BattleTech:Characters
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The fictional BattleTech universe is populated by a wide variety of interesting characters. Mostly nobility, as BattleTech has strong politics in its story.
Inner Sphere
Characters who are primarily associated with the Inner Sphere.
Anastasius Focht
Also known as Frederick Steiner. A member of House Steiner, Frederick was used by Aldo Lestrade as a contender for the throne of the Lyran Commonwealth while Aldo would pull the strings. He was commander of the Tenth Lyran Guards during the Fourth Succession War and led a suicidal mission against the Draconis Combine on Dromini IV. Offering himself to Kanrei Theodore Kurita, Frederick saved the lives of his men, though everyone thought him dead. Frederick Steiner joined ComStar under the name Anastasius Focht (German: He who fought, reborn) and became their first Precentor Martial, head of the ComGuards. Focht was dispatched by Primus Myndo Waterly to be their liaison with the Clans. He quickly established a rapport with Khan Ulric Kerensky of the Wolf Clan. Upon discovering that the Clans sought to conquer Terra, home of ComStar, Focht gathered the ComGuards and issued a challenge for a proxy battle on Tukayyid, a world in the Free Rasalhague Republic. If ComStar won, the Clans would move no closer to Terra for the next fifteen years. If the Clans won, ComStar would surrender Terra, join the Clans, and deny their communications services to the Inner Sphere. Focht challenged the seven invading clans and succeeded in defeating Clans Smoke Jaguar, Nova Cat, Steel Viper, Diamond Shark, achieving a draw with Clans Jade Falcon and Ghost Bear, and was defeated by Clan Wolf. Winning four out of the seven battles meant the ComStar won the battle. Focht then deposed the mad Primus Myndo Waterly and worked to reform ComStar. He worked to preserve the truce and keep the Successor States ready for when the Truce runs out.
Aldo Lestrade
A scheming Lyran noble in the 3025 period, his attempts to break the Lyran Commonwealth apart lead to an assassination attempt on Katrina Steiner and Melissa Steiner-Davion, thwarted by Melissa's double. This lead to his and Frederick Steiner's downfall. He was killed by his illegitimate son.
Frederick Steiner
Also known as Anastasius Focht.
Hanse Davion
Known also by his nickname of "The Fox", for his shrewd and cunning military and political strategies. The leader of House Davion in the initial setting, he was famous for several accomplishments. After a raid obtaining thousands of books in the early 31st century, he founded the New Avalon Institute of Science, the first new college of science in the Inner Sphere in centuries. In 3022, he signed the Federated Commonwealth Accords with Katrina Steiner, laying the foundation for the Federated Commonwealth and his marriage to her daughter, Melissia. After the marriage, he started the Fourth Succession War, and conquered much of the Capellan Confederation. He had five children: Victor Ian, Katherine Morgan (used Katrina in a bid for a powerbase in the Lyran Commonwealth), Peter Ardan, Arthur, and Yvonne. He died in 3052 after the battle of Tukayyid.
Hohiro Kurita
Son of Theodore Kurita and Tomoe Sakade, scion of House Kurita and future Coordinator of the Draconis Combine. Stationed on Turtle Bay with the Fourteenth Legion of Vega when Clan Smoke Jaguar struck the Combine, he was captured by the Jaguars, only to be freed by the local Yakuza. He was then posted with the elite Genyosha and bested the Smoke Jaguars on Wolcott.
Jaime Wolf
Co-founder of the mercenary unit Wolf's Dragoons with brother Joshua Wolf. A former member Clan Wolf, he was a freeborn warrior who, along with his brother Joshua and the infamous Natasha Kerensky, led a long-term reconnaissance mission for the Clans to determine the state of readiness of the Inner Sphere. Wolf served Anton Marik during the Marik Civil War, which cost him the life of his brother. He later fought for House Kurita, but the treacherous actions of Warlord Grieg Samsonov turned him against the Draconis Combine and Takashi Kurita. Later, he signed on with Hanse Davion, who turned over the world of Outreach to the Dragoons. Wolf later revealed his origins during the early years of the Clan Invasion and trained the Successor State heirs in anti-Clan tactics. Wolf also led his Dragoons to help repel the Smoke Jaguar-Nova Cat assault on Luthien. Wolf is generally regarded as a cautious warrior, and often pilots a customized 70-ton Archer BattleMech painted blue and gold. Jaime Wolf was killed on 18 October 3067 during the attack on Outreach by the rogue mercenaries hired by the Word of Blake and lead by Colonel Wayne Waco.
