Melisandra DuBonnet

Eleanor Shimaze - Mid-31st Century Yakuza, MechWarrior, and Officer for Draconis Combine.

Character Description

Tai-su Eleanor Shimazu - Former commander of the 9th Ghost Regiment, she is dedicated to Theodore Kurita for free her from control of the bad elements of the Yakuza. She is also known as Lainie among her friends.

Early Life & Servitude on Hachiman

In her youth, she live on the world of Kagoshima, where she was a tomboy and enjoyed sports enjoyed partipating in sporting events.[1] Her father was wealthy when she was age 12 and he used his money to get her in excellent schools. However her tomboy-ish rebellion mentality gotten kicked out of those schools, which upsetted her father. As she matured into a young woman, one her father's Yakuza Leutnants betrayed him to other power hungry yahuza, which forced her to flee to Hachiman. There she came under the influnece of her "cousin". She was forced to submit under his will, it was only when Theodore Kurita freed her with his reforms did she find away out.[2] Coordinator's new mandiates allowed for yakuza member in the armed forces to answer only Coordinator and not their former yahuza bosses.

The 17th Recon and the Coming Storm

In August 3056, she and command staff of the 9th Ghost witness the arrival of the 17th Recon Regiment (aka Camacho's Caballeros) to garrison Uncle Chandy's Compound. She and her people begin to scope out the ganjin Mercenaries to see their strengths and weaknesses. Eventually, they meet in a bar which mercenaries had adopted and have friendly brawl with them. Lainie warms up to Bronco Company's commander, Captain Kali MacDougall, whom she shares kinship having both faced Clans and surviving in a "man's world."[3]

In early September, she meets with her cousin and former Yakuza master, Kazuo Sumiyama. He asks her about what she thinks of new arrivals and their abilities. She tweaks him inertly, since she despises him after years being controlled by him and being freed of him by the Coordinator's policies.[4]

She and rest of the 9th Ghost became fast friends 17th Recon, watching the do unbelievable piloting with there 'Mech experises for Uncle Chandy.[5] In early October, HTE is attacked by Word of Blake raiders. Lainie orders the deployment of the 9th, but is stopped by Earl of Hachiman, Percival Fillington. He orders no BattleMechs are to deploy from her base. She obeys the order, but organizes her troops take vehicle with infantry gear to support her mercenary friends.[6]

On November 1st, she was ordered by Planetary Governor Fillington to attack the HTE compound, due to apparent mutinied by her friend in the 17th Recon Regiment. She also called to Kazuo by persuasive force by his goons so he may talk to her.[7] At her cousins' headquarters , Kazuo tells her that he disappointed in her actions/feelings towards mercenaries. This has shamed him and his organization, there for she is forced to a tone for her behavior to her cousin, by cutting her left finger off in Yakuza ritual of Yubitsume.[8]

Siege of H.T.E. Compound

On November 2nd, the Day of the Dead holiday, Eleanor assembles her regiment at outskirts of the compound demands for the surrender of 17th Recon and release their "captive". Colonel Don Camacho politely refuse when citing her hesitation in answering question of his people treatment and he being prayed to protect Lord Chandrasekhar Kurita and his compound from attack.[9]

She split her force by battalion, she lead 1st Battalion in frontal assault against H.T.E. Compound's front in the north. She dispatches her 2nd Battalion to the south in flanking attack. In hopes to distract her former friends, she has commandos with SRM missiles hit the complex's walls else where. She held her 3rd Battalion in reserve waiting for the planet's two moons to lower the tide of the deep Yamato river, so they could conduct their surprise assault across unprotected flank of the fortress. However, Lainie and first battalion became caught in a trap set by her mercenary foes. She was forced to committed her Third Battalion early, but good timing moons tides lower the river enough for the her people to cross to attack the Compound from the west.

The battle began turn for the her Ghosts as she marched her battalion with the 2nd to the front wall as they withered barrages of artillery fire. Battering the mercenaries into a withdraw, she and her people stormed the Compound's northern walls.

As they press the fight into the Compound, Lainie is moved to tears as mercenary's singing Astech played tearful ballard of was forbidden their Colonel to play. She then realizing the song of lost daughter and heroine was also her beloved 9th Ghost's own which she now felt in spirit could not beat the her former friends.

Eleanor's Third Battalion was repulsed by efforts of last ditch defenders, including 17th Recon's commanding officer in his Timber Wolf, with now counter assault behind the 2nd Battalion, they too withdrew from the fight.

As she drove her Mauler to what she believe her doom, she ends up running into her old friend Kali MacDougall and equally battered Atlas. In brief exchanges she apologizing, but she must fight her even if the its through her. Fortunately she saved from fighting her friend, with ISF Assistant Director Ninyu Kerai-Indrahar announces on all general frequency that combat was over.[10]

Aftermath and Ascension

After the battle Eleanor, she and the Ghosts were seen as heroes. False story covering true events of the battle showing her and 17th Recon as heroes fighting undisclosed foe. She found her promoted within the yahuza to her "cousin's" former position. After her cousins sudden suicide flying his private aircraft into side of a cliff, she re-organized the Sumiyama with other Yakuza gang heads answering to her. She laughs as she admires newly reattached finger, while her boot rests next to canister containing head of her Kazuo.[11]

Coordinators' Birthday & the Destruction of the 9th Ghost


Notes

Eleanor callsign "Red Witch" among her regimental colleagues. Most command life of the 9th Ghost, piloted a Mauler Assault Mech. She tall woman, unafraid self less clothed due to her position as MechWarrior, she had red flaming hair.[12] She also known by duel names, Eleanor and Lainie.

References

  1. ↑ Close Quarters p. 162 - early life as tomboy and sports enthusiast.
  2. ↑ Close Quarters, pp 162-164 - Early Life, fleeing her homeworld, to Hachiman.
  3. ↑ Close Quarters, pp. 122-131 - Cassie and Kali start their friendship in unit's bar when Tai-su Shinini Shimazu and the 9th Ghost walk into the bar and introduce themselves.
  4. ↑ Close Quarters (p. 133-138) - Lainie is summoned to her cousin's headquarters trying exert control over her as used to prior to Coordinator Kurita's reforms.
  5. ↑ Close Quarters, pp.160-162 - Lainie and her people witness the 17th Recon's experises to show off their unusual piloting skills.
  6. ↑ Close Quarters, P.231-232, 240-241 - Eleanor's actutions during first attack against HTE's compound.
  7. ↑ Close Quarters, pp.304-307 - Lainie is called to Sumiyama headquarters just before she called into combat
  8. ↑ Close Quarters, pp.311-312 - Lainie is forced cut her finger off for helping the 17th Recon's people.
  9. ↑ Close Quarters, pp. 318-319 - Lainie is forced to ask for 17th Recon's surrendered knowing full well she being forced fight them.
  10. ↑ Close Quarters, pp. 322-325, 330-337, 342-345, 350-351, 363-364, 370-371, 375 - Lainie's actions during the Siege of H.T.E. Compound.
  11. ↑ Close Quarters, p. 382-384 - Eleanor life goes into upswing since her elevation as hero.
  12. ↑ Close Quarters, pp. 69, 318-319 - Mech and call signed noted. Her hair is noted flame red.

Bibliography

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