Death Oath

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The Death Oath was a tradition within the Waco Rangers Mercenary Unit. It ensured that no Wolf's Dragoons personnel received any mercy upon capture. This tradition was created by Wayne Waco after witnessing the death of his only son, John Waco, at the hands of the Dragoons.[1] [2]

Origins

The Death Oath started in 3007 when Wayne Waco and his Mercenary unit was employed by the Lyran Commonwealth to repel the Wolf's Dragoons. During the battle, John Waco was surrounded by a lance of Dragoon BattleMechs focusing fire on his Wasp until it was destroyed. Fortunately, John was able to eject and hide from the enemy 'Mechs, but the young Waco would not last for long. As one of the Ranger's Mechs spotted the young MechWarrior, they made a quick dash to save him. However a Dragoon Stalker, targeting the 'Mech decided to engage the 'Mech trying to save John, and unaware of the downed pilot, stepped on him, killing the young Waco instantly. The elder Waco was in shock of what happened and after the battle ended, he would bring charges against the Dragoons for killing his son. Two sides of the story were brought to the ComStar Mercenary Review Board's attention: Wayne and his Rangers accused the Wolf's Dragoons of deliberately murdering John in cold blood, while Jaime Wolf and his Dragoons maintained their innocence claim that his death was an accident. After the evidence was reviewed, it was concluded that the Dragoons were cleared of any wrongdoing regarding the charge. A furious Wayne Waco decided to take matters into his own hands by creating the "Death Oath", as a way to get revenge on the Wolf's Dragoons.[1] [2]

Effects

Waco's Death Oath affect the Rangers personnel both emotionally and economically. On an emotional standpoint, Waco's personnel felt the impact of John Waco's death, when the Oath was given, some members would sympathize with Colonel Wayne's revenge while others saw this as an act of betrayal of what the unit stood for. As for the economic effect, many members within the Rangers would stay to honor the oath, with some of them walking away from the mercenary unit altogether in disgust. New recruits joining the Waco Rangers would now have to accept the Death Oath as a new standard.[1] [2]

It would also affect how the Waco Rangers pursued their contracts. Waco's Death Oath would ensure that the Rangers would not work for any Successor State that also employed the Dragoons, with every contract signed by the Rangers including a clause that if their employer was planning to hire the Dragoons, they would have to provide advance warning of their decision to allow the mercenaries to let their contract expire. Chancellor Maximilian Liao would be the first to run afoul of this clause when he hired the Dragoons in mid-3011, with Waco declaring his then current contract with the Confederation void with the Rangers raiding Liao supply bases on Korion before departing Liao space. Though Liao was livid, as he was the one who breached the terms of the agreed contract there was little he could do but seethe in anger.[1] [3]

The Death Oath would eventually cause the downfall of both Colonel Waco and his Mercenary unit. While the Colonel succeeded in killing Jaime Wolf, he himself was also killed in the battle. The Wolf's Dragoons would later survive the Jihad in a weakened state, as Wayne Waco and his Rangers would permanently be destroyed throughout the Jihad.[4]

Bibliography

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mercenary's Handbook, p. 84 "Waco Rangers - Brief History - Sworn Enemies - From Liao to Kurita"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook), p. 127 Friends and Enemies - Waco Rangers
  3. Combat Manual: Mercenaries, p. 69 "Waco Rangers"
  4. Dawn of the Jihad, p. 31