Yori Kurita

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Yori Kurita
Personal
Also known as	Yori Sakamoto
Born	3113
Affiliation	House Kurita
Profile
Position(s)	Coordinator

Yori Kurita (b. 3113) was the granddaughter of Theodore Kurita's illegitimate son Franklin Sakamoto and Coordinator of the Draconis Combine from 3137 onwards. Initially regarded as an unimportant member of House Kurita, the annihilation of the ruling Kurita line combined with the patronage of Warlord Matsuhari Toranaga resulted in her ascension to the Combine's Chrysanthemum Throne.

Despite doubts about her fitness for the role Yori Kurita proved herself a capable ruler, first in crushing a rebellion by Clan Nova Cat and elements of the Combine military, and later by overseeing stunning victories over the Federated Suns and the conquest of its capital.

History

Early Life

Born on Isesaki as Yori Sakomoto, she spent the first eleven years of her life oblivious to her heritage. Shortly after Yori's eleventh birthday, her family was visited by representatives of District Warlord Matsuhari Toranaga who informed the Sakamotos that Yori's father was the only son of Franklin Sakamoto. Following this revelation, the family was relocated to New Samarkand and Yori enrolled as a student at Galedon Military Academy where she trained to be a MechWarrior

Toranaga's 'generosity' was in fact motivated by politics; the Warlord would use Yori's presence at social functions to embarrass Coordinator Vincent Kurita and the 'legitimate' ruling branch of House Kurita, who were considered weak and unworthy of the throne by Toranaga. Nonetheless, the Coordinator insisted that, as a blood relation, Yori was to be tolerated at court.

Sojourn in the Republic

Following the assassination of Victor Steiner-Davion in November 3134, Yori was among the Combine delegation who journeyed to Terra to attend his funeral. There she met Kisho Nova Cat and formed a friendship of sorts with the Clan Nova Cat Mystic before attending a formal reception in Geneva. Yori met many other future leaders of the Inner Sphere that night, where she traded barbs with her future enemy Caleb Davion and agreed to participate in a simulated recreation of the War of 3039 using 'Mechs and vehicles in the place of armies. Overseeing the Combine side of this 'war' with Kisho and Alaric Wolf as her subordinate commanders, Yori ended up facing off against Julian Davion in a duel that saw both 'Mechs destroyed.

When the Senate rebellion erupted across a number of Republic worlds, Yori joined Julian, Callandre Kell, Lars Magnusson and the First Davion Guards for training on Northwind before accompanying them to Ronel. There she aided them against the Senate Loyalists, both in battle and in converting the local Dragon's Fury force to the Republic's cause using her lineage. However, when the news of Fortress Republic's raising completely upended their situation, Yori reluctantly but firmly announced her withdrawal from the ad-hoc force, taking the Dragon's Fury troops with her. Telling Julian they could not afford to be friends, she bid him and her erstwhile comrades farewell.

Reign as Coordinator

When Vincent Kurita was killed along with the rest of his immediate family; Yori was the only choice to ascend the Dragon throne and become the new Coordinator of the Combine. She was able to quickly silence those that doubted her rule, since she came from an illegitimate lineage, by continuing the conquest of worlds that used to belong to the Republic of the Sphere. In addition to the conquest of Republic worlds, her successful invasion of the Federated Suns and the quelling of the rebellion of Clan Nova Cat has cemented her as being the strongest Coordinator in decades.

Bibliography

• Dragon Rising (novel)
• Era Report: 3145
• Fortress Republic (novel)
• Shattered Fortress
• Sword of Sedition (novel)