Difference between revisions of "Matsuhari Toranaga"
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==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | + | ===Early Years=== | |
| + | Born to middle-class parents Toranaga spent part of his childhood on the streets of Yamashiro, [[New Samarkand]] when he was orphaned at the age of seven. Learning to pickpocket for survival, Toranaga became one of his city's premier thieves until he was caught three years later. Destined to spend the rest of his life in prison the young Matsuhari was instead adopted by Saburo Toranaga, a retired [[tai-sa]] from the [[Sword of Light]].<ref name=ER3145></ref> | ||
| − | + | Tutored by Saburo in the strictures of ''bushido'', Matsuhari was able to gain entrance to the [[Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy]] where he graduated with honors. Assigned to the [[Genyosha]], he saw action against both the [[Raven Alliance]] and [[Clan Ghost Bear]] but came to believe that neither foe was a worthy enemy and grew restless at the lack of a true opponent. This led to anger against the reigning Coordinator [[Vincent Kurita]], and Toranaga grew determined to remove him from the throne. He found the means to do so when he discovered the existence of [[Yori Kurita|Yori Sakamoto]], grandaughter of [[Franklin Sakamoto]] and thus great-grandaughter to the revered Coordinator [[Theodore Kurita]]. While thus descended from an illegitimate scion of the ruling house, Yori was still a Kurita by blood and therefore a perfect pawn in Toranaga's schemes.<ref name=ER3145></ref> <ref name=ER3145p89>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 89, "Yori Kurita profile"</ref> | |
| − | In [[3129]] | + | By the late 3120s Toranaga had risen to become [[Tai-shu|Warlord]] of the [[New Samarkand Military District]]. In [[3129]] he was the target of an assassination attempt while on the planet [[Kaznejoy]]. The role played by [[battle armor]] troops equipped with [[Kishi]] suits in foiling the assassination attempt and saving Toranaga had the effect of taking an already-successful form of battle armor and sealing its popularity with the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.<ref name="TRO3145DCp4">''Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine'', p. 4, "Kishi Battle Armor"</ref> |
| − | + | ===Gunji-no-Kanrei=== | |
| + | Years of plotting against Vincent Kurita paid off in early [[3137]] after a series of deaths that practically wiped out the Combine's ruling family. With the Coordinator along with both of his sons slain and no apparent surviving heirs, Toranaga was able to install his protege, now formally bestowed with the surname Kurita, as the new figurehead ruler of the Combine. For himself Toranaga secured the long-vacant position of ''[[Draconis_Combine_Mustered_Soldiery#Gunji-no-Kanrei|Gunji-no-Kanrei]]'', making him undisputed leader of the Combine military, and began preparations for a major campaign against House Kurita's historic enemy the [[Federated Suns]].<ref name=ER3145></ref> | ||
| − | + | The first step in this audacious vision would be the conquest of the long-disputed [[Draconis Reach]] in [[3139]]. In an unexpected move, Toranaga convinced [[Wolf's Dragoons]] to sign on with the Combine for the first time since the [[Fourth Succession War]]. The current leadership of the Dragoons agreed to end their legendary feud with House Kurita and proceeded to drive all [[AFFS]] forces out of the Reach by the end of 3139. Toranaga then informed them of their next assignment: spearheading an all-out assault upon the Federated Suns itself in [[3141]].<ref name=ER3145p21-22>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 21-22, "Dragon Rising"</ref> | |
| + | |||
| + | Toranaga's invasion plans were temporarily derailed that same year when a [[Draconis March]] counterattack into the Reach sparked a much more serious crisis. Coordinator Vincent's daughter [[Emi Kurita]], who'd survived the destruction of her family, arose from hiding with a son, Daisuke. Presenting him as a more legitimate claimant to the throne than Yori, Emi and her supporters in [[Clan Nova Cat]] and the DCMS took advantage of the fighting in the Draconis Reach to instigate the [[Draconis Combine Civil War]]. Despite some setbacks, however, Toranaga prevailed over the rebels by early [[3143]] and ruthlessly destroyed any future threats to Yori Kurita from either Clan Nova Cat or rival Kurita claimants.<ref name=ER3145p31-32>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 31-32, "Savage Tumult"</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Vanquisher of the Suns=== | ||
