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Line 5: | name = Kathleen Dumont | name = Kathleen Dumont | birthdate = | birthdate = − | died = [[3038]] + | died = 3038 | affiliation = [[Wolf's Dragoons]] | affiliation = [[Wolf's Dragoons]] | rank = [[Colonel]] | rank = [[Colonel]] Line 16:
Line 16: | children = | children = }} }} + '''Kathleen Dumont''' was an officer in the [[Wolf's Dragoons]] [[mercenary]] command who led [[Delta Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Delta Regiment]] during the [[Fourth Succession War]]. '''Kathleen Dumont''' was an officer in the [[Wolf's Dragoons]] [[mercenary]] command who led [[Delta Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Delta Regiment]] during the [[Fourth Succession War]]. Line 23:
Line 24: ===Tough Times=== ===Tough Times=== − The concerns of many of Dumont's doubters seemed confirmed in Delta's first major action under her command. [[House Kurita]] had been moving units to the key border world of [[Dromini VI]], preparing for a renewed assault on the [[Lyran Commonwealth]], the Dragoons' current employers. [[Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth|Archon]] [[Katrina Steiner]] decided a preemptive strike was called for. In September [[3021]] [[Alpha Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Alpha]], Delta and [[Epsilon Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Epsilon Regiment]]s assaulted the Kurita garrison on Dromini VI, which they expected to the [[3rd Dieron Regulars|Third]] and [[Twenty-second Dieron Regulars]]. In addition, three regiments of the [[Lyran]] [[Donegal Guards]] were held in reserve to ambush expected [[Kurita]] reinforcements. Unknown to the mercenaries and their Lyran allies, the elite [[Second Sword of Light]] was also on-planet. Although Delta was intended to hold back during the initial assault, Dumont took the initiative of attacking the city of Draschau. Expecting little resistance, Dumont failed to adequately scout the city, and soon faced an ambush by the Second Sword. Rather than pullback to reassess the situation, Dumont elected to launch a frontal assault, taking heavy losses. Although technically successful in dislodging the Second Sworders, it was a Pyrrhic victory at best, and earned her not only unpopularity with her soldiers but a reprimand from Colonel Wolf. Dumont vowed to recover from this setback.<ref name=WDS27D>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 27: Battle for Dromini</ref> + The concerns of many of Dumont's doubters seemed confirmed in Delta's first major action under her command. [[House Kurita]] had been moving units to the key border world of [[Dromini VI]], preparing for a renewed assault on the [[Lyran Commonwealth]], the Dragoons' current employers. [[Archon]] [[Katrina Steiner]] decided a preemptive strike was called for. In September [[3021]] [[Alpha Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Alpha]], Delta and [[Epsilon Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Epsilon Regiment]]s assaulted the Kurita garrison on Dromini VI, which they expected to the [[3rd Dieron Regulars|3rd]] and [[22nd Dieron Regulars]]. In addition, three regiments of the [[Lyran]] [[Donegal Guards]] were held in reserve to ambush expected [[Kurita]] reinforcements. Unknown to the mercenaries and their Lyran allies, the elite [[2nd Sword of Light]] was also on-planet. Although Delta was intended to hold back during the initial assault, Dumont took the initiative of attacking the city of Draschau. Expecting little resistance, Dumont failed to adequately scout the city, and soon faced an ambush by the Second Sword. Rather than pullback to reassess the situation, Dumont elected to launch a frontal assault, taking heavy losses. Although technically successful in dislodging the Second Sworders, it was a Pyrrhic victory at best, and earned her not only unpopularity with her soldiers but a reprimand from Colonel Wolf. Dumont vowed to recover from this setback.<ref name=WDS27D>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 27: Battle for Dromini</ref> ===In Service to Kurita=== ===In Service to Kurita=== Line 33:
Line 34: ===The Battle of Misery=== ===The Battle of Misery=== − In January [[3028]], relations between the Combine and the Dragoons exploded on [[An Ting]] into open violence. Although the bulk of Delta Regiment was not present, the course of the Dragoons was now clear.<ref name=WD3637>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 36–37: Atrocity</ref> In April 3028, Delta Regiment joined the rest of the Dragoons units on [[Misery]]. The [[Battle of Misery]] was one of the largest, most bloody 'Mech battles in history, as all five Dragoons regiments, along with Zeta Battalion and the [[Black Widow Company]], faced off against the ''Ryuken'', now built up to four regiments, along with the [[Seventeenth Galedon Regulars]], the [[Twenty-first Galedon Regulars]], and the elite [[Eighth Sword of Light]]. The Kuritan force would be led by newly promoted ''[[Tai-sho (rank)#Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery|Tai-sho]]'' Minobu Tetsuhara, acting under the orders of Warlord Samsonov.<ref name=WOTB294>''Wolves on the Border'', p. 294: Tetsuhara repeats their orders</ref> Though the Dragoons would eventually prove triumphant, the cost in men and machines was astronomical.<ref name=WD3738>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 37–38: Misery</ref> Delta Regiment was reorganized into four provisional companies after Misery, with most of their conventional elements transferred to protect their dependents.