Difference between revisions of "Hassid Ricol"
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===Verthandi=== | ===Verthandi=== | ||
:''See also the plot summary for the novel [[Mercenary's Star (novel)|Mercenary's Star]]'' | :''See also the plot summary for the novel [[Mercenary's Star (novel)|Mercenary's Star]]'' | ||
| − | [[Verthandi]] was one of the planets House Steiner had recently ceded to House Kurita, and which had been placed under Ricol's rule. Despite the heavy-handed, even atrocious actions of Governor General Nagumo, who was answerable to Duke Ricol, a local uprising gained momentum and managed to hire the [[Gray Death Legion]] (incidentially, the mercenary unit formed from the Trellwan guerillas). Trapped on the world after their DropShip was damaged during a botched insertion, the Legion fought the garrison forces to a stalemate in another extended guerilla campaign. This ultimately resulted in a favorable negotiating position for the people of Verthandi and at least a temporary quasi-autonomy, a dangerous setback for Duke Ricol as it fanned the flames of dissent on other occupied worlds House Ricol had to garrison. | + | [[Verthandi]] was one of the planets House Steiner had recently ceded to House Kurita, and which had been placed under Ricol's rule. Despite the heavy-handed, even atrocious actions of Governor General [[Masayoshi Nagumo]], who was answerable to Duke Ricol, a local uprising gained momentum and managed to hire the [[Gray Death Legion]] (incidentially, the mercenary unit formed from the Trellwan guerillas). Trapped on the world after their DropShip was damaged during a botched insertion, the Legion fought the garrison forces to a stalemate in another extended guerilla campaign. This ultimately resulted in a favorable negotiating position for the people of Verthandi and at least a temporary quasi-autonomy, a dangerous setback for Duke Ricol as it fanned the flames of dissent on other occupied worlds House Ricol had to garrison. |
===Helm=== | ===Helm=== | ||
:''See also the plot summary for the novel [[The Price of Glory]]'' | :''See also the plot summary for the novel [[The Price of Glory]]'' | ||
| − | Duke Ricol and the Gray Death Legion would meet once again on [[Helm]] in the [[Free Worlds League]]. Ricol had learned of a long-forgotten [[Star League]] | + | In [[3028]] Duke Ricol and the Gray Death Legion would meet once again on [[Helm]] in the [[Free Worlds League]]. Ricol had learned of a long-forgotten [[Star League]] weapons depot on Helm, incidentially in an area granted to the Gray Death Legion in exchange for their [[mercenary]] service. Other parties also interested in the cache, including Duke Garth of [[Irian]], framed the Legion for war crimes to outlaw them and obtain the landhold from them. Facing increasing numbers of [[House Marik]] troops on the planet, the desperate Legion entered into a shaky alliance with their erstwhile nemesis Ricol to loot the cache and escape. They succeeded, and Ricol gained not only an unspecified amount of salvage from the vast cache but also a copy of the invaluable [[Helm Memory Core]]. Honoring his pact with the Legion, Ricol's JumpShips evacuated the two Legion DropShips and he also gave them a share of the recovered material that allowed the Legion to rebuild itself after clearing their name. |
===Kajikazawa=== | ===Kajikazawa=== | ||
Revision as of 16:50, 20 November 2015
 | This article needs to be updated with material from Path of Glory. Once these titles clear the Moratorium period, or if they already have, please consider revisiting this article and updating it with the new material. |
Hassid Ricol | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal | |
| Also known as | The Red Duke The Red Hunter "Ruby" |
| Born | ca. 2977[1] (apocryphal) |
| Affiliation | House Ricol House Kurita |
| Career | |
| Profession | Duke (Draconis Combine) MechWarrior |
| Family | |
| Children | (see text) |
A tall and heavy-set man, Hassid Alexander Ricol, Duke of Chekaar[2] and Rodigo, was an influential Draconis Combine noble of House Ricol and a MechWarrior. He was known as the Red Duke for his flamboyant, usually red wardrobe, and as a MechWarrior was known throughout the Successor States as the Red Hunter.[3] Within a conspirator ring in the Rasalhague Military District and later the secret Black Dragon Society (Kokuryu-kai), both of which used gemstone codenames, Ricol used the alias Ruby.
