Patrick Kell

Patrick Kell (2988 – 3027; aged 39 years) and his brother Morgan Kell were the co-founders of the famed Kell Hounds mercenary unit.

Biography

Early Life

Patrick graduated in the top 2% of his class from Nagelring, the premier military academy of the Lyran Commonwealth, and was assigned to the 10th Skye Rangers. By 3010 he had risen to the rank of Leftenant-Colonel.

The Kell Hounds Formation

The Kell Hounds were born even before Morgan and Patrick had thoughts of running their own mercenary command. Arthur Luvon, future husband of Archon Katrina Steiner and cousin to Morgan and Patrick, dubbed the two brothers the Kell Hounds after witnessing them as young boys running around and terrorizing a neighbor's flock of sheep. Arthur drew up the Kell Hounds' crest and predicted that the two would grow up to become great MechWarriors. When Arthur died, Morgan and Patrick used the money left to them to form the Kell Hounds mercenary unit in 3010. Though initially mocked as rich boys playing soldier, the two made quite the impression with their surprisingly advanced grasp of strategy and tactics, as well as a top-notch technical support staff. Patrick became executive office of the unit.

Mallory's World

The Kell Hounds had grown to regiment size by 3013. Patrick became a Leftenant-Colonel when the unit expanded. While in service to the Federated Suns, the Hounds were called to Mallory's World for an emergency extraction of First Prince Ian Davion, whose forces where taking heavy casualties from the Draconis Combine's elite 2nd Sword of Light. Morgan led the relief force, while Patrick remained behind to safeguard the mercenary unit's dependents. The Hounds arrived too late, and Ian Davion died while covering his people's escape.

Main article: Phantom 'Mech

To prevent the 2nd Sword of Light from taking the First Prince's body as a war trophy, Morgan challenged its commander, the infamous Yorinaga Kurita, to a duel. During the epic battle, Morgan Kell used the Phantom 'Mech effect to force an honorable withdraw by Yorinaga, giving the Hounds an opportunity to escape the planet with Ian Davion's body.

After the duel Morgan became reticent and withdrawn, reducing the Hounds to 1/3 of its strength and eventually retiring from the mercenary unit to join a monastery. Patrick became commander of the remaining Kell Hounds, leading them through the lowest period of their history, a time called the "Defection".

Commander of the Kell Hounds

Under Patrick's leadership, the unit overcomes its depressive period. He manages to bring unit together with the suppport of Salome Ward, Dan Allard, Clarence Cat, and others.

By November of 3026 the Hounds are stationed on Pacifica. where they garrison the planet from incurisons or raids for the planet's plentiful water supply.

In April, 3027, battalion of the Kurita's 2nd Sword of Light assaults Pacifica during Colonel Adran Sortek and Leftenant Andrew Redburn visit/tour of the planet. Patrick and hounds had already tapped into various intelligence networks on the planet were forewarned of the attacks. Sortek, Redburn and visiting Lyran Hauptman-General Sarah Joss partipate repulsing incoming raider company. The battle concluded with assistance Colonel Sortek's Victor Assault 'Mech against Kurita's battalions Awesome. However, two other companies of 'Mechs (initially Panthers) are spread around the planet forming resistence guerilla cells.

On May 26th, Kurita commandos and assassins assault lead the Kell Hound's conpound. Whom manage to injure Patrick and collapsed his lung. After the assassins are dispatched, demi-company of Panther BattleMechs arrive to finish assault. However, this is rebuffed Hound Mechs lead by Cat's Marauder and causing them flee. Taking three of enemy mechs down in the process. Doctor manages to save him saying as long he rests he will recover from his injuries. Hounds with draw from the planet taking much of salvage Panthers with them. Hounds's JumpShip, Cucamulus, makes a jump to Kurita space to throw off inbound forces seeking to destroy them. After jumping into uninhabited star system AC2341CA. here they would quickly recharge their 300 year old JumpShip and jump to the Styk system where they can do a Payback mission against the Kurita. While in system charging, Kurita Invader JumpShip arrives, and forces the Hounds to change their plans. Patrick decides to jump the ship sooner. Through efforts of Jumpship's captain Janos Vandermeer and his crew managed to quickly use the fusion reactor to charge the ship's engines.

Patrick plan, calls for the company of Kell Hounds, lead by Captain Dan Allard, to secure docking bay on former mining planetiod used sometimes by the resistence cell called the Heimdall. They plan to use ten captured Panther Battlemechs and other JumpJet capable mechs, secure the base. While others of the unit secure other parts of the planetoid.

Silver Eagle

After Patrick's people discover that among people aboard the planetoid was Lyran Commonweath's Archon-Designate. They discover the early DropShip contained ISF commandos whom successfully repulsed their attempt to seize the Melissa Steiner.

However, elements of the Genyosha arrive on the planeoid and threaten the destruction of the Silver Eagle if the Kell Hounds do not turn over the Melissa Steiner. Patrick has Melissa sent off planet and orders assault on Kuritas to save the passengers & crew of the Silver Eagle. In this battle, Patrick's Victor BattleMech disappears from all electronic scanning devices.

However, Genyosha is be Yorinaga Kurita and he too has develop the ablity as well. Patrick begins to systematicly destroy Kurita force threating to the destruction of civilian dropship. Yorinaga begins to stalk him, firing his PPCs and manages to hit the Patrick's mech. Dan Allard only momentarily detects Patrick's invisible mech on his sensors and to his horror sees Patrick's engine shielding has been damaged. The 'Mech's heat begins cook Patrick alive. Notices he ignoring Yorinaga as he his weapons fire begins to hit him despite Patrick's ability not to be seen on sensors. Patrick continues to maul Genyosha's Panther force until Yorinaga destroy's the engine shielding of his mech and forcing Patrick ejects. However, the Victor's engine explosion sends shrapnel into Patrick as he ejects. Dan Allard takes his damaged Valkyrie attempts to stop Yori himself to save Patrick and everyone else. Sending the Valkryie on its JumpJets into the Yori's Warhammer, tackles him and self-destructs. Causing enemy force to flee.

While on return trip Patrick lies dying after the doctor failed repair his wounds. Melissa Steiner tearly confides to him that she is to marry Hanse Davion. This brighten him up briefly ignoring his death throws and wishes her well. He tells Dan Allard that he pass message to Morgan.

“

Dan, tell him...Morgan I understand. Tell him I finally understand.

”

He stiffins and says to Major Salone Ward that command is hers and dies.

Character Notes

Patrick Kell was noted Thunderbolt, but used Ardan Sortek's Victor Assault Mech in his final moments. He was qualified to pilot the Victor Class Assaults when in Academy.

Bibliography

• Warrior: En Garde (1988)
• The Kell Hounds scenario pack (1988)
• Not the Way the Smart Money Bets, a BattleCorps short story (2008)