeth Hazen (founder of Clan Jade Falcon). Colleen Schmitt (grandaughter of Hanni) would also survive, going on to found Clan Blood spirit

[@zachscarbrough2727]

For them, nukes are merely an inconvenience. 😂

[@H9092-2]

Whisky, kilts and murder!

[@Deridus]

Maybe not in that order?

[@H9092-2]

@@Deridus Nope. You down your whisky, strap on your kilt, and then go murder some goddamn Rimmers.

[@TheIroncladResearcher]

I've listened to this song 1000+ times and it never gets old.

[@deathkorpsofkriegguardsmen8488]

LONG LIVE THE BLACK WATCH!!!

[@juliane.mfarias9285]

A Last Stand with Scotish people in Mechs anihilating an army, getting nuked and surviving the nuking. This is Badass Art

[@mysteriousfletcher9838]

This is going to be cool

[@rainetheserotoninslurper]

Well now I'm interested. Always have been a sucker for last stands