Evan Kaiple

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Evan Kaiple
Personal
AffiliationRepublic of the Sphere
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ProfessionMechWarrior

Evan Kaiple was a MechWarrior in the Republic Armed Forces.

History

Sheratan

By January 3135, Evan Kaiple served under Captain Pozzi[1] assigned to Pittston, in Sheratan inside in Prefecture IV. He passes the days patrolling while seeing that the people is getting more hostile to RAF forces by the day.[2] As days pass, he sees that people is getting hostile and more organized, and he hints that maybe a revolt is brewing.[3] On February his theories are somehow confirmed as RAF forces come under Artillery attacks, which means that some faction is backing up the planet's malcontents[4] The rebellion though is not very well-planned as RAF forces crush them. After that action, in his journal he explains that he feels his unit is going to be shipped elsewhere.[5]

His feeling proves to be right when he finds himself in the JumpShip Stone's Arm and being told they are moving to another prefecture. Gossip on the ship is destination is Prefecture V, and his diaries show he wants a front was post.[6] Transit is not straightforward, and some infighting between the crew, even himself happens.[7]

Styk

His unit arrives at Lorelei, Styk, Prefecture V near the end of February, where he is very surprised to be assigned to protect Tao 'Mechworks.[8] After digging on the news, he finds out he has been assigned there because a reporter named Jacquie Blitzer on New Aragon wrote about some problems were brewing on Styk.[9] Itching for action, asked to go on patrol on the 4th of March 3135.[10] Days stay calm until the 14th of same month, when a hovercar crosses a line he should not have crossed and it is destroyed by defending units, him among them.[11]

Just four days after that, his unit is moved by the Heart of Stone DropShip to another planet[12] and transported by the Hercules X JumpShip. His unit is still under Captain Ponzi's orders.[13] He is moved to the Liberty to the front. While reading the news, he finds out that Jacob Bannson had married a high-ranking Capellan Confederation citizen.[14]

Elnath

His unit does a combat drop on Elnath trying to dislodge Capellan Confederation forces already on planet,[15] but things get worse, as it turns out that not only Capellan forces, but even Mercenaries or Militia are against them and they keep pushing RAF forces.[16] By the 8th of April 3135 he is on the run, separated from his unit and trying not to give up his position.[17] After more than a week wandering alone in the icy wastes of the planet, he reunites with RAF forces, though not his unit, and he is able to get some sleep.[18] When news on his unit came, he discovers that half his unit is dead and that most of the living are incapacitated. He is also told that RAF forces are outnumbered and that they can't get off planet. And as a final gem he is told that the Exarch dissolved the Senate about two weeks ago.[19] With just a few sleep and just some refreshment, RAF enemies came in hard, though RAF got some warning, which barely allowed them to move, and see that Capellan forces blasted the ground behind us. He describes the first leg of the retreat as terrible, because any mechanical failure, even something minor like stumbling in the snow or slipping on ice, and you were doomed. RAF lost half a dozen 'Mechs and an unknown amount of vehicles in just 10 minutes. RAF forces had no strategy beyond just running, but at least we had a seam to squeeze through. That was the price they paid for coming at us: they couldn't keep us totally surrounded. He feels that RAF forces had one chance, and hopefully it'll be enough.[20]

RAF forces are able to escape of planet, him feeling they were defeated, routed to be more exact. He is in DropShip Unvanquished, and he discovers Styk has fallen and now Tao 'Mechworks is creating 'Mechs for the CCAF.[21] The Heart of Stone is transporting him to another unknown destination after RAF forces lost Elnath. He thinks he is going to be sent to fight Clan Jade Falcon.[22] They get a lot of training while traveling, fighting simulated battles against several different enemies.[23] Still on transit, on the 13th May 3135 he gets into a good fistfight while defending Exarch Jonah Levin.[24] Still in transit on May, his unit is moved through different JumpShips, the Intrepid,[25] then the Kerensky's Dream with his new CO suddenly demanding stricter adherence to protocol and increasing training for fighting against Clan Jade Falcon forces[26]

Skye

The unit discovers that the next mission is in Skye. His unit doing a combat drop in DropShip Blaze of Glory. The direct drop on top of Falcon forces expects to find half a regiment or so stationed at an old base, called Base Shetland, a couple hundred kilometers from New London. Their mission is a smash and go extracting somebody.[27][28] The mission does not start well, as no Clan forces are in the base and then they are attacked by Falcon units that had been hidden nearby.[28] RAF forces are scattered and his unit draws some pursuit, some artillery, some infantry, and some of 'Mechs (an Ursa, a Koshi and a Hatchetman). Evan and his unit took to the hills and divided into two groups of two. He makes a wide circle and avoid artillery, and they counterattacked by jumping over a small hill and hammered Clan forces completely blowing them off the hill. But the three Falcon 'Mechs all went after the other two from his squad and he hasn't heard from them, so they prepare to track them down.[29] He and his teammate found the Falcon 'Mech's tail and go in a four to three fight, where they down the Koshi and this makes the other two Clan 'Mechs run.[30] Globally, the fight for the base is a mess, as it exchanges sides every time to time, and he and his lance friend are always at the other side of the Jade Falcon blockade of the base.[31] After several days trying to reunite with RAF forces they got ambushed and only he is barely able to arrive to the base.[32][33] He is assigned to patrol duty in another 'Mech while his is being repaired. While on patrol, he finds his colleagues rest and the RAF is able to bring him back to be buried.[34]

