Who are the Ballantyne Scouts in the novel, The Leopard Hunts in Darkness?

The Ballantyne Scouts were one of the elite units of security forces that fought against the rebels. Led by Roland Ballantyne, and cousin to Craig Mellow, the scouts had fought to the death with the rebels on the day that Craig had lost his legs to a mine, attached to them as an armorer. The Scouts were wiped out that day.