Editing Shelly Brubaker

{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Shelly Brubaker OTPFI.jpg
| caption             = Shelly Brubaker
| name                = Shelly Brubaker
| birthdate           = [[3014]]
| died                = [[3070]]{{cn}}
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[Wolf's Dragoons]]
| rank                = [[Colonel]]
| title               = 
| position            = 
| profession          = 
| parents             = 
| siblings            = 
| spouse              = 
| children            = 
}}
'''Shelly Brubaker''' was an officer in the [[Wolf's Dragoons]] [[mercenary]] command who eventually took command of [[Delta Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Delta Regiment]].

==Personal History==
===Early Life and Career===
Shelly Brubaker was born into Wolf's Dragoons, likely the daughter of personnel who themselves had been born on the [[Clan Homeworlds]]. Originally joining the Dragoons' [[Motorized Infantry|motorized infantry]], Brubaker distinguished herself helping to lead Delta Regiment's orderly withdrawal from the [[Draconis Combine]] world of [[Murchison]] in [[3038]] after a failed raid. She then began [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] training, testing out as a [[Lance Corporal]] in [[3046]] upon Delta's reactivation, this time with the benefit of training by [[Natasha Kerensky]].<ref name=OTPFI9>''Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion'', p. 9</ref> She progressed through the ranks rapidly, earning a fearsome reputation on the battlefield within her unit.<ref name=BCSP59>''The Battle of Coventry'', p. 59</ref>

Brubaker served in Delta with distinction, fighting with her unit and alongside the rest of the Dragoons in the [[Battle of Luthien (3052)|Battle of Luthien]] in [[3051]] during the [[Clan Invasion]].<ref name=LSP26>''Luthien'', p. 26</ref> During the fighting on [[Luthien]], Brubaker ambushed a [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] [[Star (Clan)|Star]], successfully capturing two [[Clan]] [[OmniMech]]s.<ref name=FMM101>''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 101</ref>

Delta was on a contract and in combat when the [[Dragoon Civil War]] broke out on [[Outreach]] in [[3054]], and Delta's commander, [[Colonel]] [[Bill Paxon]], chose not to break contract, knowing the Dragoon reputation must take precedence.<ref name=WP301>''Wolf Pack'' (novel)</ref> When the conflict ended with [[Jaime Wolf]] restored to command, Wolf and new [[General]] [[Maeve Wolf]] instituted a series of reforms to the Dragoon philosophy, aimed at establishing a new distinct identity that combined Clan and [[Inner Sphere]] ways. To that end, Brubaker successfully challenged Paxon to a [[Trial of Position#Promotion|Trial of Position]] for command of the [[regiment]].<ref name=OTPFI9/><ref name=FMM101/> Paxon, in adherence to the new doctrine, then challenged to serve as Brubaker's aide and second-in-command so that Delta would continue to benefit from his experience.<ref name=FMM101/>

Brubaker skillfully reorganized Delta, moving personnel around and forming a more efficient fighting unit.<ref name=OTPFI9/> She also incorporated new assets now available to the Dragoons, including OmniMechs, [[Elemental (Battle Armor)|Elemental]]s, and other Clan weapons, as well as more conventional assets such as [[aerospace fighter]]s.<ref name=FMM101/>

