Nicholas Kerensky

Nicholas Kerensky (27??-2834) was the founder of the Clans and their first ilKhan. He was was the elder son and designated heir of the legendary Aleksandr Kerensky, Commanding General of the SLDF.

Founder of the Clans

Nicholas Kerensky was the man who formed the Clans in 2810 from the remnants of the Star League Defense Force. When the warring factions on the Pentagon Worlds refused to follow Nicholas (then a Division commander), he led the Second Exodus to the future Clan capital world of Strana Mechty and founded the original twenty Clans. They trained for two decades and eventually launched Operation Klondike and retook the Pentagon Worlds from the rebel factions.

Family

As previously stated, Nicholas' father was Aleksandr Kerensky, who passed away in 2801. His mother was Katyusha Kerensky. Nicholas had a younger brother, Andery Kerensky, who was later killed on Eden during Operation Klondike in 2821. Nicholas was married to Jennifer Winson.

Due to his genetic legacy, Nicholas Kerensky has numerous descendants among Clan Wolf and Clan Wolf-in-Exile. Every Clan MechWarrior with the Kerensky bloodname is his descendant; the most famous of these are Natasha Kerensky and Ulric Kerensky.

Death

Nicholas was killed on October 7, 2834, during the Clan Widowmaker Trial of Absorption by Widowmaker Khan Cal Jorgensson. The death of the ilKhan enraged the warriors of Clan Wolf, who proceeded to wipe out the remaining Widowmaker warriors and absorbed the rest of their Clan.

Battlemechs

Nicholas Kerensky was known to pilot an Atlas II, and was piloting one during the Trial that resulted in his death.

Quotes

"...A magnificent beast, the smoke jaguar. It is ferocity unbound, tenacity without limit. Once it locks its powerful jaws around the throat of its prey, it never lets go. The greatest of warriors might be shamed by comparing himself to such fierce courage...

"My Clans might learn much from this beast. Like us, it came from Nature, but has been improved by human hands. And now the great cat born on Terra thrives on a world so many light-years away from the planet of its birth that the human mind shudders to contemplate it...as we must. As we will...

"The smoke jaguar fights like a true warrior. No deceit, no subterfuge - a single, brutal assault, both open and deadly. A powerful spring from above, a slash of its huge claws across its victim's throat, and its prey lies dead before it. So should all of us fight our enemies - openly, but with overwhelming force. Thus we may win true glory, by defeating the foe in honorable combat. Truly, this great cat is a finer warrior than any human being I have ever seen on the field of battle...!"

-From Birth of a New Society: The Collected Writings of Nicholas Kerensky, Strana Mechty Press, 3025

"Our victories here have proved the rightness of the Way of the Clans; let it always be so among those of the True Faith. Let these few words always announce our coming and portend our victory."

-After Operation Klondike, May 26, 2822

Kerensky [ilKhan]: My honorable friend, the Khan from Clan Wolverine, continues to ignore the decisions of this body as verified by the recent Trial. I do not care that the cache is of the 331st Royal Division, her father's command. This body is agreed that the caches are a resource belonging to the Clans as a whole. In the old order, her paternal loyalty would be commended, but this not the old order. We are the Clans. We stand on our own merits, not those of our ancestors.

Sarah McEvedy [Wolverine]: Except you.

Kerensky [ilKhan]: I beg your pardon?

McEvedy: I said, except you. You seem perfectly happy to bask in your father's achievements. He was a visionary who sought justice and peace for all. You seek control.

Mitchell Loris [Mongoose]: Khan McEvedy, you go too far.

McEvedy: Do I? I know many of you in this chamber found our ilKhan's actions to secure control of the Pentagon population offensive. The Star League did not believe in torture and brutality. Those are the tools of power hungry madmen. Is that what you have become, Nicholas Kerensky? A power hungry madman?

[Raised voices from all parties]

Kerensky: SILENCE! McEvedy, Khan of Clan Wolverine, I, Nicholas Kerensky, ilKhan of the Clans, do call for a Trial of Grievance. By our law, you may...

McEvedy: Hang your laws. Does the truth hurt so much, Nicholas?

Kerensky: Fellow Khans, our colleague is clearly overwrought. I call for a vote of censure. Loremaster Ward, please...

McEvedy: Don't bother, Nicholas. I'll leave. In fact, we'll all leave. Clan Wolverine no longer recognizes the authority of the ilKhan or the Grand Council. From this point forward, we are an independent power. We decide our own fate, fairly and according to the morals and standards of the Star League.

Kerensky: You cannot do this.

McEvedy: I can and I have.

[McEvedy moves to leave.]

Kerensky: Arrest her!

[McEvedy draws her pistol; the Khans and security guards back off. A detachment of Wolverine troops arrives.]

McEvedy: If you want to face us, fine. But we will not hold back. Prepare to reap the whirlwind.

[McEvedy storms out]

Kerensky: My Khans, we face a serious decision...

-Excerpt from Grand Council security tape (uncensored version), October 8, 2823

"Those who break faith with the Unity shall go down to darkness."

-The Grand Council votes for a Trial of Annihilation against Clan Wolverine, October 11, 2823

References

• Wolf Clan Sourcebook
• The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky
• Invading Clans (sourcebook)

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