Jerome Blake
The last Minister of Communications in the Star League. Reformed the Ministry of Communications into ComStar and preserved Earth from the firestorm of the Succession Wars. His works are often quoted by ComStar adepts, especially members of the splinter group Word of Blake.
Julian Tiepolo
Primus of ComStar in the initial setting before Myndo Waterly. Worked to introduce the Federated Commonwealth Accord and the Concord of Kapteyn to force continue the fighting. He suffered a massive heart attack that lead to his replacement by Waterly.
Justin Allard
Full name: Justin Xiang Allard, Hanse Davion's Minister of Information. He's the son of Quintus Allard and for a time, a spy on Sian. He masqueraded as a traitor to the Federated Suns and went to Solaris VII, becoming Champion of the games there. Attracting the interest of the Capellan Confederation, he became an important figure in the Maskirovka and his information was largely responsible for the magnitude of the Federated Suns' victories over the Capellan Confederation in the Fourth Succession War. Falling in love with Chancellor Maximilian Liao's eldest daughter, Candace, they left Sian and Candace's holding in the St. Ives Commonality seceded from the Confederation. They had four children: Kai, Kuan-Yin, Cassandra, and Quintus. Taking over his father's job, Justin became Minister of Information, until his assassination by a Liao terrorist sent by Chancellor Romano Liao.
Kai Allard-Liao
Eldest child of Justin Allard and Candace Liao. Champion on Solaris VII gaming world and engineered the destruction of the Falcon Guards on Twycross. Later he led the First St. Ives Lancers during Operation Bulldog. After the end of the operation he joined Victor Steiner-Davion for the Great Refusal on Strana Mechty where he defeated Vlad Ward of the Wolf Clan and achieved a draw against the Wolf Binary.
Katrina Steiner
Special note: Not Katherine Steiner-Davion; Katrina is Katherine's grandmother. She was the Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth during the original setting, and married her daughter, Melissa, to Hanse Davion. She died in 3039.
Katherine Steiner-Davion
Special note: Not Katrina Steiner; Katherine is Katrina's granddaughter, but has taken to calling herself Katrina to reap the benefits of her grandmother's reputation, through association. Assuming control of the Lyran Commonwealth during the Marik-Liao invasion of 3057, she renamed it the Lyran Alliance and proclaimed it separtate from the Federated Commonwealth. She also took control of the Federated Suns' half of the FedCom when Victor Steiner-Davion left for the Clan homeworlds, proclaiming herself the Archon-Princess.
She later went to war when her brother Victor sought to reclaim the throne from her causing the FedCom Civil War. After many years of fighting, she lost the thrones and was handed over to Khan Vlad Ward of Clan Wolf for his promise not to attack the Inner Sphere.
Maximilian Liao
Insane Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation during its dark days during the Fourth Succession War. He eventually committed suicide after the war. Leader of a nation continually at war with House Davion and the Federated Suns after the dissolution of the Star League, Maximilian Liao almost managed to substitute a mind-wiped double for Prince Hanse Davion of the Federated Suns prior to 3025, during the Galtor Campaign. Only ingenuity on the part of Ardan Sortek and the security system on Hanse's BattleMaster 'Mech allowed Hanse to reclaim his identity and kingdom. Hanse used this act by Maximilian Liao to justify the Fourth Succession War.
