Julian Davion

Julian Davion DomDiv.jpg
Julian Davion
Character Profile
Born 5 January 3107[1][2]
Affiliation House Davion
Title(s) First Prince
Prince's Champion
Duke of New Avalon
Lord Markeson
Profession MechWarrior
Parents Christoffer Davion (father)[3]

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 the grandson of the famous Jackson Davion[2], Julian grew up hearing the stories of his family's honor. Just like his family before him, he entered the military and learned his skills at the New Avalon Military Academy. Julian was easily able to enter the exchange program which got him to be transferred to the Nagelring, on Tharkad. There, he met Callandre Kell. They became friends (co-conspirators, per the official charges) having a romantic relationship. 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 into their infiltration into the Royal Palace, reaching the throne room, where both subdued the two guard 'Mechs, being found at compromising poses of vulgar nature. That joke, which caused about 500,000 kroners in damage resulted in Julian's expulsion, with the Archon Melissa Steiner suspending all student exchange with the Suns for three years.[4][2] The stain on his honor left a black mark for years even though the First Prince Harrison Davion was able to smooth the situation out.[2]

Military Career[edit]

Julian was never close to Caleb Davion, his cousin and heir of the Federated Suns; their relationship was even more strained when Harrison appointed Julian as Prince's Champion, the youngest ever. As the Champion, he spent most of his time troubleshooting problems throughout the Suns' realm and staving off incursions by the Taurian Concordat. His ability to deal with difficult situations grabbed the attention of Duchess Amanda Hasek, who worried some due to her independent streak but did not worry Harrison due to his belief in Julian's undying loyalty.[2]

In 3134, Julian Davion accompanied First Prince Harrison Davion to Terra for the funeral of Victor Steiner-Davion. There he was ordered by the Prince to assist the Republic with his honorary command of the 1st Davion Guard with brewing conflict with the Rogue Senate. At the various gatherings on Terra, he meets many of the young nobles from the various Inner Sphere powers. After a dispute between Caleb and Yori Kurita, the Prince's son named Julian as his champion in Trial of Refusal using Republic's simulators to refight the War of 3039 as a single battle. He fought Yori Kurita to a draw.[citation needed]

After the death of Prince Harrison Davion, Caleb Davion was announced as the 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 1st Davion Guards. Under Julian's command the Guards continued with the last order of Prince Harrison: bring stability to the Republic.[2]

Julian and his coalition force were sent by the Exarch to Ronel in 3135 in an attempt to stop Conner Rhys-Monroe and his 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 the gift of information, including evidence that Caleb Davion is insane and Prince Harrison had died on Terra.[citation needed]

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.[5]

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. He was on Ronel the 20 November 3140. 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 the attack of Clan Wolf, the Prince sent Julian and his unit to help them, but that was a indirect attempt of Caleb and Erik Sandoval-Groell to get rid of him.[6]

Julian and his Guards arrived at Lyran space after Melissa Steiner (32nd c.) had been deposed by Vedet Brewer, but anyway fought against Clan Wolf forces, along Anastasia Kerensky, though in Smolnik failed to save her from being captured by Alaric Wolf, and, urged by Callandre, retreated.[7] Later, Julian and the Guards defended Tharkad against the attacks by both Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Wolf. During the batchall, he attempted to force Alaric to free Anastasia, but both wolves refused. 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. During the battle, his Guards were unable to hold the line, and a team of Wolves reached the Royal Palace and killed Melissa.[8]

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]

On 3145, Julian, after taking in as many available forces that will aid him, began made speed to the Federated Suns' space, progressing slowly. After stopping into the Republic Remnant, he asked for help to the former Exarch Damien Redburn gave him all the help he could spare. Later, Julian made a deal with the Free Worlds League Captain-General, Jessica Marik, which allowed him to cross their space. Once on the Capellan Confederation space, Julian led his group, Task Force Navarre, to began attacking Capellan worlds on their way, both to obtain supplies and distract the Capellans from atatcking the Suns. He also made a deal with the Tiburon Khanate who agreed to transport Julian's forces, and assist him military, in exchange for three trading worlds.[9] In May 3146, still in Capellan space, Julian was contacted by the Exarch Devlin Stone, which invited him to Terra. There, after a meeting with Stone and Tucker Harwell, both made a deal, with Julian accepting 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.[10]

With his new forces, posing as RAF troops, Julian led them to attack other planets, like Acamar and Marlette. After defeating the capellans on the last world, Julian made a truce with the capellan laeder Danai Centrella-Liao.[11]

First Prince[edit]

Julian arrived safely to Federated space only to have to face the biggest crisis in the Federation's history: it was invaded both by the Capellan Confederation and the Draconis Combine. The Combine managed to take Robinson, the capital of the Draconis March, and later New Avalon and the Confederation managed to take New Syrtis, the capital of the Capellan March. Amanda Hasek was captured and publicly executed by the Capellans.[12]. The loss of the three capitals and the motherly figure was a very hard time for Julian, but he recovered. Too late to defdend New Avalon, he focused his forces against the Capellans, broking the truce against them. In 3147 launched Operation CERBERUS, managing to retake New Syrtis despite suffering heavy losses, and later defeated a massive Capellan counterattack. In both battles, Julian was almost killed twice and lost a leg in the fight. However, he still met again with Danai Centrella, concluding a second truce with the Confederation.[13][14]