<ref name=WDS7072DRUR>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 70–72: Delta Regiment Unit Roster</ref> + In January [[3028]], relations between the Combine and the Dragoons exploded on [[An Ting]] into open violence. Although the bulk of Delta Regiment was not present, the course of the Dragoons was now clear.<ref name=WD3637>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 36–37: Atrocity</ref> In April 3028, Delta Regiment joined the rest of the Dragoons units on [[Misery]]. The [[Battle of Misery]] was one of the largest, most bloody 'Mech battles in history, as all five Dragoons regiments, along with Zeta Battalion and the [[Black Widow Company]], faced off against the ''Ryuken'', now built up to four regiments, along with the [[17th Galedon Regulars]], the [[21st Galedon Regulars]], and the elite [[8th Sword of Light]]. The Kuritan force would be led by newly promoted ''[[Tai-sho_(rank)#Draconis_Combine_Mustered_Soldiery|Tai-sho]]'' Minobu Tetsuhara, acting under the orders of Warlord Samsonov.<ref name=WOTB294>''Wolves on the Border'', p. 294: Tetsuhara repeats their orders</ref> Though the Dragoons would eventually prove triumphant, the cost in men and machines was astronomical.<ref name=WD3738>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 37–38: Misery</ref> Delta Regiment was reorganized into four provisional companies after Misery, with most of their conventional elements transferred to protect their dependents.<ref name=WDS7072DRUR>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 70–72: Delta Regiment Unit Roster</ref> ===The Fourth Succession War=== ===The Fourth Succession War=== ====Wapakoneta==== ====Wapakoneta==== [[File:Wdragoons.gif|left|thumb|Emblem of [[Wolf's Dragoons]]]] [[File:Wdragoons.gif|left|thumb|Emblem of [[Wolf's Dragoons]]]] − When the Fourth Succession War broke out, Dumont and Delta Regiment defended the Federated Suns world of [[Wapakoneta]] alongside [[Beta Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Beta Regiment]]. Attacking the planet were Kurita's [[3rd Proserpina Hussars]] and [[Twelfth Galedon Regulars]], landing on-planet 17 September 3028. Dumont and Beta commander [[Andrei Shostokovitch]] emerged with a strategy that would take advantage of Wapakoneta's small land area, using a guerrilla warfare defense with hidden supply depots. The Dragoons had thoroughly familiarized themselves as much as possible with the terrain, and were well prepared to defend the continent of New Wisconsin. Early in the campaign, Beta's Third Provisional Company managed to destroy two-thirds of the Kuritan [[aerospace fighter]]s on the ground, but were themselves annihilated by the overwhelming force of the two DCMS regiments. Sometime later, Delta Regiment's Second Provisional Company, led by [[Captain]] Ralph Kincaid, attempted to draw two enemy lances into a kill zone in a clash that became known as the Battle of the Black Statues. Caught in a forest fire that burned out of control, Dumont ordered Kincaid to pull out. Kincaid, who had lost his wife and son on Misery, ordered the rest of his company while refusing to withdraw himself. Two of his warriors remained with him, though they were hopelessly outnumbered and faced the dangers of the fire. Kincaid died in his cockpit fighting to the bitter end, destroying most of the remaining Combine 'Mechs. In the months that followed, the Dragoons split into company and lance-sized units, refusing to give the Kuritans a pitched battle that would allow them to take advantage of their superior numbers. This approach was effective in the forests and mountains, but less so in the flat plains. The Dragoons' efforts were helped that the Combine commander, ''[[Sho-sho]]'' Tarsus Bodoli, kept his forces on the main roads in tightly packed convoys, easy prey for small groups of Dragoons. The Proserpina Hussars and their commanding officer, ''Sho-sho'' Bruce Lee Bernstein, grew frustrated at this ineffective approach, eventually splitting off his regiment and breaking it into company-sized units. This proved effective when a light company of Hussars trapped Beta Regiment's Fourth Provisional Company near Stiverson City when the latter had been attempting to ambush a company of the Galedon Regulars. Only five Dragoons escaped, and it seemed to become a turning point in the campaign, as the Dragoons were forced to retreat more and more in the wake of these new tactics. Both Dragoons Colonels recognized that a change in approach was called for or they would be destroyed one company at a time. They successfully used Beta's Fifth Provisional Company to lure a battalion of the Hussars into a massive ambush, where almost the entirety of the remaining Dragoons attacked. Known as the Fight of Ploven's Fields, Dumont activated a [[Command-Detonated Mine|minefield]] beneath the Hussars, and a dozen Kuritan 'Mechs were destroyed before they managed to withdraw. The Hussars regrouped with the Galedon Regulars, looking to rest and repair. The Dragoons, meanwhile, had decided to make a stand at the city of Hannibal. While pushing towards that city, however, they were blocked by elements of the Twelfth Galedon, who had taken the key town of Bakir, through which the only bridge to cross the Bakir River went through. The Regulars were well entrenched, with [[artillery]] and aerospace fighter support. With the battle not going well, Dumont was approached in her 'Mech by an elderly woman, Mavis Greenthorn, who had been an AFFS veteran and who had braved the battlefield to give the Dragoons Colonel information about the terrain to help the