Peter Cobb

Peter Cobb
Personal
Born3127[1]
AffiliationClan Hell's Horses
Career
RankStar Colonel
ProfessionMechWarrior

Peter Cobb was a trueborn officer of Clan Hell's Horses known for both martial prowess, philosophical nature, and excellent public speaking skills.

History[edit]

Early Career[edit]

Peter Cobb developed a deep interest in reading military history while he was a colt in sibko training. Thanks to one of his instructors, a grizzled veteran named Uri, Peter was given access to books not usually made available to colts. Peter quickly became an expert on military history and clan rede,and soon began writing essays about what he had read. His knowledge of military history also made him an outstanding warrior. In his Trial of Position, he made two kills, graduating as a Star Commander. After reading reports about the Mongol Doctrine and the Golden Ordun, he became horrified by Malvina Hazen's actions and his clan's participation in her campaigns, so began writing works condemning them. This drew the ire of many warriors in his clan including both of the Horses' Khans: Fulk Lassenerra, SaKhan and Gottfried Amirault. Despite senior Horses' officers efforts to clamp down Cobb's writings, they were widely distributed, generating debate and discussion within the clan.[2]

Ristar[edit]

Peter's words became much more known after he became a protégé of Loremaster Sachiko Ravenwater. Unknown to Peter, she had seen his potential years before and began helping his career, giving him an opportunity to participate into a Branding Ritual. There, he convinced his group to follow his plan, capturing and branding a Hell's Horse (species) mare, an extremely honorable and difficult feat for a warrior of the clan. Ten months later, a Cobb (Bloodname) became available, and Sachiko convinced Star Colonel Elliot Cobb to sponsor Peter for the Trial of Bloodright. In those trials, Peter won his Bloodname, defeating opponents both unaugmented and augmented without ever killing one. Around 3148, Sachiko requested for him to command Kol Trinary, of the First Horde Cluster, promoting him to Star Captain.[3]

At an unknown date, Peter was surprised to see a trueborn officer named Vashin, who was beating his tech, Thomas, so he intervened. Peter stopped the beating and later fought and won a Trial of Possession for Thomas, and made Thomas his chief tech and demonstrated his respect for lower castes.[4]

In 3150, Clan Hell's Horses was de facto divided in two factions between both Khans, and then, thanks to Sachiko's participation, Peter's writings, which Sachiko made circulate of his speeches among the freeborn and non-Bloodnamed warriors,[5] including the freeborn warriors of the First Horde Cluster, which was otherwise seen as the Khan's strongest base of support.[6], he became even more popular... which generated very often Trial of Grievance in which other warriors, instilled by their superiors, fought him, intending to silence him, but always in vain, as he always won them. On Cusset, the 10 May, he defeated another opponent, Star Captain Marco Amirault, later having a meeting with Sachiko.[7] The next day, Peter traveled to Greyrock detention facility on Cusset , where he meet Ziven (Clan Hell's Horses) and recruited a Lyran Commonwealth bondswomen, Laila Renwich, to make her train an unofficial a recon unit / intelligence force for the Horses. Laila was chosen for this task due to being a member of the Lyran Special Forces. [8]

The 21 September, he travelled to Csesztreg, the Horses' capital, with Sachiko, to assist at a Bloodnamed officers gathering. She interrupted an argument between both Horses' Khans, and demanded Peter to participate in the preparation of the imminent Operation STAMPEDE, to which the Khans reluctantly agreed. Peter had later a private meeting with the Star Colonel Lucian Camejo, which was another of his followers, debating their Clan's future. At another meeting, two days later, Cobb pointed several mistakes from the logistical part of Stampede, and also said how to counter them. The same day, the SaKhan had a private meeting with Peter, attempting to recruit him for his cause, but he didn't agree.[9]

