Julian Davion

Julian Davion
Julian Davion DomDiv.jpg
Personal
Born5 January 3107[1][2]
AffiliationHouse Davion
Career
Title(s)First Prince

Prince's Champion

Duke of New Avalon

Lord Markesan[citation needed]
ProfessionNoble
Family
ParentsChristoffer Davion (father)[3][4]

Julian Davion was a noted MechWarrior and steadfastly loyal to the throne of the Federated Suns.

History[edit]

Early Years[edit]

Born to Christoffer Davion and being the grandson of the famous Jackson Davion,[2] Julian grew up hearing the stories of his family's honor. His father died when Julian was thirteen, and he was subsequently raised by Capellan March Duchess Amanda Hasek and First Prince Harrison Davion. Julian became a surrogate son to the latter, who would later attempt to make Julian his true heir.[4][5]

Like his forbears, Julian entered the military and began his career at the New Avalon Military Academy. He was easily able to enter the exchange program with the Lyran Commonwealth and was transferred to the Nagelring on Tharkad. There he met Callandre Kell, scion of the Kell Hounds' founder, and became friends (co-conspirators, per the official charges), the two having a brief romantic relationship before deciding to be platonic friends. A rapidly escalating series of hijinks culminated into an escapade of both, hotwiring a Zeus for her and a Marauder II for him. A drunken joyride through Tharkad City during a howling blizzard culminated with their infiltration into the Royal Palace and reaching the throne room, where both subdued the two guard 'Mechs and were found at compromising poses of vulgar nature. That joke, which caused about 500,000 kroners in damage, resulted in Julian's expulsion and Archon Melissa Steiner suspending all student exchange with the Suns for three years. The stain on Julian's honor left a black mark for years even though Harrison Davion was able to placate the Lyrans.[2][4][6]

Military Career[edit]

Julian's next posting was as Prince's Champion, one of the youngest ever, a position which caused his already-distant relationship with Harrison's son Caleb Davion to worsen. In this role Julian performed troubleshooting duties throughout the Suns, placating aggrieved nobles and staving off attacks from the Taurian Concordat. He caught the favorable attention of the infamously independent-minded Duchess Amanda Hasek, though Harrison Davion remained certain that Julian's loyalty to him was firm.[2]

In 3134, Julian Davion accompanied Harrison Davion to Terra for the funeral of Victor Steiner-Davion. There he was given honorary command of the First Davion Guards and ordered by the Prince to assist the Republic with its brewing conflict with the rebel Senators. At the various gatherings on Terra, he met many of his contemporaries from various Inner Sphere powers. After a dispute between Caleb and Yori Kurita, the Prince's son named Julian as his champion in a Trial of Refusal, using Republic simulators to re-fight the War of 3039 as a single battle. He fought Yori Kurita to a draw.[7]

After the accidental death of Prince Harrison Davion, Caleb Davion was proclaimed as the new First Prince of the Federated Suns. Caleb feared Julian would attempt to seize the throne and dismissed him as the Prince's Champion, relegating him to his previous position as commander of the First Davion Guards. Under Julian's command the Guards continued with Prince Harrison's last order: bring stability to the Republic.[2]

Julian and a coalition force were sent by the Exarch to Ronel in 3135 in an attempt to stop Conner Rhys-Monroe and his Senate Alliance forces from capturing the planet with its functional HPG Station. He fought a number of grueling battles against the Alliance forces. It was not until after the collapse of the Republic that this coalition force was able to defeat Conner. Julian allowed Conner and his Alliance force to ransom some of their equipment and withdrew from Ronel in good faith. Gavin Marik-Davion then approached Julian, and offered his services as a spy and provided him with critical information, including evidence that Caleb Davion was insane and Prince Harrison had been grooming him as his true heir.[8]

As the coalition broke up and returned home, Julian decided to remain on Ronel to uphold the orders of the Exarch to defend the planet. Callandre Kell elected to remain with Julian to watch his back.[9]

Exile[edit]

Julian and the Guards stayed within Republic space long after the walls came up, fighting to protect the worlds that they once controlled. Callandre attempted to convince him to depose Caleb, but he refused to do so. Eventually, after the Lyran Commonwealth asked Caleb Davion for help against Clan Wolf's invasion, the Prince sent Julian and his unit to assit. However, the true motive of the First Prince and his Champion, Erik Sandoval-Groell, was to neutralize Julian as a potential threat.[9]

Julian and his Guards arrived in Lyran space after Melissa Steiner had been deposed by Vedet Brewer, but nonetheless fought against the Wolves alongside Anastasia Kerensky. However, they were unable to prevent Kerensky's capture by Alaric Wolf on Smolnik and retreated from there at Callandre's urging.[10]

