Kirby Cole
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Kirby Cole | |
|---|---|
| Personal | |
| Died | 11 June 3152 |
| Affiliation | Wolf's Dragoons Clan Wolf |
| Profile | |
| Profession | MechWarrior |
Kirby Cole was a member of the Clan Wolf touman and later Wolf's Dragoons, killed in the Battle of Gienah (3152).
Contents
Personal History[edit]
Kirby was from Thermopolis in the Wolf Empire. The Wolf Merchant Factor wanted to forcibly integrate his family business into their caste. In exchange for allowing his family to continuate operating their business, Cole was forced to volunteer his services to the warrior caste. He was sent to the New Olympia Allison MechWarrior Institute. There he learned that the Merchants had absorbed his family's shipping company anyway... but he chose to stay there, expecting to become a Wolf MechWarrior, earn a rank and return home to make things right.[1]
On 26 July, his training was almost complete when the Wolf's Dragoons Tarantulas Battalion attacked the planet. The Cadet Cluster engaged the Dragoons but could not stand, and all fell in a short battle. Of the twenty-six captured cadets, twenty-three agreed to become Dragoons bondsmen, including Cole. He was more than happy to have the chance to fight those who had hurt his family.[2]
Kirby was transferred to the Dragoons' secret base, Fort Joshua on Ilion, where, after two months in training with the Wolfsbane Battalion, and serving in Charlie Delta. He must have impressed his instructors, because he not only reached the rank of Liutenant, but his first combat assignment was with the most elite Dragoons unit, the reborn Zeta Battalion, leading Seventh Lance.[3]
On 21 April 3152, Cole reported for duty to Zeta's leader, Major Haya Tetsuhara. It was ironic, at the least, as she was one of the Tarantulas leaders who defeated and captured him on New Olympia. Haya, showing how much she trusted him, brought Cole into an officers' meeting where she told them Zeta's new objective: nothing more and less than, in a Dragoons private raid, to attack Gienah, the Empire's capital. Kirby was more than impressed and happy at the prospect of striking the Wolves' den.[4]
By 6 June, Zeta was already on Gienah. Haya tasked Cole's lance with dropping a squad of battle armor into a forest, which Kirby did without questioning. Minutes later, they were attacked by a Wolf Star of fast 'Mechs. A Lupus managed to knock down his 'Mech, but Cole get upright very quickly, and ordered his lance to concentrate fire on a fast-moving Ryoken. He missed both PPC shots but his lancemates didn't, and the Ryoken was quickly downed in turn.[5]
Cole's lance also participated in the street fighting in the Wolves' capital, Alliago City, grinding the Wolf garrison. On 11 June, after Haya's lance was ambushed by a group of Gnome battle armor, she was stunned... but Kirby reacted quickly, ramming the building where the Gnomes are hiding, and ordering his troops to demolish it. They did so, killing or trapping the Gnomes. Cole congratulated his lancemates... but never finished his phrase.[6]
Death and Legacy[edit]
Unknown to Kirby, The Empire's viceroy, Star Colonel Othar, whom Haya's lance was hunting, had approached and decapitated Cole's Regent with a lucky shot into his cockpit, killing him instantly... but Othar hadn't time to enjoy his little triumph: Haya, who was stunned, recovered quickly and, enraged by Cole's death, concentrated her fire on Othar's Blood Reaper, putting him down. Othar managed to escape, but was a humiliated and defeated man.[7]
Haya was deeply affected by Kirby's loss, which made her feel Zeta's great triumph as a defeat. Unable to find Othar, she had to order Zeta to retreat, but not before recovering Kirby's 'Mech. She hoped to be able to find Kirby's parents someday and tell them what an excellent Dragoon their son had been.[8]
BattleMechs[edit]
Kirby's only known BattleMech was a Regent.[9]
Personality[edit]
Despite his young age, Cole proved to be a very disciplined and promising officer, obeying Haya's orders without hesitation or question. He combined his youthful enthusiasm with an iron will and creative thinking. Haya was very impressed by his abilities.[10]