The 26 September, during a bloodnamed meeting to present Stampede, Nova Commander Ryker Mitchell, instigated by Fulk, declared a Trial of Grievance against Cobb. Both fought an unaugmented combat, which Peter won, but barely, and badly wounded. The 2 October, Peter was still recovering, but left the hospital, having another meeting with the Loremaster, where she presented him more of Peter's followers.[10] The 30 October, Peter, Laila and others visited a sibko training base, where he tested his modified Trial of Position with colts, to made warriors more prepared to be leaders.[11]

The 7 November, Peter declared a Trial of Possession with a delegation of Clan Sea Fox for their intelligence database, against their superior's orders. His opponent was Star Commander Sira Thastus. They fought two days later, in a mining area, and despite Sira's superior Mech', an Iron Cheetah, Cobb won. When Sira's mech began falling into a hole, he made a daring rescue, saving her from a sure death. Sira's commander, as a present to Cobb and gratitude for his rescue, gave him an Iron Cheetah for him, a present which he accepted.[12]

Cobb participated in the first part of Stampede, at Shaula, the 6 February. When Khan Amirault decided to turn Stampede into a race to Terra, Cobb objected, pointing it would be futile, but the Khan simply ignored him.[13]

IlClan Era[edit]

Once on Rigil Kentarus, Cobb was assigned to the IlClan envoy Enzi Kerensky, to be his liaison officer. Both had a good relationship until they arrived to Terra. When Gottfried meet with the IlKhan Alaric Ward, Cobb was present, but didn't say nothing. He made plans with Sachiko for if the Wolves made a move against the Horses, but at the end, it didn't happen. Peter was almost attacked by a Wolf officer, Star Captain Gilroy Carns, but he refused to be draw to a fight.[14]

At the end of 3151, Cobb fought during the invasion of the Hinterlands, in the conquest of Benfled, but more than a battle, it was a slaughter, and as the planet itself lacked any worth, he felt himself guilty and in his private journal wrote than the Horses may have become what they hated so much, the Successors Lords, fighting over worthless planes for the conquest's sake, and planned to get drunk and get into a fight. He obtained both things, getting into a street brawl with two locals. Only Laila's intervention saved him to being seriously wounded or killed.[15][16]

During the Battle of Sudeten (3152) once again, Peter advised caution, but his Khans ignored his advices, believing the Clan Jade Falcon Remnants a easy prey. However, some of his logistical suggestions were applied. At the end, it was Laila's special ops' unit the one which captured proof about the Falcon's tricks, though the data wasn't deciphered until after the battle. After the trial in which Gottfried was killed, Peter voted by Patricia DeLaurel as new SaKhan. When Sachiko nominated him Star Colonel and her successor as the First Horde commander, his greatest rival in the Cluster, Star Captain Ashur Lassenerra defied him, and both fought the 18 May on Kemp Island. Once more, Peter's tactical mind allowed him to win without killing his adversary. By 10 September, Peter was already leading the First Horde, with Star Captain Ziven as aide, beginning implementing his ideas to strengthen his Clan.[17]

Personality[edit]

Peter was an unusual Clan warrior, both by his heavy interest in history, analytical mind and lack of prejudices against Freeborns and lower castes. He even helped his techs' to clean and repair his 'Mech.[18]

BattleMech[edit]

Peter's first known 'Mech was a Mad Cat II, though after his Trial with the Sea Foxes he replaced it by their gift, a Iron Cheetah. [19]

References[edit]

  1. BattleTech: Legends II, p. 172
  2. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 1
  3. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 2
  4. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 8
  5. Tamar Rising, p. 84
  6. Tamar Rising, p. 86
  7. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 1
  8. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 4
  9. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 7-9
  10. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 13
  11. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 15
  12. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 16-18
  13. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 19
  14. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 20-23
  15. Tamar Rising, p. 60
  16. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 24-25
  17. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 36-40
  18. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 1
  19. Elements of Treason: Honor ch. 1-39

Bibliography[edit]