Battle of Doneval (3021)
Sarna News
| Battle of Doneval (3021) | |
|---|---|
| Conflict details | |
| Part of | Third Succession War |
| Start Date | 3021[1] |
| Planet(s) | Doneval II[1] |
| Result | Unknown (Canon)/ Black Widow Company defeat (Apocryphal) |
| Attacking Forces | |
| Affiliation | Draconis Combine |
| Commanding Officer(s) | Lieutenant Takiro Ikeda |
| Command(s) | Black Widow Company (mercenary)[1] |
| Defending Forces | |
| Affiliation | Federated Suns |
| Commanding Officer(s) | Major Sergei Vang |
| Command(s) | Meistmorn Academy Cadet Corps |
| Other Forces | |
Overview[edit]
In 3021 elements from the Draconis Combine employed Wolf's Dragoons raided Federated Suns world of Doneval II. Initial indications were a typical Objective Raid smash-and-grab, but later in the week a group of five Cadets from the Meistmore MechWarrior Academy were on maneuvers in a sector that should have been devoid of Widows. Three Widows - Lieutenant Takiro Ikeda, Miklos Delius, and Nikolai Koniev - were patrolling the sector when they picked up the Cadets' radio chatter and set an ambush. Their instructor, Major Sergei Vang's Shadow Hawk fell almost immediately and the five Cadets in Stingers fled. The two Archers were unable to keep pace with the light ’Mechs, and Koniev pursued them in his Wasp. He downed a Stinger quickly, though it turned out to be a female the other four were attracted to. In an effort to save their would-be-paramour the other four Cadets turned on Koniev and downed his Wasp, then retrieved their colleague and retreated before the Archers could come in range.[1][2]
Apocryphal Content
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| This box contains information derived from apocryphal sources, which may not be considered canonical for the BattleTech Universe. |
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One of the Cadets, Patrick Morgan created a graphic novel of the event. The other four Cadets were Jason Kilgore, Chris Adams, Dar Johannson, and Stacey Hooper. In the first exchange of fire Morgan realized his Medium Laser was inoperative. Delius took major damage to his Archer's left leg, the one already suffering from structural damage. Ikeda recognized Vang's ’Mech, noting it "has been a long time" since they last met, then knocking it to the ground and stepping on its AC/5. Ikeda made the crippled Vang an offer, if his students survived Vang would as well. With Delius' leg damage and Ikeda having to guard Vang, that left Koniev's Wasp to pursue the students. Hooper went down first, and as Koniev closed for the coup de grâce the other Cadets combined their fire to bring him down, though Kilgore was killed in the process. Before his death though, Kilgore admitted to disconnecting Morgan's laser in hopes of making him look bad to Hooper. As the Cadets fled, Delius implored Ikea to kill Vang, but Ikeda refused to break his word to a "fine warrior, and a superb teacher" and even extended an offer to join the Dragoons.[3] |
Notes[edit]
The Dragoons were not under contract for the Draconis Combine in 3021, making this battle, and the previous one with Vang, unlikely. Until an errata is issued however, 3021 is the only dating we have.