Thorfinn’s Varangians
The Varangians are a group of Rasalhagian deserters. The field three mechs: a Hachetman-3F, and Panther-C, and a Vindicator-1AA, as well as two Maxim hovertanks with infantry. The unit specializes in sudden raids from unexpected directions, striking, loading up with loot, and disappearing before defenses can muster. Somewhat paradoxically, the unit’s mechwarriors put a heavy emphasis on individual honor, and will often engage in one-on-one duels with enemy units when the situation permits. All bets are off against any and all clanners, though; they attack with berserk ferocity and refuse to take prisoners against Kerensky’s children, even firing at downed mechs, just to be sure (though, since they refuse to take contracts anywhere near clan space, the unit has rarely faced a clanner in the field). The unit is formed from remnants of planetary militia that were broken by Clan Wolf. Because they fled their post before fighting ceased, they were officially branded as deserters and barred from re-entering Rasalhague space. Many in the unit are ashamed of that flight, but contend that the clans were simply unstoppable, and that the only other choice was death. Fearing that their former government will send bounty hunters after them (to recover their equipment, if not return them to stand trial) the unit fled to the rimward periphery, where they’ve lurked in the shadows ever since. Even so, the unit maintains some semblance of professionalism, trying to recoup what honor they can through honorable conduct.
Kapten Thorfinn “Skullsplitter” Haraldson-The pilot of the unit’s Hachetman, Thorfinn was a kapten in the Kungsarme. While he fought valiantly against the Wolves, his unit was shattered, their world lost to the clan juggernaut. Once the battle’s outcome was clear, he gathered what troops he could and fled in a civilian dropship. Thorfinn strongly emphasizes his unit’s Scandinavian heritage, mandating (for example) the use of Swedish for all in-unit communications, from battlefield transmissions to internal supply paperwork. He also encourages all of his soldiers to carry an axe whenever possible. Thorfinn himself is almost an archetypal trivid Viking, heavily muscled and tattooed, with long, braided hair and beard. This is, however, a conscious façade. He was born Thorfinn Takeda, the son of a mixed marriage between a local Rasalhagian and a Kurita soldier, in the years just before Rasalhague gained independence. His father left with the Dragon when he was a toddler, leaving his wife and son behind. When Thorfinn came of age, he changed his name to honor the maternal grandfather who was his primary male influence growing up, and has consciously eschewed his biological father’s culture ever since. (OOC: as you might guess from the nickname, he aims high a lot with the hatchet. Especially against clanners. Guy seems to have turned his cultural issues with Kuritans on clanners instead. Maybe that's Fujiwara's influence.)
Lojtnant Magnus “Skald” Sigurdson-Magnus pilots the Varangians’ Panther. Magnus was a young Lojtnant in Thorfinn’s company, one of a bare handful to survive the onslaught of the Wolves. Unlike Thorfinn, Magnus is purely Rasalhagian, a fact he is very proud of. He is one of the best-educated of the group, speaking not just Swedish but also Old Norse, and often quotes ancient Skaldic poetry before, or even during battle. In his spare time, he writes his own, focusing on the exploits of his unit. Dark allusions to the ravenous and unstoppable wolves of Ragnarok can sometimes be found in his tales. Thinner and shorter than his CO, he looks the part of the academic, glasses and all. Few are surprised to learn that he serves as the unit’s intelligence officer and assists his CO in operations planning. (OOC: Seems like the nice guy in the unit, doesn't he? But who knows what dark deeds an Intel Officer might have in his background. Maybe he's a Mimir mole. Maybe he's the unit "enhanced interrogation" specialist. Up to you.)
Chu-i Hikaru “Bushi” Fujiwara-Chu-i Fujiwara pilots a VND-1AA “Avenging Angel” Vindicator. Most would say that Fujiwara suffered heavy discrimination in the Rasalhague Republic, despite the fact that her parents, retired Combine administrators, advocated for the fledgling Republic and even came out of retirement to serve the young nation. She simply smiles and says that challenges are welcome, as they give her more chances to prove that she is a true warrior. Nevertheless, she didn’t hesitate to flee Rasalhague space with the rest of the unit. In the Varangians, she has bought (sometimes grudging) respect and acceptance by her skill at arms, and is acknowledged as the Varangians best mechwarrior. She has to be, given the substandard mech she has piloted since her Kungsarme days. Uniquely among the Varangians, she carries a samurai’s daisho and wears more traditionally Kurita combat gear. Fujiwara serves as Kapten Haraldson’s adjutant and logistics officer. While all acknowledge her skill, some in the unit still whisper that she has…other ways of influencing the Kapten. No one says it in her hearing though. She killed the last one who did. (OOC: Seems unlikely, given the Kapten's cultural hang-ups. But maybe that's just the cover they need. Or maybe she's involved with Sigurdson. Or both. Or neither. Up to you.)
Lojtnant “Old” Erik Ikeda-Lojtnant Ikeda commands the Varangians’ support forces from the cupola of his Maxim hovertank. His forces are primarily used for base defense, to screen the Varangians mech units from enemy infantry attack, or to loot enemy objectives. Much of Ikeda’s time outside of combat is taken up overseeing the unit’s technical staff and base security. “Old Erik” as he is affectionately known by the men and women under his command, was a schoolteacher and reservist in the Kungsarme, called up with his unit to face the clans. Watching the men and women under his command, many of whom he’d known since childhood, die in droves nearly broke the man. Only with difficulty did Kapten Harladson convince his old teacher to keep commanding troops instead of drinking himself to death. Having known Haraldson since childhood, Ikeda is the only man in the unit who knows of the Kapten’s true ancestry. (OOC: who knows how long he can keep it up before the nightmares drive him back to the bottle. Maybe they already have and he's just gotten better at hiding it.)
Fanjunkare Olaf “Ice” Berg-Fanjunkare Berg is the senior NCO of the Varangians. A white-haired giant of a man, Fanjunkare Berg is older than any other unit member (save Lojtnant Ikeda), and bigger than almost any of them. Berg sees he men and women under his command as his children, to be taught, looked after, and disciplined as the circumstances require. Like Lojtnant Ikeda, he has known many of them for years; he was a drill instructor when not serving as an infantry sergeant, and trained many of them himself. He personally oversees any punishment meted out by the unit’s officers, and seems to take rule-breaking as an affront to his personal honor; as he constantly tells his troopers, “I trained you better than that.” Even though he is well past 50, Berg still leads morning PT for the unit every single day, and is the unit’s acknowledge expert in hand to hand combat (as well as being extremely skilled with his mighty Danish axe). (OOC: Or maybe the Sergeant-Major is the Mimir plant. Who would suspect him? Also, who knows what lengths he might already have gone to to protect the unit's rep. Funny how he's the only one who punishes unit members; his troopers never get convicted of anything related to off-base carousing. It's like witnesses turn up dead or something. Maybe. If you want.)
I tried to leave enough vague for Liam to adjust as he feels necessary, while fleshing out enough detail to make them interesting. I also consciously tried to give their mech choices a Rasalhagian flavor, while remaining substandard (Rasalhague's access to the "Avenging Angel" Vindicator was icing on the cake). I know I'm stretching the definition of a lance, but who cares about conventionals, right? I'm sure the Maxims aren't quite full of infantry (exactly how full is up to Liam, of course). Heck, if you need to make it one Maxim with a couple of squads, I totally get it. Also tried to give them reason to be out in the dark without making them straight-up bandits. But maybe they just hide it better...
