James Bixby (BattleTech)

James Bixby
Personal
Also known as	Arbiter
Affiliation	Mercenary
Profile
Profession	MechWarrior

History

James Bixby was born on Arc-Royal in the Lyran Commonwealth to a wealthy family that, as new money, lacked many of the advantages of the titled aristocracy, most notably land and a family BattleMech. Because of his wealthy background, James was easily able to enter the Somerset Military Academy, where he scored in the top 15% of his class and won a coveted position in a Cadet Trade with Albion Military Academy in the Federated Suns.

After graduation, he earned his call sign Arbiter, evaluating recently dispossessed MechWarriors to see if they were worthy of a replacement machine. This was just a stepping stone to getting his own BattleMech, however. He earned assignment to a Griffin after several years writing up reports on other pilots and attending off-hours training sessions. He was assigned to the Storm Company in the Lyran Guards, where he served faithfully for a five year tour.

However, when he was overlooked for a promotion due to his lack of family connections, he realized he had no interest in spending the rest of his life as nothing more than a 'Mech pilot for the military. He cashed out his savings and war salvage and headed to the Periphery to see what he could do about acquiring a BattleMech of his own, and bringing his family the prestige it had always lacked.

Canonicity

James "Arbiter" Bixby is one of 62 MechWarriors designed by BattleTech (video game) Kickstarter backers of Mercenary Mechcommander and above. Featured only in the apocryphal computer game BattleTech video game, the character is considered apocryphal as well.

Bibliography

• BattleTech (video game)