Paul Vishio

Paul Vishio
Character Profile
Affiliation Clan Ghost Bear
Rank Star Colonel


Paul Vishio was the commanding officer of the 304th Assault Cluster from 3050[1] to 3067.[2]

History[edit]

Thule,[3] directly in the path of Clan Ghost Bear.

With the bidding fierce to see who would be the first Bear unit to strike an Inner Sphere world, Thule, Khan Karl Bourjon and saKhan Theresa DelVillar declared that Alpha, Beta and Delta Galaxies would all contribute forces to a composite "Cluster" to go up against the First Hussars to break the bidding deadlock.[4][5]

Despite being caught off guard by the Clan's batchall, with Överste Joannie Swigard intimately familiar with Thule she selected a time and place for battle that clearly favored her own troops. When the Ghost Bear OmniMechs overheated after failing to account for the incredible heat of Thule's noonday sun in the treacherous terrain of the Fresdon Desert, the Hussars' artillery support were able to destroy over a Trinary of equipment.[4][5]

This setback prompted Star Colonel François Cote of the Third Bear Striker to break his bid to order the rest of the Cluster into battle. Having already anticipated just such a strategy, the Hussars sent their aerospace fighters to strafe the Third on its approach from the east, inflicting yet more losses. With Star Colonel Stephan Huntsig breaking his bid to call in the fighters of his Fiftieth Striker Cluster, the Bears were able to surround the Hussars. As the fighting petered out, Swigard sent out recon units to try and determine the reason for the lull, realizing the Bears were waiting for nightfall and the end of the oppressive heat.[4][5]

Rather than waiting for the Bears to gain the advantage, the Hussars struck the Bear northern flank while the sun was still high in the sky, using artillery to cover their attempted breakout through the encircling Bear forces. When the Ghost Bears attempted to block the breakout with their lighter and faster units to give time for their heavier elements to arrive, the Hussars succeeded in escaping even after the Ghost Bears gained air superiority thanks to continued artillery barrages.[4][5]

This ongoing difficulty prompted Star Colonel Paul Vishio to finally break his bid as well, calling down additional fighter support to silence the Hussars artillery. The now desperate Hussars bolted for the large river that divides the Fresdon Plain in the hopes of reaching their naval support assets, losing over a company of troops as they hurriedly boarded massive cargo ships to head upriver and out of reach of the Ghost Bear 'Mech forces.[4][5]

Tactics[edit]

As with Beta Galaxy this Cluster practices a careful approach to warfare, using mechanized Elementals to support flanking maneuvers. Star Colonel Vishio also employs his Elementals as effective sappers and headhunters.[1]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 89: "304th Assault Cluster Profile"
  2. Field Manual: Updates, p. 77: "Beta Galaxy (Night Howlers)"
  3. 20 Year Update, p. 51: "Rasalhague KungsArmé - Rasalhague Province"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Era Report: 3052, p. 52: "Factions - Clan Ghost Bear - Third Bear Striker"
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Invading Clans, pp. 19–20: "Clan Ghost Bear - Wave One: Looking for a Fight"

Bibliography[edit]