| + | Fortunately for Toranaga, Wolf's Dragons and the ''[[Ryuken]]'' had been able to prevent their Federated Suns opponents from making any headway in the Draconis Reach throughout the rebellion, and so preparations for the invasion were able to resume uninterrupted. With units and supplies restored in full, the DCMS unleashed a three-pronged assault in March [[3144]]. Swiftly crushing all in their path, the first of many triumphs of this invasion was won on [[Palmyra]]. Under Toranaga's personal supervision DMCS forces [[Operation MANDRAGORA|destroyed]] most of [[First Prince]] [[Caleb Davion|Caleb Davion's]] assembled army and, against the ''Kanrei's'' express orders, killed the Suns ruler himself.<ref name=ER3145p32-35>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 32-35, "Setting Suns"</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Toranaga's victory broke the Davion defenses along the whole front and barely two months later [[Robinson]] fell to the Dragon. As a result of his excellent planning and meticulous preparations, Toranaga had thus far orchestrated perhaps the most successful [[DCMS]] offensive since the [[First Succession War]]. With the new First Prince [[Julian Davion]] still on the other side of the [[Inner Sphere]] and the AFFS seeming rudderless, the ''Kanrei'' with his ruler's support chose to wring as much advantage as he could from this favorable state of affairs.<ref name="TRO3145DCp2">''Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine'', p. 2, "Introduction"</ref> <ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 28</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Throughout [[3146]] the DCMS drove ever-closer towards [[New Avalon]], until in early July Combine forces and Wolf's Dragoons invaded the Federated Suns capital itself. The fighting raged for three months until Toranaga, previously leery of mercenaries stealing House Kurita's glory, broke the stalemate by reluctantly turning Wolf's Dragoons loose upon the front lines. In short order, the remaining AFFS defenders fled New Avalon and House Davion's homeworld was firmly in the Dragon's brutal grasp. While Yori Kurita celebrated this unprecedented victory with a lavish parade, Toranaga himself focused upon securing the Combine's extensive gains from the wounded but still dangerous Federated Suns.<ref name="SFp28-29">''Shattered Fortress'', p. 28-29</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Beleaguered Warlord=== | ||
| + | Determined to hold the Combine's large swathe of conquered worlds, Toranaga instituted a ruthless stance towards the occupied territories. Nonetheless, both the conquered populace and the AFFS continued to resist. The latter mounted multiple attacks against DCMS targets while civilians under Combine rule responded to their new overlords with riots, workers strikes and sabotage, diminishing the Dragon's material gains from its conquests. Toranaga's reaction to these threats was to fortify the DCMS' existing gains rather than risk overextending his army further, and to petition the Coordinator for more troops, which Yori denied.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 33-34</ref> | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
| Line 48: | Line 62: | ||
* ''[[Daughter of the Dragon]]'' (novel) | * ''[[Daughter of the Dragon]]'' (novel) | ||
* ''[[Era Report: 3145]]'' | * ''[[Era Report: 3145]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Shattered Fortress]]'' | ||
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine]]'' | * ''[[Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine]]'' | ||
[[Category:Draconis Combine Characters|Toranaga, Matsuhari]] | [[Category:Draconis Combine Characters|Toranaga, Matsuhari]] | ||
Revision as of 07:53, 14 May 2021
 | This article needs to be updated with material from Shattered Fortress. Once these titles clear the Moratorium period, or if they already have, please consider revisiting this article and updating it with the new material. |
Matsuhari Toranaga | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal | |
| Born | 3089[1] |
| Affiliation | Draconis Combine[1] |
| Profile | |
| Rank | Gunji-no-Kanrei[1] |
| Profession | MechWarrior |
| Family | |
| Parents | Saburo Toranaga (adoptive)[1] |
Matsuhari Toranaga (b. 3089[1] - d. 3???) was the Warlord of the New Samarkand Military District and later the Gunji no Kanrei for Coordinator Yori Kurita.