Melissa Steiner
Daughter of Katrina Steiner and wife of Hanse Davion, Melissa became Archon of the Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth. She was nearly universally beloved, by friends, allies, and enemies alike. The Lyran people in particular loved her dearly. Which is partially why at 7:21PM, on the 19th of June, 3055, on Tharkad during a banquet she was attending, her assassination, broadcast live across the Inner Sphere, shocked all; even reaching into Clan space, where Phelan Ward learned of his mother's death, and father's maiming via the same bombs. The actual bombs used for the assassination were concealed in four flower pots housing flowering Mycosia pseudoflora plants. (Genetically-engineered versions of the Mycosia blossoms which Hanse Davion had shipped to Terra for his and Melissa's wedding (For the bridesmaids' bouquets.), years before.) Mycosia, the naturally-occurring variety of the plant, blooms only once a year on the planet Andalusia, for a short period. The petals are green. After their surprise appearance at Melissa's wedding, she adopted them as her favorite; seldom appearing in public without some token reminder of the blossoms; more after Mycosia pseudoflora was developed.
Myndo Waterly
Former Primus of ComStar. She was assassinated following her attempt to take all of the Inner Sphere by Anastius Focht, who had good aim for only having one eye. Her assassination caused the formation of the Word of Blake.
Morgan Kell
Founder of the Kell Hounds Mercenary unit along with brother Patrick Kell. Cousin of Arthur Luvon, the husband of Archon Katrina Steiner. Rescued the body of Prince Ian Davion by using the Phantom 'Mech skill in single combat against the commander of the Second Sword of Light. After that incident he reduced the Kell Hounds to a single battalion and went to a MechWarrior monastery. After the death of Patrick Kell at the hands of Yorinaga Kurita (the man that Morgan defeated years earlier) he re-formed the Kell Hounds and defeated Kurita. During the Clan invasion he lost his son Phelan to the Golden Keshik of Clan Wolf on The Rock and led the Kell Hounds on Luthien alongside the Wolf's Dragoons. After the Refusal War between the Wolves and Falcons he created the Arc-Royal Defense Cordon on the border area with Clan Jade Falcon. His son Phelan Kell returned as Khan of the Wolves-in-Exile (Warden Faction). Notable units in the Cordon are the 4th Skye Rangers, 17th Skye Rangers, the entire Wolf-in-Exile touman, Blue Star Irregulars, the Dioscuri, and the Kell Hounds.
Omi Kurita
Daughter of Theodore Kurita and lover of Victor Ian Steiner-Davion. Assassinated during the Federated Commonwealth Civil War by the same assassin who killed Ryan Steiner. Supposedly had Victor's child before dying. (This is later confirmed in the first MechWarrior: Dark Age novel, Ghost War.)
Phelan Kell
Also known as Phelan Ward Khan of the Wolves-in-Exile and one of the best MechWarriors of the era alongside Kai-Allard Liao, and his cousin Victor Steiner-Davion.
Ryan Steiner
Sun-Tzu Liao
Son of the insane Romano Liao; he became Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation after the assassination of his mother. He created an alliance with the Free Worlds League and later the Trinity Alliance with the Taurians and Canopians. The first elected First Lord of the newly formed Star League, he used his powers to conquer the St. Ives Compact and reincorporate it into the Confederation.
Theodore Kurita
Successor Lord of the Draconis Combine. Father of Omi and Hohiro Kurita.
Thomas Marik
Victor Steiner-Davion
Full name: Victor Ian Steiner-Davion.
Previously known as: Archon-Prince Victor Ian Steiner-Davion
As the first child of Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner, he was to inherit the strongest realm of the Inner Sphere. Under his rule, primarily due to the machinations of his sister Katrina (née Katherine) Steiner-Davion, the Federated Commonwealth would fall, undoing all the work his parents did to create the Steiner-Davion union.
During the initial invasion by the Clans, his unit was destroyed on Trellwan by the Jade Falcons and he was forced by Galen Cox to flee the planet. Regrouping and reorganizing a new task force, he attempted a counterattack against the Falcons on Twycross, but was repulsed. His life was saved by Kai Allard-Liao when he the latter collapsed a pass onto an advancing Falcon Trinary.
After Twycross, he and the other heirs and rulers were invited to Outreach by Jaime Wolf. Once there, the origins of the Clans were revealed, and alliances were made between realms to combat the Clan menace.
