Name Origin: RND belongs to "Research aNd Development", which was the main leitmotif and a proud claim followed by the RND officers for a long time.
Motto: “Semper Tentantes” (Classic Old Latin for “Always testing”). A more common and functional motto used by RND has been “Knowledge; Teamwork; Victory”, as the three pillars supporting the RND strategy.
The 99th and the RND were pretty much synonymous. That dynamic is out there.
Clan Leaders:
- Brandon Cascio (From 3285 to 3316)
- Mel Gibbens (From 3272 to 3284)
- Richard Millich (From its foundation on 3268 to 3271)
The Clan 1st/99th Lite Legion was created in 3267, under the High Command of Jack Daniels, who was the Wolverine’s CIC. The unit was assigned under the direct management of Richard Millich as his CO.
The Clan Wars IV Tournament (3268) was their stellar debut, achieving the Gold in the Seventh Division.
After the creation of this unit, disagreements between the CIC and the CO led to Cdr. Millich to break the unit away from Daniels’ command, starting the roots of what born as the RND (The Research & Development Group).
For the next Mech Tournament, the mercenary clan was renamed as the 99th Chessmen R&D Corps and joined the Clan Wars V in 3270, achieving their second Gold, one more time in the seventh division and the first one as an independent Group.
A Clan keeping the "1st/99th CW Lite Legion" name fought under the Daniels leadership in successive wars before disappear in.
The Golden Years
The gold on 3268 and 3270 were the first on a continuously succession of championship and mastery success that the RND Faction called “The Golden Years” and that lasted for twelve not interrupted years as champions in the division in which they participated in the Tournaments.
RND wasn’t the unique Clan reaching that achievement, but they were the first one, and for that reason, the Craftsmen adorned their Zadok's honour exhibition prototype with the 99th's logo.
The Golden Crew
Along the twelve golden years, RND counted with as many as thirty six pilots, who were part of the 99th Chessmen R&D Corps crew during part or the whole of the Golden Years:
“This is the honor roll of every pilot who has ever been a part of the 99th Chessmen R&D Corps. This is the unit that started the RND in 3268. Whether a present or former member of this unit, they helped in the achievement. The RND took a moment to publicly remember and honor all of their glorious members”
(By alphabetical order)
- 1GoML
- Adam Bensley
- Adam Butcher
- Brandon Cascio (CO since 3288 until 3316)
- Brian D. Wise
- Christee Connor
- Clint Blackburn
- Daniel Chung
- Exar Kun
- Fransiskus Bur
- Jace Striker
- Jacen Solo
- Jack Daniels
- James Edward Kirk
- Jason Smith
- Jay Vreeland
- Jeff Kirk
- Jim Beller
- John Bishop
- Joshua Doerle
- Joshua Magsino
- Justin Bertelli
- Keeland S Pearson
- Matt Jopek
- Mel Gibbens
- Mitchell Dalton Mihulka
- Nathan Williams
- Nick Reckers
- Philip R Eierdam
- Richard Millich (Founder and CO until 3288)
- Ricky Bradley
- Robert Edward Lee
- Samael Wormwood
- Sean Wadey
- Slo Mo
- Yellowbug Chadson
3268 - CLAN WARS IV
- Champions on 7th Division
- Champions on 7th Division
- Champions on 8th Division
- Champions on 9th Division
- Champions on 9th Division
- Champions on 8th Division
- Champions on 10th Division
3277 - CLAN WARS XI
- Champions on 10th Division
3278 - CLAN WARS XII
- Champions on 11th Division
3280 - CLAN WARS XIII
- Champions on 10th Division
3281 - CLAN WARS XIV
- Champions on 10th Division
3282 - FACTION WARS
RND boycotted Faction Wars refusing to participate because the Mecha Games and Tournaments organizers delayed the announcement of the Tournament rules, that were unclear on the eve of the event and unknown prize returns. That combination created an uncertainty that RND couldn't analyze for the good or ill of the clan family.
3284 - CLAN WARS XV
- Champions on 11th Division
This year was considered the last one on the unbroken chain of CW golds for the 99th Chessmen R&D Corps, and the last one in which Cmdr. Mel Gibbens led the 99th, starting the leadership of Cmdr. Brandon Cascio.
3285 - End of the Golden Years
3285 - End of the Golden Years
This year, RND and AC merged, what supposed the end of the Golden Years for RND as all the merged units achieved Silver.
- 99th Chessmen R&D Core [RND-AC] (Silver on 8th Division)
After 3285 the 99th continued winning a large amount of golds mixed with some silvers.
3288 to 3308. The 99th on the RND Second Eve
After Cmdr. Richard Millich and later, Cmdr. Mel Gibens left their lead on the 99th, Brandon Cascio was the third and definitive of the 99th Commanders, leading the Legendary Unit through countless victories during the second age of the RND flag and beyond.
3309. Last Year under the RND Banner
On 3308, the RND suffered a crisis, losing a large amount of elite pilots and disbanding some of their traditional clans. The 99th, which was the emblem ship and beacon of the RND Faction, but touched by the RND crisis, they fought in 3309 their last battle as RND unit, going as a Ronin clan afterward.
3309 to 3316. RONIN [K.I.S.S.] An Independent Clan
They fought some more battles under the RONIN (K.I.S.S.) name, as an independent Clan, keeping untouched most of its original crew. The independent clan kept a brilliant success that went slowly falling from the Golden Podium to become a Silver standard and finally disband after the Clan Wars celebrated on 3316.
On 3308, the RND suffered a crisis, losing a large amount of elite pilots and disbanding some of their traditional clans. The 99th, which was the emblem ship and beacon of the RND Faction, but touched by the RND crisis, they fought in 3309 their last battle as RND unit, going as a Ronin clan afterward.
3309 to 3316. RONIN [K.I.S.S.] An Independent Clan
They fought some more battles under the RONIN (K.I.S.S.) name, as an independent Clan, keeping untouched most of its original crew. The independent clan kept a brilliant success that went slowly falling from the Golden Podium to become a Silver standard and finally disband after the Clan Wars celebrated on 3316.
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| RONIN K.I.S.S. Banner |
- Brandon Cascio
- Chessmen
- Richard Millich
- RND Faction
(By Richard Millich - 291875 and GJ - 685605)
