Difference between revisions of "Tara Lucas (31st c.)"

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{{Update Needed|[[Shadows of Faith]] (BattleCorps Story), [[Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta]], [[Total Chaos]]}}
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{{InfoBoxCharacter
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| name                = Tara Lucas
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| died                =
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| othernames          =
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| affiliation        = [[Wolf's Dragoons]]
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| rank                = [[Colonel]]
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| title              =
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| position            =
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| profession          = [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]]
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| parents            =
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'''Tara Lucas''' was an officer in the [[Wolf's Dragoons]] [[mercenary]] command who served in [[Zeta Battalion]]. She later became a leader in the [[Outreach]] resistance to the [[Word of Blake]] during the [[Jihad]].
  
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'''Tara Lucas''' was an Officer in [[Wolf's Dragoons]] [[mercenary]] command.
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==History==
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===Early Life and Career===
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Lucas was at least a third-generation Dragoon, the namesake and granddaughter of [[Captain]] [[Tara Lucas (30th c.)|Tara Lucas]] who had served with distinction in Zeta Battalion up through the [[Fourth Succession War]].<ref name=TOTJ-TLDOZ-45613-TL-TL1-1>''Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta'', pp. 4–6, 13: Tara's inner monologue refers at length to her grandmother and namesake</ref><ref name=WDS99-ZBP-TL-1>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 99: "Zeta Battalion Personalities", description of the original Tara Lucas</ref>
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[[Colonel]] [[J. Elliot Jamison]], Zeta's commander and one of the longest serving Dragoons, mentored the young Lucas, and she heard many stories about the legendary officer from her grandmother. After the [[Dragoon Civil War]] in [[3055]], Zeta was reorganized along the lines of a Clan [[Cluster]], equipped entirely with heavy and assault Clan [[OmniMech]]s. Lucas had command of Able [[Trinary]], and held the rank of [[Captain]]. It was said that only her respect for Jamison led her to decline an opportunity to challenge him for leadership.<ref name=FMM104-O-TL-1>''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 104: "Officers", Tara Lucas' description</ref>
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Major Tara Lucas, who had served with Zeta since before [[Misery]],<ref name=WDS9799>''Wolf's Dragoons'', pp. 97–99</ref> and served as the unit's second-in-command, was expected to take over the unit once Jamison retired.<ref name=FMM104>''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 104</ref><ref name=FMMR120>''Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised'', p. 120</ref>
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===First Harlech and Mars===
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By [[3067]], Lucas had been promoted (or tested) to [[Major]] as Jamison's second-in-command. Jamison was actively grooming Lucas to take command when he retired. Indeed, Lucas was considered the top 'Mech ace in Zeta, with almost "unnaturally good" reflexes.<ref name=FMMR120-O-TL-1>''Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised'', p. 120: "Officers", Tara Lucas' skills, Jamison grooming efforts</ref>
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On 15 October 3067, Blakist-sponsored mercenaries launched an all-out assault on the Dragoons in their headquarters of [[Harlech City]], the capital of their homeworld of [[Outreach]]. Although the turncoat mercenaries were eventually crushed, [[First Battle of Harlech (3067)|First Harlech]] devastated Harlech City, resulted in the death of Jaime Wolf and severely damaged several Dragoon commands. Due to their losses, Zeta Battalion was forced to reorganize into [[Company]]-sized units, with Lucas commanding Able Company.<ref name=TLDOZ2-TL-COMP-M-1>''Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta'', p. 2: Zeta reorganizes into companies, Lucas commands Able Company</ref> A reprisal was planned by the [[Allied Mercenary Command]], with Zeta being among those units included.
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On 28 November, just before shipping out with her battalion, Lucas visited Mac's bar, a famed Dragoon bar in Harlech. There she encountered Captain [[Jason Williamson]] of the [[Home Guard (Wolf's Dragoons)|Home Guard]], who was angry at not being included in the task force. She reminded him of his duty to protect Outreach while Zeta was away, then departed.<ref>''Shadows of Faith'', Volume 7, pp. 3–6: Lucas encounters Williamson at Mac's bar</ref>