===Battle of Coventry===
[[File:Wolf-dragoons-delta.png|right|100px|Delta Regiment]]
In early [[3058]], Clan Jade Falcon, in order to help build experience for their younger warriors after the [[Refusal War]], began a [[Jade Falcon Incursion (3058)|major campaign]] into the [[Lyran Alliance]]. The [[LAAF]] forces were easily brushed aside on every world the Falcons struck as the Clan cut deep into the Alliance. [[Tormano Liao]] and [[Nondi Steiner]], top aides to [[Archon]] [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]], quickly deduced that the Falcons' ultimate target was [[Coventry]], an important province capital and critical industrial world. Realizing they did not have sufficient forces on hand to resist losing Coventry, they hired mercenaries to turn the tide. From Wolf's Dragoons, Delta and [[Gamma Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Gamma Regiment]]s. Along with the [[71st Light Horse Regiment]] of the elite [[Eridani Light Horse]], they would serve as the vanguard of the relief force. In support were the [[Waco Rangers]] and the attached [[Crazy Eights#Crazy Eights|Crazy Eights]] mercenary company. The taskforce would be named the Coventry Expeditionary Force (CEF).<ref name=OTPFI8>''Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion'', p. 8</ref><ref name=BCSP6>''The Battle of Coventry'', p. 6</ref><ref name=MI>''Malicious Intent'', p. ?{{cn}}</ref> Although Gamma Regiment was considered active at the time, their commander, Colonel [[Irwin Tyrell]], was concerned his recently re-formed regiment were not ready for independent operations. Instead, individual units of the Gammas were assigned to reinforce Delta Regiment.<ref name=OTPFI11>''Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion'', p. 11</ref> Overall command of the taskforce rested with Brubaker, a tribute to her skill and charisma and the quality of her Dragoons.<ref name=OTPFI9/><ref name=OTPFI11/> The long history of animosity, however, between the Waco Rangers and the Dragoons repeatedly boiled over during preparations, as Colonel [[Wayne Rogers]] persisted in provoking Brubaker with petty insults. Only the presence of [[Brevet General]] [[Ariana Winston]] of the Light Horse kept matters civil.<ref name=MI/><ref name=BCSP33>''The Battle of Coventry'', p. 33</ref>

Arriving on Coventry on April 5, Brubaker and her Dragoons were assigned to destroy the spaceport at Port St. William, which the Falcons intended to use to quickly land more troops. As Delta began its landing, Brubaker, in a bold maneuver, sent a ''[[Batchall#Batchall|batchall]]'' to the Jade Falcons, announcing her intentions to destroy the spaceport with only her First [[battalion]]. [[Star Colonel]] Creed Mattlov of the [[12th Falcon Regulars (Clan Jade Falcon)|12th Falcon Regulars]] accepted this challenge. The Falcons allowed Brubaker and her troops to land, and Brubaker soon attacked with First Battalion. The Dragoons quickly destroyed the Falcon pickets, and for fifteen minutes inflicted heavy damage on the spaceport's equipment and supplies before the Falcons responded. For twenty minutes, the two sides engaged in the most brutal fighting of the campaign, the Dragoons and Falcons clashed. When Brubaker called in reinforcements, it freed Mattlov to do the same. The Dragoons eventually withdrew, having successfully inflicted enough damage on the spaceport to render it unusable to the Falcons, with First Battalion taking serious losses in the fighting. For his own part, Mattlov also claimed victory, as Brubaker had been the one to break her bid.<ref name=BCSP9>''The Battle of Coventry'', p. 9</ref><ref name=BCSP3538>''The Battle of Coventry'', pp. 35–38</ref><ref name=OTPFI2526>''Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion'', pp. 25–26</ref>

The Expeditionary Force then linked up with the remnants of the [[10th Skye Rangers]], the [[Coventry Coventry Province Militia|Coventry militia]] and the [[Coventry Military Academy]] training cadre.<ref name=BCSP910>''The Battle of Coventry'', pp. 9–10</ref> Brubaker was impressed with [[Hauptmann (rank)#Lyran Commonwealth and Lyran Alliance|Hauptmann]] [[Caradoc Trevena]], who was by that time the Tenth Rangers' First Battalion acting commanding officer and had effectively conducted the guerrilla war against the Falcons. She and Colonel Tyrell defended Trevena when Rogers dismissed him as a mere recon company commander. She would soon begin a relationship with Trevena.<ref name=MI/>

The Lyran and mercenary forces soon agreed on a plan to launch a three-pronged attack against the Falcons at Port St. William. The Dragoons and Eridani Light Horse would attack directly, allowing their other forces to attack from the flanks. The Falcons were able to discern the strategy, however, and ambushed the Waco Rangers' column. Brubaker and Delta Regiment were forced to abandon their attack to launch a rescue operation, though not before the Rangers lost 85 percent of their 'Mechs and Colonel Rogers was captured.<ref name=BCSP10>''The Battle of Coventry'', p. 10</ref><ref name=BCSP4143>''The Battle of Coventry'', pp. 41–43</ref><ref name=BCSP4748>''The Battle of Coventry'', pp. 47–48</ref><ref name=BCSP27>''The Battle of Coventry'', p. 27</ref><ref name=OTPFI8/> With the losses, the CEF was forced to abandon their assault, falling back to Lietnerton. For the next several weeks, the Falcons would launch probing attacks against the CEF, which at this point was running low on supplies and badly outnumbered. On May 8th, the Falcons launched an all-out attack, which was only narrowly pushed back, inflicting more losses on the beleaguered CEF. Another assault on the Ninth was only foiled when Light Horse [[Artillery|artillery]] provided far more accurate fire support than their Clan counterparts. An attempted preemptive attack by the CEF on the ninth failed when a Jade Falcon [[OmniFighter]] patrol detected Dragoon aerospace assets preparing for a bombing run.<ref name=BCSP10/>