Reclaiming New Avalon[edit]

The dawn of IlClan Era found Julian on Argyle, his command post and de facto capital of the Suns. The 3 April, he led a meeting of his commanding officers, including Erik Sandoval and Siobhan Sortek, where they planned the launch of Operation DAWN, the reconquest of New Avalon. They he received a message of Devlin Stone, asking for military assistance. After debating it, he and Erik agreed than didn't have nothing they could spare. However, Julian offered the members of his former RAF unit, the Dawn Guards, the opportunity to return to Terra, but few left. After a heated meeting, reluctantly, Julian accepted not to lead the operation, as he would be the main target.[15][16]

The 12 June, Julian and Erik led the invasion of New Avalon. The Prince urged Kanrei Matsuhari Toranaga to surrender, though he knew he wouldn't accept. He stayed in orbit while Erik led the ground assault.[17] The Prince stayed out of the fight until 17 December, when landed to lead the final assault against the Combine's remaining forces, with his Dawn Guards. He engaged Toranaga's Atlas, which had downed Erik's 'Mech. In a few shots, Julian downed the Kanrei, which surrendered... but not to him, but to Erik.[18][19]

The 19 December, Julian ordered his forces to assault the Davion Palace, the last remaining Combine bastion, but the action, though saved the place, led to several hostages' murders.[20]

In the next weeks, Julian debated with his counselors several questions, including Toranaga's final destiny. The Kanrei asked for the right to commit seppuku, and Julian send his proposal to Luthien. The 15 October, after talking to him in his cell, Julian, moved by compassion, killed him. A day later, when interrogated by Erik Sandoval, he denied to knew what had happened and also refused to investigate it and send Erik to reclaim the Dragon's Tongue worlds. He also orered a space burial for Toranaga's remains.[21][22]

Julian stayed on New Avalon, overseeing the Suns' bureucratic 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, when knew about Alexander Hasek's launching of a conflict, which will be the Pleiades War, he became furious, but besides sending ambassador Kym Hasek to New Syrtis, wasn't able to do nothing.[23]

The 1 April, Julian knew of the full extent of the Pleiades War, Hasek's catastrophic defeat, and also had to deal with the problems regarding mercenary units in Operation Solar Flare. Though reluctantly, agreed to negotiate Alexander's liberation with the Taurians, having to gave also the Sea Foxes New Syrtis' inoperative HPG. After Hasek had been freed, Julian ordered his removal of military authority, threatening to remove him of his position if refused to stop the conflict.[24][25]

The 30 June, Julian received the returned Kym Hasek at his palace, talking with her about the mercenary's problems, seriously considering marrying her, both for personal and political reasons and decided to face an internal threat: Erik's alarming popularity which could allow him to attempt to seize the throne.[26]

The 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... at least, for the moment.[27]

BattleMechs[edit]

Julian often piloted an Enforcer III named Damocles while leading a regiment of the Davion Guards in battle.[28] During the fighting against the Senate Alliance troops on Terra and Ronel, Julian piloted a Templar OmniMech. [29] Later, he changed his machine to a Templar III; it is said a gift from Victor Davion .[30] When the Dawn Guards raided Acamar, he piloted a Mangonel, part of the unit's early attempt to keep its Davion loyalties under wraps.[31]

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.[32]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, Prologue
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Era Report: 3145, p. 92 - "Julian Davion profile"
  3. ↑ Sword of Sedition, p. 6
  4. ↑ Battletech: Legends p. 161
  5. ↑ A Bonfire of Worlds, ch. 10
  6. ↑ A Bonfire of Worlds, ch. 10
  7. ↑ A Bonfire of Worlds, ch. 14
  8. ↑ A Bonfire of Worlds, ch. 15
  9. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 15-17
  10. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 4-7
  11. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 22-23
  12. ↑ A Splinter of Hope, p. 8
  13. ↑ A Splinter of Hope, p. 68
  14. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 39-55
  15. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 1
  16. ↑ Dominions Divided, p. 11-16
  17. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 5
  18. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 9
  19. ↑ Dominions Divided, p. 36
  20. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 10
  21. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 12-13
  22. ↑ Dominions Divided, p. 41-42
  23. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 17-18
  24. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 19-20
  25. ↑ Dominions Divided, p. 73
  26. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 24
  27. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 26
  28. ↑ Mechwarrior: Dark Age, Dossiers And Pilot Cards, p. 325
  29. ↑ Sword of Sedition, p. 288
  30. ↑ A Splinter of Hope, p. 26
  31. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 8
  32. ↑ BattleTech: Legends, pp. 147 ("The ilClan Era") & 161 ("MAD-10D Marauder II: Excalibur")

Bibliography[edit]

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