mercenaries prevail. Showing Dumont a hidden location where the river was shallow enough for 'Mechs to safely cross, the Colonel led the remaining Dragoons across the river, then doubled back to Bakir, where they surprised the Kuritans from behind. The Regulars quickly withdrew, and the Dragoons would blow the bridge, buying themselves a month worth of time while the Kuritans found a way around the river. Reaching Hannibal was not without cost, however, as Beta's Fifth Provisional Company was intercepted by a superior force. Facing two-to-one odds, Rondema's Roughnecks were destroyed, further reducing the Dragoons' numbers. Evacuating the civilian population of the city, the Dragoons had until late April to prepare. After the Kuritans established a secure position outside the city, they began a campaign of bombardment with their remaining aerospace fighters. The Dragoons 'Mechs took cover in the city's vast underground mining facilities, avoiding serious damage while the city above was reduced to rubble. When the Kuritan 'Mechs finally attacked on May 9, the Dragoons used the rubble as natural defensive positions, and the mercenaries and Wapakoneta militia ambushed their enemies repeatedly. Beta's First Provisional Company was able to pick off two recon lances of Kuritans when they were cut off. The rest of the Dragoons then attacked, destroying several Kuritan 'Mechs and forcing them to pull back. When the DCMS attacked again two weeks later, they did so in lance-sized units. Splitting their remaining forces into three groups, Dumont took her command lance and Delta's Third and Fourth Provisional Companies, attaching the 'Mechs to the underground trains and effectively creating a rapid response force that could strike at the attackers from below. Dumont's 'Mech and several other heavy machines made this difficult, however, as the tunnels had never been designed for their size. Although the Dragoons took losses, they were once again able to push their enemies back. After that, weather made any further attacks impractical for more than a month, as supplies for both sides ran low. Using the winter storms as cover, the Dragoons withdrew through the underground tunnels and reached their [[DropShips]], which they used to escape the planet. Of the nine companies of 'Mechs the Dragoons had started with, only four had survived.<ref name=WDS4142W>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 41–42: Wapakoneta</ref><ref name=NFSWVI6971>''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1'', pp. 69–71: Wapakoneta</ref><ref name=NFSWVII79>''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2'', pp. 7–9: Wapakoneta</ref> + When the Fourth Succession War broke out, Dumont and Delta Regiment defended the Federated Suns world of [[Wapakoneta]] alongside [[Beta Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Beta Regiment]]. Attacking the planet were Kurita's [[3rd Proserpina Hussars]] and [[12th Galedon Regulars]], landing on-planet September 17, 3028. Dumont and Beta commander [[Andrei Shostokovitch]] emerged with a strategy that would take advantage of Wapakoneta's small land area, using a guerrilla warfare defense with hidden supply depots. The Dragoons had thoroughly familiarized themselves as much as possible with the terrain, and were well prepared to defend the continent of New Wisconsin. Early in the campaign, Beta's Third Provisional Company managed to destroy two-thirds of the Kuritan [[aerospace fighter]]s on the ground, but were themselves annihilated by the overwhelming force of the two DCMS regiments. Sometime later, Delta Regiment's Second Provisional Company, led by [[Captain]] Ralph Kincaid, attempted to draw two enemy lances into a kill zone in a clash that became known as the Battle of the Black Statues. Caught in a forest fire that burned out of control, Dumont ordered Kincaid to pull out. Kincaid, who had lost his wife and son on Misery, ordered the rest of his company while refusing to withdraw himself. Two of his warriors remained with him, though they were hopelessly outnumbered and faced the dangers of the fire. Kincaid died in his cockpit fighting to the bitter end, destroying most of the remaining Combine 'Mechs. In the months that followed, the Dragoons split into company and lance-sized units, refusing to give the Kuritans a pitched battle that would allow them to take advantage of their superior numbers. This approach was effective in the forests and mountains, but less so in the flat plains. The Dragoons' efforts were helped that the Combine commander, ''[[Sho-sho]]'' Tarsus Bodoli, kept his forces on the main roads in tightly packed convoys, easy prey for small groups of Dragoons. The Proserpina Hussars and their commanding officer, ''Sho-sho'' Bruce Lee Bernstein, grew frustrated at this ineffective approach, eventually splitting off his regiment and breaking it into company-sized units. This proved effective when a light company of Hussars trapped Beta Regiment's Fourth Provisional Company near Stiverson City when the latter had been attempting to ambush a company of the Galedon Regulars. Only five Dragoons escaped, and it seemed to become a turning point in the campaign, as the Dragoons were forced to retreat more and more in the wake of these new tactics. Both Dragoons Colonels recognized that a change in approach was called for or they would be destroyed one company at a time. They successfully used Beta's Fifth Provisional Company to lure a battalion of the Hussars into a massive ambush, where almost the entirety of the remaining Dragoons attacked. Known as the Fight of Ploven's