Evan Kaiple

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Evan Kaiple
Personal
AffiliationRepublic of the Sphere
Profile
ProfessionMechWarrior

Evan Kaiple was a MechWarrior in the Republic Armed Forces.

History

Sheratan

By January 3135, Evan Kaiple served under Captain Pozzi[1] assigned to Pittston, in Sheratan inside in Prefecture IV. He passed the days patrolling while seeing that the people was getting more hostile to RAF forces by the day.[2] As days passed, he saw that the people was getting hostile and more organized, and he hinted that maybe a revolt was brewing.[3] On February his theories were somehow confirmed as RAF forces came under Artillery attacks, which meant that some faction was backing up the planet's malcontents[4] The rebellion though was not very well-planned as RAF forces crushed them. After that action, in his journal he explained that he feelt his unit was going to be shipped elsewhere.[5]

His feeling proved to be right when he found himself in the JumpShip Stone's Arm and being told they were moving to another Prefecture. Gossip on the ship was that the destination was Prefecture V, and his diaries showed he wanted a front was post.[6] Transit was not straightforward, and some infighting between the crew, even himself happened during it.[7]

Styk

His unit arrived at Lorelei, Styk, Prefecture V near the end of February, where he was very surprised to be assigned to protect Tao 'Mechworks.[8] After digging on the news, he found out he had been assigned there because a reporter named Jacquie Blitzer on New Aragon wrote about some problems were brewing on Styk.[9] Itching for action, he asked to go on patrol on 4 March 3135.[10] Days stayed calm until the 14th of same month, when a hovercar crossed a line it shouldn't have and was destroyed by defending units, him among them.[11]

Just four days after that, the Heart of Stone JumpShip moved his unit to another planet,[12] transported by the Hercules X JumpShip. His unit was still under Captain Ponzi's orders.[13] He was moved to the Liberty to the front. While reading the news, he found out that Jacob Bannson had married a high-ranking Capellan Confederation citizen.[14]

Elnath

His unit did a combat drop on Elnath trying to dislodge Capellan Confederation forces already on planet,[15] but things got worse, as it turned out that even mercenary and militia forces were against them and pushing the RAF forces.[16] By 8 April 3135, he was on the run, separated from his unit and trying not to give up his position.[17] After more than a week wandering alone in the icy wastes of the planet, he reunited with RAF forces from another unit and was able to get some sleep.[18] When news arrived of his unit, he discovered that half was dead and that most of the living were incapacitated. He was also told that RAF forces were outnumbered and that they couldn't get off planet. And as a final gem, he was told that the Exarch dissolved the Senate about two weeks earlier.[19] After only a little rest, the Capellan forces came in hard and blasted the ground behind them. He described the first leg of the retreat as terrible, because any mechanical failure, even something minor like stumbling in the snow or slipping on ice, meant that you were doomed. The RAF lost half a dozen 'Mechs and an unknown amount of vehicles in just ten minutes. RAF forces had no strategy beyond just running, but at least they had a seam to squeeze through. That was the price the Capellans paid for coming: they couldn't keep them totally surrounded. He felt that RAF forces had one chance, and hopefully it would be enough.[20]

RAF forces were able to escape of planet, feeling defeated—or routed, to be more precise. In the DropShip Unvanquished, he discovered Styk had fallen and now Tao 'Mechworks was creating 'Mechs for the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces.[21] The Heart of Stone transported him to another unknown destination after RAF forces lost Elnath, and he thought he was going to be sent to fight Clan Jade Falcon.[22] They trained a lot while traveling, fighting simulated battles against several different enemies.[23] On 13 May 3135, he got into a good fistfight while defending Exarch Jonah Levin.[24] Still in transit in May, his unit was moved through different JumpShips—the Intrepid[25] then the Kerensky's Dream—with his new CO suddenly demanding stricter adherence to protocol and increasing training for fighting against Clan Jade Falcon forces.[26]

Skye

The unit discovered that the next mission was on Skye. His unit was going to execute a combat drop in DropShip Blaze of Glory. The direct drop on top of Falcon forces expected to find half a regiment or so stationed at an old base called Base Shetland a couple hundred kilometers from New London. Their mission was a smash and grab, extracting somebody.[27][28] The mission did not start well, as no Clan forces were in the base and then they were attacked by Falcon units that had been hidden nearby.[28] RAF forces were scattered and his unit draw some pursuit, some artillery, some infantry, and some of 'Mechs (an Ursa, a Koshi and a Hatchetman). Evan and his unit took to the hills and divided into two groups of two. He made a wide circle and avoided artillery, and after that, they counterattacked by jumping over a small hill and hammered the Clan forces completely blowing them off the hill. But the three Falcon 'Mechs all went after the other two from his squad and he had not heard from them after that, so his unit prepared to track them down.[29] He and his teammate found the Falcon 'Mech's tail and went in a four to three fight, where they downed the Koshi making the other two Clan 'Mechs run.[30] Globally, the fight for the base was a mess, as it exchanged sides every time to time, and he and his lance friend were always at the other side of the Jade Falcon blockage of the base.[31] After several days trying to reunite with RAF forces they got ambushed and only he was barely able to arrive to the base.[32][33] He was assigned to patrol duty in another 'Mech while his was being repaired. While on patrol, he found were his dead colleague rested and the RAF was able to bring him back to be buried.[34]

