Yorinaga Kurita

Yorinaga Kurita - Early 31st Century nobleman & MechWarrior

A distant cousin of Draconis Combine Coordinator, Takashi Kurita.

Character History

Battles of Mallory's World

He commanded the 2nd Battalion in Coordinator's personal regiment, the 2nd Sword of Light. The 2nd Sword assaulted Mallory's World in 3013, where they fought 4th Davion Guards. The 4th was lead by the Federated Suns' First Prince, Ian Davion. In the course of the battle, Yorinaga's battalion isolated the 4th's Command Company. There he dueled with Ian's Atlas with his own lighter Warhammer. He successfully defeated and killed the Davion Prince, whom was trying to cover his men retreat. After, killing Ian, Yorinaga went to claim the Prince's body as trophy for the Coordinator. However, he was unable to capitalize on the victory due to the actions of Colonel Morgan Kell and his battalion. Salome Ward had successfully crippling his 'mech, Yorinaga's force was kept at bay long enough for Kell's forces to claim the body of late Davion Prince. Yorinaga felt that this was terrible shame and disgrace. The 2nd was later forced of planet, where he later returned to Luthien.

Despite his disgrace, the Coordinator honored him with the rank of Tai-sa and appoint him as commanding officer of the 2nd Sword of Light regiment. Yorinaga, still ashamed from his defeat at hands of Morgan Kell, decides to plot to avenge himself. To makeup for his disgrace of losing his greatest victory. So plotted for three years to strike back at the Kell Hounds.

After three years, of waiting and planning, he successfully executed strike against Kell Hounds while they were on Mallory's World yet again. He commanded 2nd Sword of Light and the 36th Dieron Regulars part his plan destroy the Kell Hound 2-battalion regiment. He first used the 36th to pin down the Kell Hound's 2nd Battalion. While he lead his command to attack Morgan Kell's brother's command, the First battalion. However, Yorinaga's scouts spotted Morgan Kell's position fortified position. Despite Kell being located in strong fortified position, something amazing to him accrued. Colonel Kell marched his 'Mech out from the fortification and recited his lineage, initiating a samurai duel. Impressed that Kell had gave his history in Japanese to him, he felt honor bound to fight him. So he engaged Morgan's Archer, with his Warhammer, in one-on-one fight to the death. However, as fight progressed, Morgan closed in with his Archer, surprising Yorinaga. In end, when Yorinaga thought he had crippled Morgan's 'Mech, as he fell to one knee. As he went to delivery final blow, he was unable to hit it. At the time, he had not notice his sensor's was unable detect opponent. Firing all his weapons, but not hitting the him. Then Morgan's Archer stood his 'Mech up and bowed to him. Using the rules of busidio, against him. Robbing him of chance to defeat him in honorable combat. Yorinaga in returned bow his Warhammer to Kell, ending the duel.

This was a crushing defeat to Yorinaga, he had done everything he could to defeat Morgan Kell, still he failed. Then it accrued to him that, using Combine's strict tradition of busidio style combat against them, the Combine could spell end of the Draconis Combine. He then broadcasted his haiku, where its he seen the mythical yellow bird, that could defeat the dragon. He then throw samurai swords that coordinator had given to him to ground for Kell to retrieve and departed.

Exile

After being defeated in 3016 by Morgan on Mallory's World. He returned to Luthien where he tells his cousin the Coordinator of the battle. He then requests to commit seppuku to regain his honor. However, Coordinator refuses him, declares him to be a non-person and exiles him to the monastery, on Echo V. There he becomes a monk and in private time study the 3016 battle with Kell. He sends a request every year for permission to commit seppuku to the Coordinator. Then 3027, Takashi Kurita send his ISF Chief Jiro Ishiyama, where he conduct traditional tea ceremony which acts as if he himself was there talking to Yorinaga. The Coordinator, through Jiro tell him that tell Yorinaga a found solution to his request to commit seppuku. He tells Yorinaga he to teach group of elite MechWarriors everything he knows. After this done, that these men will pass along his teachings to additional troops. Jiro then tells him that Coordinator use these men form elite military command and he will be grant command of this unit. As part of the Coordinator's plan, Yiro tells him a plan has been set into motion, to destroy the Kell Hounds. Unknown to Yorinaga, the planned assaults ultimately fails, leads to Kell Hounds meeting with Yorinaga's force.

