Editing Akira Brahe

{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = 
| caption             = 
| name                = Akira Brahe
| birthdate           = [[3001]]<ref>''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'', p. 90: "Akira Brahe Profile"</ref>
| died                = terminally ill with [[Ockham's Blood Disease]] as of [[3077]]<ref>''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'', p. 91: Akira Brahe profile - "Akira is dying of Ockham's Blood Disease with 24-36 months to live as of 3077"</ref>
| othernames          = Akira Kurita
| affiliation         = [[House Brahe]]
| rank                = 
| title               = 
| position            =  
| profession          = [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]]
| parents             = [[Yorinaga Kurita]] (father)<br/>[[Sula Brahe]] (mother)
| siblings            = 
| spouse              = [[Yukiko Ostlund]]<ref name=MH55p63>''Mercenary's Handbook: 3055'', p. 63</ref>
| children            = [[Yorinaga Brahe]]<br/>[[Gustav Brahe (31st Century)|Gustav Brahe]]<ref name=MH55p63/>
}}
'''Akira Brahe''' is the son of [[Sula Brahe]] and [[Yorinaga Kurita]].<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 61: Akira discusses his origins with his father and his command staff</ref> A [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] and officer with blood ties to [[House Kurita]] of the [[Draconis Combine]], he would renounce his allegiance to House Kurita to become a member of the [[Kell Hounds]] [[mercenary unit]].

==Appearance==
Akira was described as tall, with brown hair; he had a bronze complexion, a strong-boned face, and brown Asian eyes.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 60</ref>

==Personality==
A quiet, perceptive man, Brahe inspires his troops with a confidence that leaves no room for defeat. He refused to take with blood what can win strategically. He approaches combat with the same skill and concentration he uses playing the Japanese game of Go, positioning his forces to force the opponents to retreat.<ref>''Mercenaries Handbook 3055'', p. 63</ref>

==History==
===Early Life===
Born as Akira Kurita, the young man was raised in the [[Rasalhague Military District]] of the Draconis Combine as the son of a high-ranking noble and a woman of Rasalhagian descent.

He attended preparation school up to age 15 where he was to attend the [[Sun Zhang Academy]]. However, he was expelled from school in [[3016]] when word of his father's disgrace in the infamous [[Phantom 'Mech]] incident on [[Mallory's World]] arrived.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 61: Akira relates to his being expelled and dishonored from school on word of Yorinaga's disgrace</ref>

Akira and his mother were sold into slavery by order of the [[Rasalhague Military District]]'s lord [[Marcus Kurita]], following the direction of [[Coordinator]] [[Takashi Kurita]]. His grandfather [[Gustav Brahe]] "rescued" him and his mother by purchasing them. After giving permission for Akira's mother to commit suicide, he officially adopted Akira as his son.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 64: Akira tells of his adoption after his mother's death</ref>

Akira was sent to [[Alshain]] where he got a job learning to pilot '[[Mech]]s off the assembly line for the [[Alshain Weapons]] factory. He avoided contact with rebels and dissidents and instead concentrated on learning to pilot. After three years of piloting 'Mechs and learning to repair them, he was promoted to test-pilot fully operational 'Mechs. He was noted by factory designers to have a natural intuition for piloting 'Mechs.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 60: Narimasa Asano introduces Akira to his father</ref>

After three years of test piloting for Alshain, ''[[yakuza]]'' forces raided the factory Akira worked at and stole some 'Mechs. Akira took the controls of a ''[[Grand Dragon]]'', which had been prepared for a morning combat test. Though this was his first engagement, he expertly closed in on them through darkened alleys as they tried to escape with four ''[[Panther]]''s. The ''yakuza'' thieves had little fighting skills, and Akira downed one of the stolen machines. The others tried to save their comrade, but were no match for him and were defeated. The [[ISF]] was shamed by the fact that they earlier rejected him as a MechWarrior, yet he successfully stopped four 'Mechs at once in his first engagement. The ISF decided to reward him with a promotion of sorts, by arranging his transfer into the [[Legion of Vega]].

