Karen Graham

Karen Graham
Character Profile
Affiliation Star League
Rank Lieutenant[1]
Profession MechWarrior

Karen Graham was the first Star League Defense Force Gunslinger graduate to win a duel.

History[edit]

The First Hidden War began after the Council Edict of 2650 forced many units of the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery to be disbanded. While this included a number of BattleMech regiments, the Combine MechWarriors were allowed to take their 'Mechs with them. Lacking steady employment, these ronin challenged other MechWarriors to tests of personal combat, first among their own Kuritan ranks and then eventually those of the SLDF. The first of these latter duels took place in 2681 on the planet Benjamin, where a Combine MechWarrior easily defeated her SLDF counterpart.[2]

As more soldiers fought and lost these duels, to both ronin and DCMS champions, the SLDF tried to determine how this was happening. After capturing a Combine 'Mech intact and determining that it was no more technologically advanced than Star League 'Mechs, they realized that it was superior training which contributed to these victories. Determined to prevent any further loss of men and honor, the Advanced Combat and Maneuvering Skills Project—later renamed the Gunslinger Program—was started to produce superior duelists to take on the Combine warriors. The new program included a wide range of material, from ancient Asian martial philosophies to advanced neural-thought technology. The first graduating class of 2687 consisted of fifty-two warriors, all of whom were stationed within the Draconis Combine.[1]

Following the success of Colonel Donovan Fresnel, who ten days earlier had fought a Combine champion on Minakuchi to a draw, Lieutenant Karen Graham was able to defeat a ronin MechWarrior on Awano.[1]

BattleMech[edit]

Karen Graham was known to pilot a Phoenix Hawk.[1]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Star League, p. 59
  2. The Star League, p. 58

Bibliography[edit]