During the initial years after the Truce of Tukayyid, Hanse Davion would die of an apparent heart attack, and shortly after Melissa Steiner would be killed in an assassination plotted by Victor's sister Katherine Steiner-Davion (labelling herself Katrina to appeal to the Steiner half of the Federated Commonwealth). His ill-fated attempt to replace the recently cancer deceased Joshua Marik with a double infuriated Thomas Marik when it was discovered.
After the Free Worlds League and their allied Capellan Confederation invaded into FedCom space, Katrina used a rarely known clause within the Federated Commonwealth treaty to secede the Lyran Alliance and withdraw all Steiner forces from the Davion half of the realm, thereby stealing half of Victor's realm. Victor left Davion forces in Lyran space to assist in the defence against the Clans.
The Marik-Liao invasion would conquer many worlds from the Sarna March and the Terran corridor, those worlds not conquered would be left to their own defences and independence. That would become the Chaos March where hundreds of independent worlds lie. The Capellan Confederation would reconquer many of the worlds it lost during the 4th Succession War and the Free Worlds League would halt its invasion after conquering numerous worlds.
Two years later in 3058, a Jade Falcon incursion into the Lyran Alliance would prompt Katrina to request aid from all nations across the Inner Sphere, and it would be Victor who would lead this coalition of forces onto Coventry and negotiate a truce to halt the current invasion by the Falcons.
After the Whitting Conference reforming the Star League, Victor led the armies of the Inner Sphere to destroy Clan Smoke Jaguar. The offensive was successful and Victor traveled to the Clan Homeworlds, where he declared and won a Trial of Refusal against the Clan invasion of the Inner Sphere. During this time period, his sister Katherine Steiner-Davion launched a coup d'état removing him from the throne of the Federated Commonwealth.
Now deposed, he retired to ComStar and was appointed Precentor Martial, replacing the retiring Anastasius Focht. Seemingly content to remain out of Inner Sphere politics, Victor was thrust into conflict with his sister Katherine after the assassination of their younger brother Arthur in late 3062. Victor set aside his role as Precentor Martial and for the next five years led his supporters in the FedCom Civil War. Personal tragedy again struck him when Omi Kurita was assassinated on the order of his sister. After defeating Katherine, he relinquished his claims to the thrones of two nations and returned to ComStar. Yvonne Steiner-Davion was made Regent of the Federated Suns and Peter was made Archon of the Lyran Alliance.
Not long after this, the Word of Blake launched their Jihad, bringing destruction to much of the Inner Sphere. Victor, as Precentor Martial, was a leader in this conflict.
Eventually becoming a Paladin within the Republic of the Sphere, Victor went on to lead a full life within the Republic's borders. He was murdered on 26 November 3134 in Sante Fe on Terra. He was 104. He is survived by several children and grandchildren, including Kitsune Kurita, his illegitimate son with Omiko Kurita.
Yorinaga Kurita
A distant cousin of Takashi Kurita, he defeated Hanse Davion's older brother, Ian, but was unable to capitalize on the victory due to the actions of Morgan Kell. After being defeated in 3013 by Morgan on Mallory's World, he retired to a monastery, where he waited until 3025 when Takashi gave him permission to commit ritual suicide, provided he first formed an elite unit, the Geynosha, to destroy Morgan Kell and his Hounds. He committed ritual suicide at the end of the Fourth Succession War, after failing to kill Kell.
Clans
Characters who are primarily associated with the Clans. Clan naming conventions differ from the more traditional of ones of the Inner Sphere; a Clanner is given only one name at the beginning of his or her life. No family names are given; they must be earned through combat, later in life.
Aidan Pryde
From the Mattlov-Pryde Sibko, Aidan was defeated in his trial to become a warrior and was given an unprecedented chance to win a second trial by disguising himself as a freeborn warrior. He eventually ended the charade and entered a Trial of Bloodright to win a chance for the Pryde Bloodname. Triumphant, but tainted due to his freeborn connections, he was made commander of a unit as tainted as him, the Jade Falcon Guards. His daring allowed the Falcons to hold their own on Tukayyid and was martyred there. He became an unquestioned hero in the Clan. His freeborn daughter is Diana.
Aleksandr Kerensky
The Star League general who led the majority of its armed forces (The Star League Defense Force) beyond the Periphery of the Inner Sphere, to eventually create the Clans.
