Nelson Geist

Revision as of 19:37, 30 August 2022 by 75.23.228.139 (talk) (Corrected verb tense, partially cleaned up article to better summarize Geist, rather than summarize the plot of Natural Selection)
Nelson Geist
Personal
Born3007[1]
Died25 October 3055[2]
AffiliationFederated Commonwealth
Kell Hounds
Profile
RankKommandant[1]
ProfessionMechWarrior
Family
ChildrenJon Geist[1]

Nelson Geist was a Lyran MechWarrior and, briefly, a member of the Kell Hounds mercenary group prior to his death in the Red Corsair affair where he played a pivotal role.

History

Early Life and Career

Nelson Geist was born on Kooken's Pleasure Pit, growing up in an arid region. He trained at the Nagelring academy, and in 3027, was assigned to a winter semester training with Gregg's Long Striders on Ford.[3] He arrived there a month prior to Christmas, and volunteered to the Yule Patrol, in Christmas, expecting to earn his comrades' respect, with a borrowed Phoenix Hawk BattleMech. Geist's boring patrol became his fire baptism when he was attacked by Anti-Nick and the Elves from Hell, a lance of bandits who raided on Christmas from time to time. Using the jump jets of his 'Mech, Geist managed to down a Jenner before Nick decided to engage Geist with a BattleMaster.[4] Despite Nick's BattleMech weight advantage, Geist managed to defeat Nick by burying Nick's 'Mech with an avalanche. Geist jumped over the snow, and threatened to shoot Nick in the cockpit if he didn't surrender, and the bandit was forced to give up. Geist took Nick's BattleMaster as his new 'Mech.[5]

Clan Invasion

During the Clan Invasion, Geist fought the Clan Jade Falcon forces on the planet Wotan, where he lost two fingers, but managed to escape with his 'Mech.[6] After that, he returned to Kooken's Pleasure Pit, becoming Kommandant of the planetary militia.[7]

Red Corsair affair

In the year 3054, a pirate force of regimental size, led by a woman calling herself the Red Corsair attacked Kooken, causing heavy damage to the battalion of Robinson Rangers and the Grave Walkers defending the planet. This resulted in the mobilization of the Kooken's Reserve Militia. Geist led the Militia against the pirates in an attempt to buy time for the Rangers and Walkers to reach the battle, but it was a fruitless effort; the invaders were equipped with Clan technology, and the Militia never stood a chance.[8] Geist approached the Red Corsair's BattleMaster, fighting a duel against her, but like his men, he was easily defeated. He considered ejecting from his downed 'Mech, in a suicidal attempt to damage the Red Corsair's 'Mech, but in the end, simply surrendered.[9] Geist and the Militia were captured by the bandits, and used as forced labor. As his injuries prevented him from assisting, and he had the respect of his men, the bandits nominated him overseer of their people.[10]

Geist began to uncover more data about the bandits, like the fact they don't behave as real pirates. When he saw the Corsair in flesh and bone, feel immediately attracted by her, and the feeling appears to be mutual. When she show him his room, Geist was surprised seeing it was like a holovid pirate leader room, suspecting than the Bandits ignore everything about the real pirates, and have inspired in the holovid series to pose as pirates. She said him he knew too much to leave him free, but not enough to kill him. In May, during the bandit's attack on planet Zhongshan, Geist used his relative authority to send food captured by the pirates to an orphanage. The Corsair was furious after hearing it, and attacked Geist, informing he had ordered his people to destroy the orphan house as punishment. Geist managed to knock her unconscious, left her in the infirmary, to be healed by an accidental blood poisoning, and ordered the Bandits to don't attack the orphan house, and informed ComStar about the possible attack, telling them to evacuate the orphans. When Victor Steiner-Davion hear about it, was unable to believe Geist had joined the pirates, but ordered an investigation. Meanwhile, Geist was punished by the Corsair. After she had been healed, put Geist inside a virtual world, forcing him to take care of children. Geist accepted his prison, exploring the city and familiarizing himself with the constellations... but when attempted to enter an underground room, his helmet punished him with a strong electric shock. Not too later, Geist and the corsair became passionate lovers.[11] In June, The Corsair took Nelson as her copilot in the assault of planet Deia, against the defenders, the mercenaries Zimmer's Zouaves. Forcing Nelson to fight, threatening to kill his comrade militiamen, he downed two enemy 'Mechs, gaining the freedom of two of his friends. In the next battle, this time against the 31st Wolf Solahma Cluster, downed easily two Wolf 'Mechs.[12] During the space battle of the pirates against the Kell Hounds in the system Zanderij, he saw his opportunity to escape, killing a pirate before launching himself in a scape pod before the pirate DropShip Lioness was destroyed. The Hounds fighters rescued him. Once in Arc-Royal, Nelson received a mixed reception: Conal Ward, leader of the 31st Wolf Solahma, accused him to be a mole and agent of the Corsair. Christian Kell offered him a place in the Hounds, but the Wolf Khan, Phelan Kell simply doesn't trust him. Nelson offered himself to help the Hounds and Wolves to predict the next target of the pirated, but Phelan said him it wasn't necessary: they had made a trap for her in Arc-Royal itself.[13] While the trap was finished, Nelson, who had been implanted with a localization chip, and was watched all the time by Bob Bates, a security officer, locked himself in a library, looking star maps. The attack of the Corsair triggered the Wolf and Hound ambush. His group was decimated, but all the pirated died fighting or committed suicide before being captured. Only the corsair and some of his 'Mechs and fighters managed to escape. Only then, Nelson left his study and visited Phelan, offering him a deal: he know the secret base of the Corsair's location, and offered him in exchange to Phelan's permission to go with the strike force. Reluctantly, Phelan agreed. Then, Nelson informed him that the virtual word's constellations were those of the planet Elissa, in the Clan Wolf Occupation zone.[14] During the trip, Nelson was shocked when hear than Bates has coming, and will be watching him. Phelan denied him also the chance to fight. Despite his deception, Nelson insisted and participate, expecting to rescue his last men prisoners. During the trip, along with Bates, helped Christian with his BattleMech reparations, and spend all his free time in the combat simulators. He resigned from Kooken's militia and enlisted in the Hounds, with the rank of Major.[15]