Two weeks later on May 30th and on the advice of Hauptmann Trevena, the CEF sent a small strike force through underground mining tunnels to the town of Whitting, where the Falcons had based their rear command. Brubaker was in command with the remains of Delta Regiment and Trevena's recon company. The operation was a resounding success as the CEF captured a wealth of information on the Falcons' plans, as well as several prisoners including Star Colonel [[Arimas Malthus]].<ref name=BCSP1011>''The Battle of Coventry'', pp. 10–11</ref>

The CEF was preparing to split up into small guerrilla bands when relief finally came in the form of an unprecedented multinational taskforce commanded by [[First Prince|Prince]] [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] and [[Precentor Martial of ComStar|Precentor Martial]] [[Anastasius Focht]]. On the advice of [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]] warrior [[Ragnar Magnusson|Ragnar]], Prince Victor and the Coalition requested and were granted ''[[Safcon|safcon]]'' to land and link up with the CEF. Rather than forcing a clash that would utterly devastate both Clan and Inner Sphere forces, Victor shrewdly offered [[Khan]] [[Marthe Pryde]] the right of ''[[Hegira#Hegira|hegira]]'', an honorable withdrawal under Clan law. Pryde, faced with the prospect of attacks by [[Clan Wolf]] on the other side of their [[Occupation Zone#O|Occupation Zone]], accepted. All prisoners were exchanged, and the long campaign was finally concluded.<ref name=BCSP11>''The Battle of Coventry'', p. 11</ref>

Her charisma and dedication saw Delta through the meat grinder that was Coventry.<ref name=OTPFI9/>

===Later Career===
[[File:Wdragoons.gif|right|thumb|Emblem of [[Wolf's Dragoons]]]]
Brubaker spent several years bringing Delta Regiment up to full strength, continuing to apply the Dragoons' new doctrine. This included permanently attaching a reinforced [[Combat Vehicle|heavy armor]] regiment, the 75th Dragoons Heavy Armor, formerly part of the Dragoons' [[Home Guard (Wolf's Dragoons)|Home Guard]] command. By [[3067]], Delta had accepted a contract with the Draconis Combine, garrisoning [[Kiesen]] along the [[Rasalhague Dominion|Ghost Bear Dominion]] border while [[Alpha Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Alpha Brigade]] defended nearby [[Najha]]. By this point, all of Delta's 'Mechs had been upgraded with Clan tech while more than half were OmniMechs.<ref name=FMMR117>''Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised'', p. 117</ref><ref name=FMU183>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 183</ref>

On October 15, 3067, rogue [[mercenaries]] led by Colonel [[Wayne Waco]] launched a surprise attack on Harlech City on Outreach at the beginning of the [[Jihad]]. During the fighting, [[Epsilon Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Epsilon Regiment]] and the Home Guard ground forces were effectively destroyed, while Zeta Battalion, the [[Wolf Spider Battalion]] and [[Beta Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Beta Regiment]] all took heavy damage before eliminating the rogue mercenaries. Jaime Wolf himself was killed while slaying Wayne Waco. [[Wolfnet]] intelligence soon concluded the attacks had been sponsored by the [[Word of Blake]] in response to Dragoon opposition to the Word in the [[Chaos March]].<ref name=DJ1115>''Dawn of the Jihad'', pp. 11–15</ref><ref name=DJ3031>''Dawn of the Jihad'', pp. 30–31</ref> General Maeve Wolf and Alpha Brigade immediately activated their contract termination clause with the Combine while Delta remained in the Combine.<ref name=DJ3133>''Dawn of the Jihad'', pp. 31–33</ref>