Formation of the Genyosha & Silver Eagle Incident

Yorinaga leaves Echo V for training base on Nashira, where Yorinaga begins to train his new combat unit. Which becomes known as the Genyosha.

Later, Yorinaga and his Genyosha are dispatched to Styx star system, to help with the capture of Melissa Steiner. The information of her kidnapping and where about had been arranged by the rebellious and ambitious Lyran noble Aldos Lestrade. Early ISF agents attempting seize the asteriod base of kidnapper is stopped by passengers of kidnapped DropShip.

Yorinage's force encounters the Kell Hounds attempting to rescue Lyran heir. Yorinaga then dispatches his forces in attempt to stop them. Yorinage's men attempt threaten the destruction of the cruise liner the Silver Eagle in hostage exchange for Melissa Steiner. However, Kell Hounds then attack in attempt to stall for time. Lt. Colonel Patrick Kell confronts Yorinaga with his Victor assault 'Mech. In course of the fight, Yorinaga demonstrates he has learned Kell's ablity avoid being hit, but some how his opponent has as learned it as well. By both knowing fight with this new ablity, they are able land hits on each other, which ends with Yorinaga bring down Kell's 'Mech. Yorinaga's victory is short lived as he is knocked out of the fight. His 'Mech is struck by a Valkyrie conducting sacrificial strike against his Warhammer and self-destructs its fusion engine in powerful explosive blast. Yorinaga survives the blast, however Heir-apparent escapes his forces.

Escorting the Dragon to Terra

In early part of 3028, Yorinaga continues expand his unit to full regiment size. In this process, unknownly his son is choosen to lead company Raslhague-native MechWarriors. His son, Chu-i Akira Brahe, is interview with leading offices of the regiment present. Akira tell them his struggle of survival from lowly factory 'Mech pilot to MechWarrior in disgraced 11th Legion of Vega. After being told he had disobeyed a sucide order would not have resulted in victory. Yorinaga questions if Chu-I even obey order to commit seppuku. His tall blonde half-blooded Raslhague removed top of his robe, bare his chest say he glady do so. If only his father would be second so he would not dishonor his family. With that Yorinaga accepts him with officers present and installs him as Chu-sa. Shortly after, Yorinaga questions him about use of his mother's surname. Sadly, Akira reluctantly tell Yorinaga it was only way his grandfather could save him from slavery and seppuku of his mother.

In August of 3028, Yorinaga and his son escort the Coordinator to the wedding of Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner on Terra. There at the ComStar headquarters on Hilton's Head Island, they encounter leaders of the Succession Houses & military commanders. At their initial arrival on the island, Dragon is confronted by angry Colonel Jaime Wolf. Colonel Wolf yell at Coordinator for betray and murder of his people, throw the samurai swords Combine leader had given him at his feet.

After few days, Yorinaga discovers that his son had gone investigate mystery of ComStar's island, finding a map he had left behind. He runs into mercenary Colonels, Morgan Kell and Jaime Wolf. They put their difference aside and go find Yorinaga's son. They follow the map, where they find him being assaulted by ComStar security patrol. Wolf and Kell quickly dispatch the security troops. Akira tells to him weaky, that ComStar is bounded by steel. That he has discovered ComStar large quantity of Star League BattleMechs under the island. The next day they meet mercenary colonels, where Yorinaga orders his son to tell them what they found. Filling them in of ComStar has large cache of lostech era 'Mecha in vast hanger space beneight the island. Yorinaga thanks mercenary colonels for aiding him, with his son. Yorinaga tries to apologize for having no choice in killing Morgan's brother, Patrick. Kell angrily tells him, he can tell that he now posesse the ablities he has, tells him he should not use them. Yorinaga calmly tell him, that they are destined confront one other in battle to death. After the encounter, Yorinaga and rest of wedding guests are shocked after the wedding, that Hanse Davion announced he declaring war on Capellan Confederation. Coordinator and rest of the Kurita wedding party depart immediately.