Aleksandr attended Tharkad University, before he became the greater man that he would become. His exploits there eventually landed him a spot in the Nagelring.
Lincoln Osis
Smoke Jaguar Elemental who became Khan of his Clan during the invasion and later became the last ilKhan of the Clans. He presided over the death of his Clan when the Smoke Jaguars were pushed out of the Inner Sphere and were annihilated on their homeworld of Huntress. Osis himself was killed by Victor Steiner-Davion on Strana Mechty. The Last Smoke Jaguar.
Marthe Pryde
Growing up in the same sibko as Aidan Pryde, she won her Trial of Position by turning on Aidan and defeating him. She subsequently rose through the ranks to become Khan of her Clan after Khans Vandervahn Chistu and Elias Crichell were killed for dishonorable conduct. She led the Jade Falcon assault on the Lyran world of Coventry and has cooperated with Vladimir Ward of Clan Wolf, the Jade Falcons' hated rivals, to keep their Clans alive and replenish themselves.
Natasha Kerensky
A bioengineered Wolf Clan Warrior, she was with the Wolf's Dragoons during the intelligence mission until the Clan invasion, when she left the Dragoons to advise the Clans to retreat. Upon Ulric Kerensky's elevation to ilKhan, she was the senior Khan of the Wolves, despite a dispute of legal status. She died of battle injuries in 3057, during the events played in the computer game MechWarrior II. Also known by her nickname of "The Black Widow".
Nicholas Kerensky
Son of Aleksandr Kerensky, and the man who formed the Clans from the remnants of the Star League Defense Force.
Phelan Ward
Also known as Phelan Kell.
Ulric Kerensky
A staunch Warden, Ulric was Khan of the Wolves and was the only Khan to oppose the invasion of the Inner Sphere and did not partake in the boasting and overly confident predictions of an easy victory. His foresight was proven correct when the Clans went against stauncher resistance than they anticipated. Ulric's cunning made sure the Wolves did not suffer the same fate. Determined that the only way to stop the Crusaders was to outdo them, he led the Wolves on a quick-paced invasion that culminated with the seizure of key worlds such as Radstadt, Skondia, and Rasalhague. When the ilKhan was killed at Radstadt, Ulric was elected by the Crusaders in an attempt to control him. They failed. Ulric negotiated the Battle of Tukayyid with Precentor Martial Anastasius Focht of ComStar, but because the other Khans did not heed his warnings, they all failed to overcome their foes and win their objectives. The Wolves triumphed. Ulric held the clans to their Truce for seven years before a cynical charge of treason and genocide was leveled against him by the Crusaders. Stripped of his position as ilKhan, Ulric's Trial of Refusal against the Jade Falcons ravaged them and blunted the renewal of the invasion. Ulric Kerensky was killed on Wotan by Jade Falcon saKhan Vandervahn Chistu in a cowardly ambush that violated Clan Law.
Vladimir Ward
A member of House Ward and a staunch Crusader, Vlad captured Phelan Kell on The Rock only to discover that Phelan had a claim to the House of Ward. Phelan and Vlad fought each other during a Trial of Bloodright for a Ward Bloodname. Vlad lost. Embittered, Vlad attempted to undo the Truce of Tukayyid by bringing down Ulric Kerensky by joining a Crusader attempt to slander him. Ironically, during the Refusal War, Vlad became awed and respectful of Ulric though he was a Warden. Enraged by Chistu's cowardly murder of Ulric, Vlad goaded him into a Trial of Grievance where he killed the scheming Jade Falcon. As a reward, Khan Elias Crichell undid Chistu's declaration that the Wolves had been absorbed and created Clan Jade Wolf. Vlad won a Ward bloodname and became Khan of the new Wolves. He challenged Crichell in the Grand Council when he was elected ilKhan and slew him. Vlad re-created Clan Wolf and has since bided his time, rebuilding their strength. His actions during the Great Refusal made sure the Wolves were not bound by it. His Wolves are now the only Crusader Clan legally able to renew the war, once the Truce of Tukayyid runs out.