Jerome Winson

200px

Jerome Winson (June 9, 2755 - 2851) was the Founder and first Khan of Clan Wolf, going on to become the second ilKhan of the Clans. He commissioned a series of new combat vehicle designs, primarily for use in second-line units, in 2842. He took his own life with poison after suffering a debilitating stroke. He died in his office.

Biography

Early Life

Born on the Lyran Commonwealth world of Gallery, Jerome Winson was a strong and intelligent youth. For these reasons he would be fast-tracked into SLDF officer training. His timing was fortuitous. The Star League had been fighting engagements throughout the Periphery for many years, putting them in great need of bright young officers.

Star League Service and the Exodus

Fighting in the war against the Rim Worlds Republic, Jerome Winson would rise to the rank of Major, earning a post on General Aleksandr Kerensky's command staff. During the Liberation of Terra, he would be assigned to a unit with a mission of singular importance to the great General himself: the rescue of his wife, Katyusha Kerensky, and his two sons, Nicholas and Andery. Previously unknown to all but a few people in Kerensky's inner circle, the rescue of the Kerensky family from an Amaris occupied Moscow in 2777 would have long reaching consequences for all of the Inner Sphere, helping to preserve the life of the Founder during this chaotic time. Because of his close association with General Kerensky, Winson would stay close to Nicholas and Andery Kerensky, becoming something of an older brother figure to the boys as they adjusted to life after the Amaris Crisis.

He would follow the General into exile from the Inner Sphere and the coming Succession Wars. The choice was not easy; in choosing the Exodus, he had to leave behind his wife Jessica, a native of Alarion who had opted to stay home. Knowing that the choice he was making was the right one, Winson would depart with the rest of the Regular Army into the unknown.

The Clans: A New Pack

The Second Exodus saw Jerome Winson follow Nicholas Kerensky to Strana Mechty in 2801. Still in the role of the wise older brother to the Kerenskys, the bond that they shared would likely only have been strengthened by Nicholas' marriage of Jerome's sister, Jennifer Winson.

Jerome Winson would become the founder and first Khan of Clan Wolf, named for the Strana Mechty wolf, a descendent of the Terran wolf brought with the exiles from the mother world. Under his thoughtful yet decisive leadership, the Wolves would be the first Clan to be combat certified by the ilKhan. He would also lay the foundations for one of the dominant forces throughout Clan history; Clan Wolf would be respected and feared on the battlefield and in the halls of the Grand Council.

Operation Klondike

The Wolves would be selected for action on Eden, and later go on to fight on Dagda, an honor granted only to the Wolves and Clan Jade Falcon, specifically for their excellent performance during the Eden campaign of Operation Klondike. Landing on Eden in July of 2821, they would do battle in the Abaddon Heights region of the planet. An upland area where disease was prevalent, but valuable resources were plentiful, the Wolves would use their supplies of antigen and vaccines as a bargaining chip to coerce many lesser powers into submission, demonstrating Khan Winson's willingness to win without excess and unnecessary use of force, setting his Clan apart from the Jade Falcons, and especially the brutal Clan Smoke Jaguar.

Notes

• The Jerome Winson, a Liberator-class WarShip in Clan Wolf's fleet, was named in his honor.

Bibliography

• Era Digest: Golden Century
• Field Report: Clans
• Historical: Operation Klondike
• The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky
• Technical Readout: 3060
• Wolf Clan Sourcebook