Editing Ran Felsner

{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Ran Felsner 3039.png
| caption             = Ran Felsner at age 63
| name                = Ran Felsner
| birthdate           = [[2976]]
| died                = [[3061]]
| affiliation         = [[AFFS]]
| profession          = [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]]
| parents             = 
| siblings            = 
| spouse              = 
| children            = 
}}

'''Ran Felsner''' (b [[2976]]<ref name=3039p21>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 21, "Field Marshal Ran Felsner"</ref> &mdash; d. [[3061]]<ref name=3039p22>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 22 "Field Marshal Ran Felsner"</ref>) was a highly decorated military officer of the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] and later the first [[Marshal of the Armies]] of the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth]].<ref name=3039p23>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 23, "Field Marshal Ardan Sortek"</ref>


==Biography==
===Early Life===
Ran Felsner was born in [[2976]] in Kevin Crossroads on [[Lexington]]. The Felsner family had a long tradition of lumberjacking, and Ran Felsner started working as a lumberjack as soon as he could use an axe.<ref name=HD188>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 188, "Ran Felsner"</ref><ref name=3039p21/>

===Early Military Career===
In [[2991]], he enlisted in the [[AFFS]]. Felsner trained at the Blackwater Boot Camp near Devil’s Hole on [[Lexington]]. Felsner was assigned to the [[2nd Lexington Regulars]] motorized infantry regiment within the [[17th Avalon Hussars]] upon his graduation in [[2992]]. Felsner earned a battlefield commendation and promotion during an invasion of [[Breed]]. [[Sergeant]] Felsner was then sent to the [[Robinson Battle Academy]] after he led an unauthorized but successful attack against enemy forces on [[Klathandu IV]].<ref name=HD188/>

In [[2998]], Ran Felsner graduated from the Robinson Battle Academy with the rank of [[Leftenant]]. He was assigned to command a group of the 17th Avalon Hussars, where he learned from his commanding officer the art of command.<ref name=HD188/><ref name=3039pp21,22>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 21, "Field Marshal Ran Felsner"</ref>

In [[3001]], on [[New Mendham]], two 17th Avalon Hussar DropShips, containing the regimental commanders of the Hussars, were destroyed by [[Combine]] forces.  As senior remaining officer, [[Major]] Felsner organized a withdrawal that prevented the total destruction of his [[RCT]]. For his actions, he was awarded the [[Awards#Federated Suns|Medal Excalibur]] and promotion to [[Leftenant General]]. After a short stint at [[Albion Military Academy]], Felsner was given command of the [[Alcyone CMM]].<ref name=HD188/><ref name=3039pp21,22/>

===Advisor to the Prince===
In [[3008]], Ran Felsner initiated a seemingly suicidal invasion of the [[Capellan]] world of [[Daniels]] following intelligence on enemy forces and disposition that he received from the legendary [[Colonel]] [[Jaime Wolf]] of [[Wolf's Dragoons]].<ref name=WDSB14>''Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)'', p. 14 "Departure"</ref> The planet fell in [[3009]] and brought Felsner command of the [[Davion Heavy Guards]] in [[3010]]. As a result of these actions, he was given a promotion to [[Major General]] and gained the attention of [[Hanse Davion]]. In this capacity, he served as military advisor to the [[First Prince]] and mentor to [[Ardan Sortek]]. Eventually becoming a [[Marshal]] in [[3015]].<ref name=HD188,189>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', pp. 188-189 "Ran Felsner"</ref><ref name=3039p22/>

In [[3022]], he worked to develop procedures for joint [[AFFS]]-[[LCAF]] operations. Combine forces attacked in the middle of the exercise and the [[Lyran]] and [[House Davion|Davion]] forces worked together to push the Combine forces off the planet. Accolades and a promotion to [[Field Marshal]] and command of the [[Davion Brigade of Guards]] soon followed.<ref name=HD189>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 189, "Ran Felsner"</ref> 

===Stein's Folly===
In [[3025]],<ref name=HD183>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 188 "Ardan Sortek"</ref> [[Capellan]] forces invaded the Davion worlds of [[Redfield]] and [[Stein’s Folly]].<ref name=TS&TD38>''The Sword and the Dagger'', p. 38</ref> Felsner approved the operational plan<ref name=TS&TD83>''The Sword and the Dagger'', p. 83</ref> and commanded the [[5th Crucis Lancers]] in the campaign that liberated Stein’s Folly from the Capellans.<ref name=TS&TD46>''The Sword and the Dagger'', p. 46</ref><ref name=TS&TD144>''The Sword and the Dagger'', p. 144</ref> Felsner returned to [[New Avalon]]  at the end of a failed Capellan plot to replace Hanse Davion with a double and reclaimed command of the Davion Brigade of Guards.<ref name=TS&TD264>''The Sword and the Dagger'', p. 264</ref>

