Liz Nostra

Liz Nostra
Personal
Born	9 December 3103
Affiliation	Spirit Cats
Profile
Rank	Star Captain
Profession	MechWarrior

Star Captain Liz Nostra was a MechWarrior, serving with the Spirit Cats' Shiva Keshik, and Bloodnamed warrior of the Nostra Bloodhouse, during the Dark Age Era.

Personal Appereance

Liz had black hair, gray eyes and dark skin.

History

Blackout

At the peak of her career just before the Blackout, with an impressive record of service to Clan Nova Cat and the Republic of the Sphere against pirates and raiders, the loss of HPG communications shook Liz's worldview to its core. Depressed at her failure to obtain a vision of the way forward, her performance suffered, resulting in a loss of her command rank. She was however able to retain a position within Shiva Keshik, serving under Marat Deleportas in an Alpha Striker Star, alongside Kevin Nostra, Sixo Nova Cat, and Lejac Nova Cat

Still lost and confused as of 3133, Liz's faith in Galaxy Commander Kev Rosse's vision for the Spirit Cats was questionable, and she continued to hope the Republic and normalcy could be restored.

Second Battle of Addicks

Returned to a command role with the rank of Star Captain, in April 3133 Liz commanded the Spirit Cats force tasked to capture Addicks, as part of a second Battle of Addicks, from the defending Northwind Highlanders commanded by Captain Naomi Katina. Aiming her initial assault on the oil fields located in the plains of Jesara, Liz's Spirit Cats were able to catch the defenders off guard, and pushed them back after a pitched battle.

This however proved to only be a diversion, with Liz's true target being Addick's capital city Saint Randall, leaving the defenders rushing unsuccessfully to reposition. This left the Highlanders the task of trying to recapture Saint Randall, a conflict which quickly became a stalemate, with both sides slowly feeding reinforcements into the meatgrinder. During these battles, Liz clashed with her subordinate Malisa Nova Cat with increasing intensity, over Nostra's frustration at Malisa's highly aggressive combat tactics.

The fighting for Saint Randall eventually became to much for the defending Highlanders however, who were forced to retreat off-world in defeat, leaving the Spirit Cats in possession of the world.

Battle for Ruchbah

In June 3133, Liz also commanded the Spirit Cat taskforce assigned by Kev Rosse to capture the Michaelson Heavy Industries factory on Ruchbah, which landed on world at the same time as a Steel Wolves unit under the command of a Star Colonel Ulan. Landing in the DropShip Vagabond together with Star Commander Susan Drummond, in a combat drop on the city of Rook which was simultaneous with the Steel Wolves, the Spirit Cats were able to successfully win the initial engagement.

Moving to take the Michaelson Heavy Industries factory near Verlinshire, Liz and the Spirit Cats established a defensive base, but were attacked again by the Wolves from an unexpected direction across the frozen Lake Sharpe. Taken by surprise by Wolf artillery while scouting with Susan Drummond, Liz was able to alert the Cats of the approaching assault, and their entrenched base proved too much for the Wolf offensive. Liz then launched an opportunist counter-assault before either side had repaired their damage suffered, which proved enough to force the Wolves to retreat from Ruchbah.

Battle for Tybalt

Finally receiving the vision she had long sought on Ruchbah, Liz came to Jacob Bannson's headquarters on Tybalt, seeking redemption in claiming the world as part of the Battle of Tybalt in 3133. Commencing her invasion with an initial thrust towards the seaport city of Port Duncan on the Oberon continent, which was defended by elements of the Bannson's Raiders under Captain Charles Oles, Liz was able to quickly secure her target.

Liz was then used ocean-going freighters launched from Port Duncan as part of an diversionary assault on Hamlet Beach, which successfully drew off Oles and his Raiders from her main attack in dense woodlands near Tybalt’s capital city of MacBeth, which again resulted in Oles retreating from the Spirit Cats.

The way now open to MacBeth itself, Liz drove for the city. While Oles was able to mount a defense of Bannson Universal Unlimited's headquarters building, the Spirit Cats assault proved to much, and Oles was forced to flee off-world. This battle gave Liz a victory over the "two-headed beast" she had seen in a vison, being Oles and his split personalities.

BattleMech

Nostra was known to pilot a Crimson Hawk BattleMech, serial number BSS571-08H, that she named Wanderer to reflect for own uncertain future. Built by Clan Blood Spirit, Liz preferred to use this 'Mech as a mobile sniper, befitting its status as a light 'Mech.

Quotes

“	In the darkness, a thousand un-trod paths Beckon our blindness, sirens for stopped eyes. With courage unshaken, grasp Ways of Seeing, Sniffing paths for truth, claws unsheathed; questing the light. Liz Nostra through a dozen battles, a true Nova Cat warrior, Victory – steps closer down the path . . . refuge! Her victory on the shoulders of warriors great and small, He from Blood House [sic] Drummond, Who reminded the Cats of their Dragon heritage. Enemies abound, Allies stretch their hands across the darkness.	”
	— The Remembrance (Spirit Cats), Passage 2, Verse 3, Lines 1–10

Bibliography

• Black Rain: The Battle for Addicks
• MechWarrior: Dark Age - Dossiers and Pilot Cards
• MechWarrior: Dark Age - Sneak Peeks
• Redemption: The Battle for Tybalt!
• Trial of Destiny: The Battle for Ruchbah