Julian and the Guards participated in Tharkad's defense against attacks by both Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Wolf. During the latter's batchall, he attempted to force Alaric to free Anastasia, but both Wolves refused the offer. During a meeting with Melissa and Brewer, Julian was forced to explain to both than Caleb had sent them there to die but swore to fight anyway. In the battle, his Guards were unable to hold the line and a team of Wolves reached the Royal Palace and killed Melissa.[11]

After Callandre took what remained of the Hounds into Jade Falcon territory in a quixotic quest for vengeance, Julian went with her, but once the news of Caleb's death and his own election by the Federated Suns Privy Council as the new First Prince reached him, he reluctantly abandoned her in October 3144 and took up the crown of the Federation.[2]

Returning Home[edit]

In 3145, Julian, after recruiting as many available forces as he could for Task Force Navarre, began his return to Federated Suns' space. Stopping first in the Republic Remnant, he asked for help from the former Exarch Damien Redburn, who promised all the aid he could spare. Accosted over Talitha in Free Worlds League space, Julian accepted a deal with the League Captain-General Jessica Marik, pledging a future favor to House Marik in exchange for safe passage. Upon arrival in the Capellan Confederation, Julian ordered Navarre's units to strike Capellan worlds en route home, both to secure supplies and distract the Capellan forces invading the Suns. He also made a deal with the Tiburon Khanate to transport Julian's forces and assist him militarily in exchange for three trading worlds to be named at a later time.[12]

In May 3146, still in Capellan space, Julian was contacted by Exarch Devlin Stone, with an invitation to Terra. There, he met with Stone and Tucker Harwell and made a bargain whereby Julian would continue his attacks to distract Daoshen Liao in exchange for a full regiment, the Dawn Guards, and the promise of more future help from the Republic to help the Suns.[13]

With his new forces posing as RAF troops, Julian led them to attack other planets such as Acamar and Marlette. After defeating the Capellans on the latter world, Julian made a truce with the Danai Centrella-Liao.[14]

First Prince[edit]

Julian arrived in his homeland when it was facing its greatest crisis in living memory. Both of the Suns' historic enemies had conquered large swathes of the realm, including the capitals of the Capellan and Draconis Marches, and New Avalon itself had recently fallen to the Dragon. While the loss of all three worlds hit him hard, along with the execution of Amanda Hasek by the vengeful Capellans, Julian focused upon halting his nation's decline and reclaiming the lost worlds. Deciding that New Avalon would be too difficult to retake for now, Julian instead set in motion Operation CERBERUS in 3147 and personally recruited the mercenary unit Tally's Talons, breaking his ceasefire with the Capellans in order to recover New Syrtis.[15]

Arriving on New Syrtis in December, Julian planned the world's liberation and personally led the assault into The Cave, an underground maze connected with the planet's headquarters. Turned by Capellan coin, Tally's Talons betrayed Julian but were foiled by the First Davion Guards and the Talons' captain Malerie Faulkner, who defected.[16]

Despite suffering heavy losses, Julian and his forces later defeated a massive Capellan counterattack led by Danai Liao-Centrella. Julian was almost killed by artillery and later Liao-Centrella's headhunting attack with Yen-Lo-Wang, being saved only by Faulkner's sacrifice though he lost a leg in the fight. However, he still met with Liao-Centrella again to conclude a second truce with the Confederation.[17][18]

Reclaiming New Avalon[edit]

At the dawn of IlClan Era Julian was on Argyle, his command post and de facto capital of the Suns. On April 3rd, he held a meeting with his senior military commanders, including Erik Sandoval and Siobhan Sortek, where they planned the launch of Operation DAWN, the reconquest of New Avalon. After a heated meeting, Julian reluctantly agreed to not lead the operation personally, as he would be too tempting a target for Combine forces. A message from Devlin Stone arrived at this time, asking for military assistance. After debating the matter, Julian and Erik agreed that the Suns could not spare any forces, though Julian did offer the ex-RAF members of the Dawn Guards the opportunity to return to Terra. Few of them left.[19][20]

On June 12th the liberation of New Avalon took place. The Prince urged Kanrei Matsuhari Toranaga to surrender, though he knew he wouldn't accept. Julian stayed in orbit while Erik Sandoval led the ground assault.[21] The Prince stayed out of the fight until 17 December, landing with his Dawn Guards to lead the final assault against the Combine's remaining forces. He engaged Toranaga's Atlas after it had downed Erik's 'Mech. With just a few shots Julian took down the Kanrei, who surrendered... not to him, but to Erik.[22][23]