===In service to the Draconis Combine Mustered Service and Genyosha===
Akira was given a half-operational ''[[Dragon]]'' [[BattleMech]] and put into the [[Eleventh Legion of Vega]], a dumping unit for troublemakers.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 62: Akira recounts how he entered Eleventh Legion of Vega</ref> He was placed into a mixed-blood Rasalhague lance. He and the lance were part of a raid sent to the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] world of [[Ryde]], where he was given a suicidal order by his ''[[Chu-i]]'' but disobeyed it because it made no tactical sense. As his ''Chu-i'' died in the retreat from the raid, Akira was elected to replace him. Akira cut a deal with his fellow lancemates to work together to succeed; his lance had to salvage, scrounge or outright steal parts to bring their 'Mechs back to fully operational status. In the course of his career with the Eleventh, he managed to manipulate ISF informers and thus solidify his power base in the unit.

In October, [[3027]] Akira came to the attention of ''[[Chu-sa]]'' [[Narimasa Asano]] and ''[[Sho-sa]]'' [[Tarukito Niiro]]. They believed that Akira would be able to bring the [[Genyosha]]'s company of Rasalhague-native MechWarriors together.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', pp. 58–59: ''Chu-sa'' Asano and ''Sho-sa'' Niiro bring Akira to be approved for joining the Genyosha by its commander, Yorinaga Kurita</ref> Akira thus met with his father, Genyosha founder Yorinaga Kurita, for the first time in years, and told him he wanted to see the officers who secured his place in the Genyosha. He recited his accomplishments and history to his future commanding officer. Yorinaga asked Akira if he would obey a command to commit ''[[seppuku]]''. Akira proudly removed his robe to reveal his bare chest and abdomen. He asked that his father would stand as his second if possible. Yorinaga, smiling at him, ordered Asano and Niiro to prepare a place for ''Chu-sa'' Brahe. When alone, Yorinaga asked why Akira bore his mother's last name. Akira painfully explained that it was his adopted father's last name and his mother committed suicide; it was the only way to save him from following her to death.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', pp. 61–62: Akira goes over his history and the fate of his mother with his "commanding officer" Yorinaga Kurita</ref> He was given command of the Rasalhague 'Mech company, becoming a formal member of the Genyosha.

===Discovery on Terra===
In August [[3028]], Akira joined his father to [[Terra]] in the [[Coordinator]]'s entourage to witness the wedding of [[Hanse Davion]] and [[Melissa Steiner]].<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 166: Akira is seen with the Coordinator at Hanse Davion's wedding on Terra</ref> They traveled from Savannah, Georgia's spaceport to [[Hilton's Head Island]], the headquarters of [[ComStar]].

While on Terra, he took a tour of [[ComStar]]'s facilities, and while on the tour he met a young woman named [[Riva Allard]]. The two quickly became friends while on the tour. During the tour they decided to do their own investigation of facilities. They noticed a smell, which Akira identified as 'Mech coolant.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 184: Akira and Riva Allard smell 'Mech coolant in one of the ComStar buildings while on tour</ref> They were soon discovered, but they managed to fool the [[Acolyte]]s that they were having a lovers' dispute. Riva smacked Akira into one four robed men; when he was pushed into one of the Acolyte, Akira discovered that one of them was wearing a MechWarrior's [[cooling vest]] under his robes. He decided to not tell Riva and said he needed to investigate further.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 185: He promises Riva he will tell her what he discovers when he investigates it further</ref>

