Player Characters:
Name: Justin Radcliffe
Played By: whistlerAge: 35
Place of birth: New Dallas, Loxley, Lyran Commonwealth
Languages: English, German, moderate Japanese
Family:
- Mother: Kaiko Radcliffe
- Father: Major Kevin Radcliffe (Chief of Logistics and Maintenance, Storm's Metal Thunder)
- Brother: Logan Radcliffe (Kommandant, Sixth Lyran Guard 2nd mech battalion)
- Cousin: Ethan Radcliffe (Captain, Gray Death Legion Infantry)
Height: 6'4
Weight: 200lbs
Physical description:
Tall and lean, Major Radcliffe can be an imposing figure. His Lyran-style officer's training has taught him to exploit his height and use personal space to subconsciously put
others in their place, though his warm personally is generally enough to win people over. His most notable physical feature is a vertical scar covering his left eye, though
he otherwise considers himself unremarkable. He is just handsome enough to make a favorable impression on those around him, but not enough to be threatening.
Unique physical attributes and personal gear:
During the Combine raid on Hesperus II an autocannon round struck then-Hauptmann Radcliffe's cockpit, showering him with with shrapnel. One large piece went right through the
visor of his neurohelmet, and would have taken his eye had it not been stopped by the orbital bones of his eye socket. His eye sustained minor damage, though his vision has
not been affected. His right cornea has since turned a light grey, though doctors cannot explain why.
Justin meticulously maintains several family artifacts, the most precious of which is his
Thunderbolt. The mech has been upgraded countless times over the centuries,
including to 'Royal refit' specifications in the 2700s. While the mech's frame, armor, and weapons have been replaced countless times, the mech's cockpit has remained intact
and in full working order. A set of waldo units are hard-wired into the cockpit, and give Justin incredible dexterity and precision during physical attacks. According to his
father, the waldos are the reason for the family's reputation for proficiency in close combat.
Something of a family secret, the mech is equipped with an extremely advanced version of the standard BattleMech AI. Justin has opted to keep the voice command system active,
and “Grace” (his AI's monicker) has become a kind copilot in combat. While the system retains hundreds of years of experience and battle ROMs, the system does not give him
any kind of tangible advantage in battle.
- Lyran neurohelmet
- Vintage MechWarrior Combat Suit. Proudly bears the unit patches of all who have lived and died in it, including the original patch from the 11th Royal Heavy Assault
Regiment (The New Dallas Rangers).
- 1911 frame pistol, also a family treasure. Almost certainly a replica produced in the 2700s.
- Personally owned
Thunderbolt-5S. Rebuilt after near-total destruction on Tanguray.
Current Rank and Position:
Major, Commanding Officer of Nikita's Heavy Cavalry mercenary unit.
Pilots:
Thunderbolt-5S
Education:
Sanglamore of Skye. (One of the first graduating classes utilizing NAIS 'advisers' and professors.)
Notable Skills:
- Officer's Training / Protocol
- Reputation: Loxley +1 / LCAF -2
- Tech Empathy
Previous Military Experience (number of years):
House Steiner / 14+
Personal History:
Born to Kevin and Kaiko Radcliffe (natives of Loxley and New Kyoto, respectively) in 3001, Justin enjoyed a privileged upbringing. He wanted to follow in footsteps of his
father and grandfather when he was child, and studied diligently throughout his school years. He showed remarkable aptitude for BattleMech operation at a young age, and was
piloting the family mechs while his friends were driving hovercars. He attended a private military prep school instead of high-school, and between his grades and family name
managed to secure a spot at the prestigious Sanglamore Academy on Skye. He did well at the academy, graduating in the top 20% of his class. However, he and his fellow
graduates were somewhat controversial. Dubbed the “The New Order” by a skeptical Lyran High Command, the cadets had been the first to graduate from a revamped program
following Operation Thor. Trained in maneuver warfare and combined-arms tactics, many Lyran hardliners saw the new curriculum as an attempted takeover by the Davion military
and decried the use of “Davion Tactics” at every opportunity. Despite the hardships, Justin remained a staunch supporter of the Federated Commonwealth and it's tactical
doctrine.