Fourth Succession War

In January of 3029, Yorinaga receives word of Kell Hounds being on Davion world of Northwind. They arrive only to discover that, 5th Sword of Light & 36th Dieron Regulars has begun assault against Hounds and world's defenders. Further into the battle, it becomes known that Kell Hounds that were on the planet were not part of Morgan Kell's main formation. ISF liason officer of 5th and 35th incourse of the battle tries to sway influence on them. The Genyosha enters the battle and where they save the 5th Sword's Command Quarters from being overrun. Yorinaga's force sweeps away additional mercenary regiment, Team Banzai and Kell Hound's 3rd Battalion from the field. Yorinaga shoots down Team Banzai's leader in battle, in midist of the fight, no one able hit him. 5th Sword's commander Palmer Conti recalls all top officers on planet. Discuse, Genyosha disobey's the Coordinator's orders to kill all mercenaries. Yorinaga discovers through ISF officer mockying them that their base on Nashira had been destroyed by "real" Kell Hounds. Shortly after they attacked number of mercenaries regiments in employment of House Davion. The Northwind Highlanders push the Kurita forces off the planet.

In May, Yorinaga returns his regiment to the ruins of their base on Nashira. The base ruins appear at first, to be strange. With various formations of wreckage set about the base's interior surrounding the single intact building. Yorinaga goes to the surviving the building, goes to it roof. There realizes that the ruins of the base were setup as giant star map. After studying the surround wreckage, he points out various formations in the wreckage signifying worlds to his son. He turns tell Akira that Morgan Kell intends for them to do battle in June on world of Ryde.

They quickly leave world so to make the deadline. Only do they discover that Kell Hound had not arrived, but they were delayed. They arrange "message" for the Hounds to know where to meet next.

Eventually, they end up on the world of Nusakan, where they find Hounds battle 5th Sword of Light's forces. The battle had nearly concluded as Genyosha arrived. Yorinaga witnesses, Kell Hound's 3rd Battalion leader, Scott Bradley was going one-on-one with with 5th's sword's General Conti. When the Conti's Banshee, taken down, the 5th's member's prepare to outright attack the Hounds. However, Yorinaga tells them stand down or face Genyosha in battle.

Now, as like before, Yorinaga finally begins his duel with Morgan Kell. Like before in true busidio tradition and bow to one another. In course of their battle, both of them are able to hit one another. Yorinaga fired his Warhammer weapons with no regards to desert world's high temperatures effects. Morgan barely returns fire on him. Then after his as his 'Mech is about to shutdown, Morgan bows his Archer to him ending fight. Yorinage bows attempts to return it, but his 'Mech locks up.

After the battle, Morgan asks Yorinage forgive him, but he could not fight him. Stating that his ablities shown him futility being nearly invunerable. Yorinage realizing what Morgan had been attempting to tell him since meeting him on Terra, agrees with him.

He later commits ritual suicide of seppuku, in public cermoney with Hounds, Genyosha and 5th Sword of Light as witnesses.

Family & Legacy

Yorinaga married Sula Brahe and had one son, Akira.

After he was sent into exile as a non-person, his wife and son were sold into slavery. His father-in-law saved his daughter and grandson. His wife was allowed to kill herself after her master agreed to it. His son was saved by adoption by his grandfather.

His regiment, the Genyosha, continues to honor his name and teachings, defending honor of the Dragon.

Character Notes

Yorinaga Kurita was exceptional Warhammer pilot. He also is one the few known individuals to gain the Phantom 'Mech ablity.

There is no early history information on the character prior to 3013. Since character was creation of author Michael Stackpole, the character was not included in original House Kurita source book.

References

• Warrior: En Garde - First Appearance
• Warrior: Riposte
• Warrior: Coupé - Character's Death

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