Gray Noton
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Grey Norton | |
|---|---|
| Personal | |
| Also known as | Legend Killer |
| Born | 2985 |
| Died | 5 May 3027 |
| Profile | |
| Profession | Mercenary Arena Gladiator Spy |
Contents
Description
Gray Noton (b. 2985[1] - d. 5 May 3027) was an early 31st century MechWarrior, mercenary, information broker, and seven-time Solaris VII Champion. His 'Mech was the famous Legend-Killer, an appellation that was also used for Noton himself.
Described as a "physically large muscular man, bald, with a bull-neck"[2], he was half Lyran Commonwealth and half Free Worlds League in nationality.[3]
Character History
Early Days on Solaris
Reportedly arriving on Solaris VII as a stowaway, the young Noton started his career with a minor (unnamed) class One stable. The driven MechWarrior swiftly rose through ranks but declined to move into the Unlimited Class despite numerous offers. At age 25, Noton left Solaris VII to fight as a mercenary in the periphery before returning five years later in 3015 at the controls a brand-new Rifleman, finally announcing his intention to complete in the Class Five arenas.[1]
Champion
While many people, including his most ardent supporters, were skeptical that Noton would be able to compete against assault 'Mechs in an undistinguished low-end heavy class design such as a Rifleman. Noton silenced his doubters, overcoming more favored 'Mechs like the BattleMaster and Stalker as he won victory after victory.[1] After winning his Solaris Championship in the Class 5 Arenas, Noton and his Rifleman were nicknamed "Legend-Killer".[4] Shortly after earning his Championship, he became an information broker.
During the second-to-last bout of his second Championship run, Noton faced Hoftsteder, a MechWarrior from the Fitzhugh Stables piloting a Victor in the Coliseum on 15 August 3017. Acquainted with Fitzhugh Stables' training tactics for the Steiner Stadium and the strengths and weaknesses of the Rifleman and Victor, Noton divined his opponent's jumping maneuver, unexpectedly closed with his foe and delivered a crippling attack. Playing to the crowd, Noton exulted in another victory and privately gloated that people still underestimated him, and that once his new Rifleman was ready he would defeat any opponent on the Game World.[5]
The seemingly unbeatable Gray Noton remained champion for an unprecedented seven years running, a record no other combatant has achieved, before he chose to retire in 3022. While in public Noton ran a modest import/export business in his retirement, in secret he maintained a lucrative side-line as an information broker while also dabbling in espionage and assassination.[1]
The Kittery Attack
Noton was recruited by the Capellan Confederation to raid the former Confederation world of Kittery, lost to the Federated Suns during the waning years of the Third Succession War, in late November 3026. Leading a battalion of Cicadas, Noton had his forces ambush the Kittery academy cadre. However, he was kept from participating in the battle by a MechWarrior piloting a Valkyrie. It kept him tied up for the battle and damaged his Rifleman, while his battalion was surprisingly repulsed without his leadership by the well-trained cadets. While Noton in turn bested the Valkyrie (maiming its pilot in the process), with long odds for victory he and the remaining forces of his battalion withdrew from the planet.
Back on Solaris VII, Noton met with his Capellan contact Tsen Shang on January 15 3027 in Thor's Shieldhall in Valhalla and learned that one Major Justin Allard had piloted the Valkyrie on Kittery. Privately, Noton was impressed by Allard's skill and regretted sparing his life once he heard that Allard was no longer able to pilot a BattleMech due to injuries sustained. Shang arranged Noton's payment for his mission by arranging a rigged fight between Davion champion Philip Capet and the Teng brothers (Fuh Teng and Sze Teng).
Noton next met with Enrico Lestrade, the Baron von Summer and nephew of Aldo Lestrade, who contacted him to plan and execute the hijacking of a Monarch-class DropShip named the Silver Eagle. With Lestrade was Countess Kym Sorenson. After the Countess left, Noton demanded more money from the Baron, hinting about the many risks of hijacking a DropShip.[6]
Later Philip Capet, who had won thirteen fights in a row to that point, dared Gray to fight him. Noton simply replied that he did not care for Capet's ego or his hatred of Capellans, but that Capet had better stay away from him or he would come back to kill him.
In February, Enrico Lestrade invited Noton to a stadium box where he was hosting a party. Noton was paid for his services with a 50,000 C-Bill betting ticket for Billy Wolfson to beat Fuh Teng in a BattleMech match. Noton, knowing the game was rigged, accepted the fee. However, the fight was actually scheduled between two 'Mechs and didn't stipulate specific pilots. Justin Xiang Allard, by now himself a rising star on Solaris VII after experimental surgery had restored his ability to pilot a 'Mech, had knocked out Fuh Teng before the fight, assumed his place, and went on to defeat Wolfson in the fight that Wolfson had been expected to win. Noton was angry about losing money, but was intrigued by Allard. Since Enrico Lestrade had invited the winner of the match before the fight began (expecting Wolfson), Noton came into contact with Xiang at the party and began to establish a working relationship with the rising star.
It was through this cooperation that Allard, studying Noton's private library of recordings, recognized that the Rifleman back on Kittery must have been piloted by none other that Noton. Allard also found out about the planned DropShip hijacking.
Tsen Shang discovered the body of Noton on the 5th of May in his office, his neck snapped. Allard would go on to pilot Noton's famous Rifleman "Legend Killer" to beat Philip Capet who had unwisely challenged him, and ended up winning the championship to great fanfare.[7] It is strongly implied, but not stated outright, that Allard had killed Noton.
Character Notes
Gray Noton was noted for being an excellent MechWarrior. He holds the record for longest reign as Solaris Champion, at seven years.
While undeniably highly skilled, Noton's success in the Class 5 arenas even against assault 'Mechs that greatly outmassed his humble Rifleman led to much speculation over the nature and providence of his 'Mech, suggesting it was upgraded with superior technology or actually much heavier than a regular Rifleman (see Legend-Killer).
As an intelligence broker, he had connections with every major state's spy network on Solaris VII.[8]
BattleMechs
He piloted a Rifleman named Legend-Killer.
Titles and Positions
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Solaris VII: The Game World - Player's Book, p. 17 "MechWarrior's Guide to the Game World Solaris VII - The Great Ones - Champions of Solaris"
- ↑ Warrior: En Garde, p. 216
- ↑ Warrior: En Garde, p. 205
- ↑ Warrior: En Garde, p. 43
- ↑ MechWarrior Online, "Story of the Legend-Killer"
- ↑ Warrior: En Garde, pp. 45-47
- ↑ Warrior: En Garde, p. 289
- ↑ Warrior: En Garde, p. 206