Difference between revisions of "Paul Masters"
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{{InfoBoxCharacter | {{InfoBoxCharacter | ||
| − | | image = Paul Masters.jpg | + | | image = Paul Masters BTLegends.jpg |
| caption = | | caption = | ||
| name = Paul Masters | | name = Paul Masters | ||
| − | | birthdate = [[3012]] | + | | birthdate = [[3012]]<ref name=BT:Lp108>''BattleTech: Legends'', p. 108</ref> |
| − | | died = | + | | died = early [[3069]]<ref name=BT:Lp108/> |
| othernames = | | othernames = | ||
| − | | affiliation = [[ | + | | affiliation = [[House Masters]] |
| − | | profession = [[ | + | | rank = [[Colonel]] |
| − | | parents = [[Jean Masters]] (mother) | + | | title = [[Count of Gibson]]<br/>[[Knight of the Inner Sphere]] |
| + | | position = | ||
| + | | profession = [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] | ||
| + | | parents = [[Jean Masters]] (mother)<ref name=BT:Lp108/><ref name=IWc2>''Ideal War'', ch. 2</ref> | ||
| siblings = | | siblings = | ||
| spouse = | | spouse = | ||
| children = | | children = | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | Sir '''Paul Masters''' | + | Sir '''Paul Masters''' was a [[Free Worlds League]] military commander, nobleman, and [[Knight of the Inner Sphere]]. |
| + | ==History== | ||
| + | ===Early Life=== | ||
| + | Paul Masters was the son of Free Worlds League hero [[Jean Masters]], who served as a [[Force Commander]] in the [[First Marik Militia]] prior to the [[Fourth Succession War]]. He grew up on tales of his mother's bravery and courage in the cockpit of a [[BattleMech]], which led him to attend the [[Allison MechWarrior Institute]]. | ||
| − | + | While serving in the cadet company, he was on maneuvers with the [[Second Sirian lancers]] on Procyon when they were [[Battle of Procyon (3030)|attacked]] by Tikonov guerillas. Paul drove back the fanatical infantry charge, killing hundreds in the process. After returning to the Institute he graduated with honors but never forgot the carnage he inflicted.<ref name=BT:Lp108/> | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | + | Placed in his mother's old unit as a Lieutenant he was assigned as an aide to [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Thomas Marik]] which resulted in Masters and Marik becoming lifelong friends. By [[3039]] he had been promoted to [[Force Commander]] in command of Second Battalion where he fought in the final [[Battle of Andurien (3039)|battle]] of the [[Andurien Secession]], once more being appalled by the destruction war wrought.<ref>''Phoenix Hawk Lore and Blueprint''</ref><ref>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 82: "A Tale of Two Cities: Baroda and Jojoken"</ref> | |
===Formation of the Knights of the Inner Sphere=== | ===Formation of the Knights of the Inner Sphere=== | ||
| − | In [[3054]] Masters was brought to [[Atreus (FWL)|Atreus]] by Thomas Marik, where he approached him in forming a new military unit based on ideals of Chivalry. To get more understanding of what Thomas wanted, he was asked to read the ancient novel, ''[ | + | In [[3054]] Masters was brought to [[Atreus (FWL)|Atreus]] by Thomas Marik, where he approached him in forming a new military unit based on ideals of Chivalry. To get more understanding of what Thomas wanted, he was asked to read the ancient novel, ''[[w:Le Morte d'Arthur|Le Morte d'Arthur]]'' by Sir Thomas Malory. After reading the entire book in one sitting, he became enthusiastic on what Thomas was trying to do, and became one of its founding Knights. |
| − | He was among the hundred and fifty [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] | + | He was among the hundred and fifty [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] who attended the ceremony of activation of [[Knights of the Inner Sphere]] on January 1st, [[3055]]. After the ceremony, Thomas introduced Paul to [[Word of Blake]] [[Precentor]] [[William Blane]], an old friend of the Captain-General during his [[ComStar]] days. Blane told Thomas and Masters during the meeting about trouble on [[Gibson]], where his Word of Blake settlers were facing rebellion against them. Thomas decided to send Masters with Blane back to Gibson to investigate the situation. |
| − | On Gibson, Masters soon discovered a number of conspiracies between Principal of Principality of Gibson and Countess Dystar, locals and Word of Blake settlers. With each of the sides fighting among themselves and individuals attempting to take control for themselves, Masters became a fugitive on the planet. | + | On Gibson, Masters soon discovered a number of conspiracies between the Principal of the Principality of Gibson and Countess Dystar, locals and Word of Blake settlers. With each of the sides fighting among themselves and individuals attempting to take control for themselves, Masters became a fugitive on the planet after a falling-out with the Word of Blake 'Mech lance he had been assigned to, as he had witnessed them slaughtering civilians. Blane was arrested by Assistant Precentor Starling during this time as well as Starling assumed command of the Blakist forces on Gibson. With the assistance of the local rebels, Masters managed to have Duchess Dystar and her Principal, Hsien, war among themselves with their mercenaries. Masters and other locals rescued Blane from captivity. |