Death

Geist was one of the last fatal casualties of the battle of Elissia, in the 25 of October of 3055. He assisted the battle from afar, with Bates watching him. However, looking at the Red Corsair's 'Mech, he recognized the movements of an inexperienced MechWarrior... so it could not be the Red Corsair.[16] Nelson attacked Bates, leaving him unconscious, stole his hovercar and drove it into the city, avoiding the battle. Thanks to his knowledge of the virtual word located the "secret room" of the Corsair, every step was difficult, but when he arrived to open the door... he found his nemesis inside. The Red Corsair had just finished arming a nuclear mine: one that can destroy all the valley and the people fighting on it. She revealed to Geist that she was pregnant and that she loved him. Obviously, that surprised Nelson, but when the Corsair took a hidden weapon, he shot her anyway. His bullets killed her instantly, but not before she managed to fatally wound him. Nelson could not search for help, so he stayed in the room. His last act was to take the Corsair's communicator, defiantly insulting the person who ordered the Red Corsair to activate the mine (almost certainly, Conal Ward) before he died of his wounds.[2]

Legacy

Nelson's sacrifice managed to thwart the Jade Falcon-Wolf Clan plot to reignite the Clan Invasion with destruction of the Kell Hounds, and with luck a Trial of Annihilation of the other Clans against the Wolves, as Conal Ward expected. His body was sent to Arc-Royal, where he was to be buried with honors among the other Hounds' fallen. Christian Kell himself went to Nelson's home, convincing Dorete to accept his offer to take her and her sons to Arc-Royal, where the Hounds could take care of them.[17]

Family

Nelson had a son named Jon Geist, who served as a MechWarrior in the Tenth Lyran Guards under Victor Steiner-Davion. Jon was killed in action on Teniente, and was survived by his wife Dorete Geist and two twin children, Jacob Geist and Joachim Geist.

Relationships

Nelson appears to have been very near to his son, and to his grandchildren too, as they are almost identical to him. His relationship with his son's widow, Dorete, was cold at best, as she hated him, and all MechWarriors, blaming him for her husband's death.[18] The relationship of Nelson with the Red Corsair was a strange one, of hate and love, and she appears to feel the same. It remains unknown if she was really pregnant with his child, as she stated in her last words.[19]

BattleMechs

As a cadet, Nelson piloted briefly a borrowed Phoenix Hawk, in his first battle against Anti-Nick, where he captured him and affirmed his intention to claim his BattleMaster for him.[20] After that, Nelson only piloted a BattleMaster, first against the Jade Falcons, and later, against the Red corsair group. As a copilot of the Red Corsair, even piloted briefly her own BattleMaster against the Wolves solahma.

Notes

The BattleMech Nelson piloted almost all his career was the same he captured from Nick, a BLR-3S BattleMaster.[21] In Deia also piloted the Red Corsair's BattleMaster, by the force, but with much success, downing two mercenary 'Mechs,[22] and later two solahma 'Mechs of Clan Wolf on Cue Ball.[23] His presence on Wotan in June 3050 may implicate than he served in the remains of the First Regiment of the Twelfth Star Guard or the Second Regiment of the Twelfth Star Guard.[24]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Operational Turning Points: The Red Corsair, p. 9: "Nelson Geist profile"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Natural Selection, p. 333
  3. ↑ Ghost of Christmas Present in First Strike, p. 125
  4. ↑ Ghost of Christmas present in First Strike, p. 131
  5. ↑ Ghost of Christmas present in First Strike, p. 138
  6. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 8
  7. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 9
  8. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 15
  9. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 18
  10. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 51
  11. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 162
  12. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 236
  13. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 269
  14. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 312
  15. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 317
  16. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 324
  17. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 346
  18. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 9
  19. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 329
  20. ↑ Ghost of Christmas Present in First Strike, pp. 124–138
  21. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 10
  22. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 177
  23. ↑ Natural Selection, p. 235
  24. ↑ Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 39

Bibliography

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