Although he was technically a civilian administrator,[4] he maintained private military forces by virtue of his noble status, complete with their own uniforms sporting a characteristic piping[5] and kana symbols spelling out "Kurita" and "Duke Ricol", with the House Kurita symbol;[6] he also commanded House Kurita forces on occasion, including a DEST unit, although there is no clear indication that he ever served in the regular Draconis Combine military.
Contents
Character History
Rise
Author William H. Keith, who had created the character, provided a detailed (but technically apocryphal) writeup on Hassid Ricol and House Ricol in BattleTechnology magazine, issue #0102 (Hiring Hall: The Red Duke). The magazine is written as an in-universe publication from October 3027.
According to this write-up, Hassid Ricol is technically an Archduke. He was 34 years old when he inherited the Duchy of Rodigo from his father in 3011, and became the 12th ruling Duke of Rodigo in his line. The capital and ducal court are maintained at Alexis on Rodigo.
At least five plots against his life failed between 3019 and 3027. It is noted that Ricol's private intelligence-gathering network has a reputation for unrivalled thoroughness and efficiency.
By 3027 Hassid Ricol is described as the de-facto lord of 14 worlds within the Rasalhague Military District from Kufstein's World to The Edge; other named worlds include Verthandi, New Caledonia, Basiliano, Dahlgren, and Auric II (Harvest).
Trell I
- See also the plot summary for the novel Decision at Thunder Rift
In 3024 Duke Hassid Ricol enacted a scheme by which troops from the Oberon Confederation which were sent to the Lyran Commonwealth world of Trell I (Trellwan) to supposedly reinforce the Lyran garrison there turned on the garrison, destroying Carlyle's Commandos. Ricol then arrived with a 'Mech force to ostensibly protect the planet from the pirates' depredations. This would have allowed Ricol to win over the population and gain a secret, strategically valuable foothold in Commonwealth space. However, Grayson Carlyle survived the initial attack and formed a guerilla resistance with remnants of the garrison, the militia and even some of the double-crossed Oberon Confederation MechWarriors. They managed to recapture the JumpShip that had brought the Oberon forces to Trellwan under House Mailai colors and uncovered Ricol's plot including unmasking House Mailai Proctor Sinvalie as an ISF agent. By using the recaptured JumpShip as a courier vessel to inform House Steiner of the situation, they thwarted Ricol's plot and convinced him to withdraw.
Verthandi
- See also the plot summary for the novel Mercenary's Star
Verthandi was one of the planets House Steiner had recently ceded to House Kurita, and which had been placed under Ricol's rule. Despite the heavy-handed, even atrocious actions of Governor General Masayoshi Nagumo, who was answerable to Duke Ricol, a local uprising gained momentum and managed to hire the Gray Death Legion (incidentially, the mercenary unit formed from the Trellwan guerillas). Trapped on the world after their DropShip was damaged during a botched insertion, the Legion fought the garrison forces to a stalemate in another extended guerilla campaign. This ultimately resulted in a favorable negotiating position for the people of Verthandi and at least a temporary quasi-autonomy, a dangerous setback for Duke Ricol as it fanned the flames of dissent on other occupied worlds House Ricol had to garrison.
Helm
- See also the plot summary for the novel The Price of Glory
In 3028 Duke Ricol and the Gray Death Legion would meet once again on Helm in the Free Worlds League. Ricol had learned of a long-forgotten Star League weapons depot on Helm, incidentially in an area granted to the Gray Death Legion in exchange for their mercenary service. Other parties also interested in the cache, including Duke Garth of Irian, framed the Legion for war crimes to outlaw them and obtain the landhold from them. Facing increasing numbers of House Marik troops on the planet, the desperate Legion entered into a shaky alliance with their erstwhile nemesis Ricol to loot the cache and escape. They succeeded, and Ricol gained not only an unspecified amount of salvage from the vast cache but also a copy of the invaluable Helm Memory Core. Honoring his pact with the Legion, Ricol's JumpShips evacuated the two Legion DropShips and he also gave them a share of the recovered material that allowed the Legion to rebuild itself after clearing their name.