| − | By February, Thomas Marik and the entire Knights of the Inner Sphere regiment arrived on planet, | + | By February, Thomas Marik and the entire Knights of the Inner Sphere regiment arrived on-planet, trying to resolve the situation. During this time, Masters was given the lands and title as Count of Gibson to help restore order to the planet.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 5</ref> Citing Dystar's poor actions that led to the volatile situation on the planet. |
| − | Colonel Nathen Roush of the Regulan Hussars | + | Colonel Nathen Roush of the Regulan Hussars pledged his forces to support Dystar's attempt to regain her lands and joined [[Precentor Martial of the Word of Blake|Precentor Martial]] [[Trent Arian]] in their fight against Masters and the Knights. |
| − | When renegade Blakist forces and Knights faced off | + | When renegade Blakist forces and Knights faced off in the capital city, members of the Gibson Freedom League deployed two Regulan Davey Crockett nuclear weapons against the Regulan and Blakist forces on the battlefield. Reeling from the damage inflicted on them, Precentor Arian surrendered to Marik rather than continue fighting in the city.<ref name=IWc22>''Ideal War'', ch. 22</ref> |
===Task Force Serpent=== | ===Task Force Serpent=== | ||
| − | In [[3058]] Inner Sphere factions came together to | + | In [[3058]] Inner Sphere factions came together to re-form the [[2nd Star League|Star League]]. Captain-General Thomas Marik agreed to submit troops as part of the two-pronged [[Trial of Annihilation]] against one of the Clans to end the Clan threat. Masters by then had become a Colonel and commanding officer of the [[1st Knights of the Inner Sphere]]. His regiment was assigned as the [[FWLM]] contribution to [[Task Force Serpent]], also selected by Thomas Marik to serve as the task force's conscience to keep them from becoming mindless killers. |
| + | |||
| + | He and his troops helped the Task Force troops sharpen their skills against the [[ComStar Invader Galaxy]] on the [[FedCom]] world of [[Defiance (system)|Defiance]]. | ||
| − | + | During the year-long journey to [[Huntress]] the capital world of the Jaguars, the task force encountered and defeated a pirate band, executing their leadership. This upset Masters and his people due to their beliefs of honorable conduct. A short time later, the Task Force fought a small flotilla of WarShips and a JumpShip from [[Clan Ghost Bear]] traveling to the Inner Sphere. Upon defeating them, the task force discovered that the Bears' lone civilian JumpShip had been carrying thousands of civilians. Task Force commander [[Morgan Hasek-Davion]] ordered that the Clansmen would either become bondsmen to the Task Force, or be marooned on a habitable world. Again Masters, and others among the [[Eridani Light Horse]] were at odds with the decision. Masters offered to take in a number of the [[bondsman]] civilians as the most civilized way to handle the situation. | |
| − | + | On March 5th, [[3060]], the Task Force arrived at Huntress. Masters' 1st Knights and [[House Liao]]'s [[Kingston's Legionnaires]] were directed to take the Jaguars' training base at the city of New Andery. There, Master's Knights and his allies encountered large numbers of never before seen [[ProtoMech|ProtoMechs]], which inflicted considerable amounts of damage to them. The fanatical assault cost Masters his ''[[Anvil]]'' BattleMech. | |
| − | + | On the 19th, two makeshift [[Galaxy|Galaxies]] of Smoke Jaguar forces arrived from the desperate fight from their now former Occupation Zone. Masters and his Knights were assigned with the Northwind Highlanders and posted southwest of Lake Osis, soon becoming known as the Southern Army for the SLDF forces. A second group of Jaguar reinforcements arrived, led by saKhan [[Brandon Howell]], and these forces drove the Knights and Highlanders into Dhuan Swamp, with Master's Knights being reduced to only one quarter their original strength.<ref>''Twilight of the Clans'', p. 12: "The Conquest Continues - Master's knights get clobbered by Clan reinforcements"</ref> Half of the Southern Army was routed and killed. During the Clan attacks the Knights managed to rescue the [[1st Kathil Uhlans]] and help the Southern army fight off Clan forces. | |