Fields, Dumont activated a [[Command-Detonated Mine|minefield]] beneath the Hussars, and a dozen Kuritan 'Mechs were destroyed before they managed to withdraw. The Hussars regrouped with the Galedon Regulars, looking to rest and repair. The Dragoons, meanwhile, had decided to make a stand at the city of Hannibal. While pushing towards that city, however, they were blocked by elements of the Twelfth Galedon, who had taken the key town of Bakir, through which the only bridge to cross the Bakir River went through. The Regulars were well entrenched, with [[artillery]] and aerospace fighter support. With the battle not going well, Dumont was approached in her 'Mech by an elderly woman, Mavis Greenthorn, who had been an AFFS veteran and who had braved the battlefield to give the Dragoons Colonel information about the terrain to help the mercenaries prevail. Showing Dumont a hidden location where the river was shallow enough for 'Mechs to safely cross, the Colonel led the remaining Dragoons across the river, then doubled back to Bakir, where they surprised the Kuritans from behind. The Regulars quickly withdrew, and the Dragoons would blow the bridge, buying themselves a month worth of time while the Kuritans found a way around the river. Reaching Hannibal was not without cost, however, as Beta's Fifth Provisional Company was intercepted by a superior force. Facing two-to-one odds, Rondema's Roughnecks were destroyed, further reducing the Dragoons' numbers. Evacuating the civilian population of the city, the Dragoons had until late April to prepare. After the Kuritans established a secure position outside the city, they began a campaign of bombardment with their remaining aerospace fighters. The Dragoons 'Mechs took cover in the city's vast underground mining facilities, avoiding serious damage while the city above was reduced to rubble. When the Kuritan 'Mechs finally attacked on May 9, the Dragoons used the rubble as natural defensive positions, and the mercenaries and Wapakoneta militia ambushed their enemies repeatedly. Beta's First Provisional Company was able to pick off two recon lances of Kuritans when they were cut off. The rest of the Dragoons then attacked, destroying several Kuritan 'Mechs and forcing them to pull back. When the DCMS attacked again two weeks later, they did so in lance-sized units. Splitting their remaining forces into three groups, Dumont took her command lance and Delta's Third and Fourth Provisional Companies, attaching the 'Mechs to the underground trains and effectively creating a rapid response force that could strike at the attackers from below. Dumont's 'Mech and several other heavy machines made this difficult, however, as the tunnels had never been designed for their size. Although the Dragoons took losses, they were once again able to push their enemies back. After that, weather made any further attacks impractical for more than a month, as supplies for both sides ran low. Using the winter storms as cover, the Dragoons withdrew through the underground tunnels and reached their [[DropShips]], which they used to escape the planet. Of the nine companies of 'Mechs the Dragoons had started with, only four had survived.<ref name=WDS4142W>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 41–42: Wapakoneta</ref><ref name=NFSWVI6971>''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1'', pp. 69–71: Wapakoneta</ref><ref name=NFSWVII79>''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2'', pp. 7–9: Wapakoneta</ref> ====Crossing==== ====Crossing==== − On [[Crossing]], the Dragoons regrouped. Where once they had five regiments, now they were reduced to one. On 2 September [[3029]]. Kurita DropShips neared Crossing's orbit. The Twelfth Galedon Regulars had followed the Dragoons from Wapakoneta, and [[5th Galedon Regulars|Fifth]], [[8th Galedon Regulars|Eighth]], and [[Sixteenth Galedon Regulars]], units that had fought the other Dragoons regiments on [[Harrow's Sun]] and [[Glenmora]]. Though all four Galedon Regular regiments had taken heavy losses, they had been reinforced by green recruits fresh out of the academy, bringing them up to strength on paper if not in unit quality. The Kuritans had a four-to-one advantage in numbers and had learned a great deal from their previous battles. They were cautious in their approach, wary of ambushes or traps. They were also accompanied by an elite [[Draconis Elite Strike Teams|DEST]] 'Mech company (designated "Sword of the Void") that remained in orbit as a reserve force. With such a numerical advantage, the Combine forces chose not to bring their conventional troops into the battle, deigning such units worthless distractions, fit only to guard their DropShips. Colonel Wolf contacted the invading ships and told them where they would meet them. It was essentially a challenge, but it also served to protect the civilian population of Crossing, which was only lightly defended by the [[10th Deneb Light Cavalry]] soldiers who had pulled off Glenmora with Alpha Regiment. The campaign was long and hard, with the Dragoons making the Galedon Regulars pay for every inch they took in blood. At one point, the DEST team conducted a daring drop in the middle of the Dragoons defense, causing havoc behind the lines. During the fighting, Dumont's 'Mech was destroyed, taking her out of the fighting. Just as it seemed the Dragoons might collapse, elements of the Tenth Deneb would surprise the Galedon Regulars from behind, buying the Dragoons time to recover. It was at this point that [[Zeta Battalion]], having recovered their strength on Robinson, entered the