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On 7 December, [[Battle of Mars|Task Force Vengeance]] struck at the [[Terra]] system, targeting the Word of Blake bases on [[Terra|Mars]]. The assault was a complete disaster, as the Blakists' [[Space Defense System]]s totally overwhelmed the fleet.<ref name=SBWAB16-M-TV-1>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 16: "Death Ground", Task Force Vengeance is destroyed at Mars</ref> Only Zeta Battalion and elements of the [[Second Dismal Disinherited]] successfully reached the surface, with the ships and other ground forces being annihilated in orbit.<ref name=TLDOZ3-2DD-2>''Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta'', p. 3: the Second Dismal Disinherited reach the surface of Mars with Zeta Battalion</ref> By 9 December, the [[Dismal Disinherited]] forces had been wiped out. Lucas and Zeta Battalion engaged the [[7th Division (Word of Blake)|Seventh Division]] on the Chryse Planitia, on the approach to [[Koryo]], the headquarters of the Word of Blake's [[ROM]].<ref name=TLDOZ3-2DD-1>''Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta'', p. 3: the Second Dismal Disinherited is destroyed</ref> Hopelessly outnumbered and facing orbital bombardment,<ref name=TLDOZ7-TL-OB-1-1>''Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta'', p. 7: the Blakists use orbital bombardment against Zeta Battalion</ref> Lucas managed to slay [[Precentor|Precentor X]] [[Anna Friel]] during a feigned parley,<ref name=TLDOZ10-TL-AF-1>''Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta'', p. 10: Tara Lucas kills Anna Friel</ref> then led a charge of Able Company towards Koryo's dome, only to face further attacks from orbit. Upon realizing they would never reach their objective, Lucas and her company doubled back to rejoin Zeta, destroying two 'Mech [[Level II]]s and several squads of [[Purifier Adaptive|Purifier]] [[battle armor]].<ref name=TLDOZ1417-TL-K-1-1>''Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta'', pp. 14–17: Lucas leads Able in a charge on Koryo</ref> When they reached the rest of Zeta, they found that Colonel Jamison had been killed when the cockpit of his ''[[Stalker]]'' was breached.<ref name=TLDOZ1718-TL-JEJ-D-1>''Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta'', pp. 17–18: Colonel Jamison is killed, Tara Lucas takes command</ref> Taking command, Lucas led Zeta Battalion in its final charge against the Seventh Division, despite facing inevitable destruction.<ref name=TLDOZ1819-TL-ZB-A-1>''Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta'', pp. 18–19: Tara Lucas leads Zeta Battalion in its final charge</ref> Lucas was among those few prisoners taken on Mars, and by far the highest-ranking Dragoon captured by the Blakists during the Jihad.<ref name=SBWAB18-G-TL-1>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 18: "Ghosts", Tara Lucas was taken prisoner</ref>
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===Return to Outreach===
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After two years of interrogation and torture, Lucas was brought back to Outreach, and was paraded through the ruins of Harlech by elements of the Blakist' [[Outreach Protectorate Militia Division]]. Lucas was displayed in a cage on top of a [[BattleMech Recovery Vehicle]] as part of a convoy in an effort to flush out any surviving Dragoon resistance forces.<ref name=TC82-L-D-TL-1>''Total Chaos'', p. 81: "Defender", the Outreach Protectorate Militia parades Lucas through Harlech</ref><ref name=SBWAB18-G-TL-2>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 18: "Ghosts", Tara Lucas is paraded through Harlech</ref> On 27 October, the remnants of the Dragoons' [[Elemental Strike Cluster]], led by Major [[Elson Novacat]], attacked. The Dragoons were well aware that the convoy was a trap, but despite being down to two [[Star (Formation)|Star]]s of Elementals, they were highly motivated, as Novacat believed Lucas' abilities would be vital to the resistance.<ref name=TC81-L-TL-1>''Total Chaos'', p. 81: "Liberation", Elson Novacat decides to rescue Tara Lucas</ref><ref name=SBWAB18-G-TL-3>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 18: "Ghosts", the Toads from Hell took the bait</ref><ref name=NT2-TL-D-1>''Night Terrors'', p. 2: 27 October 3069 date given for the Tara Lucas rescue</ref><ref name=NT7-TL-B-1>''Night Terrors'', p. 7: the Toads from Hell are down to a [[Binary]]</ref> The Blakists sprung their trap, as dozens of Purifiers emerged from the accompanying [[Bulldog (Truck)|Bulldog trucks]]. These were joined by a ''[[Panther]]'' 'Mech, which had not been part of the convoy.<ref name=NT89-TL-P-1>''Night Terrors'', pp. 8–9: the Purifiers launch their ambush</ref><ref name=NT11-TL-BM-1>''Night Terrors'', p. 11: a ''Panther'' joins in the ambush</ref> Despite the odds against them, the Dragoons successfully rescued Major Lucas, completely destroying the [[Word of Blake Militia|Militia]] forces who were holding her.<ref name=TC41-O-TL-1>''Total Chaos'', p. 41: "Outreach", Elson Novacat and his resistance movement rescue Tara Lucas</ref><ref name=TC82-L-AM-TL-1>''Total Chaos'', p. 82: "Aftermath", Novacat describes the battle</ref><ref name=SBWAB18-G-TL-4>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 18: "Ghosts", Lucas is rescued</ref><ref name=NT1415-TL-R-1>''Night Terrors'', pp. 14–15: Tara Lucas is rescued</ref> Lucas, meanwhile, was suffering from extreme post-traumatic stress syndrome despite her rescue, and at times was nearly catatonic.<ref name=TC82-L-AM-TL-2>''Total Chaos'', p. 82: "Aftermath", Novacat describes Lucas' condition</ref><ref name=SBWAB18-G-TL-5>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 18: "Ghosts", Lucas suffers from the effects of her imprisonment</ref> Novacat spent weeks restoring Lucas' confidence, and Lucas emerged with a burning desire for vengeance.<ref name=SBWAB18-G-TL-6>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 18: "Ghosts", Tara Lucas recovers with Novacat's help</ref>
  
