Difference between revisions of "Burke Kale"

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==History==
 
==History==
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'''Burke Kale''' was a genius. As a child prodigy he was given special education at a very early age. He received several degrees and had began teaching to support himself by his mid-teens, and at the age of sixteen he received a full scholarship to the [[NAIS]] and graduated with honors.
+
'''Burke Kale''' was a genius; as a child prodigy, he was given special education at a very early age. He received several degrees and had begun teaching to support himself by his mid-teens, and at the age of sixteen he received a full scholarship to the [[NAIS]] and graduated with honors.
−
Once graduated, and thanks to several government grants he completed a series of experiments that established his reputation as an authority on neurology, and ended with his appointment as faculty of the NAIS.<ref name="Unboundp56">''Unbound'', p. 56, "Burke Kale"</ref> His ground breaking research in advanced [[Neurohelmet|neurohelmet]] earned him a post as Senior Project Developer for the NAIS<ref name="Unboundp5-6">''Unboundp5-6'', p. 5-6, "The Story so far"</ref> and a place in history.<ref name="Unboundp56"/>
+
Once he graduated, thanks to several government grants he completed a series of experiments that established his reputation as an authority on neurology, and this resulted in his appointment to the faculty of the NAIS.<ref name="Unboundp56">''Unbound'', p. 56, "Burke Kale"</ref> His ground breaking research into an advanced [[Neurohelmet|neurohelmet]] earned him a post as Senior Project Developer for the NAIS<ref name="Unboundp5-6">''Unboundp5-6'', p. 5-6, "The Story so far"</ref> and a place in history.<ref name="Unboundp56"/>
  
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In [[3043]] he proposed a revolutionary interface system that would do away with neurohelmets completely, providing a direct neural link between a [[Mechwarrior]] and his [[BattleMech]] that would ease manoeuvring, making this just as easy as moving his own body. This was expected to greatly improve the speed and accuracy of the [[Myomer|myomer]]'s neuromuscular response. The NAIS did analyze the proposal of the [[DNI]] and concluded that it had several issues among them insufficient and dangerous testing, requiring human subjects along each step of the process. That was enough to deny the request for funding. Professor Kale continued his DNI research for two more years using private funding, but made little progress. Finally he arranged to be posted to the [[Dark Mirage]] facility. His position helped him to control all the aspects of the day to day business on the facility, from staff to budget.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
+
In [[3043]] he proposed a revolutionary interface system that would do away with neurohelmets completely by providing a direct neural link between a [[Mechwarrior]] and their [[BattleMech]] , making piloting it as easy as moving their own body as well as greatly improving the speed and accuracy of the [[Myomer|myomer]]'s neuromuscular response. The NAIS analyzed the proposal of the [[DNI]] and concluded that it had several issues, among them insufficient and dangerous testing which required human subjects along each step of the process. Though that was enough to deny the request for funding, Professor Kale continued his DNI research for two more years using private funding, but made little progress. Eventually, he arranged to be posted to the [[Dark Mirage]] facility; his position there allowed him to control all the aspects of day to day business of the facility, from staff to budget.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
  
−
In [[3047]] he proposed to the NAIS that advanced neurohelmets and interface systems would allow a pilot to control almost all BattleMech functions directly through the neurohelmet, bypassing the manual controls present in 'mechs. That neurohelmet was dubbed Virtual Reality Piloting Pod (VRPP) and was also reducing the size of the cockpit which would allow to move it from the head to the centre torso (a location that was proposed as the best alternate cockpit location). The NAIS reviewed the new proposal and found fewer risks and mostly benefits when compared to the DNI system, granting finally the budget for additional testing. A new prototype was to be created and equipped with the new VRPP control system.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
+
In [[3047]] he proposed to the NAIS that advanced neurohelmets and interface systems would allow a pilot to control almost all BattleMech functions directly through the neurohelmet, bypassing the manual controls present in 'Mechs. The system was dubbed the Virtual Reality Piloting Pod (VRPP), and allowed for a reduction in the size of the cockpit which would allow it to move from the head to the center torso (proposed as the best alternate cockpit location). The NAIS reviewed the new proposal and found fewer risks and more benefits when compared to the DNI system, finally granting Kale the budget for additional testing. With this funding, a new prototype was to be created and equipped with the new VRPP control system.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
  
