Martha Zuritas

Martha Zuritas
Personal
Also known as	Slice 'n' Dice
Affiliation	Free Worlds League
Profile
Rank	General
Profession	MechWarrior

Martha Zuritas was an officer in the Free Worlds League Military.

History

Born on Kalidasa, Martha Zuritas' early career was spent in the employ of a minor mercenary company, the Black Dog Unit. During a layover on Oceana, she and the unit's commander got into a verbal altercation that ended with Zuritas killing her with a knife. The rest of the unit, enraged, attacked her en masse, an assault which left her grievously injured, lynched, and left for dead by the mercenaries. After extensive reconstructive surgery which significantly changed her appearance (leaving a few scars as a reminder of her ordeal), she hunted down the Black Dogs and under an assumed identity rejoined the unit. Shortly after, she claimed her revenge by killing the remainder of the unit in their barracks with a submachine gun.

After her massacre of the Black Dogs, Zuritas at some point joined the Free Worlds League Military, enlisting in the Silver Hawk Irregulars, working her way up the ranks and earning the nickname "Slice 'n' Dice". A fire-breathing hellion that attracted comparisons to the Black Widow Natasha Kerensky, after taking command of the Silver Hawks' Gryphons regiment on her thirtieth birthday, Zuritas enforced a stern regime of discipline, extensive training and her own personal example that forged them into a viable fighting force that dramatically turned around their reputation as the laughingstock of the Free Worlds military along the Lyran Commonwealth border.

As of May 3029, Zuritas was with Command Company of the Gryphons, stationed on Connaught as the regiment prepared to strike the newly formed Tikonov Free Republic, instead unexpectedly encountering Snord's Irregulars. The infamous treasure-hunting mercenary unit, similarly not expecting to encounter any significant resistance during a raid against a joint ComStar/Free Worlds archaeological dig, ran into the Gryphons on their way back to their DropShips, only able to escape thanks to the sacrifice of Snord member Shalimar Windall.

During the War of 3039, Zuritas led the Gryphons regiment on successful raids to the Federated Commonwealth–held worlds of Alioth and Cor Caroli in July through September of 3039. Six days after their occupation of Alioth began, they were paid a levy to leave by the local authorities, in whole or in large part with sun guava produce. Authorities of Cor Caroli initially refused to bribe the unit; however, after a month and under the threat of damage to their industry, the authorities conceded. With this success and increased wealth, the Gryphons returned home.

General Martha Zuritas was given overall command of the Silver Hawk Irregulars in 3047, where she began implementing Captain-General Thomas Marik's reforms. These efforts were somewhat successful: The Irregulars kept their regional loyalties, but their overall field performance improved through standardized supply and training.

Remaining in command of the Irregulars until at least 3067, while far from the best unit in the FWLM, the near-miraculous improvement of both regiments earned her praise from both the Captain-General and members of the League Central Coordination and Command, including an offer to authorize the formation of a third Silver Hawk Irregulars regiment. Despite the increasing number of troops applying to join the Hawks, Zuritas shocked many by refusing to sanction such a move, stating that she viewed it as a distraction and would allow it only after upgrades to the existing units were completed.

BattleMechs

During the Gyphons' defense against the raiding Snord's Irregulars then-Captain Zuritas piloted a much-decorated Marauder. As of 3052, General Zuritas was piloting an impeccably maintained Star League era Flashman.

Bibliography

• Blitzernte (short story)
• Era Report: 3052
• Field Manual: Free Worlds League
• Field Manual: Updates
• Historical: Brush Wars
• House Marik (The Free Worlds League)
• Rhonda's Irregulars