Gray Noton
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Grey Norton | |
|---|---|
| Personal | |
| Also known as | Legend Killer Ghost[1] |
| Born | 2985[2] |
| Died | 5 May 3027 |
| Profile | |
| Profession | Mercenary Arena Gladiator Spy |
Contents
Description
Gray Noton (b. 2985[2] - d. 5 May 3027) was an early 31st century MechWarrior, mercenary, information broker, and seven-time Solaris VII Champion. His 'Mech was the famous Legend-Killer, an appellation that was otherwise also used for Noton himself.
Described as a "physically large muscular man, bald, with a bull-neck"[3], he was half Lyran Commonwealth and half Free Worlds League in nationality.[4]
Character History
Early Days on Solaris
Reportedly arriving on Solaris VII as a stowaway at some point prior to 3010,[2] the young Noton started his career with a minor (unnamed) class One stable. The driven MechWarrior swiftly rose through ranks but declined to move into the Unlimited Class despite numerous offers.
According to the (apocryphal) novella Catastrophe Unlimited (PDF edition, p. 11) Noton was an established star on Solaris VII by 3001, i.e. at age 16. He was also said to have brought his own 'Mech to Solaris VII, and "capped" (killed) a contender in his second fight (also referred to on p. 21), and that he had been a mercenary before arriving on Solaris VII.
- (Context suggests that these comments from 3001 may refer to Noton's second career on Solaris VII after he returned with his own 'Mech in 3015, in an unintentional anachronism by the author.)
At age 25, Noton left Solaris VII to fight as a mercenary in the periphery before returning five years later in 3015 at the controls a brand-new Rifleman, finally announcing his intention to complete in the Class Five arenas.[5]
This seems to suggest that he was a successful arena combatant before he turned 20. It is possible that his biography was doctored; see Notes section below.
Champion
Many people, including his most ardent supporters, were skeptical that Noton would be able to compete in the open Class Five arenas against assault 'Mechs in an undistinguished low-end heavy class design such as a Rifleman. Noton silenced his doubters, overcoming more favored 'Mechs like the BattleMaster and Stalker as he won victory after victory.[5] After winning his Solaris Championship in the Class 5 Arenas, Noton and his Rifleman were nicknamed "Legend-Killer".[6]
During the second-to-last bout of his second championship run, Noton faced a MechWarrior from the Fitzhugh Stables named Hoftsteder, piloting a Victor in the Coliseum on 15 August 3017. Acquainted with Fitzhugh Stables' training tactics for the Steiner Stadium and the respective strengths and weaknesses of the Rifleman and Victor, Noton divined his opponent's jumping maneuver, unexpectedly closed with his foe and delivered a crippling attack. Playing to the crowd, Noton exulted in another victory and privately gloated that people still underestimated him, and that once his new Rifleman was ready he would defeat any opponent on the Game World.[7]
The seemingly unbeatable Gray Noton remained champion for an unprecedented seven years running, a record no other combatant has achieved, before he chose to retire in 3022. While in public Noton ran a modest import/export business in his retirement, in secret he maintained a lucrative side-line as an information broker while also dabbling in espionage and assassination.[5]
The Kittery Attack
Noton was recruited by the Capellan Confederation to raid the former Confederation world of Kittery, lost to the Federated Suns during the waning years of the Third Succession War, in late November 3026. Leading a battalion of Cicadas, Noton had his forces ambush the Kittery academy cadre. His plan was, apparently, for the Cicadas to herd the cadets towards Noton's position where his superior skill and firepower would trap them between hammer and anvil. However, a MechWarrior piloting a Valkyrie discovered Noton's ambush position, tied him up for the duration of the battle and damaged his Rifleman; meanwhile the Cicada battalion was repulsed by the well-trained cadets who, against expectations, held the line against the attackers. While Noton bested the Valkyrie maiming its pilot in the process, with long odds for victory he and the remaining forces of his battalion withdrew from the planet.
Back on Solaris VII, Noton met with his Capellan contact Tsen Shang on January 15 3027 in Thor's Shieldhall and learned that the Valkyrie on Kittery had been piloted by one Major Justin Allard. Privately, Noton was impressed by Allard's skill and regretted sparing his life once he heard that Allard was no longer able to pilot a BattleMech due to injuries sustained. Shang arranged Noton's payment for his mission with a betting voucher for a rigged fight between Davion champion Philip Capet and the Teng brothers (Fuh Teng and Sze Teng).