Late that night, Akira assembled a dismantled ''[[Katana (Weapon)|katana]]'' from his luggage and drew a map of where he would be going. He then went to the seaside complex where he and Riva smelled the 'Mech coolant,<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', pp. 188–189: Akira assembles a hidden ''katana'' and sneaks down into seaside training facility on ComStar's island</ref> climbed down into a vent that had been disguised as part of the rocky shore and discovered a massive cache inside a hangar, with countless rows of BattleMechs of various size and shape, all of which were painted in gleaming white, and bearing the emblem of ComStar. Alarmed and shocked by the sight that ComStar was in possession of such a powerful army of 'Mechs, he quickly tried to return to the surface<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 192: Akira discovers the Star League era Army of BattleMechs in Colors of ComStar under ComStar's Hilton's Head Island</ref> but was found and attacked by a ComStar patrol. However, his father, along with Colonels [[Morgan Kell]] and [[Jaime Wolf]], arrived just in time to take out the ComStar patrol before they could raise alarm.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 194: Mercenary Colonels Morgan Kell and Jaime Wolf help Yorinaga Kurita save Akira</ref> Akira told his father Yorinaga: {{quote|''Down there, I got a look beneath ComStar's façade. The [[Word of Blake (book)|Word of Blake]] is bound by steel...''}}

The next day, Morgan Kell told Akira and Yorinaga that one of the men who attacked Akira had tattoos marking him as a [[periphery]] pirate. At his father's urging, Akira told Morgan Kell and Jaime Wolf what he had seen. When Wolf asked if there was 'Mechs construction going on, Akira responded that he had seen no equipment that indicated that were being assembled, but rather were being kept only for storage.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 200: Akira tells Colonels Wolf and Kell that the ComStar facilities appear to be storage, not an assembly plant</ref> Yorinaga announced he had not and would not inform the Coordinator of the situation. They all mutually agreed to keep quiet about the find.

Akira's father also spoke to Morgan Kell about having killed his brother [[Patrick Kell]]. The two men had a heated exchange about their shared "[[Phantom 'Mech ability]]", but since they spoke to each other in vague terms the exchange confused Akira. When he asked Colonel Wolf about it, Wolf replied that next time Morgan and Yorinaga met in battle, they would fight to the death.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 202: Akira asks Colonel Wolf what Morgan Kell and his father Yorinaga were talking about</ref>

===Fourth Succession War===
In the [[Fourth Succession War]] the Genyosha went to the [[Federated Suns]] world of [[Northwind]] to aid the Combine units there.<ref>''Warrior: Coupé'', p. 294: Akira witness Major Scott Bradley attempting avenge the Fifth Deneb Light Cavalry, for letting the [[Fifth Sword of Light]] rips up them up while they were garrisoning Northwind</ref> They quickly realized that the Combine forces' leader, General [[Palmer Conti]], had led his Fifth Sword and the [[Thirty-sixth Dieron Regulars]] to attack the [[Kell Hounds]]' Third Battalion, ''Bradley's Bravos'', in an attempt to steal glory from the Genyosha.<ref>''Warrior: Coupé'', p. 316: Akira states after his father's ''seppuku'' ceremony that he is disgusted with way the ''Dragon'' has been behaving and points to Conti as a glory seeker and a sign of corruption of the House Kurita</ref>

On January 11th, [[3029]], Akira's company engaged elements of [[Team Banzai]]'s battalion, the ''Blue Blazers'',<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', pp. 276–277: Genyosha fights Blue Blazers battalion of Team Banzai</ref> in their attempt to attack Conti's command headquarters. Akira engaged the last of the enemy 'Mechs, a ''[[Phoenix Hawk]]''; he was able to force the pilot to eject. Akira admired his work, and he found it strange that these warriors had fought so honorably. The unit he fought had sacrificed themselves to save their own people. This conflicted with what Akira had heard about mercenaries in the Combine ranks (which was that they were dishonorable, money grabbing warriors for hire). He later noticed Kuritan soldiers roughhousing a captured pilot. Akira then stopped the infantry unit's commander with his ''[[Orion]]'' from slaying the MechWarrior pilot he just had downed.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 278: Akira rescues a Team Banzai MechWarrior from being executed by infantry foot soldiers</ref> He and his unit were recalled to the Fifth's headquarters where they are confronted by General Conti and his ISF handler [[Hassan Faud]] who had been attempting to gain control over the Genyosha.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 277: Akira thinks to himself of the situation of the ISF Liaison agent supervising the Fifth Sword of Light and the Thirty-sixth Dieron Regulars trying to exert control over his unit</ref> ''[[Tai-sho (rank)|Tai-sho]]'' Conti called for everyone to assemble for a talk regarding Akira's dispute about executing mercenary soldiers. Akira argued against the ISF agent and his agency's reasons, but Conti countered that the orders came from the Coordinator. The order was to discourage any mercenaries from fighting the DCMS. Faud gloated over Akira, and stated that he was surprised Akira was not willing to execute the Kell Hounds they had captured (Bradley's Bravos having just been rebranded as the Kell Hounds' third regiment on paper), telling Akira that they just received word that Genyosha's base on [[Nashira]] was totally destroyed by Kell Hounds' other units.<ref>''Warrior: Riposte'', p. 281: Faud informs the dismayed Akira that Kell Hounds have destroyed Genyosha's base on Nashira</ref>