RAF forces are pulled of planet in the Unvanquished after the arrival of Knight Castor Hobbes and some fresh forces having completed their task. First he is happy on this and hopes for a new assignment, but he discover the planet was lost after three days for the Knight's incompetence.[35][36] On mid July hi is still in travel in the JumpShip Indomitable towards and unknown destination, though he thinks most probably they are going to the new border of Prefecture II or III.[37] They are told their target is Shinonoi, the Matsuda continent, not far from the capital, a zone best described as thousands of kilometers of farmland. Commanders ask their troops to think on tactics for low cover.[38] He thinks on using 'Mechs as bait and lead enemy to corn crops where combat vehicles and battle armor can surprise them,[39] and passes the revised tactic to chain of command.[40]

Shinonoi

His unit lands in Shinonoi, and the best estimates put the nearest enemy about 250 km to the north. We're setting up Base Camp here, and then we’ll move out. He is assigned to a new platoon, led by Captain Michelle Cane[41] RAF forces are exhausted after three days of a 250 km winding march, wading through the ripe fields because enemy fire came in every time RAF made a move forward plus some skirmishes where patrols of light 'Mechs, two or three in a group that appear hidden, and though RAF forces outnumbered and outweighed DCMS forces each time and the fights weren't difficult, they were annoying and tiring. When finally in position for the real fighting, they are exhausted.[42] And things go bad. Combined assault—'Mechs, infantry and aerial support block their path. RAF forces are mostly ordered to take a new position, and then abandon it. He feels the planet will be lost, but thinks that how long RAF holds DCMS forces here may determine how many other worlds the RAF will lose.[43] RAF keeps with their delaying tactics. His unit got to a river that coursed through a 15-meter-deep ravine. Slopes were gentle enough to let us walk down easily, but steep enough that we could quickly disappear from view. We went down, and Captain Cane gave the order immediately: to move to their left flank. We ran, breaking away from the main force, which stayed the course to draw their fire. Then we came out of the ravine hard. DCMS forces weren't entirely surprised, but they weren't expecting RAF forces to come on so fast. DCMS forces left gave a little, and then the whole front rippled. The timing was perfect: The bulk of RAF force turned right there and hit them while they were confused. They fell back, and we chased them all day.[44] On the 7th of September 3135 he got a good little duel today. He caught up to a Rokurokubi that got separated from its squad and took it on.[45] After so many days of fighting, RAF forces are finally near Rising Sun City.[46] RAF tries to conquer the city block by block. Evan is not happy with that tactic because securing buildings forgets that enemy has jump-capable 'Mechs that can counter this tactic, but Captain Michelle Cane is adamant on this.[47] He is proven right when DCMS finally attack from behind. The first wave charged RAF flank and had them reeling pretty quickly, and then a second wave dropped from above. Though DCMS lost most of their units in the second wave, they messed RAF forces up. Then end up scrambling and out of formation. The number of total losses unknown to him, but his unit still hasn't recovered. RAF forces are lost on unfamiliar streets that, suddenly, are filled with enemies waiting for an ambush.[48] By the 26th of September his unit hasn't yet regrouped and DCMS forces refuse to fully engage. They know this city too well, so they find a hiding place, wait, take a few potshots when they can, and then move on to a new hiding place.[49] Situation keeps as is, with several night attacks by DCMS forces.[50] And finally they get the retreat order. RAF forces are leaving again, beaten back.[51]

His unit retreats in the JumpShip Stonewall, but the ship is not moving. Captain Cane seems to know Fortress Republic has been established, but she does not tell him.[52] But it does not take long. The announcement of this is made on the 14th of October 3135. He sees that some people are going to go home first chance they get. Others are going to go mercenary, figuring they don't have a country anymore so they probably don't have a paycheck. Other, like Evan will stay. He thinks that though some circumstances have changed, the big picture hasn't. There's still a Republic and it still has enemies. So he will fight them.[53] Some days after this even, and while in the JumpShip, he gets a verigraphed message, his eyes only, and odd thing. And what it said only made it weirder: There is a meeting in the enlisted quarters of Company Bravo at 2300 hours next day. Hi will got, his curiosity picked.[54] He sees going to the meeting was a mistake. It was a sort of recruiting meeting for an unknown action, and they try to blackmail him with photos of his fight with another soldier a few months back. They think they have leverage on him.[55] He understands they want to mutiny and take all the ship. And they want him to be in a very specific place after two weeks, with a court martial for his previous acts as leverage.[56] He doesn't want to be court-martialed, he does not want to lose his 'Mech for even a second, so he picks the duty in the place he has been asked to, which gives him time to think on what he will actually do when the time is over.[57] The mutineers cut contact with him to avoid telling them their plan for the 11th November.[58] He decides on the 11th not to help the mutineers, when one of them comes asking him for codes. He outruns him and races hiding inside the JumpShip.[59] The mutiny fails, and he finds himself under arrest by the ship's brass, accused of conspiring to mutiny.[60] Under interrogation and trying to make his captors understand he foiled the mutiny.[61]

