Gideon Braver Vandenburg
Sarna News
 | Apocryphal This article's subject is only mentioned in apocryphal sources, i.e. official BattleTech products which are not clearly Non-canon but do not meet the current Canon criteria either. For more information, check the Canonicity section. |
Gideon Braver Vandenburg | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal | |
| Also known as | Gideon Braver |
| Born | 8 April 3006[1] |
| Died | December 3051[2] |
| Affiliation | House Vandenburg |
| Profile | |
| Profession | Mercenary |
| Family | |
| Parents | Cameron Vandenburg (father) |
| Children | Maria Vandenburg |
Gideon Braver Vandenburg (born 8 April 3006, died December 3051) was best known as the commander of the Blazing Aces, the mercenary unit which he created and commanded under the abbreviated name Gideon Braver unto his death.
Canonicity
Gideon Braver is the player's alter ego in the MechWarrior computer game. The game and its storyline are apocryphal (see section about Canonicity in that article); they are expressly not included among the list of canonical sources for the BattleTech universe, but it has been also said that information from certain sources including this one can be assumed to be part of the shared universe if it makes sense, until contradicted. MechWarrior in particular is one of the computer games where the storyline is widely treated as canonical.
The demise of the Blazing Aces and the death of Gideon Braver were narrated in a subsequent game (The Crescent Hawks' Revenge, also apocryphal), between missions. Much content from the Crescent Hawks games was fully canonized, including their general storylines; it remains unclear if this means by extension that Gideon Braver and the Blazing Aces, who feature in this storyline, were thus also canonized.
Character history
Gideon Braver Vandenburg was the son of Duke Cameron Vandenburg of Ander's Moon. On March 1, 3024, he left Castle Vandenburg, his father's stronghold, for an inspection of the family's holdings. Upon his return two days later he found that a lance of BattleMechs had attacked the Castle, killed his family and stolen the Chalice of Herne along with other treasure. Evidence planted by Jarris McBrin, a rival who coveted the title of Duke for himself, suggested that House Vandenburg had worked with and then double-crossed the pirates. The Council of Representatives was unconvinced, however, and chose to delay the election of a new Duke until Gideon Braver Vandenburg had reached adulthood (23 years of age) on April 8, 3029.
Facing false charges of treason, Gideon was forced to flee off-world. He formed the Blazing Aces mercenary unit, altered his name, and began his crusade to clear his name, find the Chalice, and regain Ander's Moon. Within less than five years, the evidence uncovered by the Blazing Aces revealed Operation INROAD, cleared the Vandenburg family name and restored their honor. Despite this success, it remains unclear whether Gideon Braver Vandenburg actually took the vacant office of Duke of Ander's Moon.
The Blazing Aces were destroyed in December of 3051, fighting forces from Clan Smoke Jaguar (or possibly misidentified Clan Ghost Bear forces) on Kaesong. Just before a Kell Hounds relief force (the Crescent Hawks) arrived, Gideon Braver suffered mortal wounds while piloting a Phoenix Hawk in single combat against four Griffins and a Phoenix Hawk, all heavily modified with advanced Clan technology.
His dying words to Jason Youngblood were: "You're too late. The Aces... destroyed. I've taken precautions, hidden the 'Mechs. Tell Maria... rebuild the Aces. She'll know what to do."
Morgan Kell later promised to Jason Youngblood that he would inform Maria Vandenburg of her father's cryptic last words.
References
Bibliography
- MechWarrior video game
- BattleTech: The Crescent Hawks' Revenge video game