Arik Arlansson

Arik Arlansson
Personal
Affiliation	Draconis Combine
Profile
Rank	Chu-sa
Profession	MechWarrior

Arik Arlansson was an officer in the DCMS.

History

He was born in the Free Rasalhague worlds when they were still part of the Draconis Combine, Arik Arlansson leads a battalion of MechWarrior cadets against a target on Ryde, expecting nothing but local militia opposition in accordance with ISF intelligence to prove his worthiness for House Kurita's Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.

C Company of the Twelfth Donegal Guards regiment under Hauptmann Dennis Rychert is stationed in the planet's far north on the Lesser Dasentica continent, only some thirty kilometers from the Kurita landing zone. Although the Kurita DropShip lands unnoticed amidst Ryde's volcanic ash clouds, the 'Mechs are detected on their way to the city of Nisibis and the Donegal Guards company, augmented by militia hovertanks, moves to intercept them. The scouting hovertanks are ambushed by a Kurita lance, taking losses, and Leftenant Galen Cox is lured into pursuing the enemy 'Mechs into a canyon where his 'Mech lance is ambushed by the rest of their company. Only the arrival of Hauptmann Rychert's assault lance saves Cox's lance and forces the attackers to retreat. However, a parting shot from a PPC scores a lucky hit that kills Rychert, leaving Cox suddenly in command of the company.

Both sides subsequently decide they must attack the other. Their forces clash in the Holland Vale, where Cox's heavier forces push the attackers back. Keen on maintaining the initiative, Cox decides to attack them at their landing zone once the enemy Overlord-class DropShip is found. With a double-layered feint, Cox draws the defenders out far enough to attack the DropShip. Arlansson stubbornly attempts to make a stand, but ultimately the Kurita DropShip lifts off, carrying barely two 'Mech lances out of the nine it came with.

Bibliography

• Vengeance (novella)