Editing Hannibal Banacek

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{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Hannibal Banacek.jpg
| caption             = Hannibal Banacek
| name                = 
| birthdate           = [[3037]]
| died                = 
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[Clan Star Adder]]
| rank                = [[IlKhan of the Clans|ilKhan]]
| title               = 
| position            = 
| profession          = [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]]
| parents             = 
| siblings            = 
| spouse              = 
| children            = 
}}
'''Hannibal Banacek''' was [[saKhan of Clan Star Adder|saKhan]] and [[Khan of Clan Star Adder|Khan]] of [[Clan Star Adder]], and the final [[ilKhan of the Clans]] during the events of the [[Wars of Reaving]].<ref name=WOR183>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 183: "Hannibal Banacek Profile"</ref>

==History==
===Early life===
Born of the [[Banacek (Bloodname)|Banacek]] and [[Talasko (Bloodname)|Talasko bloodlines]], Hannibal was the only member of his ''[[sibko]]'' to graduate as a warrior. Despite his pro-[[Warden Clans|Warden]] leanings and outspoken criticism of the [[Crusader Clans|Crusader]] ideology, which made him a target for many Trials early in his career, Hannibal's tactical skills ensured his challengers' failure even as he rose through the ranks. In [[3057]] he won the Banacek [[Bloodname]] and by [[3059]] was commanding the [[5th Assault (Clan Star Adder)|5th Assault Cluster]] in his Clan's [[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Star Adder)|Alpha Galaxy]]. In this prestigious post Banacek was repeatedly commended by his superiors for his resourcefulness and battlefield flair. During the [[Burrock Absorption]] it was under his command that the outnumbered 5th spearheaded the charge at Fort Weller which broke [[Clan Blood Spirit]]'s defenses and forced them to withdraw from [[Albion (Clan System)|Albion]].<ref>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 123: "Alpha Galaxy: Old Blood and Guts"</ref><ref name=WOR183/>

In [[3067]] Banacek rose to command Alpha Galaxy, succeeding [[Dante Truscott]] when the latter became saKhan.<ref name=FM:Up73>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 73</ref>

===Wars of Reaving===
In December [[3071]], following the death of saKhan Truscott at the Blood Spirits' hands, Hannibal Banacek was elected as his replacement.<ref name=WoRp104>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 104</ref> In the following years, Banacek led the Adders' Alpha and [[Delta Galaxy (Clan Star Adder)|Delta Galaxies]] in eradicating [[Dark Caste]] and [[Society]] forces from Adder holdings on [[Brim]], [[Homer]], and [[Tathis]], as well annihilating the resurgent [[Clan Burrock]] in the [[Tanis|Tanite Worlds]]. These operations took their toll on him seeing the raw amount of lives lost at the Adder enclaves. It changed him from decidedly pro-[[Warden]] leanings to apply to that of the Clans.{{cn}} Hannibal was responsible for the subjugation of [[Stacha]] and the elimination of the Society's main laboratory complex and human prison pens on Cocyra Island.

After ilKhan [[Brett Andrews]] killed Khan [[Stanislov N'Buta]], there was a declaration that [[Clan Steel Viper]] was the last remaining taint in Clan space. His act to bludgeon the once mighty leader of the Clans for the un-Clanlike killing of his Khan won him a great deal of respect from the other Khans present. With the respect of the Clan leaders and his stellar battle history he became the ilKhan for the Viper Annihilation, which he directed from the [[WarShip]] ''[[McKenna's Pride]]'', for his symbolism.<ref>''Icons of War'', p. 65</ref>

After preventing massive amounts of losses during the Viper Annihilation, it was the hope of the Clan leadership that Hannibal would stay the ilKhan in order to prepare for a renewed invasion. Instead he stepped down and took up Khanship of the Star Adders, after setting several guidelines in place to foster [[Clan]] growth and repair.

The ilKhan barely had time to settle on Strana Mechty before facing a new challenge. On 5 April 3076, he received news of an unknown force attacking [[Katyusha City]]. He contacted the [[Ebon Keshik]] headquarters, asking for information. The officer in charge, [[Star Captain]] [[Bhu Telinov]], told him that an unknown enemy [[Trinary]] was attacking the center of the city. The only defending unit, a Trinary of the [[Katyusha Guard]], was being torn to pieces. Banacek agreed to lend help, sending both of the Adders's Command Keshiks to assist.<ref>''Icons of War'', p. 101</ref>

The ilKhan personally led the counterattack. After reaching the attacking forces, he contacted them and offered a chance to surrender. The leader of the Trinary, identified as the [[Retribution Wraiths]], Star Captain [[Stas]], laughed at him and explained how they hated the Grand Council and why. The Adders were forced to kill all the Wraiths.<ref>''Icons of War'', pp. 122–123</ref>

Soon after, Banacek, still wearing his MechWarrior suit, presented himself at the Ebon Keshik command center. There he was informed that the Wraiths' attack was a distraction to allow an unknown party to steal the ''McKenna's Pride'', led by warrior [[Kyne]]. The ilKhan began giving orders to stop the fleeing WarShip.<ref>''Icons of War'', pp. 130–131</ref>

Later, Banacek ordered two ships to stay in orbit to coordinate the ''Pride''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s hunt, but in vain: the ship escaped. The next day, the ilKhan presented himself again at the Ebon Keshik's headquarters. There, he reprimanded the leaders for their failure, but didn't punish them. He also gave them new orders: officially, the unknown attackers should be presented as one of [[The Society]]'s cells, and that the Great Father's body would be recovered in space and buried in a monumental tomb. But all that was a simple cover-up to hide their failure, and Kerensky's body, in fact, would be Stas's, after some alterations. He ordered Telinov and Kyle, who gave him the idea, to find who was really responsible for the attack, before departing.<ref>''Icons of War'', pp. 177–179</ref>

==BattleTech==
As Khan, and later ilKhan, Banacek's personal [[DropShip]] was ''[[Serpent's Fang (DropShip)|Serpent's Fang]]'', of unknown class.

==Notes==
The name "Hannibal Banacek" is a portmanteau of two characters played by the actor George Peppard: John "Hannibal" Smith from the TV series ''The A-Team'' and Thomas Banacek from the TV series ''Banacek''.{{cn}}

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Field Manual: Crusader Clans]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Icons of War]]''
* ''[[The Wars of Reaving]]''


[[Category:Clan Star Adder Characters|Banacek, Hannibal]]
[[Category:saKhans|Banacek, Hannibal]]
[[Category:Khans|Banacek, Hannibal]]
[[Category:IlKhans|Banacek, Hannibal]]