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==History==
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===Resistance Leader===
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[[File:Wdragoons.gif|right|thumb|[[Wolf's Dragoons]]]]
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In March [[3070]], Lucas took command of the resistance after Elson's death in combat.<ref name=TC42-O-TL-1>''Total Chaos'', p. 42: "Outreach", Elson Novacat is killed in March 3070, Lucas takes command</ref> By April, she and had expanded the force to include survivors of other units, including 'Mechs, vehicles, and even a few Aerospace fighters. The group, now calling itself the [[Tara Lucas's Ghosts|Ghosts]], was now operating out of New Wyatt, and was at around a battalion in strength.<ref name=SBWAB18-PR-TL-1>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 18: "Painful Reminders", Tara Lucas takes command of the new Ghosts</ref><ref name=SBWAB26-MR-MP-TL-1>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 26: "MechWarrior Profile", Tara Lucas shifts the Ghosts from Elemental-based warfare to 'Mech-based warfare</ref> Most of their operations were small unit strikes against the [[Broadsword Legion]], the Blakist mercenary command that had turned on the Dragoons during [[Second Battle of Outreach (3067)|Second Harlech]]. Examples of their operations included interfering with a salvage recovery effort near Hutchinson Pass,<ref name=SROTWR-S-TL-1>''Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Salvage'', details from Tara Lucas' journal</ref> and deploying her Aerospace assets to crush the Legion's attempts to form a new squadron.<ref name=SROTWR-F-TL-1>''Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Furball'', details from Tara Lucas' journal</ref> During another operation, the Ghosts discovered [[Wannamaker's Widowmakers]], the other major Word of Blake employed force on planet, was attempting to access the computer nodes from the ruins of [[Blackwell Heavy Industries|Blackwell Corporation]] facilities.<ref name=SROTWR-DM-TL-1>''Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Data Mining'', details from Tara Lucas' journal</ref>
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Lucas seems to have been among the many [[freebirth]] [[Clan]] warriors to accept assignment to Wolf's Dragoons.
 
  
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Sometime around [[3020]], Lucas was transferred to [[Zeta Battalion]], the Dragoons' assault trouble-shooter unit. She accepted this transfer as an alternative to regimental discipline for fighting and disobeying orders while serving in [[Beta Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Beta Regiment]]. <ref name=WDS99>''Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)'', p. 99</ref>
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In September [[3070]], Lucas met with Captain [[Stacy Church]] of the new [[Black Widow Company]], which had been sent to Outreach by General [[Maeve Wolf]] and was operating another Dragoon resistance cell. It was only now that Lucas learned that [[General]] [[Maeve Wolf]] was still alive, as were many other Dragoons, recovering on [[Arc-Royal]]. Although the two exchanged information, things became tense when Lucas attempted to direct Church towards specific targets, as the Widows were an independent company. Nevertheless, the two groups were ultimately able to work together, despite Lucas' regarding Church as an "upstart".<ref name=TC42-O-TL-2>''Total Chaos'', p. 42: "Outreach", Tara Lucas begins coordinating with Stacy Church and her Black Widow Company</ref><ref name=SBWAB18-AM-TL-1>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 18: "A Meeting", Tara Lucas meets with Stacy Church</ref><ref name=SROTWR-A-TL-1>''Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Arrival'', details from Tara Lucas' journal</ref> For the next nine months, the two resistance forces fought an effective campaign against the Broadsword Legion. The Ghosts repeatedly ambushed detachments of the Legion, destroying them piecemeal. In April [[3071]], the Widows lured the Legion into a Ghost ambush, and the two forces utterly destroyed the Blakist force, though their commander, [[Kari Marita]], escaped.<ref name=SBWAB1819-AM-TL-2>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', pp. 18–19: "A Meeting", the Black Widows and the Ghosts destroy the Broadsword Legion in an ambush</ref>
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Lucas took to the atmosphere of the Zetas instantly, and within two years earned a commission as a [[Lieutenant]]. In [[3026]], she was promoted to [[Captain]] in command of Red [[Company]] after the previous company commander was killed fighting the [[Eridani Light Horse]] at the battle of [[Barlow's End]]. <ref name=WDS99/> Lucas continued to lead Red Company with distinction, and they remained the most decorated of Zeta's three companies. <ref>''Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)'', p. 97</ref>
 
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Like the rest of Zeta Battalion, Red Company took tremendous casualties during the Battle of [[Misery]]. The rest of her command lance was wiped out and only four [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]], including Lucas, would survive. <ref name=WDS98>''Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)'', p. 98</ref> Nevertheless, she would join in Zeta Battalion's rescue of the Dragoons on [[Crossing]] at the end of the [[Fourth Succession War]].
 
