Paul Masters

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Paul Masters
Paul Masters
Personal
Born3012[1]
Diedearly 3069[1]
AffiliationHouse Masters
Profile
RankColonel
Title(s)Count of Gibson
Knight of the Inner Sphere
ProfessionMechWarrior
Family
ParentsJean Masters (mother)[1][2]

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 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

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 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. Blane was arrested by Assistant Precentor Starling, during this time as well. Masters with assistance of some locals, managed to have Duchess Dystar and her Principle, 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, try resolve the situation. During this time, Masters was given the lands and title as Count of Gibson.[5] Citing Dystar poor actions that lead 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 on the battlefield of one of the capital city, members of the Gibson Freedom League whose assistance to in the battle for their world was refused. They fire off their two Regulan Davey Crockett nuclear weapons against the Regulan and Blakist forces on the battlefield. Reeling from the damage inflicted on them, Arian surrendered to Marik rather than fighting in the city.[6]

Task Force Serpent

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 a pirate band which were defeated and their leadership executed. 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. Serpent's forces had defeated them, only to discover 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 task force decision. Masters offered to take in a number of the bondsman civilians as the most civilized way to handle the situation.

In 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. During 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 posted southwest of Lake Osis. They became known as the Southern Army for the SLDF forces. A second group of Jaguar reinforcements arrived, led by saKhan Brandon Howell. 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 is routed and killed. However, during Clan attacks the Knights lead to rescue 1st Kathil Uhlans and help Southern army fight off Clan forces.

After the remains of First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion's Task Force Bulldog arrives and assists Serpent forces clean up 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]

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]

BattleMechs

The BattleMech Masters piloted during most of his career, including the Gibson campaign, was a Phoenix Hawk.[2][13] 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.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 BattleTech: Legends, p. 108
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ideal War, ch. 2
  3. ↑ Phoenix Hawk Lore and Blueprint
  4. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 82: "A Tale of Two Cities: Baroda and Jojoken"
  5. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 5
  6. ↑ Ideal War, ch. 22
  7. ↑ Twilight of the Clans, p. 12: "The Conquest Continues - Master's knights get clobbered by Clan reinforcements"
  8. ↑ Twilight of the Clans, p. 13: "A Blow to Morale/Deep into the Jaguar's Fangs/On To Strana Mechty"
  9. ↑ 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]
  10. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, pp. 8, 150
  11. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, pp. 150, 160
  12. ↑ Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 93
  13. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 11, p. 10

Bibliography

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