| − | + | Eventually, the remains of First Prince [[Victor Steiner-Davion|Victor Steiner-Davion's]] Task Force Bulldog arrived and assisted the remaining Serpent forces in mopping up the remaining Jaguar forces on Huntress. After conducting a [[Trial of Refusal]] to end the invasion of the Clans, Steiner-Davion returned to Huntress and spoke with Masters. He designated Masters as Star League liaison to the Clans, despite Master's misgivings of the Prince's ambitions.<ref>''Twilight of the Clans'', p. 13: "A Blow to Morale/Deep into the Jaguar's Fangs/On To Strana Mechty"</ref><ref>''Prince of Havoc'' - Victor Steiner-Davion chats with Paul Masters on Huntress to become SLDF Liaison to the Clans; he told Victor, prior to his departure to send a replacement as soon possible, not wanting to remain as permanent ambassador{{cn}}</ref><ref>''Field Manual: Updates'', pp. 8, 150</ref> Sir Paul returned to the [[Inner Sphere]] prior to [[3067]], when he was promoted to [[General]] of the [[Knights of the Inner Sphere]] brigade.<ref>''Field Manual: Updates'', pp. 150, 160</ref> | |
| − | + | ===Civil War, Jihad, and Death=== | |
| + | In [[3068]] Sir Paul led a [[FWLM]] task force to the Lyran world of [[Giausar]]. There the First Knights of the Inner Sphere, [[20th Marik Militia]], and several other small mercenary forces engaged the [[One-Eyed Jacks]].<ref>''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 93</ref> | ||
| − | + | Reports from the city of Helmdown on [[Helm]] in [[3069]] had Masters facing down an attack on that settlement by the [[Word of Blake]]'s [[Fifty-second Shadow Division]] headed by [[Precentor]] [[Damien Lucille]]. Though Masters was outnumbered, his sense of honor compelled him to engage Lucille in a duel as the Blakist force made their way into the outskirts of the city. The fight did not go well for Masters, as Lucille's cybernetic modifications gave him an edge over the aging Knight, and he was subsequently slain by a point-blank PPC blast into the cockpit of his ''Phoenix Hawk''. <ref>''BattleTech: Legends'', pp. 116 - 121, "For the Promise"</ref> | |
| − | |||
| − | == | + | ==BattleMechs== |
| − | + | The BattleMech Masters piloted during most of his career, including the Gibson campaign, was a ''[[Phoenix Hawk]]''.<ref name=IWc2/><ref>''Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 11'', p. 10</ref> During [[Task Force Serpent]] his machine was an ''[[Anvil]]'', which he lost in the battle of New Andery. Later he replaced with a captured ''[[Nobori-nin]]'' OmniMech, which he used the last stage of the campaign. | |
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| − | == | + | ==Gallery== |
| − | + | <gallery> | |
| − | + | Paul Masters TotC.jpg|Sir Paul Masters at age 47 from ''[[Twilight of the Clans]]'' | |
| + | Paul Masters BTLegends.jpg|Masters from ''[[BattleTech: Legends|BT:Legends]]'' | ||
| + | Phoenix Hawk (Roc) BTLegends.jpg|Masters' ''Phoenix Hawk'', "''Roc''", from ''BT:Legends'' | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 66: | Line 71: | ||
==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||
| + | * ''[[BattleTech: Legends]]'' | ||
* ''[[Field Manual: Free Worlds League]]'' | * ''[[Field Manual: Free Worlds League]]'' | ||
| − | * ''[[Field Manual: | + | * ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]'' |
* ''[[Handbook: House Marik]]'' | * ''[[Handbook: House Marik]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Historical: Brush Wars]]'' | ||
* ''[[The Hunters]]'' (novel) | * ''[[The Hunters]]'' (novel) | ||
* ''[[Ideal War]]'' (novel) | * ''[[Ideal War]]'' (novel) | ||
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3072]]'' | * ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3072]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental Update]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Phoenix Hawk Lore and Blueprint]]'' | ||
* ''[[Prince of Havoc]]'' | * ''[[Prince of Havoc]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 11]]'' | ||
* ''[[Shadows of War]]'' | * ''[[Shadows of War]]'' | ||
* ''[[Sword and Fire]]'' | * ''[[Sword and Fire]]'' | ||
| Line 79: | Line 89: | ||
[[Category: Free Worlds League Characters|Masters, Paul]] | [[Category: Free Worlds League Characters|Masters, Paul]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Notable Phoenix Hawk Pilots|Masters, Paul]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:45, 10 February 2024
 | This article needs to be updated with material from The Hunters, Forever Faithful. Once these titles clear the Moratorium period, or if they already have, please consider revisiting this article and updating it with the new material. |
Paul Masters | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal | |
| Born | 3012[1] |
| Died | early 3069[1] |
| Affiliation | House Masters |
| Profile | |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Title(s) | Count of Gibson Knight of the Inner Sphere |
| Profession | MechWarrior |
| Family | |
| Parents | Jean Masters (mother)[1][2] |
Sir Paul Masters was a Free Worlds League military commander, nobleman, and Knight of the Inner Sphere.