Kajikazawa
- See also the plot summary for the short story Dance of Vengeance
Immediately upon his return from Helm, Ricol ordered his private 'Mech company under Salvadore Tyrell that was garrisoning Verthandi at the time to meet him on Kajikazawa where he was invited to attend a reception. During that occasion, Ricol engineered for Tyrell to temporarily leave his service so that Tyrell could challenge Sho-sa Victor Garreth whom Ricol wanted dead. Tyrell killed Garreth in a honor duel, without repercussions for Ricol, whose service he had left at the time, then offered his service to Ricol again.
Fourth Succession War
In the Fourth Succession War, the Lyran Commonwealth participated on the Draconis Combine front through Operation Götterdämmerung and captured many worlds before being stalemated. Ricol's private army fought well in the Kurita counterattacks and it was acknowledged that he achieved a limited success, but was ultimately unable to stop the Steiner juggernaut. By 3034, it was noted that Ricol's forces and estates had suffered greatly and that he had been dispossessed of his estates in the Steiner invasion.[7]
Alshain Military District
On the eve of the formation of the Free Rasalhague Republic in 3034 Ricol bought himself back into House Kurita's good graces by providing them with a copy of the Helm Memory Core, a full six years after he had obtained it himself. (House Kurita had known about copies of the core being distributed, but had been unable to procure one for themselves before for unknown reasons, speculating possible obstruction by ComStar could be the reason.) As a reward, he was installed as duke and civilian administrator in the newly formed Alshain Military District which consisted of the remnant of the former Rasalhague Military District plus ten worlds from the Buckminster Prefecture.[7]
Jihad
In 3071, Ricol, under the codename of "Ruby", had dealings with the Council of Gems. They discussed the problems of Clan Nova Cat disobeying the Combine's current government and civil disobedience of the Azami people. Ricol suggested to have their agents influence the crew of the Kirishima-class WarShip DCA Siriwan to attack one of the worlds of the Azami.[8]
By late 3072, elements of the Sons of the Dragon and a DEST team managed to capture two of the Black Dragon's ruling members on Luthien, Pearl and Diamond. They revealed names of their leading members after interrogation. It was revealed that the "late" Duke Ricol had been a member of the Kokuryu-kai.[9]
Positions
It was noted that Hassid Ricol's rule over several worlds gave him the actual power of an archduke; dukes generally had responsibility for only a single world.[10]
BattleMech
As a MechWarrior, Hassid Ricol preferred to pilot a Marauder painted red with black legs and trim.[11] In at least one instance, the 'Mech itself was also referred to as "The Red Hunter", a name otherwise applied to Hassid Ricol personally.[12]
Notes
- Duke Ricol was known for owning the only privately operated Behemoth-class DropShip in existence. [13] He used his private DropShip Alpha as a command/HQ vessel during military ventures abroad; although the class of the Alpha is indeterminate, it is not a Behemoth as it is shown to be capable of landing on standard gravity planets, something the Behemoth class is incapable of. Ricol also owned at least one private JumpShip, the Huntress.
- It is interesting that the Black Dragon ruling council used Council of Gem code-names. That system was also used by Rasalhague resistance movement that attempted to assassinate Takashi Kurita in 3019 (by sabotaging the DropShip Startreader). Ricol was part of that conspiracy, and also went by the name "Ruby".
References
- ↑ BattleTechnology issue #0102, pp. 65, "Hiring Hall: The Red Duke" (apocryphal)
- ↑ Decision at Thunder Rift, chapter 27
- ↑ Decision at Thunder Rift, chapter 10
- ↑ As per the description of the position of Duke in the Draconis Combine in House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 95 "Governmental Structure"
- ↑ Mercenary's Star, chapter 14
- ↑ Mercenary's Star, chapter 5
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Heir to the Dragon, chapter 51
- ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 53, "Council of Gems"
- ↑ Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 43, "Black Dragons Unmasked"
- ↑ The Price of Glory, chapter 22
- ↑ Decision at Thunder Rift, chapter 33
- ↑ Decision at Thunder Rift, chapter 28
- ↑ Handbook: House Liao, p. 162, "Mówáng-class courier"