===The Hunt for the Kell Hounds===
In late April, the vengeful Genyosha journeyed back to Nashira. Akira accompanied his father to the top of the base's only standing structure. From the top of the building, he looked over the ruined base, and some of the buildings that had not been flattened completely had been changed into odd structures. His father explained that the base had been made into an oversized Star map for the Genyosha to follow. The building they were standing on was to represent Terra.  He then pointed out that the map was where worlds would be positioned in June, and that one of the piles of bricks stood for the Lyran world of [[Ryde]].<ref>''Warrior: Coupé'', pp. 58–60: Yorinaga tells Akira by surveying the ruins of their base, that its map of where they should go meet the Kell Hounds</ref> He then recited why he and Morgan were destined to fight, telling him of his battles in [[3013]] and later in [[3016]] with Morgan Kell and the background of these battles. Yorinaga's only goal now was to destroy the Kell Hounds for what they had done.

Yorinaga went on to explain that three years later, on Mallory's World, he met the Kell Hounds again on purpose. He led the Second Sword and the Thirty-sixth Dieron Regulars in an effort to track down and kill the mercenaries. After finding Kell, the Colonel marched his 'Mech out from his defensive position and initiated a duel challenge according to ''bushido'' tradition. Yorinaga told Akira details of their battle; he said that Morgan's strange abilities developed at the last moments of the fight, but Yorinaga had not noticed at the time. Morgan then used the rules of the duel to defeat him. Yorinaga explained his infamous [[haiku]]: it was a reflection of his discovery. He believed that Morgan Kell's method of defeating him was the mythical yellow bird. Yorinaga explained that his duel with Morgan Kell showed the Draconis Combine's restriction to ''bushido'' tradition would lead to the destruction of the Draconis Combine.<ref>''Warrior: Coupé'', p. 65: Yorinaga tell Akira that his duel with Morgan Kell showed ''bushido'' tradition could lead to the downfall of the Draconis Combine</ref>

In June, the Genyosha arrived on Ryde to only find the Kell Hounds had not arrived. Yorinaga ordered the recreation of the battlefield where Kell had fought him. Shortly afterward, Genyosha forces captured a militia scout; Akira forced the scout, who was a Lieutenant, to contact his headquarters and convince them to not attack the Genyosha. He then handed over a [[holovid]] tape to be sent via [[HPG]] to Morgan Kell regarding where they wanted to meet next:<ref>''Warrior: Coupé'', pp. 135–137: Lt. Rhinestag convinces his commanding officer that Genyosha appear to be nonhostile at gun point</ref> [[Nusakan]].<ref>''Warrior: Coupé'', p. 211: ''[[Archon]] [[Katrina Steiner]] thinks about Yorinaga's message to Morgan Kell that call him away from Skye to Nusakan for his due</ref>