Contents
History
Early Years
Born to middle-class parents Toranaga spent part of his childhood on the streets of Yamashiro, New Samarkand when he was orphaned at the age of seven. Learning to pickpocket for survival, Toranaga became one of his city's premier thieves until he was caught three years later. Destined to spend the rest of his life in prison the young Matsuhari was instead adopted by Saburo Toranaga, a retired tai-sa from the Sword of Light.[1]
Tutored by Saburo in the strictures of bushido, Matsuhari was able to gain entrance to the Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy where he graduated with honors. Assigned to the Genyosha, he saw action against both the Raven Alliance and Clan Ghost Bear but came to believe that neither foe was a worthy enemy and grew restless at the lack of a true opponent. This led to anger against the reigning Coordinator Vincent Kurita, and Toranaga grew determined to remove him from the throne. He found the means to do so when he discovered the existence of Yori Sakamoto, grandaughter of Franklin Sakamoto and thus great-grandaughter to the revered Coordinator Theodore Kurita. While thus descended from an illegitimate scion of the ruling house, Yori was still a Kurita by blood and therefore a perfect pawn in Toranaga's schemes.[1] [2]
By the late 3120s Toranaga had risen to become Warlord of the New Samarkand Military District. In 3129 he was the target of an assassination attempt while on the planet Kaznejoy. The role played by battle armor troops equipped with Kishi suits in foiling the assassination attempt and saving Toranaga had the effect of taking an already-successful form of battle armor and sealing its popularity with the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.[3]
Gunji-no-Kanrei
Years of plotting against Vincent Kurita paid off in early 3137 after a series of deaths that practically wiped out the Combine's ruling family. With the Coordinator along with both of his sons slain and no apparent surviving heirs, Toranaga was able to install his protege, now formally bestowed with the surname Kurita, as the new figurehead ruler of the Combine. For himself Toranaga secured the long-vacant position of Gunji-no-Kanrei, making him undisputed leader of the Combine military, and began preparations for a major campaign against House Kurita's historic enemy the Federated Suns.[1]
The first step in this audacious vision would be the conquest of the long-disputed Draconis Reach in 3139. In an unexpected move, Toranaga convinced Wolf's Dragoons to sign on with the Combine for the first time since the Fourth Succession War. The current leadership of the Dragoons agreed to end their legendary feud with House Kurita and proceeded to drive all AFFS forces out of the Reach by the end of 3139. Toranaga then informed them of their next assignment: spearheading an all-out assault upon the Federated Suns itself in 3141.[4]
Toranaga's invasion plans were temporarily derailed that same year when a Draconis March counterattack into the Reach sparked a much more serious crisis. Coordinator Vincent's daughter Emi Kurita, who'd survived the destruction of her family, arose from hiding with a son, Daisuke. Presenting him as a more legitimate claimant to the throne than Yori, Emi and her supporters in Clan Nova Cat and the DCMS took advantage of the fighting in the Draconis Reach to instigate the Draconis Combine Civil War. Despite some setbacks, however, Toranaga prevailed over the rebels by early 3143 and ruthlessly destroyed any future threats to Yori Kurita from either Clan Nova Cat or rival Kurita claimants.[5]
Vanquisher of the Suns
Fortunately for Toranaga, Wolf's Dragons and the Ryuken had been able to prevent their Federated Suns opponents from making any headway in the Draconis Reach throughout the rebellion, and so preparations for the invasion were able to resume uninterrupted. With units and supplies restored in full, the DCMS unleashed a three-pronged assault in March 3144. Swiftly crushing all in their path, the first of many triumphs of this invasion was won on Palmyra. Under Toranaga's personal supervision DMCS forces destroyed most of First Prince Caleb Davion's assembled army and, against the Kanrei's express orders, killed the Suns ruler himself.[6]
Toranaga's victory broke the Davion defenses along the whole front and barely two months later Robinson fell to the Dragon. As a result of his excellent planning and meticulous preparations, Toranaga had thus far orchestrated perhaps the most successful DCMS offensive since the First Succession War. With the new First Prince Julian Davion still on the other side of the Inner Sphere and the AFFS seeming rudderless, the Kanrei with his ruler's support chose to wring as much advantage as he could from this favorable state of affairs.[7] [8]
Throughout 3146 the DCMS drove ever-closer towards New Avalon, until in early July Combine forces and Wolf's Dragoons invaded the Federated Suns capital itself. The fighting raged for three months until Toranaga, previously leery of mercenaries stealing House Kurita's glory, broke the stalemate by reluctantly turning Wolf's Dragoons loose upon the front lines. In short order, the remaining AFFS defenders fled New Avalon and House Davion's homeworld was firmly in the Dragon's brutal grasp. While Yori Kurita celebrated this unprecedented victory with a lavish parade, Toranaga himself focused upon securing the Combine's extensive gains from the wounded but still dangerous Federated Suns.[9]
Beleaguered Warlord
Determined to hold the Combine's large swathe of conquered worlds, Toranaga instituted a ruthless stance towards the occupied territories. Nonetheless, both the conquered populace and the AFFS continued to resist. The latter mounted multiple attacks against DCMS targets while civilians under Combine rule responded to their new overlords with riots, workers strikes and sabotage, diminishing the Dragon's material gains from its conquests. Toranaga's reaction to these threats was to fortify the DCMS' existing gains rather than risk overextending his army further, and to petition the Coordinator for more troops, which Yori denied.[10]
Notes
- Amongst his other actions Toranaga is also notable for being the individual responsible for ordering that Shiro-class BattleMechs were only to be piloted by DCMS MechWarriors of acclaim and honor[11] following the Shiro's introduction to service in 3135.
Titles and Positions
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Era Report: 3145, p. 89-90, "Matsuhari Toranaga profile"
- ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 89, "Yori Kurita profile"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine, p. 4, "Kishi Battle Armor"
- ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 21-22, "Dragon Rising"
- ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 31-32, "Savage Tumult"
- ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 32-35, "Setting Suns"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine, p. 2, "Introduction"
- ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 28
- ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 28-29
- ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 33-34
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine, p. 44, "SH-1V Shiro"
- ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 21