===Fourth Succession War===
During the [[4th Succession War]], Felsner was part of the circle of advisers to the [[First Prince]] that developed [[Operation Rat]], the main [[Federated Suns]] offensive into the [[Capellan Confederation]], which ended with the capture of 107 Capellan Confederation systems.<ref name=3039p22/><ref name=HBHD74>''Handbook: House Davion'', pp. 188-189 "First Prince"</ref>

===War of 3039===
Ran Felsner again played an important part in the strategic plans of the [[Federated Commonwealth]] during the [[War of 3039]]. He was instrumental in developing [[Operation LAUNCELOT|Operations LAUNCELOT]] and [[Operation GAHERIS|GAHERIS]],<ref name=3039p22/> the invasion plans for the [[Galedon Military District|Galedon]] and [[Benjamin Military District|Benjamin]] Military Districts.<ref name=3039p6>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 6 "Introduction"</ref>  He remained on New Avalon at the [[Fox’s Den]] and coordinated AFFS and [[LCAF]] forces during the war.<ref name=3039p22/>

He was particularly insistent on advising [[Marshal]] [[Jonathan Riffenberg]] on taking [[New Mendham]], a world Felsner had experience with earlier in his career.<ref name=3039p45>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 45 "New Mendham (April-July) "</ref> 

In the end it was Felsner that took the blame for the failed Combine invasion, and it was Felsner who sent the recall orders that ended the war at Hanse Davion’s command despite his own belief that the war should continue.<ref name=3039p22/>

===AFFC===
Following the failure of the [[War of 3039]], Ran Felsner concentrated on integrating the separate armies of the AFFS and LCAF into the unified forces of the [[AFFC]]. With the creation of the AFFC in [[3042]], Ran Felsner became the first [[Marshal of the Armies]]. His acceptance by and work at coordinating [[Lyran]] and Davion forces made him the logical choice.<ref name=3039p22/>

Ran Felsner retired from the AFFC in [[3049]]. He continued to work sporadically for old comrades and friends such as Ardan Sortek, [[James Sandoval]], and [[Jackson Davion]].<ref name=3039p22/> He was succeeded as Marshal of Armies of the AFFC by [[Morgan Hasek-Davion]].<ref name=20YUp88>''20 Year Update'', p. 88 "Morgan Hasek-Davion"</ref>

===Relationships===
He met and fell in love with [[Countess]] [[Cordelia Spenser]] of [[Torrence]] while horseback riding in [[3024]].<ref name=HD189/>

===Death and Legacy===
Ran Felsner died in [[3061]] shortly before the beginnings of the [[FedCom Civil War]].<ref name=3039p22/> Although his contributions to the military efforts of the Federated Commonwealth were great, Ran Felsner has become largely forgotten.<ref name=3039p21/>

==Philosophical and Political Views==
Ran Felsner was a humble man who rarely stood out. Anything he did was what he thought he had to do for the Federated Suns and not out of ambition for his own rank.<ref name=HD189/><ref name=3039p21/>

==Awards==
Ran Felsner was awarded some of the greatest military honors that the Federated Suns and [[Lyran Commonwealth]] could provide:
* Awarded the [[Awards#Federated Suns|Diamond Sunburst]] medal in [[2999]] for actions on [[Kesai]].<ref name=HD188/>
* Earned the [[Awards#Federated Suns|Medal Excalibur]] for saving the [[17th Avalon Hussars]] from destruction in [[3001]].<ref name=HD188/><ref name=3039p22/>
* Awarded the [[Awards#Federated Suns|Syrtis Medal of Honor]] by [[Duke]] [[Michael Hasek-Davion]] in [[3009]].<ref name=HD189/>
* Awarded the [[Awards#Lyran Alliance|McKennsy Hammer]] and [[Awards#Federated Suns|Order of Davion]] for actions in a joint Davion -[[Lyran]] defense of [[Rigil Kentarus]] during a [[3022]] exercise. <ref name=HD189/><ref name=3039p22/>
* Offered the position of [[Prince's Champion]] after the death of [[Yvonne Davion]] in [[3035]].<ref name=3039p23/>

==Notes==
* Ran Felsner is known to have piloted a ''[[Griffin]]''.<ref name=HD188/>
* Felsner was known to have worn a monocle at times.<ref name=HD189/>
* Felsner kept an interest in forestry well into his life due to his childhood on [[Lexington]].<ref name=HD189/>
* Felsner wrote "Logistics is the Key" for the ''[[Avalon Military Quarterly]]'' in [[3002]]. It mentioned the effects of the [[Amaris Civil War]] on the [[Star League Defense Force]]'s acquisition and use of supplies and equipment.<ref name=HLoT2p32-33>''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2'', pp. 23-33 "Future in the Past"</ref>

==Portrait Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Ran Felsner 3025.png|Ran Felsner in 3025 at age 49
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
*''[[20 Year Update]]''
*''[[Handbook: House Davion]]''
*''[[Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2]]''
*''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
*''[[House Davion (The Federated Suns)]]''
*''[[The Sword and the Dagger]]'' (Novel)
*''[[Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)]]''

[[Category:Federated Suns Characters|Felsner, Ran]]