Noton next met with Enrico Lestrade, the Baron von Summer and nephew of Aldo Lestrade. Lestrade employed Noton to plan and execute the hijacking of a Monarch-class DropShip named the Silver Eagle. With Lestrade was Countess Kym Sorenson. After the Countess left, Noton demanded more money from the Baron, hinting about the many risks of hijacking a DropShip.[8]
Philip Capet, who had won thirteen fights in a row to that point, approached Noton and dared him to fight him. Noton simply replied that he did not care for Capet's ego or his hatred of Capellans, but that Capet had better stay away from him or he would come back to kill him.
In February, Enrico Lestrade invited Noton to a stadium box where he was hosting a party. Noton was paid for his services with a 50,000 C-Bill betting ticket for Billy Wolfson to beat Fuh Teng in a BattleMech match. Noton, knowing the game was rigged, accepted the fee.
However, the fight was actually scheduled between two 'Mechs and didn't stipulate specific pilots. Justin Allard, who had arrived on Solaris VII after experimental surgery had restored his ability to pilot a 'Mech, was by now himself a rising star but had changed his name to Justin Xiang (his mother's maiden name). Xiang knocked out Fuh Teng before the fight, assumed his place, and went on to defeat Wolfson in the fight that Wolfson had been expected to win. Noton was angry about losing money, but was intrigued by Xiang. Since Enrico Lestrade had invited the winner of the match before the fight began (expecting Wolfson), Noton came into contact with Xiang at the party and began to establish a working relationship with the resourceful and promising up-and-coming star.
Through this cooperation Justing Xiang Allard was allowed to study Noton's private library of battle recordings. From these, he learned Noton's signature movements and recognized that the Rifleman back on Kittery that cost him his arm must have been piloted by none other that Noton. Xiang/Allard also found out about the planned DropShip hijacking.
On the 5th of May Tsen Shang would find the dead body of Gray Noton in Noton's office, his neck snapped. Justin Xiang piloted Noton's famous Rifleman "Legend Killer" to beat Philip Capet who had unwisely challenged him, and ended up winning the championship to great fanfare.[9] It is strongly implied, but not stated outright, that it had been Xiang/Allard who had killed Noton.
Character Notes
Gray Noton was noted for being an excellent MechWarrior. He holds the record for longest reign as Solaris Champion, at seven consecutive years. It is also notable that Noton retired of his own volition.
While undeniably highly skilled, Noton's success in the Class Five arenas even against assault 'Mechs that greatly outmassed his humble Rifleman led to much speculation regarding the nature and providence of his 'Mech, suggesting it was upgraded with superior technology or actually much heavier than a regular Rifleman (see Legend-Killer article for details).
As an intelligence broker, Noton had connections with every major state's spy network on Solaris VII.[10]
The mercenary group Gray's Ghosts, founded in 3062, was named after Gray "Ghost" Noton.[1]
BattleMechs
He famously piloted a Rifleman named Legend-Killer.
Titles and Positions
Notes
- If his official biography is to be believed, Noton would have arrived on Solaris VII and started an arena MechWarrior career as a teenager. This seems hard to believe,
In another, albeit apocryphal, novella (Catastrophe Unlimited) by the same author it is implied that it was common practice for arena gladiators on Solaris VII to "spice up" or outright forge their backgrounds and adopt fake character profiles for better appeal to the mass audiences. This cavalier attitude towards historically true character information might explain some or all of the more unbelievable parts of Gray Noton's official biography, particularly his young age.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mercenaries Supplemental II, p. 38
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 According to Solaris VII: The Game World - Player's Book, p. 17 "MechWarrior's Guide to the Game World Solaris VII - The Great Ones - Champions of Solaris", Gray Noton was 25 years old when he left Solaris VII for the first time to begin his mercenary career, and returned to Solaris VII five years later in 3015.
- ↑ Warrior: En Garde, p. 216
- ↑ Warrior: En Garde, p. 205
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Solaris VII: The Game World - Player's Book, p. 17 "MechWarrior's Guide to the Game World Solaris VII - The Great Ones - Champions of Solaris"
- ↑ Warrior: En Garde, p. 43
- ↑ MechWarrior Online, "Story of the Legend-Killer"
- ↑ Warrior: En Garde, pp. 45-47
- ↑ Warrior: En Garde, p. 289
- ↑ Warrior: En Garde, p. 206