  
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Despite the fact that Zeta Battalion was officially inactive, Lucas remained with [[Colonel]] [[J. Elliot Jamison]] and the unit. By the time of the [[Clan Invasion]] in [[3050]], Zeta was active again, and as highly regarded as ever. When the [[Dragoon Civil War]] broke out in [[3055]], Lucas fought alongside Jamison and Zeta against [[Jaime Wolf]] himself. After the conflict, Zeta was reorganized along the lines of a Clan [[Cluster]], equipped entirely with heavy and assault Clan [[OmniMech]]s. Lucas had command of 1st [[Trinary]], and was promoted to [[Major]] as Jamison's second-in-command. By this time, she was recognized as one of the finest warriors in the unit, and was expected to eventually succeed Jamison as Zeta's commander. <ref>''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 104</ref> By [[3067]], 1st Trinary had been renamed Able Trinary with Lucas still in command. Lucas' years of service had apparently not dimmed her fighting skills, described as "unnaturally good". <ref>''Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised'', p. 120</ref>
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With most of the continent of Romulus now under their control, the Dragoons now turned their attention to Remus, once their exclusive home. In November 3071, [[Peter Whitehorse]] and the [[Seventh Kommando]] requested assistance dealing with the Widowmakers, still active in the Outback. The Widowmakers had been rounding up Dragoon dependents and civilians in an attempt to cow resistance on Remus, and the Kommando needed help to free them. Lucas was initially resistant, but was persuaded when most of the Ghosts were determined to go with Church and the Widows. Whitehorse provided them with transport in the form of the ''[[Tiberius (naval vessel)|Tiberius]]'', an old [[Star League]] transport submarine.<ref name=SBWAB19-TBTT-TL-1>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 19: "Turning back the Tide", Tara Lucas is persuaded to join the attack on the Widowmakers</ref> During a preliminary operation, elements of the Ghosts attempted to take out Colonel Cheryl Wannamaker, the Widowmakers' commander.<ref name=SROTWR-G-TL-1>''Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Ghosts'', details from Tara Lucas' journal</ref> The Widows lured the bulk of the Widowmakers away from their base while the Ghosts and Kommando attacked. They successfully captured four [[DropShip]]s and freed the prisoners, though Tara Lucas was seriously injured, and was even believed to be killed.<ref name=TC42-O-TL-3>''Total Chaos'', p. 42: "Outreach", Tara Lucas is injured when the Dragoons rescue their civilian dependents</ref><ref name=SBWAB19-B-TL-1>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 19: "Breakout", Tara Lucas is believed killed in the operation against the Widowmakers</ref>
  
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Later that same year, the [[Word of Blake]] used [[Waco Rangers|rogue mercenaries]] to strike at the Dragoons on [[Outreach]], killing Jaime Wolf and inflicting tremendous damage on the city of Harlech, it was immediately decided to strike back at the Word at its bases on [[Mars]]. [[Battle of Mars|Task force Vengeance]], composed of Zeta Battalion, Beta Regiment and several other units from the [[Allied Mercenary Command]], was a total disaster. Their [[WarShip]]s, [[JumpShip]]s and [[DropShip]]s were attacked by [[Dragau|SDS systems]] before they even reached Mars' orbit, and of the entire force, only a handful of Zeta's warriors survived to make planet-fall. Scattered and heavily damaged, they were easily destroyed. <ref name=SWB161819>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', pp. 16, 18-19</ref>
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===The Four Horsemen===
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The reports of her death were apparently mistaken, as Lucas resumed command of the remaining resistance sometime after the Black Widows departed Outreach in January [[3072]], renaming the cell the [[Four Horsemen]].<ref name=TC42-O-TL-4>''Total Chaos'', p. 42: "Outreach", Tara Lucas recovers from her injuries, renames the resistance The Four Horsemen</ref> Her survival was apparently confirmed by Word of Blake ROM itself in a [[Manei Domini]] missive in [[3073]] from [[Apollyon]] to [[Berith]], where Lucas is named to a list of priority targets. Lucas is described as "an escaped convict. She is wanted for crimes against the [[Word of Blake Protectorate|Protectorate]]. Eliminate with extreme prejudice. She is considered armed and extremely dangerous."<ref name=SBWAB39-PAORHO-TL-1>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 39: "Priority Alpha-Omicron-Rho", Tara Lucas is named as a target circa 3073</ref> As time wore on, the dwindling resistance forces continued to wear down the remaining Widowmakers, who had been effectively abandoned by Word of Blake. With resistance to their Jihad increasing, the Blakists were unwilling to deploy more troops to root out resistance on a world that had been so entirely savaged.<ref name=TC42-O-TL-5>''Total Chaos'', p. 42: "Outreach", Lucas terrorizes the Widowmakers</ref><ref name=JHST-53-OF-TL-1>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 53: "Outreach Freed", the Four Horsemen, led by Lucas, inflict severe casualties on the Widowmakers</ref> Lucas' survival was apparently not common knowledge, as such news agencies as [[ISNS]] still presumed that she had been killed in 3071 as had originally been reported.<ref name=JHST-53-OF-TL-2>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 53: "Outreach Freed", Tara Lucas is still presumed to have been killed in 3071 by ISNS</ref>
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Lucas, one of the few survivors, became the highest-ranking Dragoon taken prisoner by the Blakists during the [[Jihad]]. After two years of torture, Lucas seemed to break, and it was decided to use her as a propaganda tool against the Dragoon insurgency still resisting the Blakists on Outreach. In October [[3069]], Dragoon Major [[Elson Novacat]] led his resistance force of [[Elemental (Battle Armor)|Elementals]] and ambushed the Blakist detachment, rescuing Lucas. After several weeks of Novacat's efforts, Lucas recovered from her torment, and was filled with the desire for revenge. Lucas took command of the resistance movement in April [[3070]] when Novacat was killed. In September of that year, Lucas met with [[Stacy Church]], commander of the new [[Black Widow Company]]. Though Church refused to place her troops under Lucas' command, the two groups quickly began working together to overcome the Blakist occupation, beginning with the treacherous [[Broadsword Legion]]. Defeating the Legion in April [[3071]], they then set their sights on the other major Word of Blake unit on planet, [[Wannamaker's Widowmakers]]. Lucas was reported killed helping to rescue many Dragoon civilians, though with her sacrifice she helped give Outreach the chance at freedom for the first time in years. <ref name=SWB161819/>
 