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He picked NAIS graduates from the class of [[3048]] for his VRPP project, choosing his team carefully. He also started to divert facilities, materials and funding to support his DNI research working after hours and behind closed doors and using breakthroughs on the VRPP as the basis of his pet project.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
+
He picked NAIS graduates from the class of [[3048]] for his VRPP project, choosing his team carefully. He also started to divert facilities, materials and funding to support his DNI research, working after hours and behind closed doors while using breakthroughs made in the VRPP project to further his pet project.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
  
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During the [[Clan Invasion]] he had access to Clan's [[Enhanced Imaging]] information that shared with [[Marshal (rank)|Marshal]] [[Daniel Darwith]], MI2 [[Tharkad]] head from the [[Department of Military Intelligence]].<ref name="1STSOMERSETSTRIKERS">''1st Somerset Strikers'', p. 30, "Intelligence Secretariat Internal Memo N0. 7335 - D"</ref> This led to another breakthrough in the VRPP (and hence to the DNI research). Professor Burke was able to develop a neural network that would allow him to go to prototype with his covert DNI project at the same time the VRPP system would be ready for testing.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
+
During the [[Clan Invasion]] , he was given access to information about the Clan's [[Enhanced Imaging]] systems by [[Marshal (rank)|Marshal]] [[Daniel Darwith]], [[Tharkad]] 's head of the [[Department of Military Intelligence]].<ref name="1STSOMERSETSTRIKERS">''1st Somerset Strikers'', p. 30, "Intelligence Secretariat Internal Memo N0. 7335 - D"</ref> This led to another breakthrough in the VRPP, allowing Kale to develop a neural network that would allow him to go to prototype with his covert DNI project at the same time the VRPP system would be ready for testing.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
  
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At this stage, he started recruiting team members for his DNI project, promising fame and fortune and sworn them to secrecy. He divided the project in small tasks assigning each task to a different team member so they have no idea of the full scope of the DNI.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
+
At this stage, he started recruiting team members for his DNI project, promising them fame and fortune while swearing them to secrecy. He divided the project into small tasks, assigning each task to a different team member so they would have no idea of the full scope of the DNI project.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
  
−
When there was a complete control system available, Burke did "appropriate" another Dark Mirage project, the ''Prometheus'' 'Mech where the DNI- and VRPP-compatible pod was installed.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
+
When a complete control system was finally viable, Burke was able to "appropriate" another Dark Mirage project, the ''Prometheus'' 'Mech, into which the DNI- and VRPP-compatible pod was installed.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
  
−
Kale had the DNI-link surgically implanted into his own brain, making himself a guinea pig in his deadly experiment and immediately tested the ''Prometheus''. The experiment turned out to be his undoing, taxing his body and mind to the limit, hence suffering serious neurological damage and making him an addict to that power.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
+
Kale had the DNI-link surgically implanted into his own brain, making himself a guinea pig in his deadly experiment and immediately tested the ''Prometheus''. The experiment turned out to be his undoing, taxing his body and mind to the limit and causing him to suffer serious neurological damage, making him addicted to the feelings of power he experienced while controlling a BattleMech with nothing more than his mind.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
  
−
At that time, he disbanded the team and continued working alone. He lied to his secret team telling them that the DNI experiment had failed and asking them to leave the Dark Mirage facility (and knowing he would not be denounced because of the fear his team had if NAIS discovered the secret project). At the same time, professor Burke told NAIS that the VRPP was an abject failure and shut down the Dark Mirage facility. Knowing this might create suspicion against him, he took the ''Prometheus'' and his research and left to [[Solaris VII]] knowing that in [[3053]] that was a place where an strange 'Mech would not arise additional attention.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
+
At that time, he disbanded the team and continued working alone, lying to his secret team by telling them that the DNI experiment had failed and told them to leave the Dark Mirage facility (knowing the team would not expose him due to the fear of what would happen to them if the NAIS discovered the secret project). At the same time, Kale told the NAIS that the VRPP was an abject failure and shut down the Dark Mirage facility; knowing this might arouse suspicion towards him, he took the ''Prometheus'' and his research and left for [[Solaris VII]] , knowing that strange 'Mechs would not draw undue attention there.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
  