battle, having arrived undetected in rented ''[[Mule]]''-class DropShips. As the desperately needed reinforcements fell on the Galedon Regulars, Colonel Wolf and his warriors finally crushed the DEST company, freeing them to turn on the Kuritan forces. Most of the Fifth Galedon was destroyed climbing the mountain wall in an attempt to retreat, and the Sixteenth's survivors were forced to surrender to [[Natasha Kerensky]]. The Eighth and Twelfth were routed by the emboldened Dragoons, harassed by [[Inferno (Missile)|Inferno]]-wielding infantry using the cover of the mountains. They would flee to their transports. Of the four BattleMech regiments that had attacked Crossing, only 112 Kuritan 'Mechs survived. Wolf's Dragoons had been brought to the edge of destruction, but their reputation was greater than ever. An entire Successor State had devoted all its resources to crushing them, yet they still lived. In the aftermath of the Fourth Succession War, Delta Regiment, like virtually every other Dragoons line unit, was effectively inactive, with losses far too high to field a viable command.<ref name=WDS70DRU>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 70: Delta Regiment Unit Roster: Command Company</ref><ref name=WDS4243C>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 42–43: Crossing</ref><ref name=NFSWVII3037C>''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2'', pp. 30–37: Crossing</ref> + On [[Crossing]], the Dragoons regrouped. Where once they had five regiments, now they were reduced to one. On September 2, [[3029]]. Kurita DropShips neared Crossing's orbit. The Twelfth Galedon Regulars had followed the Dragoons from Wapakoneta, and [[5th Galedon Regulars|5th]], [[8th Galedon Regulars|8th]] and [[16th Galedon Regulars]], units that had fought the other Dragoons regiments on [[Harrow's Sun]] and [[Glenmora]]. Though all four Galedon Regular regiments had taken heavy losses, they had been reinforced by green recruits fresh out of the academy, bringing them up to strength on paper if not in unit quality. The Kuritans had a four-to-one advantage in numbers and had learned a great deal from their previous battles. They were cautious in their approach, wary of ambushes or traps. They were also accompanied by an elite [[Draconis Elite Strike Teams|DEST]] 'Mech company (designated "Sword of the Void") that remained in orbit as a reserve force. With such a numerical advantage, the Combine forces chose not to bring their conventional troops into the battle, deigning such units worthless distractions, fit only to guard their DropShips. Colonel Wolf contacted the invading ships and told them where they would meet them. It was essentially a challenge, but it also served to protect the civilian population of Crossing, which was only lightly defended by the [[10th Deneb Light Cavalry]] soldiers who had pulled off Glenmora with Alpha Regiment. The campaign was long and hard, with the Dragoons making the Galedon Regulars pay for every inch they took in blood. At one point, the DEST team conducted a daring drop in the middle of the Dragoons defense, causing havoc behind the lines. During the fighting, Dumont's 'Mech was destroyed, taking her out of the fighting. Just as it seemed the Dragoons might collapse, elements of the Tenth Deneb would surprise the Galedon Regulars from behind, buying the Dragoons time to recover. It was at this point that [[Zeta Battalion]], having recovered their strength on Robinson, entered the battle, having arrived undetected in rented ''[[Mule]]''-class DropShips. As the desperately needed reinforcements fell on the Galedon Regulars, Colonel Wolf and his warriors finally crushed the DEST company, freeing them to turn on the Kuritan forces. Most of the Fifth Galedon was destroyed climbing the mountain wall in an attempt to retreat, and the Sixteenth's survivors were forced to surrender to [[Natasha Kerensky]]. The Eighth and Twelfth were routed by the emboldened Dragoons, harassed by [[Inferno (Missile)|Inferno]]-wielding infantry using the cover of the mountains. They would flee to their transports. Of the four BattleMech regiments that had attacked Crossing, only 112 Kuritan 'Mechs survived. Wolf's Dragoons had been brought to the edge of destruction, but their reputation was greater than ever. An entire Successor State had devoted all its resources to crushing them, yet they still lived. In the aftermath of the Fourth Succession War, Delta Regiment, like virtually every other Dragoons line unit, was effectively inactive, with losses far too high to field a viable command.<ref name=WDS70DRU>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 70: Delta Regiment Unit Roster: Command Company</ref><ref name=WDS4243C>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 42–43: Crossing</ref><ref name=NFSWVII3037C>''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2'', pp. 30–37: Crossing</ref> ===Later Career and Death=== ===Later Career and Death=== Line 60:
Line 61: ==Bibliography== ==Bibliography== − {{div col|colwidth=25em}} + {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * ''[[The Battle of Coventry (scenario pack)|The Battle of Coventry]]'' * ''[[The Battle of Coventry (scenario pack)|The Battle of Coventry]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries]]'' Line 74:
Line 75: {{div col end}} {{div col end}} + + [[Category:Mercenary Characters|Dumont, Kathleen]] [[Category:Wolf's Dragoons Characters|Dumont, Kathleen]] [[Category:Wolf's Dragoons Characters|Dumont, Kathleen]] [[Category:Notable BattleMaster Pilots|Dumont, Kathleen]] [[Category:Notable BattleMaster Pilots|Dumont, Kathleen]]
