Editing Elson Novacat

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| image               = Elson Novacat.jpg
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| name                = Elson Novacat
| birthdate           = 
| died                = March [[3070]]
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[Clan Nova Cat]]<br/>[[Wolf's Dragoons]]
| profession          = 
| parents             = 
| siblings            = 
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}}
'''Elson Novacat''' was a [[Freeborn|freeborn]] [[Elemental]] of [[Clan Nova Cat]] taken as a [[bondsman]] by [[Wolf's Dragoons]] during the [[Battle of Luthien (3052)|Battle of Luthien]] in [[3052]].

==History==
===Early Dragoon Career===
Within months of being taken bondsman by Wolf's Dragoons, Elson was able to test into the position of officer in the Dragoons' [[Elemental]] Program. He was offered the [[Honorname]] ''Wolfson'' but declined it flatly, and was allowed to keep his ''Novacat'' surname. Despite his freeborn origins, something that was highly unusual for an [[Elemental]], Elson's politics were that of a staunch [[Crusader Clans|Crusader]] and follower of the [[Clan]] way of doing things. Among other accomplishments during this period, his unit's performance was key in the battle of [[Morges]] in [[3053]] against [[Clan Jade Falcon]].

Not satisfied with the Dragoons' organization and commanders, as well as frustrated at his feelings of being held back, Elson decided to reforge the Dragoons in his own vision.  Soon enough he found a tool with which to accomplish his scheme: an impressionable and equally dissatisfied [[Alpin Wolf]], the son of [[Mackenzie Wolf]] and grandson of [[Jaime Wolf]], the Dragoons' legendary commander. Through promises of greater glory, subtle manipulation, and political jockeying, Elson soon developed a cult-like following throughout the ranks of younger Dragoons, using his point of view as a newcomer to take advantage of tensions within a unit with a diverse makeup. After the sudden and suspicious death of Mackenzie Wolf during a fierce firefight with bandits while on a [[Periphery]] run to a cache of [[WarShip]]s and other hardware in mothball orbit around a distant star called Bristol, Elson saw the chance he had been looking for.  Upon their return from the Periphery, he successfully used [[Clan]] challenges to remove Jaime Wolf from command in favor of his puppet, young Alpin Wolf.<ref name=WP>''Wolf Pack''</ref>

===Dragoon Civil War===
The result of these events was the [[Dragoon Civil War]], where Alpin and Elson's supporters were opposed by elements of the Dragoons still loyal to [[Jaime Wolf]]. Wolf's loyalists took refuge on an area of [[Outreach]] used mostly for secret experiments with new equipment and [[BattleMech]]s called "the Outback", a place where they would have the advantage of terrain knowledge to help offset their lesser numbers.  In spite of this, the crafty Elson Novacat carried out his plan of attack with a vengeance.  After several weeks of bitter fighting where brother, sister and former friends alike were pitted against one another, the situation came to a head.  Just as the loyalists' backs were forced to the wall, [[Maeve Wolf]] recognized correctly that Elson's one great weakness was his reliance on the easily manipulated Alpin.   Seizing this opportunity, she cleverly provoked the inexperienced Alpin into single combat, killing him.  Elson himself was defeated after his suit was destroyed and he was gravely injured by a ''[[Locust]]''. Shortly thereafter, the conflict ended with [[Jaime Wolf]] returning to command of his now decimated regiments, to begin a long process of reconciliation and healing within the ranks of his beloved Dragoons.<ref name=WP/>

===Aftermath===
As a result of the conflict, [[Jaime Wolf]] imposed new rules declaring that none of his descendants would inherit command. Elson himself survived his injuries, and after accepting Jaime as his worthy commander, became the commander of a special Dragoons Elemental unit (nicknamed "Toads from Hell", much to Elson's chagrin).

===Jihad and Death===
Elson's Elemental Strike Cluster was one of the few Dragoons units to remain on [[Outreach]] relatively intact in the early years of the [[Jihad]]. They were highly successful against the [[Word of Blake]] occupiers, rescuing Major [[Tara Lucas (31st c.)|Tara Lucas]], formerly of [[Zeta Battalion]].  Elson was also successful in deprogramming her of Blakist influence. Elson himself was eventually killed in a skirmish in [[3070]].<ref>''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 18</ref>

==Notes==
* It was taken as a given by many of Elson's subordinates that he would dispose of Alpin once [[Jaime Wolf]]'s rebellion was crushed. He himself did not deny the suggestion.<ref name=WP/> Indeed, much later, the event would be remembered by the Dragoons as "Elson's Challenge".

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Mercenary's Handbook 3055]]''
* ''[[Starterbook: Wolf and Blake]]''
* ''[[Wolf Pack]]'' (novel)


[[Category:Clan Nova Cat Characters|Novacat, Elson]]
[[Category:Wolf's Dragoons Characters|Novacat, Elson]]