Radcliffe McNally

Radcliffe McNally
Character Profile
Died 22 December 3066[1]
Affiliation House McNally
Title(s) Count
Profession Noble
Spouse Elly Burton (lover)
Children Alexander Burton-McNally


Radcliffe McNally was a noble of the Federated Commonwealth on Hall.

History[edit]

During Operation GUERRERO, the Marik-Liao Invasion of 3057 found the Fourth Republican Guards garrisoning Hall. Upon hearing of the Marik-Liao attack, the Fourth prepared to resist the impending invasion that ultimately never came. Rather than send troops, Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao had his agents foment rebellion on Hall which was ruthlessly crushed by the Fourth Republican Guards. In the chaos following the secession of Katrina Steiner-Davion and the Lyran Alliance from the Federated Commonwealth, thus leaving the entirety of the Sarna March exposed and vulnerable the Fourth Republican's commander the opportunistic Leftenant General William "Bud" Baranov saw the writing on the wall and went rogue with his unit in tow, proceeding to seize Hall for themselves.[2]

After a quick meeting with his officers, Baranov led the Fourth to Hall's planetary capital city of Harney, swatting aside the local opposition and declaring himself Emperor of Hall. Upon seizing the capital, Baranov and the Fourth were largely unopposed by the planet's populace. Soon after, however, two rival factions arose, one led by Count Radcliffe McNally - a local planetary noble with sufficient military strength and economic assets to resist Baranov, and the other being Cater's Cohorts, led by Major Dick Cater and consisting of former Fourth Republican personnel who had turned against Baranov shortly after he seized Harney. Also on Hall were the twin sons of Baranov's former master Pavel Ridzik, Yuri and Nikoli Ridzik, who had recruited a small army and brought their force to Hall hidden from the eyes of Baranov and the Fourth hoping to eliminate Baranov and resurrect their father's Tikonov Free Republic.[3]

After Major Cater's rebellious troops were forced to withdraw to Hall's southern hemisphere, the three major factions on Hall settled into their respective territories, occasionally fighting each other for supplies and territory. In the meantime, Baranov and the Fourth turned towards the Ridzik Twins in which Baranov skillfully manipulated the situation, causing the disappearance of Nikoli and sending his brother fleeing off planet, thus eliminating the threat the Twins posed with their small military force.[4] Next, Baranov and the Fourth turned again to Major Cater and his rebellious troops, eventually engaging and shattering Cater's Cohorts and allowing Baranov and the Fourth to further consolidate their control of Hall.

Count McNally had not been idle during this time. He contracted two small mercenary units, Burton's Brigade by 3057 and Critchley's Cavaliers by 3063 or 3064.[5][6][2]

Elly Burton, the commanding officer of Burton's Brigade and Count Radcliffe McNally fell in love, and they began a relationship that continued until the Count's death in battle in 3067. For political reasons Elly Burton and Count Radcliffe McNally never married, but he was a devoted partner and a loving father. They had a child, Alexander Burton-McNally, which was considered his father's title inheritor by his followers.

Soon Count McNally and his array of forces were the only obstacle preventing Baranov from controlling the planet. Hall gradually settled into a standoff between the Baranov's Republican Guards and Count McNally's coalition of forces including his own McNally Guard, Burton's Brigade, the remnants of Cater's Cohorts, and the mercenary Critchley's Cavaliers.

The standoff between Baranov and McNally was finally broken in late 3066 when the Fourth Republican Guards, supported by the mercenary Stealthy Tigers, finally overwhelmed the forces of Count McNally, killing the Count in battle in 3067 and routing his surviving forces, earning Baranov tenuous control over Hall. The survivors of Count McNally's forces, led by Elly Burton, being the mother of McNally's child, allied themselves with the Com Guard troops hoping to escape Baranov's wrath, and entrenched themselves.[5]

References[edit]

  1. Touring the Stars: Hall, p. 6
  2. 2.0 2.1 Chaos March, p. 39: "Hall"
  3. Chaos March, pp. 39, 92
  4. Kings & Pawns scenario, p. 15
  5. 5.0 5.1 Mercenaries Supplemental II, pp. 4–5
  6. Mercenaries Supplemental II, p. 27: "Burton's Brigade: In With Both Feet"

Bibliography[edit]