On December 19th Julian ordered his forces to assault the Davion Palace, the last remaining Combine bastion. While the palace was saved, several hostages were murdered before they could be freed.[24]

Over the next weeks Julian debated with his counselors several questions, including Toranaga's fate. The Kanrei asked for the right to commit seppuku, and Julian sent his proposal to Luthien. On 15 October, after talking to him in his cell, Julian, moved by compassion, killed Toranaga. A day later, when asked by Erik Sandoval, he denied that he knew what had happened and also refused to investigate it, then dispatched Erik to reclaim the Dragon's Tongue worlds. He also ordered a space burial for Toranaga's remains.[25][26]

Julian stayed on New Avalon, overseeing the Suns' bureaucratic structure's rebuilding. On 16 March 3152, he led a celebration at the restored Avalon Palace, where he recognized Erik Sandoval as the Duke of Robinson and his Prince's Champion. A day later, Julian was furious to learn that Alexander Hasek had begun a private war with the Taurian Concordat, but could do nothing except send Kym Hasek as his envoy to New Syrtis.[27]

By April 1st, Julian had learned of the full extent of the Pleiades War - including Hasek's catastrophic defeat - and also had to deal with problems raised by mercenary units in Operation Solar Flare. Reluctantly, he agreed to negotiate Alexander's release with the Taurians, and also gave the Sea Foxes control over New Syrtis' inoperative HPG. After Hasek had been freed, Julian stripped him of any military authority, and threatened to depose him outright if he caused another such disaster.[28][29]

On 30 June, Julian received the Kym Hasek at his palace and discussed with her the problems with the mercenaries. Julian seriously considering marrying her, both for personal and political reasons, and decided to face a rising internal threat: Erik's alarming popularity which could allow him to attempt to seize the throne.[30]

On 21 September, Julian traveled to Robinson and meet in private with Erik. He attempted to make peace with him, but Erik refused, citing the past mistakes of the Prince. However, he agreed to save face and respect Julian's authority... for now at least.[31]

BattleMechs[edit]

Julian often piloted an Enforcer III named Damocles while leading a regiment of the Davion Guards in battle.[32] During the fighting against the Senate Alliance troops on Terra and Ronel, Julian piloted a Templar OmniMech.[33] Later, he changed his machine to a Templar III named Arthur, which was said to be a gift from Victor Davion.[34] When the Dawn Guards raided Acamar, he piloted a Mangonel, part of the unit's early attempt to keep its Davion loyalties under wraps.[35]

After losing his Templar III on New Syrtis, it was replaced with a MAD-10D Marauder II he named Excalibur, which he used during Operation DAWN.[36]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, Prologue
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Era Report: 3145, p. 92: "Julian Davion profile"
  3. ↑ Sword of Sedition, p. 6
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Battletech: Legends p. 161
  5. ↑ Sword of Sedition, Epilogue
  6. ↑ Sword of Sedition, ch. 19
  7. ↑ Sword of Sedition, chs. 23–24
  8. ↑ Fortress Republic, Epilogue
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 A Bonfire of Worlds, ch. 10
  10. ↑ A Bonfire of Worlds, ch. 14
  11. ↑ A Bonfire of Worlds, ch. 15
  12. ↑ Shattered Fortress, pp. 15–17
  13. ↑ Shattered Fortress, pp. 4–7
  14. ↑ Shattered Fortress, pp. 22–23
  15. ↑ A Splinter of Hope, Part 1
  16. ↑ A Splinter of Hope, Part 5
  17. ↑ A Splinter of Hope, parts 6–7
  18. ↑ Shattered Fortress, pp. 39–55
  19. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 1
  20. ↑ Dominions Divided, pp. 11–16
  21. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 5
  22. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 9
  23. ↑ Dominions Divided, p. 36
  24. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 10
  25. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, chs. 12–13
  26. ↑ Dominions Divided, pp. 41–42
  27. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, chs. 17–18
  28. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, chs. 19–20
  29. ↑ Dominions Divided, p. 73
  30. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 24
  31. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 26
  32. ↑ Mechwarrior: Dark Age, Dossiers And Pilot Cards, p. 325
  33. ↑ Sword of Sedition, p. 288
  34. ↑ A Splinter of Hope, p. 26
  35. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 8
  36. ↑ BattleTech: Legends, pp. 147, 161: "The ilClan Era" and "MAD-10D Marauder II: Excalibur"

Bibliography[edit]

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