The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
| Latest revision | Your text | ||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
| name = Kathleen Dumont | | name = Kathleen Dumont | ||
| birthdate = | | birthdate = | ||
| − | | died = | + | | died = 3038 |
| affiliation = [[Wolf's Dragoons]] | | affiliation = [[Wolf's Dragoons]] | ||
| rank = [[Colonel]] | | rank = [[Colonel]] | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
| children = | | children = | ||
}} | }} | ||
| + | |||
'''Kathleen Dumont''' was an officer in the [[Wolf's Dragoons]] [[mercenary]] command who led [[Delta Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Delta Regiment]] during the [[Fourth Succession War]]. | '''Kathleen Dumont''' was an officer in the [[Wolf's Dragoons]] [[mercenary]] command who led [[Delta Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Delta Regiment]] during the [[Fourth Succession War]]. | ||
| Line 23: | Line 24: | ||
===Tough Times=== | ===Tough Times=== | ||
| − | The concerns of many of Dumont's doubters seemed confirmed in Delta's first major action under her command. [[House Kurita]] had been moving units to the key border world of [[Dromini VI]], preparing for a renewed assault on the [[Lyran Commonwealth]], the Dragoons' current employers. [[ | + | The concerns of many of Dumont's doubters seemed confirmed in Delta's first major action under her command. [[House Kurita]] had been moving units to the key border world of [[Dromini VI]], preparing for a renewed assault on the [[Lyran Commonwealth]], the Dragoons' current employers. [[Archon]] [[Katrina Steiner]] decided a preemptive strike was called for. In September [[3021]] [[Alpha Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Alpha]], Delta and [[Epsilon Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Epsilon Regiment]]s assaulted the Kurita garrison on Dromini VI, which they expected to the [[3rd Dieron Regulars|3rd]] and [[22nd Dieron Regulars]]. In addition, three regiments of the [[Lyran]] [[Donegal Guards]] were held in reserve to ambush expected [[Kurita]] reinforcements. Unknown to the mercenaries and their Lyran allies, the elite [[2nd Sword of Light]] was also on-planet. Although Delta was intended to hold back during the initial assault, Dumont took the initiative of attacking the city of Draschau. Expecting little resistance, Dumont failed to adequately scout the city, and soon faced an ambush by the Second Sword. Rather than pullback to reassess the situation, Dumont elected to launch a frontal assault, taking heavy losses. Although technically successful in dislodging the Second Sworders, it was a Pyrrhic victory at best, and earned her not only unpopularity with her soldiers but a reprimand from Colonel Wolf. Dumont vowed to recover from this setback.<ref name=WDS27D>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 27: Battle for Dromini</ref> |
===In Service to Kurita=== | ===In Service to Kurita=== | ||
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===The Battle of Misery=== | ===The Battle of Misery=== | ||
| − | In January [[3028]], relations between the Combine and the Dragoons exploded on [[An Ting]] into open violence. Although the bulk of Delta Regiment was not present, the course of the Dragoons was now clear.<ref name=WD3637>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 36–37: Atrocity</ref> In April 3028, Delta Regiment joined the rest of the Dragoons units on [[Misery]]. The [[Battle of Misery]] was one of the largest, most bloody 'Mech battles in history, as all five Dragoons regiments, along with Zeta Battalion and the [[Black Widow Company]], faced off against the ''Ryuken'', now built up to four regiments, along with the [[ | + | In January [[3028]], relations between the Combine and the Dragoons exploded on [[An Ting]] into open violence. Although the bulk of Delta Regiment was not present, the course of the Dragoons was now clear.<ref name=WD3637>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 36–37: Atrocity</ref> In April 3028, Delta Regiment joined the rest of the Dragoons units on [[Misery]]. The [[Battle of Misery]] was one of the largest, most bloody 'Mech battles in history, as all five Dragoons regiments, along with Zeta Battalion and the [[Black Widow Company]], faced off against the ''Ryuken'', now built up to four regiments, along with the [[17th Galedon Regulars]], the [[21st Galedon Regulars]], and the elite [[8th Sword of Light]]. The Kuritan force would be led by newly promoted ''[[Tai-sho_(rank)#Draconis_Combine_Mustered_Soldiery|Tai-sho]]'' Minobu Tetsuhara, acting under the orders of Warlord Samsonov.<ref name=WOTB294>''Wolves on the Border'', p. 294: Tetsuhara repeats their orders</ref> Though the Dragoons would eventually prove triumphant, the cost in men and machines was astronomical.<ref name=WD3738>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 37–38: Misery</ref> Delta Regiment was reorganized into four provisional companies after Misery, with most of their conventional elements transferred to protect their dependents.<ref name=WDS7072DRUR>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 70–72: Delta Regiment Unit Roster</ref> |
===The Fourth Succession War=== | ===The Fourth Succession War=== | ||
====Wapakoneta==== | ====Wapakoneta==== | ||
[[File:Wdragoons.gif|left|thumb|Emblem of [[Wolf's Dragoons]]]] | [[File:Wdragoons.gif|left|thumb|Emblem of [[Wolf's Dragoons]]]] | ||