Contents
History[edit]
Early Life[edit]
Paul Masters was the son of Free Worlds League hero Jean Masters, who served as a Force Commander in the First Marik Militia prior to the Fourth Succession War. He grew up on tales of his mother's bravery and courage in the cockpit of a BattleMech, which led him to attend the Allison MechWarrior Institute.
While serving in the cadet company, he was on maneuvers with the Second Sirian lancers on Procyon when they were attacked by Tikonov guerillas. Paul drove back the fanatical infantry charge, killing hundreds in the process. After returning to the Institute he graduated with honors but never forgot the carnage he inflicted.[1]
Placed in his mother's old unit as a Lieutenant he was assigned as an aide to Captain-General Thomas Marik which resulted in Masters and Marik becoming lifelong friends. By 3039 he had been promoted to Force Commander in command of Second Battalion where he fought in the final battle of the Andurien Secession, once more being appalled by the destruction war wrought.[3][4]
Formation of the Knights of the Inner Sphere[edit]
In 3054 Masters was brought to Atreus by Thomas Marik, where he approached him in forming a new military unit based on ideals of Chivalry. To get more understanding of what Thomas wanted, he was asked to read the ancient novel, Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory. After reading the entire book in one sitting, he became enthusiastic on what Thomas was trying to do, and became one of its founding Knights.
He was among the hundred and fifty MechWarriors who attended the ceremony of activation of Knights of the Inner Sphere on January 1st, 3055. After the ceremony, Thomas introduced Paul to Word of Blake Precentor William Blane, an old friend of the Captain-General during his ComStar days. Blane told Thomas and Masters during the meeting about trouble on Gibson, where his Word of Blake settlers were facing rebellion against them. Thomas decided to send Masters with Blane back to Gibson to investigate the situation.
On Gibson, Masters soon discovered a number of conspiracies between the Principal of the Principality of Gibson and Countess Dystar, locals and Word of Blake settlers. With each of the sides fighting among themselves and individuals attempting to take control for themselves, Masters became a fugitive on the planet after a falling-out with the Word of Blake 'Mech lance he had been assigned to, as he had witnessed them slaughtering civilians. Blane was arrested by Assistant Precentor Starling during this time as well as Starling assumed command of the Blakist forces on Gibson. With the assistance of the local rebels, Masters managed to have Duchess Dystar and her Principal, Hsien, war among themselves with their mercenaries. Masters and other locals rescued Blane from captivity.
By February, Thomas Marik and the entire Knights of the Inner Sphere regiment arrived on-planet, trying to resolve the situation. During this time, Masters was given the lands and title as Count of Gibson to help restore order to the planet.[5] Citing Dystar's poor actions that led to the volatile situation on the planet. Colonel Nathen Roush of the Regulan Hussars pledged his forces to support Dystar's attempt to regain her lands and joined Precentor Martial Trent Arian in their fight against Masters and the Knights.
When renegade Blakist forces and Knights faced off in the capital city, members of the Gibson Freedom League deployed two Regulan Davey Crockett nuclear weapons against the Regulan and Blakist forces on the battlefield. Reeling from the damage inflicted on them, Precentor Arian surrendered to Marik rather than continue fighting in the city.[6]
Task Force Serpent[edit]
In 3058 Inner Sphere factions came together to re-form the Star League. Captain-General Thomas Marik agreed to submit troops as part of the two-pronged Trial of Annihilation against one of the Clans to end the Clan threat. Masters by then had become a Colonel and commanding officer of the 1st Knights of the Inner Sphere. His regiment was assigned as the FWLM contribution to Task Force Serpent, also selected by Thomas Marik to serve as the task force's conscience to keep them from becoming mindless killers.
He and his troops helped the Task Force troops sharpen their skills against the ComStar Invader Galaxy on the FedCom world of Defiance.
During the year-long journey to Huntress the capital world of the Jaguars, the task force encountered and defeated a pirate band, executing their leadership. This upset Masters and his people due to their beliefs of honorable conduct. A short time later, the Task Force fought a small flotilla of WarShips and a JumpShip from Clan Ghost Bear traveling to the Inner Sphere. Upon defeating them, the task force discovered that the Bears' lone civilian JumpShip had been carrying thousands of civilians. Task Force commander Morgan Hasek-Davion ordered that the Clansmen would either become bondsmen to the Task Force, or be marooned on a habitable world. Again Masters, and others among the Eridani Light Horse were at odds with the decision. Masters offered to take in a number of the bondsman civilians as the most civilized way to handle the situation.