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He started there trying to attract a government that would support his DNI research, but unfortunately for him, each connection increased his illusion of power and finally he only lived for the thrill of combat.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/>
+
He initially tried to secure a government contract that would support his DNI research, but unfortunately for him each connection to his 'Mech only increased his delusions of power, until finally he lived only for the thrill of combat.<ref name="Unboundp5-6"/> Though barely experienced as a 'Mech pilot, the enhanced control afforded to Kale by the DNI system saw him quickly advance to the Class Five ranks, becoming 14th place in a short period of time as well as a fan favorite.<ref name="Unboundp36">''Unbound'', p. 36, "Prometheus Unchained"</ref> Though many people found his sudden meteoric rise quite strange, almost everyone assumed his edge came from the use of Clan tech in the arena, which was almost unheard of at that time.<ref name="Unboundp45">''Unbound'', p. 45, "Professor Burke Kale"</ref>
  
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Hi quickly advanced to the Class Five ranks, being the 14th in a short period of time and becoming a fan favorite.<ref name="Unboundp36">''Unbound'', p. 36, "Prometheus Unchained"</ref> People though he might be using Clan Tech, very strange in 3053 in the arenas, and that was giving him an edge.<ref name="Unboundp45">''Unbound'', p. 45, "Professor Burke Kale"</ref>
+
Eventually, the side effects of the DNI system drove Kale completely mad, causing him to believe he had become Death incarnate and compelled him to take his recently completed ''Epimetheus'' 'Mech on a brutal rampage. In his madness, he destroyed part of the Black Hills district, only being stopped by the efforts of the [[NAIS#NAIS Crisis Intervention Team (NAISCIT)|NAISCIT]] sent to investigate the strange occurrences at the Dark Mirage facility. Ultimately, he was found on the ground outside his cockpit, weeping in the fetal position;<ref name="Unboundp38-39">''Unbound'', p. 38-39, "Rampage"</ref> soon after that, he sunk into a coma.<ref name="Unboundp43">''Unbound'', p. 43, "Kale on the loose"</ref>
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Finally his mind went completely crazy and he took his completed ''Epimetheus'' and he started believing he had become death, a destroyer of worlds. His rampage destroyed part of the Black Hills district, being only stopped by the efforts of the [[NAIS#NAIS Crisis Intervention Team (NAISCIT)|NAISCIT]] sent to investigate all the Dark Mirage facility issues. He was found outside his cockpit, in the ground, weeping, slowly curling into the foetal position.<ref name="Unboundp38-39">''Unbound'', p. 38-39, "Rampage"</ref>
 
−
Soon after that the went into a coma.<ref name="Unboundp43">''Unbound'', p. 43, "Kale on the loose"</ref>
 
  
 
==Personality==
 
==Personality==

Revision as of 14:39, 3 August 2021

Burke Kale
Burke Kale
Personal
AffiliationNAIS
Himself
Profile
ProfessionScientist

History

Burke Kale was a genius; as a child prodigy, he was given special education at a very early age. He received several degrees and had begun teaching to support himself by his mid-teens, and at the age of sixteen he received a full scholarship to the NAIS and graduated with honors. Once he graduated, thanks to several government grants he completed a series of experiments that established his reputation as an authority on neurology, and this resulted in his appointment to the faculty of the NAIS.[1] His ground breaking research into an advanced neurohelmet earned him a post as Senior Project Developer for the NAIS[2] and a place in history.[1]

In 3043 he proposed a revolutionary interface system that would do away with neurohelmets completely by providing a direct neural link between a Mechwarrior and their BattleMech , making piloting it as easy as moving their own body as well as greatly improving the speed and accuracy of the myomer's neuromuscular response. The NAIS analyzed the proposal of the DNI and concluded that it had several issues, among them insufficient and dangerous testing which required human subjects along each step of the process. Though that was enough to deny the request for funding, Professor Kale continued his DNI research for two more years using private funding, but made little progress. Eventually, he arranged to be posted to the Dark Mirage facility; his position there allowed him to control all the aspects of day to day business of the facility, from staff to budget.[2]

In 3047 he proposed to the NAIS that advanced neurohelmets and interface systems would allow a pilot to control almost all BattleMech functions directly through the neurohelmet, bypassing the manual controls present in 'Mechs. The system was dubbed the Virtual Reality Piloting Pod (VRPP), and allowed for a reduction in the size of the cockpit which would allow it to move from the head to the center torso (proposed as the best alternate cockpit location). The NAIS reviewed the new proposal and found fewer risks and more benefits when compared to the DNI system, finally granting Kale the budget for additional testing. With this funding, a new prototype was to be created and equipped with the new VRPP control system.[2]

He picked NAIS graduates from the class of 3048 for his VRPP project, choosing his team carefully. He also started to divert facilities, materials and funding to support his DNI research, working after hours and behind closed doors while using breakthroughs made in the VRPP project to further his pet project.[2]