| − | When the Fourth Succession War broke out, Dumont and Delta Regiment defended the Federated Suns world of [[Wapakoneta]] alongside [[Beta Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Beta Regiment]]. Attacking the planet were Kurita's [[3rd Proserpina Hussars]] and [[ | + | When the Fourth Succession War broke out, Dumont and Delta Regiment defended the Federated Suns world of [[Wapakoneta]] alongside [[Beta Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Beta Regiment]]. Attacking the planet were Kurita's [[3rd Proserpina Hussars]] and [[12th Galedon Regulars]], landing on-planet September 17, 3028. Dumont and Beta commander [[Andrei Shostokovitch]] emerged with a strategy that would take advantage of Wapakoneta's small land area, using a guerrilla warfare defense with hidden supply depots. The Dragoons had thoroughly familiarized themselves as much as possible with the terrain, and were well prepared to defend the continent of New Wisconsin. Early in the campaign, Beta's Third Provisional Company managed to destroy two-thirds of the Kuritan [[aerospace fighter]]s on the ground, but were themselves annihilated by the overwhelming force of the two DCMS regiments. Sometime later, Delta Regiment's Second Provisional Company, led by [[Captain]] Ralph Kincaid, attempted to draw two enemy lances into a kill zone in a clash that became known as the Battle of the Black Statues. Caught in a forest fire that burned out of control, Dumont ordered Kincaid to pull out. Kincaid, who had lost his wife and son on Misery, ordered the rest of his company while refusing to withdraw himself. Two of his warriors remained with him, though they were hopelessly outnumbered and faced the dangers of the fire. Kincaid died in his cockpit fighting to the bitter end, destroying most of the remaining Combine 'Mechs. In the months that followed, the Dragoons split into company and lance-sized units, refusing to give the Kuritans a pitched battle that would allow them to take advantage of their superior numbers. This approach was effective in the forests and mountains, but less so in the flat plains. The Dragoons' efforts were helped that the Combine commander, ''[[Sho-sho]]'' Tarsus Bodoli, kept his forces on the main roads in tightly packed convoys, easy prey for small groups of Dragoons. The Proserpina Hussars and their commanding officer, ''Sho-sho'' Bruce Lee Bernstein, grew frustrated at this ineffective approach, eventually splitting off his regiment and breaking it into company-sized units. This proved effective when a light company of Hussars trapped Beta Regiment's Fourth Provisional Company near Stiverson City when the latter had been attempting to ambush a company of the Galedon Regulars. Only five Dragoons escaped, and it seemed to become a turning point in the campaign, as the Dragoons were forced to retreat more and more in the wake of these new tactics. Both Dragoons Colonels recognized that a change in approach was called for or they would be destroyed one company at a time. They successfully used Beta's Fifth Provisional Company to lure a battalion of the Hussars into a massive ambush, where almost the entirety of the remaining Dragoons attacked. Known as the Fight of Ploven's Fields, Dumont activated a [[Command-Detonated Mine|minefield]] beneath the Hussars, and a dozen Kuritan 'Mechs were destroyed before they managed to withdraw. The Hussars regrouped with the Galedon Regulars, looking to rest and repair. The Dragoons, meanwhile, had decided to make a stand at the city of Hannibal. While pushing towards that city, however, they were blocked by elements of the Twelfth Galedon, who had taken the key town of Bakir, through which the only bridge to cross the Bakir River went through. The Regulars were well entrenched, with [[artillery]] and aerospace fighter support. With the battle not going well, Dumont was approached in her 'Mech by an elderly woman, Mavis Greenthorn, who had been an AFFS veteran and who had braved the battlefield to give the Dragoons Colonel information about the terrain to help the mercenaries prevail. Showing Dumont a hidden location where the river was shallow enough for 'Mechs to safely cross, the Colonel led the remaining Dragoons across the river, then doubled back to Bakir, where they surprised the Kuritans from behind. The Regulars quickly withdrew, and the Dragoons would blow the bridge, buying themselves a month worth of time while the Kuritans found a way around the river. Reaching Hannibal was not without cost, however, as Beta's Fifth Provisional Company was intercepted by a superior force. Facing two-to-one odds, Rondema's Roughnecks were destroyed, further reducing the Dragoons' numbers. Evacuating the civilian population of the city, the Dragoons had until late April to prepare. After the Kuritans established a secure position outside the city, they began a campaign of bombardment with their remaining aerospace fighters. The Dragoons 'Mechs took cover in the city's vast underground mining facilities, avoiding serious damage while the city above was reduced to rubble. When the Kuritan 'Mechs finally attacked on May 9, the Dragoons used the rubble as natural defensive positions, and the mercenaries and Wapakoneta militia ambushed their enemies repeatedly. Beta's First Provisional Company was able to pick off two recon lances of Kuritans when they were cut off. The rest of the Dragoons then attacked, destroying several Kuritan 'Mechs and forcing them to pull back. When the DCMS attacked again two weeks later, they did so in lance-sized units. Splitting their remaining forces into three groups, Dumont took her command lance and Delta's Third and Fourth Provisional Companies, attaching the 'Mechs to the underground trains and effectively creating a rapid response force that could strike at the attackers from below. Dumont's 'Mech and several other heavy machines made this difficult, however, as the tunnels had never been designed for their size. Although the Dragoons took losses, they were once again able to push their enemies back. After that, weather made any further attacks impractical for more than a month, as supplies for both sides ran low. Using the winter storms as cover, the Dragoons withdrew through the underground tunnels and reached their [[DropShips]], which they used to escape the planet. Of the nine companies of 'Mechs the Dragoons had started with, only four had survived.