  
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In the following years, a resistance cell on Outreach named the "Four Horsemen" were active, inflicting heavy damaged on the occupation force. Their leader called herself "Tara Lucas", presumably in honor of the fallen Dragoon commander, though it remains somewhat possible Lucas survived her reported "death". Outreach was finally freed in [[3077]]. <ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra''</ref>
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Outreach was finally liberated in [[3077]] by [[Stone's Coalition]].<ref name=TC42-O-TL-7>''Total Chaos'', p. 41: "Outreach", Outreach is liberated by the Coalition</ref>
  
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The exact nature of Tara Lucas' death has not been chronicled.
  
 
==BattleMechs==
 
==BattleMechs==
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Lucas piloted a ''[[Stalker]]'' for much of her career. <ref name=WDS98/> She presumably upgraded her machine later on to a Clan OmniMech after the Dragoon Civil War, but the type of 'Mech is unknown. During the latter stages of [[First Harlech]], she used an old ''[[Annihilator]]'', apparently to replace a 'mech of hers that had already been destroyed. <ref>''Shadows of Faith''</ref>
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Tara Lucas piloted a ''[[Warhawk (Masakari)|Masakari]]'' for much of her later career up to Zeta Battalion's destruction on Mars. Lucas' personal variant took the Primary ''Warhawk'' and removed the [[LRM-10]] in favor of additional [[double heat sinks]].<ref name=TLDOZ2-TL-M-M-1>''Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta'', p. 2: Tara Lucas pilots a ''Masakari'' on Mars, custom variant</ref> It is implied that during First Harlech Lucas may have briefly piloted a mothballed ''[[Annihilator]]'', though she never actually verified this.<ref name=SOF-V7-5-TL-A-1>''Shadows of Faith'', Volume 7, p. 5: Tara Lucas doesn't deny piloting the ''Annihilator''</ref> It is further implied that Lucas piloted a different 'Mech when she was leading the resistance back on Outreach, though this has not yet been chronicled.
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==Personality and Traits==
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During her career with Zeta Battalion, Lucas was considered a brilliant [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]], even by Dragoon standards. Her reflexes in battle often left her fellow warriors in awe. Considered a "bright and exceptional leader", Colonel Jamison's confidence in her as his eventual successor speaks volumes about her abilities as an officer. Even as late as the fighting on Mars, Lucas' personal ability was on full display, as she accounted for many 'Mech kills despite the odds facing the Dragoons.<ref name=FMM104-O-TL-1/><ref name=FMMR120-O-TL-1/><ref name=TLDOZ219-TL-K-1>''Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta'', pp. 2–19: Lucas' records many kills on Mars before being captured</ref> After her rescue and rehabilitation by Elson Novacat, she became an avatar of vengeance, hell bent on forging the resistance movement into a weapon to inflict pain against the Word of Blake.<ref name=SBWAB18-G-TL-6/> Eventually, she began to show signs of mental instability, though this did not seem to impair her ability to harry the Word of Blake mercenaries.<ref name=TC42-O-TL-5/>
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==Quotations==
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{{quote|'''Williamson''': Give them hell.
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'''Lucas''': No, they don't get off that easy.|Major Tara Lucas to Captain [[Jason Williamson]], 28 November [[3067]]<ref>''Shadows of Faith'', Volume 7, p. 6: Lucas' quote to Williamson</ref>}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
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* ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised]]''
 
* ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised]]''
 
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
 
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
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* ''[[Night Terrors]]'' (short story)
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* ''[[Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Arrival]]''
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* ''[[Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Data Mining]]''
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* ''[[Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Furball]]''
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* ''[[Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Ghosts]]''
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* ''[[Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Salvage]]''
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* ''[[Shadows of Faith]]'' (serial)
 
* ''[[Starterbook: Wolf and Blake]]''
 
* ''[[Starterbook: Wolf and Blake]]''
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* ''[[Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)]]''
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* ''[[Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta]]'' (short story)
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* ''[[Total Chaos]]'' (campaign book)
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* ''[[Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)|Wolf's Dragoons]]''
  
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[[Category:Mercenary Characters|Lucas, Tara]]
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[[Category:Wolf's Dragoons Characters|Lucas (31st c.), Tara]]
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[[Category:Clan Characters|Lucas, Tara]]
 
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[[Category:Wolf's Dragoons Characters|Lucas, Tara]]
 
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[[Category:Minor Characters|Lucas, Tara]]
 

Latest revision as of 14:59, 11 March 2024

Tara Lucas
Personal
AffiliationWolf's Dragoons
Profile
RankColonel
ProfessionMechWarrior

Tara Lucas was an officer in the Wolf's Dragoons mercenary command who served in Zeta Battalion. She later became a leader in the Outreach resistance to the Word of Blake during the Jihad.