During the Clan Invasion , he was given access to information about the Clan's Enhanced Imaging systems by Marshal Daniel Darwith, Tharkad 's head of the Department of Military Intelligence.[3] This led to another breakthrough in the VRPP, allowing Kale to develop a neural network that would allow him to go to prototype with his covert DNI project at the same time the VRPP system would be ready for testing.[2]

At this stage, he started recruiting team members for his DNI project, promising them fame and fortune while swearing them to secrecy. He divided the project into small tasks, assigning each task to a different team member so they would have no idea of the full scope of the DNI project.[2]

When a complete control system was finally viable, Burke was able to "appropriate" another Dark Mirage project, the Prometheus 'Mech, into which the DNI- and VRPP-compatible pod was installed.[2]

Kale had the DNI-link surgically implanted into his own brain, making himself a guinea pig in his deadly experiment and immediately tested the Prometheus. The experiment turned out to be his undoing, taxing his body and mind to the limit and causing him to suffer serious neurological damage, making him addicted to the feelings of power he experienced while controlling a BattleMech with nothing more than his mind.[2]

At that time, he disbanded the team and continued working alone, lying to his secret team by telling them that the DNI experiment had failed and told them to leave the Dark Mirage facility (knowing the team would not expose him due to the fear of what would happen to them if the NAIS discovered the secret project). At the same time, Kale told the NAIS that the VRPP was an abject failure and shut down the Dark Mirage facility; knowing this might arouse suspicion towards him, he took the Prometheus and his research and left for Solaris VII , knowing that strange 'Mechs would not draw undue attention there.[2]

He initially tried to secure a government contract that would support his DNI research, but unfortunately for him each connection to his 'Mech only increased his delusions of power, until finally he lived only for the thrill of combat.[2] Though barely experienced as a 'Mech pilot, the enhanced control afforded to Kale by the DNI system saw him quickly advance to the Class Five ranks, becoming 14th place in a short period of time as well as a fan favorite.[4] Though many people found his sudden meteoric rise quite strange, almost everyone assumed his edge came from the use of Clan tech in the arena, which was almost unheard of at that time.[5]

Eventually, the side effects of the DNI system drove Kale completely mad, causing him to believe he had become Death incarnate and compelled him to take his recently completed Epimetheus 'Mech on a brutal rampage. In his madness, he destroyed part of the Black Hills district, only being stopped by the efforts of the NAISCIT sent to investigate the strange occurrences at the Dark Mirage facility. Ultimately, he was found on the ground outside his cockpit, weeping in the fetal position;[6] soon after that, he sunk into a coma.[7]

Personality

Always very work obsessed, as of 3053, and because of repeated exposure to the side effects of the DNI experiment, he now believes to be one with his 'Mech, and thinking him to be indestructible while interfaced with it. He has started to refer his 'Mech as his body and his techs as his doctors. While outside the 'Mech, he feels exposed and is showing signs of acute paranoia. Barely able to communicate except with Winston Davis, he prefers to be left alone, working in his lab. He is an unbalanced madman, and a dangerous one because of his brilliance.[1]

Physical Description

In 3053 his body is withered by neglect born of obsession, being a pitiful shell of the man he once was. He looks gaunt and pale, prematurely old.[1]


Projects

He and his team where involved in several ground breaking projects while working on the Dark Mirage facility:

Gallery

  • Burke Kale

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Unbound, p. 56, "Burke Kale"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Unboundp5-6, p. 5-6, "The Story so far"
  3. ↑ 1st Somerset Strikers, p. 30, "Intelligence Secretariat Internal Memo N0. 7335 - D"
  4. ↑ Unbound, p. 36, "Prometheus Unchained"
  5. ↑ Unbound, p. 45, "Professor Burke Kale"
  6. ↑ Unbound, p. 38-39, "Rampage"
  7. ↑ Unbound, p. 43, "Kale on the loose"
  8. ↑ Unbound, p. 66, "Direct Neural Interface (DNI)"
  9. ↑ Unbound, p. 67, "Virtual Reality Piloting Pod"
  10. ↑ Unbound, p. 64, "Control Systems"
  11. ↑ Unbound, p. 73, "P1-WF Wildfire"
  12. ↑ Unbound, p. 74, "Prometheus"
  13. ↑ Unbound, p. 75, "Epimetheus"

Bibliography

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