<ref name=WDS4142W>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 41–42: Wapakoneta</ref><ref name=NFSWVI6971>''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1'', pp. 69–71: Wapakoneta</ref><ref name=NFSWVII79>''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2'', pp. 7–9: Wapakoneta</ref> |
====Crossing==== | ====Crossing==== | ||
| − | On [[Crossing]], the Dragoons regrouped. Where once they had five regiments, now they were reduced to one. On 2 | + | On [[Crossing]], the Dragoons regrouped. Where once they had five regiments, now they were reduced to one. On September 2, [[3029]]. Kurita DropShips neared Crossing's orbit. The Twelfth Galedon Regulars had followed the Dragoons from Wapakoneta, and [[5th Galedon Regulars|5th]], [[8th Galedon Regulars|8th]] and [[16th Galedon Regulars]], units that had fought the other Dragoons regiments on [[Harrow's Sun]] and [[Glenmora]]. Though all four Galedon Regular regiments had taken heavy losses, they had been reinforced by green recruits fresh out of the academy, bringing them up to strength on paper if not in unit quality. The Kuritans had a four-to-one advantage in numbers and had learned a great deal from their previous battles. They were cautious in their approach, wary of ambushes or traps. They were also accompanied by an elite [[Draconis Elite Strike Teams|DEST]] 'Mech company (designated "Sword of the Void") that remained in orbit as a reserve force. With such a numerical advantage, the Combine forces chose not to bring their conventional troops into the battle, deigning such units worthless distractions, fit only to guard their DropShips. Colonel Wolf contacted the invading ships and told them where they would meet them. It was essentially a challenge, but it also served to protect the civilian population of Crossing, which was only lightly defended by the [[10th Deneb Light Cavalry]] soldiers who had pulled off Glenmora with Alpha Regiment. The campaign was long and hard, with the Dragoons making the Galedon Regulars pay for every inch they took in blood. At one point, the DEST team conducted a daring drop in the middle of the Dragoons defense, causing havoc behind the lines. During the fighting, Dumont's 'Mech was destroyed, taking her out of the fighting. Just as it seemed the Dragoons might collapse, elements of the Tenth Deneb would surprise the Galedon Regulars from behind, buying the Dragoons time to recover. It was at this point that [[Zeta Battalion]], having recovered their strength on Robinson, entered the battle, having arrived undetected in rented ''[[Mule]]''-class DropShips. As the desperately needed reinforcements fell on the Galedon Regulars, Colonel Wolf and his warriors finally crushed the DEST company, freeing them to turn on the Kuritan forces. Most of the Fifth Galedon was destroyed climbing the mountain wall in an attempt to retreat, and the Sixteenth's survivors were forced to surrender to [[Natasha Kerensky]]. The Eighth and Twelfth were routed by the emboldened Dragoons, harassed by [[Inferno (Missile)|Inferno]]-wielding infantry using the cover of the mountains. They would flee to their transports. Of the four BattleMech regiments that had attacked Crossing, only 112 Kuritan 'Mechs survived. Wolf's Dragoons had been brought to the edge of destruction, but their reputation was greater than ever. An entire Successor State had devoted all its resources to crushing them, yet they still lived. In the aftermath of the Fourth Succession War, Delta Regiment, like virtually every other Dragoons line unit, was effectively inactive, with losses far too high to field a viable command.<ref name=WDS70DRU>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 70: Delta Regiment Unit Roster: Command Company</ref><ref name=WDS4243C>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 42–43: Crossing</ref><ref name=NFSWVII3037C>''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2'', pp. 30–37: Crossing</ref> |
===Later Career and Death=== | ===Later Career and Death=== | ||
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==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||
| − | {{div col|colwidth= | + | {{div col|colwidth=30em}} |
* ''[[The Battle of Coventry (scenario pack)|The Battle of Coventry]]'' | * ''[[The Battle of Coventry (scenario pack)|The Battle of Coventry]]'' | ||
* ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries]]'' | * ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries]]'' | ||
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{{div col end}} | {{div col end}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Mercenary Characters|Dumont, Kathleen]] | ||
[[Category:Wolf's Dragoons Characters|Dumont, Kathleen]] | [[Category:Wolf's Dragoons Characters|Dumont, Kathleen]] | ||
[[Category:Notable BattleMaster Pilots|Dumont, Kathleen]] | [[Category:Notable BattleMaster Pilots|Dumont, Kathleen]] | ||