RAF forces were pulled of planet in the Unvanquished after the arrival of Knight Castor Hobbes and some fresh forces having completed their task. First he was happy on this and hoped for a new assignment, but he discovered the planet was lost after three days because of the Knight's incompetence.[35][36] On mid July hi was still in travelling in the JumpShip Indomitable towards and unknown destination, though he though most probably they were going to the new border of Prefecture II or III.[37] They were told their target was Shinonoi, the Matsuda continent to be precisa, and not far from the capital. The zone was best described as thousands of kilometers of farmland. The commanders asked their troops to think on tactics for low cover.[38] He though on using 'Mechs as bait and lead enemy to corn crops where combat vehicles and battle armor could surprise them,[39] and passed the revised tactic to chain of command.[40]

Shinonoi

His unit lands in Shinonoi, and the best estimates put the nearest enemy about 250 km to the north. We're setting up Base Camp here, and then we’ll move out. He is assigned to a new platoon, led by Captain Michelle Cane[41] RAF forces are exhausted after three days of a 250 km winding march, wading through the ripe fields because enemy fire came in every time RAF made a move forward plus some skirmishes where patrols of light 'Mechs, two or three in a group that appear hidden, and though RAF forces outnumbered and outweighed DCMS forces each time and the fights weren't difficult, they were annoying and tiring. When finally in position for the real fighting, they are exhausted.[42] And things go bad. Combined assault—'Mechs, infantry and aerial support block their path. RAF forces are mostly ordered to take a new position, and then abandon it. He feels the planet will be lost, but thinks that how long RAF holds DCMS forces here may determine how many other worlds the RAF will lose.[43] RAF keeps with their delaying tactics. His unit got to a river that coursed through a 15-meter-deep ravine. Slopes were gentle enough to let us walk down easily, but steep enough that we could quickly disappear from view. We went down, and Captain Cane gave the order immediately: to move to their left flank. We ran, breaking away from the main force, which stayed the course to draw their fire. Then we came out of the ravine hard. DCMS forces weren't entirely surprised, but they weren't expecting RAF forces to come on so fast. DCMS forces left gave a little, and then the whole front rippled. The timing was perfect: The bulk of RAF force turned right there and hit them while they were confused. They fell back, and we chased them all day.[44] On the 7th of September 3135 he got a good little duel today. He caught up to a Rokurokubi that got separated from its squad and took it on.[45] After so many days of fighting, RAF forces are finally near Rising Sun City.[46] RAF tries to conquer the city block by block. Evan is not happy with that tactic because securing buildings forgets that enemy has jump-capable 'Mechs that can counter this tactic, but Captain Michelle Cane is adamant on this.[47] He is proven right when DCMS finally attack from behind. The first wave charged RAF flank and had them reeling pretty quickly, and then a second wave dropped from above. Though DCMS lost most of their units in the second wave, they messed RAF forces up. Then end up scrambling and out of formation. The number of total losses unknown to him, but his unit still hasn't recovered. RAF forces are lost on unfamiliar streets that, suddenly, are filled with enemies waiting for an ambush.[48] By the 26th of September his unit hasn't yet regrouped and DCMS forces refuse to fully engage. They know this city too well, so they find a hiding place, wait, take a few potshots when they can, and then move on to a new hiding place.[49] Situation keeps as is, with several night attacks by DCMS forces.[50] And finally they get the retreat order. RAF forces are leaving again, beaten back.[51]

His unit retreats in the JumpShip Stonewall, but the ship is not moving. Captain Cane seems to know Fortress Republic has been established, but she does not tell him.[52] But it does not take long. The announcement of this is made on the 14th of October 3135. He sees that some people are going to go home first chance they get. Others are going to go mercenary, figuring they don't have a country anymore so they probably don't have a paycheck. Other, like Evan will stay. He thinks that though some circumstances have changed, the big picture hasn't. There's still a Republic and it still has enemies. So he will fight them.[53] Some days after this even, and while in the JumpShip, he gets a verigraphed message, his eyes only, and odd thing. And what it said only made it weirder: There is a meeting in the enlisted quarters of Company Bravo at 2300 hours next day. Hi will got, his curiosity picked.[54] He sees going to the meeting was a mistake. It was a sort of recruiting meeting for an unknown action, and they try to blackmail him with photos of his fight with another soldier a few months back. They think they have leverage on him.[55] He understands they want to mutiny and take all the ship. And they want him to be in a very specific place after two weeks, with a court martial for his previous acts as leverage.[56] He doesn't want to be court-martialed, he does not want to lose his 'Mech for even a second, so he picks the duty in the place he has been asked to, which gives him time to think on what he will actually do when the time is over.[57] The mutineers cut contact with him to avoid telling them their plan for the 11th November.[58] He decides on the 11th not to help the mutineers, when one of them comes asking him for codes. He outruns him and races hiding inside the JumpShip.[59] The mutiny fails, and he finds himself under arrest by the ship's brass, accused of conspiring to mutiny.[60] Under interrogation and trying to make his captors understand he foiled the mutiny.[61]