After several years of lance command and pirate hunting in the 15th Arcturan Guards, Justin was transferred to the unit his family was known for serving, the 6th Lyran Guard.
He was promoted to Hauptmann and given command of a company, and quickly adjusted to garrison duty on the vital world of Hesperus II. However, as happy as Justin was with his
career, things were about to take a turn for the worst. While on patrol with his company, Radcliffe received an emergency transmission from the commander of his sector. A
vessel masquerading as a merchant DropShip had slipped through orbital defenses and was radically changing course towards his position. Since the Kommondant had been fooled
by the hostile's approach, he and his fighters would not be able to intercept the DropShip. It was up to Justin and his men to defend the Defiance Vehicle Production lines,
without support.
As it turned out, the Kommondant was even more incompetent than Radcliffe had thought. There were not one, but
three DropShips bearing down on him. They had been
flying in tight formation to confused ground-based LIDAR. In all likelihood he was about to be seriously outnumbered. As the enemy mechs came, now identified as belonging to
House Kurita, Justin worked out a plan with his men. They would stall the enemy for as long as possible, meeting the Kuritan mechs as far out as possible. They would trade
distance for time, making the Kuritans pay for every inch while the promised support was on it's way. Unfortunately, there was no relief force. Even as Radcliffe and his men
sold themselves dearly, outnumbered three to one, the Kommondant refused to act. As it turned out, he had realized that nothing he could do now would keep Defiance Industries
from sustaining serious damage, and in an effort to distance himself from his own mistake he laid everything on Radcliffe's shoulders. He cut comms and hoped that the
Kuritans would kill the only man who could kill his career.
By the time the Combine troops were in range of the Defiance line, Justin's command had been reduced to a single lance. Despite the fact that he was bleeding out inside his
cockpit, Radcliffe held on. By this point the Kuritans had lost almost all taste for battle, and once they got several long-range shots off at the production lines they
retreated to their DropShips while AeroSpace fighters made a pass at Justin's battered command. Lyran AeroSpace forces arrived thirty minutes later to harass the loading
Kuritan DropShips, but they managed to escape the system.
After recuperating, Justin was sent to Donegal for trial by court martial. He was accused of gross negligence and dereliction of duty. The Kommondant's report claimed that
Justin's “Davion tactics” were to blame for the damage to the factory lines, and that
his AeroSpace forces were responsible for driving off the Combine mechs and saving
Justin's life. Though eventually exonerated of all charges, the stigma of the trail cloaked Justin. Apon learning he was to be transferred to the Loxley Militia, Justin
resigned with an honorable discharge. He was so enraged by the Kommondant's actions, the High Command's attitude, and the deaths of his men that he seriously considered
hanging up his neurohelmet for good. He decided to take a vacation on his way home, and took a long detour to Solaris VII. Though he had truly had no plans to compete in the
games, before he knew it he found himself venting his anger in the amateur circuit. Before long he was picked up by a stable and was literally tearing his way through the
heavy circuit when he was contacted by a ComStar recruiter. A close friend of the Order was in desperate need of a MechWarrior who could serve as a scout, strategic
commander, and body guard. Still feeling lost, Justin accepted the job and soon found himself in the employ of Princess Nikita Pavlov and on his way to a middle-of-nowhere
planet called Tanguray.
Name: Takeda Kenjiro, "Ken"
Played By: WarclawAge: 38
Place of birth: Agematsu, Galedon Military District, Draconis Combine
Languages: Japanese, English, Lyran Dialect High German, Swedenese, broken Hindi Patois
Family:
- Mother: Takeda Michiko
- Father: Takeda Satoshi
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 171 lbs
Unique physical attributes and personal gear:
- Very high quality personal gear.
- Body armor styled as Ancient Samurai Armor.