History[edit]

Early Life and Career[edit]

Lucas was at least a third-generation Dragoon, the namesake and granddaughter of Captain Tara Lucas who had served with distinction in Zeta Battalion up through the Fourth Succession War.[1][2]

Colonel J. Elliot Jamison, Zeta's commander and one of the longest serving Dragoons, mentored the young Lucas, and she heard many stories about the legendary officer from her grandmother. After the Dragoon Civil War in 3055, Zeta was reorganized along the lines of a Clan Cluster, equipped entirely with heavy and assault Clan OmniMechs. Lucas had command of Able Trinary, and held the rank of Captain. It was said that only her respect for Jamison led her to decline an opportunity to challenge him for leadership.[3]

Major Tara Lucas, who had served with Zeta since before Misery,[4] and served as the unit's second-in-command, was expected to take over the unit once Jamison retired.[5][6]

First Harlech and Mars[edit]

By 3067, Lucas had been promoted (or tested) to Major as Jamison's second-in-command. Jamison was actively grooming Lucas to take command when he retired. Indeed, Lucas was considered the top 'Mech ace in Zeta, with almost "unnaturally good" reflexes.[7]

On 15 October 3067, Blakist-sponsored mercenaries launched an all-out assault on the Dragoons in their headquarters of Harlech City, the capital of their homeworld of Outreach. Although the turncoat mercenaries were eventually crushed, First Harlech devastated Harlech City, resulted in the death of Jaime Wolf and severely damaged several Dragoon commands. Due to their losses, Zeta Battalion was forced to reorganize into Company-sized units, with Lucas commanding Able Company.[8] A reprisal was planned by the Allied Mercenary Command, with Zeta being among those units included.

On 28 November, just before shipping out with her battalion, Lucas visited Mac's bar, a famed Dragoon bar in Harlech. There she encountered Captain Jason Williamson of the Home Guard, who was angry at not being included in the task force. She reminded him of his duty to protect Outreach while Zeta was away, then departed.[9]

On 7 December, Task Force Vengeance struck at the Terra system, targeting the Word of Blake bases on Mars. The assault was a complete disaster, as the Blakists' Space Defense Systems totally overwhelmed the fleet.[10] Only Zeta Battalion and elements of the Second Dismal Disinherited successfully reached the surface, with the ships and other ground forces being annihilated in orbit.[11] By 9 December, the Dismal Disinherited forces had been wiped out. Lucas and Zeta Battalion engaged the Seventh Division on the Chryse Planitia, on the approach to Koryo, the headquarters of the Word of Blake's ROM.[12] Hopelessly outnumbered and facing orbital bombardment,[13] Lucas managed to slay Precentor X Anna Friel during a feigned parley,[14] then led a charge of Able Company towards Koryo's dome, only to face further attacks from orbit. Upon realizing they would never reach their objective, Lucas and her company doubled back to rejoin Zeta, destroying two 'Mech Level IIs and several squads of Purifier battle armor.[15] When they reached the rest of Zeta, they found that Colonel Jamison had been killed when the cockpit of his Stalker was breached.[16] Taking command, Lucas led Zeta Battalion in its final charge against the Seventh Division, despite facing inevitable destruction.[17] Lucas was among those few prisoners taken on Mars, and by far the highest-ranking Dragoon captured by the Blakists during the Jihad.[18]

Return to Outreach[edit]

After two years of interrogation and torture, Lucas was brought back to Outreach, and was paraded through the ruins of Harlech by elements of the Blakist' Outreach Protectorate Militia Division. Lucas was displayed in a cage on top of a BattleMech Recovery Vehicle as part of a convoy in an effort to flush out any surviving Dragoon resistance forces.[19][20] On 27 October, the remnants of the Dragoons' Elemental Strike Cluster, led by Major Elson Novacat, attacked. The Dragoons were well aware that the convoy was a trap, but despite being down to two Stars of Elementals, they were highly motivated, as Novacat believed Lucas' abilities would be vital to the resistance.[21][22][23][24] The Blakists sprung their trap, as dozens of Purifiers emerged from the accompanying Bulldog trucks. These were joined by a Panther 'Mech, which had not been part of the convoy.[25][26] Despite the odds against them, the Dragoons successfully rescued Major Lucas, completely destroying the Militia forces who were holding her.[27][28][29][30] Lucas, meanwhile, was suffering from extreme post-traumatic stress syndrome despite her rescue, and at times was nearly catatonic.[31][32] Novacat spent weeks restoring Lucas' confidence, and Lucas emerged with a burning desire for vengeance.[33]

Resistance Leader[edit]

In March 3070, Lucas took command of the resistance after Elson's death in combat.[34] By April, she and had expanded the force to include survivors of other units, including 'Mechs, vehicles, and even a few Aerospace fighters. The group, now calling itself the Ghosts, was now operating out of New Wyatt, and was at around a battalion in strength.[35][36] Most of their operations were small unit strikes against the Broadsword Legion, the Blakist mercenary command that had turned on the Dragoons during Second Harlech. Examples of their operations included interfering with a salvage recovery effort near Hutchinson Pass,[37] and deploying her Aerospace assets to crush the Legion's attempts to form a new squadron.[38] During another operation, the Ghosts discovered Wannamaker's Widowmakers, the other major Word of Blake employed force on planet, was attempting to access the computer nodes from the ruins of Blackwell Corporation facilities.[39]