In August, the Genyosha were called to a meeting on [[Moore]] by ''Prince'' Theodore Kurita. At the meeting, Theodore Kurita explained his plan to strike at heart of the [[Isle of the Skye]] region of the Lyran Commonwealth. With the rebellious Lyran noble [[Aldo Lestrade (31st c.)|Aldo Lestrade]] disarming the region, Theodore could take the entire Isle in one sweep. The attack would be launched from the Lyran world of [[Dromini VI]], and ''[[Nekekami]]'' assassins which infiltrated the militia's security would allow for an easy victory.<ref>''Warrior: Coupé'', p. 184: Akira's father Yorinaga Kurita attends the meeting for invasion of ''Isle of the Skye''</ref>

On October 24, the Genyosha landed on Nusakan, where they found the Fifth Sword of Light had arrived ahead of them and had been fighting the Kell Hounds for a grueling 20 hours. Akira was worried that Conti would steal Yorinaga's victory from him. However, his father stated that with Morgan Kell's skills, there was little chance of his defeat. He rushed in to save the Coordinator the embarrassment of losing an entire elite regiment. Akira became frustrated by the Coordinator's actions and the Combine's treatment of his father. He asked why they should care about the Coordinator's honor when he continued to dishonor them and tried to stop them from regaining their honor. His father then scolded him and stated that the one who defends the Dragon's honor is the Coordinator.<ref>''Warrior: Coupé'', pp. 292–293: ''Chu-sa'' Akira Brahe discusses situation on Nusakan with his father ''Tai-sho'' Yorinaga Kurita</ref>

In a desert valley lay the carnage left over from the battle that continued to play out on Nusakan's equatorial desert. As Akira moved further into a bowl-like depression, he saw operational units of the Kell Hounds and the Fifth Sword standing on opposite edges watching a one-on-one duel. Fighting in the depression was the Sword's commander ''Tai-sho'' Conti in his ''[[Banshee (BattleMech)|Banshee]]'', dueling the Kell Hounds' Third Battalion commander [[Scott Bradley]] in his ''[[Victor]]''. With both 'Mechs severely mauled, Bradley ripped the cockpit from the ''Banshee''', but Conti ejected from it just in time. Akira was amazed that mere mercenaries, whom Coordinator had ordered to death, had fought so hard to honor those who had been killed.<ref>''Warrior: Coupé'', pp. 294–295: Akira recognizes Scott Bradley from Northwind, and that it is a personal fight to honor the men lost on Northwind, where Conti fought without honor</ref>

After the Hound's victory, Akira watched his father's 'Mech approach in the now-cleared area. Just then, Morgan Kell entered the area in his ''Archer'', and the two bowed to each other and began a duel to the death. Akira listened to exchange between the two, and Colonel Kell told Yorinaga that his ability was a curse. It had made him invincible on the battlefield, but it was a burden that he had tried to run from. He offered for Yorinaga to walk away from this and to return to exile. Yorinaga refused because it would dishonor him, telling Kell that the way of the warrior is to be the best they possibly can be. Kell replied that it would only lead to death, and that death honors no one, and Kell also announced that he would not kill Yorinaga Kurita.<ref>''Warrior: Coupé'', p. 306: Morgan Kell and Yorinaga Kurita speak one another prior to their last duel. Kell stating he will not kill Yorinaga</ref> Akira watched as his father fired his [[PPC]]s at Kell's ''Archer'' as he closed in on him. In an attempt to keep his primary weaponry in range, Yorinaga and Kell's 'Mechs danced around wildly. Yorinaga fired his entire 'Mech's arsenal into Morgan's ''Archer'', causing it stumble to one knee.  After countless, withering attacks, Kell stood his 'Mech up and bowed to Yorinaga.  Akira's father started to bow his 'Mech, but it seized from excess heat (from firing all weapons in the hot desert). Over the radio, Akira listened to Kell ask Yorinaga for his forgiveness of him acting like a coward in their battle (by refusing to fire). He believed that if he had fired his weaponry they both would have died. Akira heard the sincerity in his father's voice as he apologized that only now he saw that the way of the sword is not the way. He stated that there is no shame to lose to a better warrior, and their shared ability was not the apex of being a warrior. He saw now that Kell's actions of winning without having to fight was the ultimate apex of the warrior.<ref>''Warrior: Coupé'', p. 308: Exhausted Yorinaga realizing he had been wrong to continue his vendetta, that losing to Kell was not something to feel ashamed of</ref>

