Arik Arlansson

Arik Arlansson
Personal
Affiliation	Draconis Combine
Career
Rank	Chu-sa
Profession	MechWarrior

Arik Arlansson was an officer in the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.

History

Born in the Free Rasalhague Republic when it was still part of the Draconis Combine, Arik Arlansson led a battalion of MechWarrior cadets against a target on Ryde hoping to prove his worthiness for House Kurita's DCMS, expecting nothing but local militia opposition in accordance with Internal Security Force intelligence.

C Company of the Twelfth Donegal Guards regiment under Hauptmann Dennis Rychert was stationed in the planet's far north on the Lesser Dasentica continent, only some thirty kilometers from the Kurita landing zone. Although the Kurita DropShip landed unnoticed amidst Ryde's volcanic ash clouds, the 'Mechs were detected on their way to the city of Nisibis and the Donegal Guards company, augmented by militia hovertanks, moved to intercept them. The scouting hovertanks were ambushed by a Kurita lance, taking losses, and Leftenant Galen Cox was lured into pursuing the enemy 'Mechs into a canyon where his 'Mech lance was ambushed by the rest of their company. Only the arrival of Hauptmann Rychert's assault lance saved Cox's lance and forced the attackers to retreat. However, a parting shot from a PPC scored a lucky hit that killed Rychert, leaving Cox suddenly in command of the company.

Both sides subsequently decided they must attack the other. Their forces clashed in the Holland Vale, where Cox's heavier forces pushed the attackers back. Keen on maintaining the initiative, Cox decided to attack them at their landing zone once the enemy Overlord-class DropShip was found. With a double-layered feint, Cox drew the defenders out far enough to attack the DropShip. Arlansson stubbornly attempted to make a stand, but ultimately the Kurita DropShip lifted off, carrying barely two 'Mech lances out of the nine it came with.

Bibliography

• Vengeance (novella)