In September 3070, Lucas met with Captain Stacy Church of the new Black Widow Company, which had been sent to Outreach by General Maeve Wolf and was operating another Dragoon resistance cell. It was only now that Lucas learned that General Maeve Wolf was still alive, as were many other Dragoons, recovering on Arc-Royal. Although the two exchanged information, things became tense when Lucas attempted to direct Church towards specific targets, as the Widows were an independent company. Nevertheless, the two groups were ultimately able to work together, despite Lucas' regarding Church as an "upstart".[40][41][42] For the next nine months, the two resistance forces fought an effective campaign against the Broadsword Legion. The Ghosts repeatedly ambushed detachments of the Legion, destroying them piecemeal. In April 3071, the Widows lured the Legion into a Ghost ambush, and the two forces utterly destroyed the Blakist force, though their commander, Kari Marita, escaped.[43]

With most of the continent of Romulus now under their control, the Dragoons now turned their attention to Remus, once their exclusive home. In November 3071, Peter Whitehorse and the Seventh Kommando requested assistance dealing with the Widowmakers, still active in the Outback. The Widowmakers had been rounding up Dragoon dependents and civilians in an attempt to cow resistance on Remus, and the Kommando needed help to free them. Lucas was initially resistant, but was persuaded when most of the Ghosts were determined to go with Church and the Widows. Whitehorse provided them with transport in the form of the Tiberius, an old Star League transport submarine.[44] During a preliminary operation, elements of the Ghosts attempted to take out Colonel Cheryl Wannamaker, the Widowmakers' commander.[45] The Widows lured the bulk of the Widowmakers away from their base while the Ghosts and Kommando attacked. They successfully captured four DropShips and freed the prisoners, though Tara Lucas was seriously injured, and was even believed to be killed.[46][47]

The Four Horsemen[edit]

The reports of her death were apparently mistaken, as Lucas resumed command of the remaining resistance sometime after the Black Widows departed Outreach in January 3072, renaming the cell the Four Horsemen.[48] Her survival was apparently confirmed by Word of Blake ROM itself in a Manei Domini missive in 3073 from Apollyon to Berith, where Lucas is named to a list of priority targets. Lucas is described as "an escaped convict. She is wanted for crimes against the Protectorate. Eliminate with extreme prejudice. She is considered armed and extremely dangerous."[49] As time wore on, the dwindling resistance forces continued to wear down the remaining Widowmakers, who had been effectively abandoned by Word of Blake. With resistance to their Jihad increasing, the Blakists were unwilling to deploy more troops to root out resistance on a world that had been so entirely savaged.[50][51] Lucas' survival was apparently not common knowledge, as such news agencies as ISNS still presumed that she had been killed in 3071 as had originally been reported.[52]

Outreach was finally liberated in 3077 by Stone's Coalition.[53]

The exact nature of Tara Lucas' death has not been chronicled.

BattleMechs[edit]

Tara Lucas piloted a Masakari for much of her later career up to Zeta Battalion's destruction on Mars. Lucas' personal variant took the Primary Warhawk and removed the LRM-10 in favor of additional double heat sinks.[54] It is implied that during First Harlech Lucas may have briefly piloted a mothballed Annihilator, though she never actually verified this.[55] It is further implied that Lucas piloted a different 'Mech when she was leading the resistance back on Outreach, though this has not yet been chronicled.

Personality and Traits[edit]

During her career with Zeta Battalion, Lucas was considered a brilliant MechWarrior, even by Dragoon standards. Her reflexes in battle often left her fellow warriors in awe. Considered a "bright and exceptional leader", Colonel Jamison's confidence in her as his eventual successor speaks volumes about her abilities as an officer. Even as late as the fighting on Mars, Lucas' personal ability was on full display, as she accounted for many 'Mech kills despite the odds facing the Dragoons.[3][7][56] After her rescue and rehabilitation by Elson Novacat, she became an avatar of vengeance, hell bent on forging the resistance movement into a weapon to inflict pain against the Word of Blake.[33] Eventually, she began to show signs of mental instability, though this did not seem to impair her ability to harry the Word of Blake mercenaries.[50]

Quotations[edit]

“ Williamson: Give them hell.

Lucas: No, they don't get off that easy.

