Uvin Buhallin

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Uvin Buhallin
Character Profile
Born 3026[1][2]
Died 3080[3]
Affiliation Clan Jade Falcon
Rank saKhan
Profession MechWarrior


Uvin Buhallin was a Clan Jade Falcon MechWarrior, officer, and saKhan.

Character Description[edit]

Uvin was known as a skilled MechWarrior, but his leadership always suffered from criticism amongst the Clan Jade Falcon leadership who believed him to be no more than a yes man for his Khan. He was known to ignore the criticism, and preferred for his actions to silence the criticism of his peers.[4]

History[edit]

Early Life and Career[edit]

During Operation REVIVAL, Uvin served as a Star Commander in the 1st Falcon Striker Cluster. In command of Alpha Eye, a Star of Alpha Trinary, he fought key battles during the Invasion.[5] His elite skills gained a reputation during this time for being relentless in combat, often exhausting his ammunition during combat.[6]

Post-Refusal War[edit]

After fighting in the Refusal War had ended, he was able to obtain the rank of Star Colonel and became the commander of the 1st Falcon Striker Cluster. His Cluster was among the first to fully regain its prewar strength. However, his promotion was not seen as a positive one. Many among the Falcons questioned his tactical abilities as a commander, especially in command of an inexperienced Cluster.[7]

The Coventry Campaign[edit]

In 3058, his unit was selected as part of Khan Martha Pryde's expedition to Lyran world of Coventry. His unit’s first taste of combat in the campaign was against a Lyran militia unit on the planet of Australia, who made heavy use of unconventional tactics and hid their combined-arms force in the Outback Woodlands to avoid a pitched battle against the invading Clan forces. However, the militia was quickly destroyed after failing to destroy Uvin's forces in an ambush under the guise of a batchall.[8]

On Coventry, Uvin and his Cluster proved their capabilities in their battles around Port St. Williams, against Lyran forces, and again later against the Eridani Light Horse.[9]

The elevation of his commanding officer Samantha Clees to saKhan meant that more of the burdens of running the day-to-day duties of his Cluster were put onto him during the campaign.[10]

Second Incursion into the Lyran Alliance[edit]

In 3064, he and his command would be dispatched with entirety of Delta Galaxy into the Lyran Alliance as part of Khan Marthe Pryde's second incursion into the Lyran Alliance. They would engage forces that were not involved in the FedCom Civil War, starting with forces on the planet of Kikuyu. He would lead his Cluster along with the 8th Talon Cluster to take the planet, and then assisted in the sacking of the Lyran stronghold on Melissia

Khan Pryde then sent Uvin's Strikers and the 8th Talon Cluster to secure the worlds surrounding Melissia. They would take Medellin after fighting an exhausted regional militia force, and clash with the forces of Clan Wolf-in-Exile on Blair Atholl. However in 3065, his command, along with the 8th Talon Cluster would be recalled to aid in fighting an incursion by Clan Wolf into the Falcon Occupation Zone.[11][12]

Jihad[edit]

After the Jihad began, Khan Pryde would again dispatch Delta Galaxy as part of an incursion into the Lyran Alliance in 3068. Uvin, still in command of the Strikers, would take various worlds including Graus. Uvin would lead his Cluster against Lyran and Clan Wolf-in-Exile forces alike to secure the planet before regrouping with the rest of Delta Galaxy.[13]

In 3071, Delta Galaxy was almost wiped out during a months-long engagement on the planets of Morges[14] and Great X against Lyran and Exiled Wolf troops, leaving Uvin's 1st Falcon Strikers as the Galaxy's only reported survivors.[15][16]

After returning to the Falcon Occupation Zone, Uvin would need to rally his damaged unit to help fight the Clan Ice Hellion invasion of their occupation zone. Intelligence reports from the battle would record Uvin's parent Galaxy having still been combat ready enough help play a key role in the fighting against the Hellions, until their defeat by April 3072.[17]

In 3076, Khan Martha Pryde would be killed by a malfunction in her 'Mechs controls, and Uvin's Galaxy Commander and saKhan would win the senior leadership of the Clan. A meeting would be called on Sudeten, and the Bloodname warriors of the Clan were asked to choose who would become saKhan of the Clan.[18]. To the dismay of many of his fellow officers, Uvin was elected saKhan, despite many individuals in his Clan doubting his leadership abilities.[19]

As saKhan of Clan Jade Falcon[edit]

Among his new duties, Khan Clees would charge him with the rebuilding of Delta Galaxy in the wake of the Jihad; a challenge for him given that his previous experience had been in running the units day-to-day operations, as opposed to having to rebuild and restaff it.[20]

By 3077, Buhallin's ignorance of his critics led to increasing difficulties in performing his duties. On the planet Blackjack, he gave a state of the Clan speech at the Jade Falcon School of Conflict to the students who were attending. He was unable to answer the questions of skeptical cadets who questioned his speech of a bright future for their Clan and plans for its defense. This encounter would continue to ramp up doubts among Falcon leadership of his abilities as a part of the Clan's leadership.[21]

Death[edit]

When hostilities with the Lyran Alliance resumed in 3080, Delta Galaxy was still stationed in the Republic of the Sphere. Delta Galaxy was rushed to the front lines by saKhan Buhallin in the hopes that an assault on Graus would reinforce his authority within the Clan.