On March 5th, 3060, the Task Force arrived at Huntress. Masters' 1st Knights and House Liao's Kingston's Legionnaires were directed to take the Jaguars' training base at the city of New Andery. There, Master's Knights and his allies encountered large numbers of never before seen ProtoMechs, which inflicted considerable amounts of damage to them. The fanatical assault cost Masters his Anvil BattleMech.
On the 19th, two makeshift Galaxies of Smoke Jaguar forces arrived from the desperate fight from their now former Occupation Zone. Masters and his Knights were assigned with the Northwind Highlanders and posted southwest of Lake Osis, soon becoming known as the Southern Army for the SLDF forces. A second group of Jaguar reinforcements arrived, led by saKhan Brandon Howell, and these forces drove the Knights and Highlanders into Dhuan Swamp, with Master's Knights being reduced to only one quarter their original strength.[7] Half of the Southern Army was routed and killed. During the Clan attacks the Knights managed to rescue the 1st Kathil Uhlans and help the Southern army fight off Clan forces.
Eventually, the remains of First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion's Task Force Bulldog arrived and assisted the remaining Serpent forces in mopping up the remaining Jaguar forces on Huntress. After conducting a Trial of Refusal to end the invasion of the Clans, Steiner-Davion returned to Huntress and spoke with Masters. He designated Masters as Star League liaison to the Clans, despite Master's misgivings of the Prince's ambitions.[8][9][10] Sir Paul returned to the Inner Sphere prior to 3067, when he was promoted to General of the Knights of the Inner Sphere brigade.[11]
Civil War, Jihad, and Death[edit]
In 3068 Sir Paul led a FWLM task force to the Lyran world of Giausar. There the First Knights of the Inner Sphere, 20th Marik Militia, and several other small mercenary forces engaged the One-Eyed Jacks.[12]
Reports from the city of Helmdown on Helm in 3069 had Masters facing down an attack on that settlement by the Word of Blake's Fifty-second Shadow Division headed by Precentor Damien Lucille. Though Masters was outnumbered, his sense of honor compelled him to engage Lucille in a duel as the Blakist force made their way into the outskirts of the city. The fight did not go well for Masters, as Lucille's cybernetic modifications gave him an edge over the aging Knight, and he was subsequently slain by a point-blank PPC blast into the cockpit of his Phoenix Hawk. [13]
BattleMechs[edit]
The BattleMech Masters piloted during most of his career, including the Gibson campaign, was a Phoenix Hawk.[2][14] During Task Force Serpent his machine was an Anvil, which he lost in the battle of New Andery. Later he replaced with a captured Nobori-nin OmniMech, which he used the last stage of the campaign.
Gallery[edit]
Sir Paul Masters at age 47 from Twilight of the Clans
Masters from BT:Legends
Masters' Phoenix Hawk, "Roc", from BT:Legends
_BTLegends.jpg)
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 BattleTech: Legends, p. 108
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ideal War, ch. 2
- ↑ Phoenix Hawk Lore and Blueprint
- ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 82: "A Tale of Two Cities: Baroda and Jojoken"
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 5
- ↑ Ideal War, ch. 22
- ↑ Twilight of the Clans, p. 12: "The Conquest Continues - Master's knights get clobbered by Clan reinforcements"
- ↑ Twilight of the Clans, p. 13: "A Blow to Morale/Deep into the Jaguar's Fangs/On To Strana Mechty"
- ↑ Prince of Havoc - Victor Steiner-Davion chats with Paul Masters on Huntress to become SLDF Liaison to the Clans; he told Victor, prior to his departure to send a replacement as soon possible, not wanting to remain as permanent ambassador[citation needed]
- ↑ Field Manual: Updates, pp. 8, 150
- ↑ Field Manual: Updates, pp. 150, 160
- ↑ Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 93
- ↑ BattleTech: Legends, pp. 116 - 121, "For the Promise"
- ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 11, p. 10
Bibliography[edit]
- BattleTech: Legends
- Field Manual: Free Worlds League
- Field Manual: Updates
- Handbook: House Marik
- Historical: Brush Wars
- The Hunters (novel)
- Ideal War (novel)
- Jihad Hot Spots: 3072
- Mercenaries Supplemental Update
- Phoenix Hawk Lore and Blueprint
- Prince of Havoc
- Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 11
- Shadows of War
- Sword and Fire
- Twilight of the Clans