Back to Styx

He arrives to Styx and knows he will be put for a serious crime, the one he was being blackmailed for forgotten.[62] He awaits the trial impatiently as he wants to join the fight and help RAF forces.[63] The mutineers want him to go down with them and declare against him. In a case of one's words against another and with no proof of what happened in the secure chamber as security cameras were stopped, things look grim, but they make a mistake.[64] He reveals his proof in front of the tribunal: images taken while he was imprisoned of one of the mutineers' ringleaders making threads to him in range of a camera. Thanks to a decent lip reader the charges against him are dropped.[65] He is out in five days and put on probation. He thinks no for much as enemy is approaching.[66] After one day put to fight with a new company, where he finds Charisse Perry, whom he considers the best pilot in the group.[67] His lance was next to hers on the 22nd of December and these RAF forces pushed the DCMS line back a good ten kilometers, with Charisse leading the charge the whole way. She thinks she's got guts. The fighting in Styx turns to be a back and forth. RAF gets a ten-kilometer push on one side, DCMS responds by coming into the suburbs on the other. Neither side can get the upper hand for long. But this is one fight he won't run from. RAF command can order me him off if they want, but he will stay. He will be a one-man planetary militia if needed to be, but he is not giving up this ground.[68] Near the end of the year RAF forces make a coordinated push on all fronts, hitting the DCMS hard, shoving them back. They couldn't get an artillery shell within five kilometers of the suburbs after the action if they tried. He went one-on-one with a Centurion. The Centurion had the weight, but he had the speed, and he ran back and forth all afternoon, waiting to get the right angle on him, launching shots into his side, into his back, even charging him once or twice to keep him off balance. He took a lot of damage, but brought the Centurion down.[69]

It is not known what happened to him after 3135, but by 3136 Styx was in Draconis Combine hands.[70]

BattleMechs

Evan Kaiple piloted a Dasher.[71]

Notes

  • His journal never reveals under which RAF unit he serves.

References

  1. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 144: "19 January 3135"
  2. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 145: "21 January 3135"
  3. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 148: "31 January 3135"
  4. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 149: "02 February 3135"
  5. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 151: "09 February 3135"
  6. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 152: "14 February 3135"
  7. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 153: "18 February 3135"
  8. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 155: "23 February 3135"
  9. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 156: "28 February 3135"
  10. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 158: "04 March 3135"
  11. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 161: "14 March 3135"
  12. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 163: "18 March 3135"
  13. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 164: "23 March 3135"
  14. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 165: "28 March 3135"
  15. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 166: "30 March 3135"
  16. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 166: "01 April 3135"
  17. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 166: "08 April 3135"
  18. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 170: "13 April 3135"
  19. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 172: "20 April 3135"
  20. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 174: "25 April 3135"
  21. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 175: "29 April 3135"
  22. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 176: "04 May 3135"
  23. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 177: "09 May 3135"
  24. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 177: "13 May 3135"
  25. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 184: "18 May 3135"
  26. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 189: "27 May 3135"
  27. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 190: "01 June 3135"
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 192: "06 June 3135"
  29. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 194: "10 June 3135"
  30. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 197: "15 June 3135"
  31. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 198: "20 June 3135"
  32. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 199: "24 June 3135"
  33. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 200: "29 June 3135"
  34. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 202: "04 July 3135"
  35. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 203: "08 July 3135"
  36. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 204: "13 July 3135"
  37. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 205: "18 July 3135"
  38. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 206: "22 July 3135"
  39. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 207: "27 July 3135"
  40. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 208: "01 August 3135"
  41. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 216: "19 August 3135"
  42. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 217: "24 August 3135"
  43. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 218: "29 August 3135"
  44. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 219: "02 September 3135"
  45. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 220: "07 September 3135"
  46. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 221: "12 September 3135"
  47. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 222: "16 September 3135"
  48. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 224: "21 September 3135"
  49. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 227: "26 September 3135"
  50. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 228: "30 September 3135"
  51. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 229: "05 October 3135"
  52. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 230: "10 October 3135"
  53. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 231: "14 October 3135"
  54. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 231: "19 October 3135"
  55. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 233: "24 October 3135"
  56. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 234: "28 October 3135"
  57. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 236: "02 November 3135"
  58. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 237: "07 November 3135"
  59. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 238: "11 November 3135"
  60. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 239: "16 November 3135"
  61. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 240: "21 November 3135"
  62. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 241: "25 November 3135"
  63. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 242: "30 November 3135"
  64. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 243: "05 December 3135"
  65. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 244: "09 December 3135"
  66. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 245: "14 December 3135"
  67. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 247: "19 December 3135"
  68. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 248: "23 December 3135"
  69. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 249: "28 December 3135"
  70. ↑ Dark Age: LinkNet Articles (3136), p. 23: "Letters From Home -- Week 03"
  71. ↑ Dark Age: 3135 PDA Journals, p. 147: "28 January 3135"

Bibliography

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