Richard Burr

Richard Burr
Character Profile
Died 3068[1]
Affiliation Burr's Black Cobras
Rank Colonel
Profession MechWarrior
Children Dana Burr


Richard Burr was the Mercenary Commander for the Burr's Black Cobras until his death in 3068.

History[edit]

Operation Guerrero[edit]

Colonel Burr, leading the Cobras, was hired to participate in Operation Guerrero under Thomas Marik's orders. They were sent to take the planet Zurich. They easily succeeded in this objective. After the "liberation" of Zurich, he became the de facto second in command under the new Capellan leader, Xu Ning. His Cobras helped him to support the regime, but the colonel never assisted in committing Xu Ning's atrocities, viewing them uncomfortably.[2] Only after the Dancing Joker resistance group began to seriously threaten Xu Ning's regime survival did he help his "partner", and then only indirectly. During a dinner together, he suggested to Xu that they should attempt to infiltrate someone into the Joker's group, a suggestion that Xu accepted and executed immediately.[3] On 18 December, Burr agreed to Xu's request to help him capture the Joker's group. He had managed to successfully place a man inside the group. Burr also had to inform Xu Ning of the new orders he had received from Thomas Marik, which ordered him to move his group to the planet Nanking to help secure the planet.[4] But the Cobras' final operation on Zurich wasn't a success. The Jokers manipulated both Xu Ning and Burr. The attack they launched was only a distraction. While they managed to capture the Joker's girlfriend, the Joker's group attacked the Black Cobras' base and destroyed it. Before he departed Burr was forced to give his prisoner to Xu Ning. As Burr is reported to have survived the disastrous landing on Nanking, he must have been in the DropShip Mamba, the only one that managed to avoid destruction.[5]


Vendetta[edit]

Burr was a changed man in the wake of the Nanking debacle, developing a fanatical drive to see the Black Cobras restored along with an intense hatred of Thomas Marik.[6]

Personality[edit]

The Colonel has always been professional in his line of work. His men never committed war crimes, and only assisted Xu Ning's regime within the bounds of his contract's terms. He didn't want to surrender the Joker's girlfriend to Xu Ning as he knew what the Capellan would do her. Ultimately, however, Burr realized he had no other options.[7] Burr defined himself as a Christian.

Other Appearances[edit]

Apocryphal Content Starts

The information after this notice comes from apocryphal sources; the canonicity of such information is uncertain.
Please view the reference page for information regarding their canonicity.


Colonel Burr was running Burr's Black Cobras on Halloran V. After running into Spectre and his crew on Wernke, he would attack with his company of mechs.[8]

"This is Colonel Burr of the Black Cobra's. Today my boy, you are going to get a lesson in payback!"
  — Colonel Burr to Spectre after the events of Halloran V
  • Richard Burr appears in the MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries PC game as an enemy called "Colonel Burr". Colonel Burr would encounter Spectre on Talon/Wernke, harboring a grudge if he decided to destroy Lt. Dunman's lance on Halloran V. Colonel Burr pilots a Summoner Omnimech which is possible to be salvaged after the battle. However, Spectre has the option to fight or avoid him depending on the choice to forgo the Werkne/Talon Campaign, where he could be killed.[8]

Apocryphal Content Ends

References[edit]

  1. Turning Points: Arcturus, p. 10
  2. Bred for War p. 232
  3. Bred for War p. 258
  4. Bred for War p. 319
  5. Bred for War p. 365
  6. Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 48 "Burr's Black Cobras: Iron Will"
  7. Bred for War p. 336
  8. 8.0 8.1 MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries: Talon

Bibliography[edit]