Back to Styx

He arrives to Styx and knows he will be put for a serious crime, the one he was being blackmailed for forgotten.[62] He awaits the trial impatiently as he wants to join the fight and help RAF forces.[63] The mutineers want him to go down with them and declare against him. In a case of one's words against another and with no proof of what happened in the secure chamber as security cameras were stopped, things look grim, but they make a mistake.[64] He reveals his proof in front of the tribunal: images taken while he was imprisoned of one of the mutineers' ringleaders making threads to him in range of a camera. Thanks to a decent lip reader the charges against him are dropped.[65] He is out in five days and put on probation. He thinks no for much as enemy is approaching.[66] After one day put to fight with a new company, where he finds Charisse Perry, whom he considers the best pilot in the group.[67] His lance was next to hers on the 22nd of December and these RAF forces pushed the DCMS line back a good ten kilometers, with Charisse leading the charge the whole way. She thinks she's got guts. The fighting in Styx turns to be a back and forth. RAF gets a ten-kilometer push on one side, DCMS responds by coming into the suburbs on the other. Neither side can get the upper hand for long. But this is one fight he won't run from. RAF command can order me him off if they want, but he will stay. He will be a one-man planetary militia if needed to be, but he is not giving up this ground.[68] Near the end of the year RAF forces make a coordinated push on all fronts, hitting the DCMS hard, shoving them back. They couldn't get an artillery shell within five kilometers of the suburbs after the action if they tried. He went one-on-one with a Centurion. The Centurion had the weight, but he had the speed, and he ran back and forth all afternoon, waiting to get the right angle on him, launching shots into his side, into his back, even charging him once or twice to keep him off balance. He took a lot of damage, but brought the Centurion down.[69]

It is not known what happened to him after 3135, but by 3136 Styx was in Draconis Combine hands.[70]

BattleMechs

Evan Kaiple piloted a Dasher.[71]

Notes

  • His journal never reveals under which RAF unit he serves.

References

  1. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 144: "19 January 3135"
  2. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 145: "21 January 3135"
  3. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 148: "31 January 3135"
  4. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 149: "02 February 3135"
  5. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 151: "09 February 3135"
  6. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 152: "14 February 3135"
  7. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 153: "18 February 3135"
  8. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 155: "23 February 3135"
  9. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 156: "28 February 3135"
  10. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 158: "04 March 3135"
  11. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 161: "14 March 3135"
  12. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 163: "18 March 3135"
  13. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 164: "23 March 3135"
  14. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 165: "28 March 3135"
  15. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 166: "30 March 3135"
  16. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 166: "01 April 3135"
  17. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 166: "08 April 3135"
  18. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 170: "13 April 3135"
  19. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 172: "20 April 3135"
  20. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 174: "25 April 3135"
  21. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 175: "29 April 3135"
  22. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 176: "04 May 3135"
  23. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 177: "09 May 3135"
  24. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 177: "13 May 3135"
  25. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 184: "18 May 3135"
  26. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 189: "27 May 3135"
  27. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 190: "01 June 3135"
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 192: "06 June 3135"
  29. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 194: "10 June 3135"
  30. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 197: "15 June 3135"
  31. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 198: "20 June 3135"
  32. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 199: "24 June 3135"
  33. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 200: "29 June 3135"
  34. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 202: "04 July 3135"
  35. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 203: "08 July 3135"
  36. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 204: "13 July 3135"
  37. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 205: "18 July 3135"
  38. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 206: "22 July 3135"
  39. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 207: "27 July 3135"
  40. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 208: "01 August 3135"
  41. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 216: "19 August 3135"
  42. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 217: "24 August 3135"
  43. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 218: "29 August 3135"
  44. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 219: "02 September 3135"
  45. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 220: "07 September 3135"
  46. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 221: "12 September 3135"
  47. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 222: "16 September 3135"
  48. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 224: "21 September 3135"
  49. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 227: "26 September 3135"
  50. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 228: "30 September 3135"
  51. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 229: "05 October 3135"
  52. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 230: "10 October 3135"
  53. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 231: "14 October 3135"
  54. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 231: "19 October 3135"
  55. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 233: "24 October 3135"
  56. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 234: "28 October 3135"
  57. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 236: "02 November 3135"
  58. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 237: "07 November 3135"
  59. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 238: "11 November 3135"
  60. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 239: "16 November 3135"
  61. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 240: "21 November 3135"
  62. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 241: "25 November 3135"
  63. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 242: "30 November 3135"
  64. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 243: "05 December 3135"
  65. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 244: "09 December 3135"
  66. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 245: "14 December 3135"
  67. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 247: "19 December 3135"
  68. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 248: "23 December 3135"
  69. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 249: "28 December 3135"
  70. ↑ Dark Age: LinkNet Articles (3136), p. 23: "Letters From Home -- Week 03"
  71. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 147: "28 January 3135"

Bibliography

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