Lars Magnusson

Lars Magnusson
Lars Magnusson
Character Profile
Born 3112[1][2]
Died 3152[3]
Affiliation House Magnusson
Rank Galaxy Commander[2]
Profession MechWarrior
Parents Ragnar Magnusson (father)

Lars Magnusson was, as of 3145, the Galaxy Commander of Alpha Galaxy and a key figure of the Dominion Civil War.[1]

History[edit]

Early Career[edit]

Lars grew up knowing that in his blood was the legacy of nobility and of his heritage as the first-generation spawn of the legendary Ragnar Magnusson.[1] During his Trial of Position, Lars was able to defeat two opponents, which granted him the rank of Star Commander when he was assigned to Alpha Galaxy. Due to Devlin Stone and his attempts to create peace within the Inner Sphere, Lars saw very little combat and the fighting he did see was mostly just raids between the neighboring Clan Occupation Zones.[1]

In 3134, an unexpected opportunity arose which allowed Lars to participate in a Trial of Bloodright in which he ultimately won his Bloodname.[1]

Due to being a descendant of Rasalhagian nobility and being newly Bloodnamed, Khan Dalia Bekker selected Lars to join her entourage to Terra to pay their respects at the funeral of Victor Steiner-Davion. It was at this funeral where Lars was able to shelve his warrior nature and bond with other nobles of the Inner Sphere on a personal level. It was due to these bonds that Lars fought against both the Capellans and the rebellious Senate before the Ghost Bears returned to the Rasalhague Dominion.[1]

After Gray Monday, Alpha Galaxy was one of the galaxies that was sent into Prefecture I in order to stabilize the situation, being stationed on Alrakis in 3145.[1]

Upon returning to Orestes by the order of the Khan, Lars participated in a Trial of Position and won the rank of Galaxy Commander of Alpha Galaxy.[1]

Dominion Civil War[edit]

The Dominion Civil War surprised Alpha Galaxy on Alshain. On 25 December 3151, when violence erupted between Deniers and Joiners, Lars awoke with a gun pointed at his face: part of his own forces had joined the rebels, capturing him in his sleep and forcing him to declare martial law on the planet. He was rescued by the Ghost Bear Watch on 5 December and taken off-world, where he met with Star Admiral Tanya Bourjon (who had declared the fleet's neutrality) and she soon sent him to Rasalhague to deliver word of the nation's unraveling state.[4]

Once on Rasalhague on 23 December, Lars met with the Dominion's leadership and explained to them what the situation was. When the Unity Council also dissolved into violence, Lars was unable to assist. When the Dominion's leadership eventually took measures to quell the Civil War, Lars departed out of the system, determined to return to the Alshain Province and reestablish control of Alpha Galaxy, making use of the Magnusson Bloodname's prestige.[5]

When he arrived on Vega, where Alpha Galaxy had relocated in his absence, Lars was reunited with SaKhan Roy Jorgensson. After his rogue aide Star Colonel Albert Hall (now commanding Alpha Galaxy and determined to wipe the Freeminders of the Vega Protectorate out) murdered the SaKhan for brokering peace, Lars reacted by killing the traitorous officer in turn. Magnusson then resumed command of Alpha Galaxy, ordered them back to Alshain, and made peace with the Vegan Freeminders' leader Galaxy Commander Isis Bekker-Florala.[6]

Death[edit]

After pacifying the Protectorate, Lars returned to Rasalhague, where he informed the Dominion's leaders about his own actions and took responsibility for his rogue unit's actions while requesting surkai. First Prince Hjalmer Miraborg refused to give it to Lars and declared a Trial of Grievance over his failure to control Alpha Galaxy and prevent the Civil War from causing so much bloodshed. Fighting with knives, Hjalmer won in less than a minute after fatally wounding Lars. While he died, Miraborg comforted him and assured him that the Dominion would remain in good hands, while in reality Lars' death was essentially a de facto execution of a scapegoat to get rid of a potential political threat for Hjalmer. Magnusson's honesty about his failure to rein in his troops and prevent much of the Civil War's worst moments allowed Miraborg to use Lars' admission as an excuse to kill what most considered a future Khan with sufficient popularity to rival Hjalmer himself. Lars was one of the highest-ranking Ghost Bear warriors killed in the Civil War and, befittingly for the man who took responsibility for so much of the damage caused by the conflict, was the last officer to die.[7]

Personality[edit]

Lars grew up knowing that his blood granted him an aura of nobility due to his heritage as Ragnar Magnusson's spawn. The Ghost Bear in him rejected the idea of his class of nobility but his aptitude for politics allowed him to recognize the potential his blood could have in interstellar relations.[1] He was also notable for his sense of humor.[8]

BattleMechs[edit]

Lars piloted an Ursus nicknamed Ull.[8]

Quotes[edit]

The Ursus isn't for everyone. When you first start piloting it, it can be a real bear of a 'Mech.[9]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Era Report: 3145, p. 109: "Lars Magnusson"
  2. 2.0 2.1 Dominions Divided, p. 111: "Personalities - Lars Magnusson"
  3. Dominions Divided, pp. 85, 87: "A Strong Hand is Needed"
  4. Dominions Divided, pp. 59–60: "Alshain Erupts"
  5. Dominions Divided, pp. 63–65: "The Bad News Comes Home"
  6. Dominions Divided, p. 79: "All Fires Dim in Time"
  7. Dominions Divided, pp. 85–111
  8. 8.0 8.1 MechWarrior: Dark Age - Dossiers and Pilot Cards, p. 327: "Lars Magnusson"
  9. MechWarrior: Dark Age - Sneak Peeks, p. 113: "Lars Magnusson"

Bibliography[edit]