Despite the existence of heavy aerospace forces around Graus, both the First Falcon Striker Cluster and the 53rd Battle Cluster made a successful landing. However, on the ground, Uvin gave up the initiative while waiting for the planet's defenders to challenge him. The local militia forces pummelled the Falcon positions with artillery and air strikes, breaking holes in Uvin's lines. This was followed by a strike from the Rubinsky’s Light Horse mercenary unit, during which the saKhan and his command staff were killed.

Having lost their command staff, the two Clusters retreated off world, and Delta Galaxy would subsequently lose its combat strength through a series of internal Trials seeking to assign blame for the defeat. The defeat was made worse after Graus was captured by the 1st Falcon Jaegers, under the command of the new saKhan and commander of Epsilon Galaxy, Diane Anu.[22][23]

BattleMechs[edit]

Uvin was a Hellbringer pilot, where he was noted for giving his own catchphase: "Never blink when a Hellbringer pilot is around".[citation needed] However, he was piloting a Summoner when he was killed.[24]

Rules[edit]

Game Rules[edit]

If in combat and in direct command, Uvin allows any force up to the size of a Cluster to use the force specific ability Banking Initiative. If using the A Time of War RPG system, he is given a +2 to his subordinates' rolls when they deal with lower-castemen and Clan bureaucracy.[25]

References[edit]

  1. Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, p. 127: "Uvin Buhallin"
  2. The Wars of Reaving, p. 177
  3. The Wars of Reaving, p. 177: Rubinsky's Light Horse kills Uvin Buhallin
  4. Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, p. 128: Profile describes his personality as of 3077
  5. Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 70: Uvin first listed in print as one of the 1st Falcon Striker Cluster's officers, piloting a Loki/Hellbringer
  6. Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, p. 128: Uvin's profile mentions his abilities when he was younger
  7. The Falcon and the Wolf, p. 50: "1st Falcon Striker Cluster"
  8. Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion, p. 21: First Falcon Striker noted as the recommended attacks of Australia, under the command of Uvin Buhallin
  9. Field Manual: Crusader Clans, p. 101: 1st Falcon Striker Cluster, Uvin's exploits on Coventry briefly noted, improving his reputation
  10. Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, p. 128: Uvin Buhallin's Profile describes how Uvin would end up becoming Samantha Clees' unofficial aide and help to run Delta Galaxy for two decades
  11. FedCom Civil War, pp. 110, 115, 117–118, 120, 185–186: Falcon Incursion (3064) - 1st Falcon Striker Cluster's action with Uvin Buhallin in command during the Falcon 3064 Incursion into the Lyran Alliance and against the Crusader Wolves
  12. Field Manual: Updates, p. 49: Delta Galaxy noted fighting in the Incursion and liberating worlds from Crusader aligned Clan Wolf
  13. Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 29: LAAF Rallies after stunning Clan assault on Graus - Adam Steiner press conference, mentions the 1st Falcon Striker's efforts on the Graus in 3068 which would lead to the Falcon victory
  14. Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 12: Timeline - Morges assaulted by Clan Jade Falcon in February 3071
  15. Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 48: Falcons Return to Great X, Zanderij - Uvin's First Falcon Strikers noted escaping Great X after the destruction of the rest of Delta Galaxy
  16. Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 12: Timeline of the Jihad - January 13th, Great X invasion by Clan Jade Falcon noted as a quagmire
  17. Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, pp. 28–30: Operation Ice Storm - Delta Galaxy fights the Ice Hellion invasion until its end in March 3072
  18. Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 71: Khan Marthe Pryde Slain! - Khan Pryde's death, rise of Uvin's boss Clees leads to his rise to become saKhan
  19. Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, pp. 127–128: Elevation to saKhan surprises many
  20. Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, pp. 127–128, 136: Uvin charged in rebuilding Delta Galaxy, while he still suffers from self-doubt about his political leadership abilities are noted in his bio
  21. Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, p. 128: Profile describes his bio of his ill-fated speech at Jade Falcon School of Conflict
  22. Field Manual: 3085, p. 118: "Delta Galaxy"
  23. The Wars of Reaving, p. 177: Rubinsky's Light Horse fight that led to the death of Uvin Buhallin and some his command staff
  24. The Wars of Reaving, p. 177
  25. Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, p. 258: Notable Personalities Skills and Special abilities - Uvin Buhallin's unique abilities

Bibliography[edit]