Difference between revisions of "Takashi Kurita"
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| − | In [[3004]], Hohiro Kurita was assassinated by one of his own bodyguards, a member of the [[Tyr Resistance Movement]] from the [[Rasalhague]] Military District. Takashi had the assassin executed immediately, and act that led to rumors that he was culpable in the murder. These rumors were quickly put down in a series of brutal purges. | + | In [[3004]], Hohiro Kurita was assassinated by one of his own bodyguards, a member of the [[Tyr Resistance Movement]] from the [[Rasalhague]] Military District. Takashi had the assassin executed immediately, and act that led to rumors that he was culpable in the murder. These rumors were quickly put down in a series of brutal purges. Takashi inherited a realm that had suffered for over forty years from his father's cruel and inept rule. |
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In [[3024]], in direct response to the [[FedCom Accords]] (and with the assistance of [[ComStar]]), Takashi brought together unlikely allies [[Maximilian Liao]] and [[Janos Marik]] to sign the [[Concord of Kapteyn]]. This was an agreement of mutual support against their common enemies, House Davion and House Steiner. Though some back and forth raids would continue between the Confederation and the [[Free Worlds League]], the agreement held in principle. As policy, however, it would prove ineffective during the [[Fourth Succession War]], due primarily to incompetent maneuvering by the [[FWLM]]. | In [[3024]], in direct response to the [[FedCom Accords]] (and with the assistance of [[ComStar]]), Takashi brought together unlikely allies [[Maximilian Liao]] and [[Janos Marik]] to sign the [[Concord of Kapteyn]]. This was an agreement of mutual support against their common enemies, House Davion and House Steiner. Though some back and forth raids would continue between the Confederation and the [[Free Worlds League]], the agreement held in principle. As policy, however, it would prove ineffective during the [[Fourth Succession War]], due primarily to incompetent maneuvering by the [[FWLM]]. | ||
Revision as of 00:57, 22 June 2010
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Takashi Kurita (18 August, 2970 – 3054, aged 84 years) was the Coordinator of the Draconis Combine and father of Theodore Kurita.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Career
Takashi was born premature in 2970 on Kagoshima. The son of Coordinator Hohiro Kurita I, he immediately became the heir-apparent to his father's throne. Two years after his birth, his mother gave birth to a brother, Miyamoto. In his youth, he met a young Subhash Indrahar in the exclusive First School on Kagoshima, beginning a life-long friendship. Takashi received his MechWarrior training at Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy, graduating with top marks, and finished his military training at the prestigious Wisdom of the Dragon school.[1]
After graduation a young officer in the DCMS, Takashi was assigned a lance command with the elite Second Sword of Light on Marlowe's Rift. Takashi rose to fame with his new unit, demonstrating his leadership and battlefield prowess and inspiring the already elite unit to even greater heights. Takashi eventually rose to command the regiment's heavy assault battalion prior to his promotion to the Otomo in 3000.
Coordinator
In 3004, Hohiro Kurita was assassinated by one of his own bodyguards, a member of the Tyr Resistance Movement from the Rasalhague Military District. Takashi had the assassin executed immediately, and act that led to rumors that he was culpable in the murder. These rumors were quickly put down in a series of brutal purges. Takashi inherited a realm that had suffered for over forty years from his father's cruel and inept rule.
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In 3024, in direct response to the FedCom Accords (and with the assistance of ComStar), Takashi brought together unlikely allies Maximilian Liao and Janos Marik to sign the Concord of Kapteyn. This was an agreement of mutual support against their common enemies, House Davion and House Steiner. Though some back and forth raids would continue between the Confederation and the Free Worlds League, the agreement held in principle. As policy, however, it would prove ineffective during the Fourth Succession War, due primarily to incompetent maneuvering by the FWLM.
