Isoroku Kurita


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Isoroku Kurita
Character Profile
Born 2996[1]
Affiliation House Kurita
Profession MechWarrior
Parents Miyamoto Kurita (father)[2]
Children Miyako Kurita[2]

Isoroku Kurita was an officer and general in the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.

History[edit]

Early life[edit]

Isoroku Kurita was the son of Miyamoto Kurita and nephew to Takashi Kurita, the Coordinator of the Draconis Combine. This makes him a first cousin to Theodore Kurita. He had a daughter named Miyako.[citation needed]

Military Career[edit]

Isoroku Kurita began his military after graduating from both the Pagoda for Luthien Officers and the Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy.[3]

Circa 3019, Isoroku was described by his cousin, Theodore Kurita, as a "monk" residing in a monastery. Neither Theodore nor Takashi seemed to have much confidence in the idea of Isoroku becoming Coordinator in the event both Takashi and Theodore were killed.[4] It is uncertain how this fits in with his career in the DCMS.

Isoroku reportedly saw action in at least thirty combat engagements in the early years of his career. During the Fourth Battle of Harrow's Sun, he was injured while leading an attack on the city of Barnstable.[5]

While recuperating from this injury, he was given command of the Sun Zhang Academy Cadre as a Sho-sho, leading the First Sun Zhang Academy Cadre himself. By 3025, the First Cadre was stationed on Weingarten.[6]

Isoroku was still in command of the Cadre when the Fourth Succession War broke out, and Weingarten was invaded by the Fifteenth Lyran Regulars. The Cadre suffered heavy casualties before being forced to retreat.[7]

Isoroku's activities during the War of 3039 and the Clan Invasion are unknown. It is known that by early 3054, he held the rank of Tai-Sho and was the commander of the Kessel Prefecture in the Dieron Military District,[8] a post he had not held four years prior.[9]

Later that same year, he was promoted to Warlord of the Dieron Military District by Takashi Kurita himself, who wanted a traditionalist in charge of the district bordering both halves of the Federated Commonwealth. Reports of border incidents between Isoroku and his counterpart, Richard Steiner, Field Marshal of the Skye March, deeply concerned ISF Director Subhash Indrahar.[10] Isoroku was a known opponent of any sort of multi-House effort to find and attack the Clan Homeworlds, a plan that eventually resulted in the Second Star League.[11]

In a field manual report on the status of the DCMS in 3058, Isoroku is described as a competent politician who was now being tested both for his ability and loyalty. As such, he was being closely watched by the ISF.[12]

During the FedCom Civil War, Isoroku successfully coordinated counterattacks against the Davion incursion, most notably at Al Na'ir.[13]

During the Jihad, Isoroku was apparently able to maintain his position despite the fall of Dieron to the Word of Blake. At some point in the later years of the conflict, Gunji-no-Kanrei Kiyomori Minamoto would appoint Isoroku as his second-in-command, apparently with the approval of Devlin Stone's coalition.[14] Isoroku arrived on the Lyran Alliance world of Donegal in mid-November 3076 at roughly the same time as Field Marshal Katherine Sandoval-Ito of the AFFS; the two stayed in seclusion in the Bladensburg settlement along with their respective entourages for several weeks before allegedly relocating to Wytheville to meet with Duke Robert Kelswa-Steiner and General Belle Lee as planning for Operation SCOUR escalated.[15]

When the Gunji-no-Kanrei was appointed the commander of the Draconis Combine front of Operation SCOUR at the end of 3076, he appointed Isoroku as his second in command, Isoroku having recently recovered from injuries suffered in action on Pesht.[16] Isoroku led the attack on Asta in May 3077 which saw the coalition discover that the former Star League Defense Force General Andrew Redburn was still alive a decade after he'd been presumed killed on Tukayyid.[17]

He was known to have had at least one daughter, Miyako Kurita. Prior to 3093, Miyako was erroneously believed to have been the mother of Kitsune Kurita by elements of the Kokuryu-kai.[18]

BattleMechs[edit]

Isoroku Kurita's 'Mech of choice was the Hunchback. He named his personal machine the Murakumi (Cloud-Gatherer) and was considered an expert in urban engagements. Indeed, he had recorded twenty-two 'Mech "kills" by the time he took command of the Sun Zhang Academy Cadre.[19]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), foldout: "The Draconis Combine's Line of Succession and Partial Kurita Family Tree"
  2. 2.0 2.1 Handbook: House Kurita, p. 119
  3. House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 138
  4. Heir to the Dragon, p. 84
  5. Technical Readout: 3025, p. 58
  6. House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 135
  7. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 50
  8. Objective Raids, p. 25
  9. 20 Year Update, p. 40
  10. Wolf Pack, pp. 70–71
  11. Explorer Corps, p. 24
  12. Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 48
  13. FedCom Civil War, p. 132
  14. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra
  15. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, pp. 16–17: "Big Doings On Little Big Horn"
  16. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 30: "Official Update"
  17. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 32: "Official Update 2"
  18. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, p. 18: "Matters of Honor: The Powder Room", Kitsune Kurita named as Isoroku's grandson
  19. Technical Readout: 3025, p. 58: Notable 'Mechs And MechWarriors
  20. Succession Wars (Board Game), p. 14

Bibliography[edit]