- Heirloom Katana + Wakizashi
- Vibro-Katana
- Personally Owned DRG-1G
Grand DragonCurrent Rank and Position:
Tai-i (Captain). XO of the Heavy Cavalry. Personal Retainer to House Pavlov, Princess Nikita's personal representative
Pilots:
DRG-1G
Grand DragonEducation:
Sun Zhang Military Academy
Notable Skills:
- Expert Swordsman, (Includes study of Iaido, “Quickdraw”)
- Artist (Airbrush)
- Martial Artist (Aikido + Karate)
- Poor Pistol Shot
Previous Military Experience (number of years):
House Kurita / 18+
Personal History:
Raised from birth as a Samurai, Takeda Kenjiro's life has always been one of duty, honor, and a strict code of conduct.
After an early entrance to a preparatory school, followed by the Sun Zhang Martial Academy, young Kenjiro's career appeared to be well laid out ahead of him. Service to the
Dragon, followed by taking up his family's traditional retainer status to the Lord of Agematsu, and Governance of one of the planetary districts, just as his father and his
Grandfather had done before him. Unfortunately, it was not to be.
Political enemies of the Lord of Agematsu chose to strike at the man through his retainers, framing Kenjiro's father for treasonous activities and financial improprieties,
while simultaneously arranging for Satoshi and Michiko's deaths in an unfortunate ground car “Accident”, thereby preventing them from effectively defending themselves, and
tainting their Lord with their perceived shame.
Also tainted by the scandal, and unable to offer any proof of his parent's innocence, Kenjiro was summarily dismissed from the DCMS and declared Ronin.
With his name and family reputation in tatters, Kenjiro knew he would have no chance of finding a new Lord-Patron, and so committed himself to the path of the Ronin.
Three years later, he finds himself forced to become a mercenary in order to survive, but still he clings to his Samurai roots. In those years he has been able to discover
the identity of some of the plotters who cost him his family. Someday, he hopes to discover the rest. On that day, there will be a reckoning.
Name: Tan Hong Yu
Played By: blackpanzerAge: 24
Place of birth: New Earth
Languages: English, Mandarin and assorted other Chinese dialects.
Family:
- Mother: Sim Siang Fern (Technician, 12th Star Guards. Deceased.)
- Father: Tan Xing Li (Technician, 12th Star Guards. Deceased.)
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 143 lbs
Unique physical attributes and personal gear:
- Ambidextrous.
- Special neurohelmet modified for custom vehicular interface
Current Rank and Position:
Lt Commander, Second Officer in Nikita's Heavy Cavalry, commander of Armored Cav tank company.
Pilots:
Drillson hover tank
Education:
Born, bred and trained in the 12th Star Guards before being kicked out of the unit for the engagement of overwhelming enemy forces that cost the life of his crew.
Notable Skills:
- Extreem reflexes.
- Expert mechanic and vehicle technician.
Previous Military Experience (number of years):
2-3 years as technician with the 12th Star Guards, another 3 years at least as a combat tanker.
Personal History:
Born into the 12th Star Guards to parents who had been lifelong technicians, Hong Yu had known only life as a mercenary. Starting off under the tutelage of his parents, he was
trained and tested as a vehicular technician by the age of 15. However, his fetish for hovertanks and his natural ability to manoeuvre them had many Star Guards tankers
requesting for his induction into their ranks as a combat crew. Within 3 years, Hong Yu rose from driver to vehicle commander, to eventually commanding his own lance. However,
his reckless streak resulted in the death of his crew when he and his lance fought against an overwhelming number of enemy forces when they could have used their speed to
disengage in the last combat campaign he clocked with the 12th Star Guards.
Hong Yu was exiled from the Guards, and settled down under the care of another retired former 12th Stars Guards technician on Tanguray. Recruited to provide additional tech
support for the Heavy Cav, Hong Yu was offered the chance once again to take control of a combat hover tank, and has never looked back since.
