Redjack Ryan

A self-anointed Bandit King, Redjack Ryan is an arrogant, strutting mechwarrior and a living embodiment of the worst qualities of a Periphery pirate. Once a battalion commander under Hendrik Grimm III (the ruler of the Oberon Confederation), Ryan established his infamy while on assignment in the Lyran Commonwealth. Ordered to assist the Lyrans by occupying the Marik border world of Lysidas. During the course of the occupation, Ryan's men sacked the cities, enslaved the populace and destroyed much of the industry, including a fusion power plant. The plant's destruction poisoned half of Lysidas' atmosphere, bringing an immediate end to Ryan's rampage.

Two versions of the story of Redjack Ryan's departure from the Oberon Confederation:

"Forced Exodus"

Pursued by both the Confederation and the Free Worlds League for these transgressions, Ryan and his mob fled the Inner Sphere in 3018 and set up shop on Butte Hold. Since then, the bandit has raided indiscriminately against the Lyran Commonwealth, the Draconis Combine, and (with less frequency) his former nation. To date, none of these governments have retaliated because of the many prisoners Ryan holds hostage, preferring not to contemplate he might do to them if pushed too far.

"Bloodlust"

The second story of Ryan's exodus differs principally on his motive for desertion. Proponents of this version state that Ryan apparently has no interests in life byond rapine, and so he was unable to face the prospect of handling actual responsibility (as Grimm desired).

Since his break with Grimm, Ryan has attracted enough men with the lure of booty to maintain two Battlemech battalions. Ryan's hold on his subordinates is tenuous at best, however; he spends as much time guarding against a knife in the back as he does planning his next raid. Whether Ryan's own most vicious lieutenant, Agnar Satanson, will turn on Redjack as Redjack turned on Grimm remains to be seen.

3050 Update

A major event affecting the balance of terror among Periphery pirates was the union of Redjack Ryan and Maria Morgraine, Dominatrix of Morgraine's Valkyrate. The merger of Morgraine's holding with the Pirates of Butte Hold has created the Greater Valkyrate, a potent entity with a fearsome military unit, Ryan's Rebels. This has had the beneficial effect of curbing the Oberon Confederation and the bother of creating a growing nest of vipers on the border of the Federated Commonwealth. Ryan and his eldest child, Major Susie "One Eye" Morgraine-Ryan, have proven to be capable and vicious military leaders, boding ill for civilized worlds in the area for the foreseeable future.