”
  — Major Tara Lucas to Captain Jason Williamson, 28 November 3067[57]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta, pp. 4–6, 13: Tara's inner monologue refers at length to her grandmother and namesake
  2. ↑ Wolf's Dragoons, p. 99: "Zeta Battalion Personalities", description of the original Tara Lucas
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 104: "Officers", Tara Lucas' description
  4. ↑ Wolf's Dragoons, pp. 97–99
  5. ↑ Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 104
  6. ↑ Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised, p. 120
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised, p. 120: "Officers", Tara Lucas' skills, Jamison grooming efforts
  8. ↑ Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta, p. 2: Zeta reorganizes into companies, Lucas commands Able Company
  9. ↑ Shadows of Faith, Volume 7, pp. 3–6: Lucas encounters Williamson at Mac's bar
  10. ↑ Starterbook: Wolf and Blake, p. 16: "Death Ground", Task Force Vengeance is destroyed at Mars
  11. ↑ Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta, p. 3: the Second Dismal Disinherited reach the surface of Mars with Zeta Battalion
  12. ↑ Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta, p. 3: the Second Dismal Disinherited is destroyed
  13. ↑ Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta, p. 7: the Blakists use orbital bombardment against Zeta Battalion
  14. ↑ Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta, p. 10: Tara Lucas kills Anna Friel
  15. ↑ Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta, pp. 14–17: Lucas leads Able in a charge on Koryo
  16. ↑ Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta, pp. 17–18: Colonel Jamison is killed, Tara Lucas takes command
  17. ↑ Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta, pp. 18–19: Tara Lucas leads Zeta Battalion in its final charge
  18. ↑ Starterbook: Wolf and Blake, p. 18: "Ghosts", Tara Lucas was taken prisoner
  19. ↑ Total Chaos, p. 81: "Defender", the Outreach Protectorate Militia parades Lucas through Harlech
  20. ↑ Starterbook: Wolf and Blake, p. 18: "Ghosts", Tara Lucas is paraded through Harlech
  21. ↑ Total Chaos, p. 81: "Liberation", Elson Novacat decides to rescue Tara Lucas
  22. ↑ Starterbook: Wolf and Blake, p. 18: "Ghosts", the Toads from Hell took the bait
  23. ↑ Night Terrors, p. 2: 27 October 3069 date given for the Tara Lucas rescue
  24. ↑ Night Terrors, p. 7: the Toads from Hell are down to a Binary
  25. ↑ Night Terrors, pp. 8–9: the Purifiers launch their ambush
  26. ↑ Night Terrors, p. 11: a Panther joins in the ambush
  27. ↑ Total Chaos, p. 41: "Outreach", Elson Novacat and his resistance movement rescue Tara Lucas
  28. ↑ Total Chaos, p. 82: "Aftermath", Novacat describes the battle
  29. ↑ Starterbook: Wolf and Blake, p. 18: "Ghosts", Lucas is rescued
  30. ↑ Night Terrors, pp. 14–15: Tara Lucas is rescued
  31. ↑ Total Chaos, p. 82: "Aftermath", Novacat describes Lucas' condition
  32. ↑ Starterbook: Wolf and Blake, p. 18: "Ghosts", Lucas suffers from the effects of her imprisonment
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Starterbook: Wolf and Blake, p. 18: "Ghosts", Tara Lucas recovers with Novacat's help
  34. ↑ Total Chaos, p. 42: "Outreach", Elson Novacat is killed in March 3070, Lucas takes command
  35. ↑ Starterbook: Wolf and Blake, p. 18: "Painful Reminders", Tara Lucas takes command of the new Ghosts
  36. ↑ Starterbook: Wolf and Blake, p. 26: "MechWarrior Profile", Tara Lucas shifts the Ghosts from Elemental-based warfare to 'Mech-based warfare
  37. ↑ Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Salvage, details from Tara Lucas' journal
  38. ↑ Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Furball, details from Tara Lucas' journal
  39. ↑ Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Data Mining, details from Tara Lucas' journal
  40. ↑ Total Chaos, p. 42: "Outreach", Tara Lucas begins coordinating with Stacy Church and her Black Widow Company
  41. ↑ Starterbook: Wolf and Blake, p. 18: "A Meeting", Tara Lucas meets with Stacy Church
  42. ↑ Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Arrival, details from Tara Lucas' journal
  43. ↑ Starterbook: Wolf and Blake, pp. 18–19: "A Meeting", the Black Widows and the Ghosts destroy the Broadsword Legion in an ambush
  44. ↑ Starterbook: Wolf and Blake, p. 19: "Turning back the Tide", Tara Lucas is persuaded to join the attack on the Widowmakers
  45. ↑ Scenario: Return of the Wolves: Rebellion - Ghosts, details from Tara Lucas' journal
  46. ↑ Total Chaos, p. 42: "Outreach", Tara Lucas is injured when the Dragoons rescue their civilian dependents
  47. ↑ Starterbook: Wolf and Blake, p. 19: "Breakout", Tara Lucas is believed killed in the operation against the Widowmakers
  48. ↑ Total Chaos, p. 42: "Outreach", Tara Lucas recovers from her injuries, renames the resistance The Four Horsemen
  49. ↑ Starterbook: Wolf and Blake, p. 39: "Priority Alpha-Omicron-Rho", Tara Lucas is named as a target circa 3073
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 Total Chaos, p. 42: "Outreach", Lucas terrorizes the Widowmakers
  51. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 53: "Outreach Freed", the Four Horsemen, led by Lucas, inflict severe casualties on the Widowmakers
  52. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 53: "Outreach Freed", Tara Lucas is still presumed to have been killed in 3071 by ISNS
  53. ↑ Total Chaos, p. 41: "Outreach", Outreach is liberated by the Coalition
  54. ↑ Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta, p. 2: Tara Lucas pilots a Masakari on Mars, custom variant
  55. ↑ Shadows of Faith, Volume 7, p. 5: Tara Lucas doesn't deny piloting the Annihilator
  56. ↑ Tales of the Jihad: the Last Day of Zeta, pp. 2–19: Lucas' records many kills on Mars before being captured
  57. ↑ Shadows of Faith, Volume 7, p. 6: Lucas' quote to Williamson

Bibliography[edit]

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