Later that day, Akira assisted his father in his ''[[seppuku]]'' ceremony. Before the ceremony, Akira told the crowd that his father had not been treated fairly by the Combine, especially by the Coordinator himself. He then pointed to ''Tai-sho'' Palmer Conti as an example of the corruption that now grips the Combine. He also explained how the Genyosha were given meager tasks instead of being treated as an elite unit. He even claimed that there was more honor in Kell's actions than in the Coordinator's. With that speech, he resigned from the Genyosha and pledged his honor to Colonel Kell if he would take him. ''Chu-sa'' Asano stepped up and proclaimed that he also felt the same way, but he would wait for the Coordinator's problems to end. He told the Genyosha troops that they may leave as well to follow Akira without fear. Akira's Rasalhague Company members followed him and joined the Kell Hounds; Colonel Kell welcomed Akira to the unit.<ref>''Warrior: Coupé'', pp. 317–318: Akira Brahe tells troops at his father's ''seppuku'' ceremony that he is disgusted with the Combine's treatment of father and pledges himself to the service of the Kell Hounds</ref>

===Kell Hounds===
With the grade of Lieutenant colonel, he served with the Kell Hounds for at least twenty years. When Daniel Allard assumed command of the Hounds, Brahe took Allard's command of the First Regiment.
In 3035, on Arc-Royal, he married [[Yukiko Ostlund]], a refugee from the war-torn Free Rasalhague Republic. The couple had two sons, Yorinaga and Gustav, named after Akira's father and maternal grandfather.<ref>''Mercenaries Handbook 3055'', p. 63</ref>

In [[3051]] he was one of the Kell Hounds officers sent to Luthien to defend against the incoming Clan assault.
There, he met again with Theodore Kurita and his former superior Narimasa Asano, who were both were happy to meet him as an ally and not across a battlefield as they had feared.<ref name=ACtA012>''Blood Legacy'', p. 327</ref>

===Jihad===
During the [[Word of Blake Jihad]], in June of [[3069]], [[Clan Jade Falcon]] invaded Lyran space, fighting the Hounds on [[Graceland]]. After longtime Kell Hounds officer [[Daniel Allard]] was killed by the Falcon commander, [[Taman Malthus]], Akira took command of the Hounds, recovered Allard's body and withdrew from the planet with the remnants of their forces.<ref name=MAMTSCD91-AB-TM-1>''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'', p. 91: "Akira Brahe", Brahe witnesses Allard's death against Malthus on Graceland</ref>

Later, in [[3077]], he participated in [[Operation SCOUR]], leading his regiment in the assault of the Blakist Protectorate, liberating, in February, the planet [[Summer]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 25</ref>
Finally, Brahe led his regiment in the liberation of Terra, during the battle of Cairo.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots Terra'', p. 111</ref>

==BattleMech==
* Akira was noted for piloting an ''[[Orion]]'' BattleMech during his service with [[House Kurita]] throughout the Fourth Succession War. He was a gifted BattleMech pilot, capable of putting the ''Panther'' 'Mechs he tested on Alshain through moves that the factory line engineers could not believe were possible.  During the [[Battle of Luthien (3052)|Battle of Luthien]] during [[Operation REVIVAL]], he was noted as piloting a [[Phoenix Hawk]].<ref name=LSPp50>''Luthien'', p. 50: "Defender"</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries]]''
* ''[[Luthien (scenario pack)|Luthien]]''
* ''[[Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers]]''
* ''[[Mercenary's Handbook: 3055]]''
* ''[[Warrior: Coupé]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Warrior: Riposte]]'' (novel)

[[Category:Draconis Combine Characters|Brahe, Akira]]
[[Category:Notable Orion Pilots|Brahe, Akira]]
[[Category:Kell Hounds Characters|Brahe, Akira]]