Fourth Succession War
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The Dragon and the Heir
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In the aftermath of the War of '39, the Coordinator was forced to acknowledge his son's military policies had been successful, bringing honor and glory to what had been a demoralized DCMS.[2] Encouraging this may been a medical procedure Takashi had underwent to relieve abnormal blood pressure on his brain.[citation needed] His approach gradually became more relaxed and diplomatic, though he continued to adhere strictly to bushido.[3] He would reconcile with Theodore, both publicly and privately.[4] Takashi would eventually even privately acknowledge that his son was now the driving force, having usurped his military authority and no small amount of his political power.[5] The years from 3040 to 3049 were, in many ways, a golden era for the Combine. For the first time in years, the leadership was united, and the military was growing stronger and more united than it had been in decades with Theodore's new policies, and there was relative peace on the Combine's borders. With the assistance of ComStar, technological breakthroughs began, hearkening to the era of the Star League.
Then came the Clans.
Clan Invasion and The Battle of Luthien
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Death and Afterward
In 3054, he had a challenge delivered to Jaime Wolf on Outreach, offering to settle their grievances once and for all in a Battlemech duel to the death. Wolf accepted. However, Michi Noketsuna, former aide to Minobu Tetsuhara, managed to corner the Coordinator on the morning of the battle, seeking revenge for the treachery of Misery. Takashi calmly explained his version of events, causing Noketsuna to doubt the honor of his actions. At that point, Subhash Indrahar arrived with a team of ISF commandos. Takashi at first greeted his old friend as a rescuer, but was soon enlightened. Subhash recognized that a duel to the death between Takashi Kurita and Jaime Wolf would have devastating consequences for the Combine. If Kurita won, Wolf's Dragoons would claim vengeance and would attack the Combine, weakening it against the Clans. If Wolf won, House Kurita would be forced to attack the Dragoons, likewise leaving it weakened. The ISF was there to ensure Takashi Kurita's death before the duel could be fought. Indrahar promptly gave Noketsuna permission to continue.[6]
Noketsuna, recognizing that to attack Takashi Kurita under such circumstances would be dishonorable, instead charged the ISF Commandos and was promptly shot down. (Though he would survive.) Indrahar then had his commandos attack Takashi with swords, as gunfire would put a lie to his assassination cover story. Despite his advanced age, Takashi defeated two of his attackers before the alarm was sounded. Indrahar and his men departed, though not before reminding Takashi of the consequences of his prideful actions.[7]
Meeting with his son Theodore, Takashi realized that Indrahar had been right. With no other means to avoid the duel honorably, he committed seppuku with Theodore standing as his second. Theodore Kurita would then assume the throne as Coordinator of the Draconis Combine. (Officially, however, Takashi Kurita was reported to have died in his sleep.) [8]
Marriage and Children
Married his third cousin Jasmine Isu. His only child was Theodore Kurita.
Philosophy and Traits
Becoming Coordinator after his fathers assassination in 3004, Takashi was a strict conservative samurai and a firm believer in the Dictum Honorium. His manner during much of his life was severe, even with his wife and child. Ruthlessly cunning, he more than once he would replace a successful commander if he felt the commander's popularity might threaten him. Though some might consider such policies as signs of paranoia, they successfully helped him survive nine assassination attempts and two coup attempts by members of his own family. Despite all of this, he was considered extraordinarily skilled in military affairs, with the iron will needed to rule a Successor State.[9]
The Fourth Succession War, however, and the feud with Jaime Wolf seemed to have broken something within the Coordinator, making him reactionary and paranoid.[10] He strongly resisted his son Theodore's political and military reforms, but eventually accepted them when Theodore succeeded in repulsing the Federated Commonwealth assault in 3039. He adopted more a diplomatic approach to his rule, though he remained a life long believer of bushido. He eventually even accepted Shin Yodama, a yakuza, as the new commander of his Dragon's Claws, recognizing the young officer's service and ability.
In his later years, he seemed to have grown sentimental regarding his enemies. After the death of Hanse Davion, he was said to have declared there were "no more worthy enemies left to fight".[11] Later, he had an Archer posted outside of his palace painted in Wolf's Dragoons colors, a clear tribute to Jaime Wolf. When asked about it, he whispered. "The Fox is gone now. All I have left is the Wolf." He later challenged Wolf to a duel on Luthien, launching a series of events ending in his death.[12]
Battlemechs
Early in his career, he favored a BattleMaster. [13] Later, with the rediscovery of Star League technology, he piloted a Grand Dragon.[14]
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