1. Navy/Marine Service: “The Dust Devils” (2945–2954)

Squadron 86 was originally attached to the UEE Marine Corps, serving as the “taxi service” for the toughest ground pounds in the fleet. While the fighter jocks fought in the black, the “Wallabies” fought in the dirt.

Their primary ship, the Anvil Valkyrie, was the workhorse of planetary occupations. Squadron 86 specialized in “Hot Drops”—inserting squads of Marines directly into active firefights while using their door guns and wing mounts to suppress enemy infantry.

The “Wallaby” Moniker: The name started as a joke about their flight profile. To avoid anti-air missiles, the pilots would fly meters above the terrain, “hopping” over hills and ridges before slamming down on the landing zone. The ride was notoriously stomach-churning, earning them the name “Wallabies.”

Notable Campaign: During the Siege of Orison (2952) (Ninetails Lockdown), Squadron 86 flew continuous sorties for 72 hours straight, ferrying supplies to the floating platforms and evacuating wounded civilians while under heavy fire from Ninetails cutlass fleets.

1. The “Drop Pod” Doctrine & Deactivation (2954)

The squadron was a victim of the UEE’s shift toward “expendable insertion.”

In 2954, the UEE High Command analyzed the casualty rates of dropship crews. They concluded that risking a fully crewed Valkyrie (Pilot + Gunners) to deliver 20 troops was “statistically inefficient.”

• The Shift: The Navy pivoted to “Project Nail”—the use of orbital drop pods (SOEIVs) launched from high orbit for insertion, and massive Crusader Hercules lifters for heavy extraction. The mid-sized, tactical dropship role was slashed from the budget.
• The Deactivation: The Admiralty decided that “Air Cavalry” was an outdated concept. Squadron 86 was disbanded in late 2954. Their Valkyries, still scarred from the Orison campaign, were stripped of their Gatling guns and sold off as surplus “heavy industrial transports.”

III. The Transfer to CSG-3 (Early 2955)

Retired Rear Admiral Glenn “Pappy” Wade knew that drop pods are a one-way trip. If his people got into trouble on the ground, a drop pod couldn’t fly them back out. He needed pilots who could land in a firefight and extract his team.

• The Acquisition: Wade found the squadron’s airframes sitting in a surplus lot on Hurston, covered in industrial dust. He bought the entire lot for the price of a single Hercules.
• The “Gunship” Upgrade: Wade knew the Valkyrie lacked punch against heavy armor. He authorized a “CSG-3 Field Modification,” replacing the standard door guns with high-rate-of-fire Scorpion Ballistic Gatlings and upgrading the wing mounts to heavier laser repeaters. He turned the troop transports into flying porcupines.
• The Recruitment: The squadron’s commander, Major Taz “Roo” Sterling, was working as a glorified bus driver for a mining corp. When Wade offered him a chance to fly “Hot Drops” again, Sterling brought nearly his entire flight roster with him.

1. Current Status: December 2955

As of today, Squadron 86 serves as the Marine Insertion & Close Air Support (CAS) wing of Carrier Strike Group 3.

• Tactical Role:
  • Insertion: They deploy CSG-3’s ground security teams (The “Hell-Divers”) to secure crash sites, board derelict stations, or repel boarders.
  • Gunship Support: Once the troops are on the ground, the Wallabies don’t leave. They loiter overhead, circling the LZ and using their door guns to create a “wall of lead” around friendly forces.
• Unique Asset: The squadron also maintains a small detachment of Anvil Spartans (ground APCs) inside the Valkyries, allowing them to drop mechanized armor directly into the fray.
• Reputation: The CSG-3 ground troops love them. The motto among the marines is: “If you’re in trouble, look up. The Wallabies are coming.”