Brubaker and Delta Regiment missed the further horrors on Outreach, as the devastated Dragoons retreated to [[Arc-Royal]].<ref name=DJ36>''Dawn of the Jihad'', p. 36</ref> The [[Jihad]] had a terrible impact on the reputations of mercenaries throughout the Inner Sphere, and by January [[3068]], Delta Regiment was facing public protests from the civilian population on Kiesen.<ref name=DJ38>''Dawn of the Jihad'', p. 38</ref> Delta was still based on Kiesen as of October, 3068.<ref name=JHS307032>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 32</ref>

In early [[3070]], Delta was reassigned to [[Buckminster]] by the [[DCMS]] command. A [[Word of Blake]] taskforce soon attacked, consisting of the Blakists' [[28th Division (Word of Blake)|28th Division]] and [[45th Shadow Division]]s, along with two supporting [[WarShip]]s. The [[Vincent#Named Vessels|WDWS ''Mars'']], a ''[[Vincent]]''-class [[WarShip]] supporting Delta Regiment, was destroyed in orbit, allowing the ground forces to attack the Dragoons on planet. The sworn enemies engaged each other in an absolutely vicious battle, the Deltas were successful in driving off their enemies, though they were completely shattered as a unit. They were forced to join their fellow Dragoons on Arc-Royal, and were effectively disbanded.<ref name=JSBD100>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 100</ref><ref name=MSU120>''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 120</ref> Unsubstantiated reports later indicated that the entire incident on Buckminster was manipulated by the ''[[Kokuryu-kai]]'', and that [[ISF]] Director [[Shakir Jerrar]] and ''[[Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery#Gunji-no-Kanrei|Gunji-no-Kanrei]]'' [[Kiyomori Minamoto]] arranged it in revenge for past transgressions by the Dragoons against the Combine.<ref name=JHS30709495>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', pp. 94–95</ref>

==Personality & Traits==
A prototypical Dragoon officer, Brubaker was tough, capable and fiercely loyal to her troops. She could be ruthless when necessary, but was more defined by a cheerful optimism that was rather unusual in a mercenary officer.<ref name=BCSP59/> She was considered attractive and even gregarious, and her charisma could smooth over many problems. Training, determination and a killer instinct had earned her respect as one of the finest MechWarriors in the Dragoons.<ref name=OTPFI9/> In battle, Brubaker was described as deliberate and mechanical, coldly fighting as a "sniper", methodically shooting down her enemies.<ref name=BCSP59/> Brubaker's command company excelled in close-range combat, allowing the Colonel herself to snipe at enemies from long-range with her powerful guns.<ref name=FMM101/>

[[File:Nightstar.jpg|right|thumb|''[[Nightstar]]'']]

==BattleMechs==
Brubaker piloted a modified ''[[Nightstar]]'' during the Coventry campaign, a machine modified with Clan tech. The 'Mech was an ideal choice for a warrior of her capabilities and talent, with almost incomparable hard-hitting long-range firepower. Two Clan [[Gauss rifle]]s, three Clan [[Large Pulse Laser]]s and a Clan [[Extended Range Small Laser]] could cripple a heavy 'Mech in a single salvo and outright destroy many smaller machines.<ref name=OTPFI32>''Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion'', p. 32</ref>

==Discrepancies==
* Brubaker's age and personal history was adjusted between the releases of ''[[The Battle of Coventry (scenario pack)|The Battle of Coventry]]'' and ''[[Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion]]'' and other later works. The earlier scenario pack claims she was born on Outreach in [[3024]], putting her age at 34 at the time of the Coventry campaign. It further states she is a native to Outreach, also makes no mention of her serving with the Dragoon [[Infantry|infantry]]. Finally it makes clear that although she joined the Dragoons at an early age, she was not born to them.<ref name=BCSP59/> By policy, the birth year of 3014 and the circumstances of her birth are given precedent as canon.
* There is another discrepancy as to who preceded Brubaker as commander of Delta Regiment. The ''[[Luthien (scenario pack)|Luthien]]'' and ''The Battle of Coventry'' scenario packs both indicate that she took over for Colonel [[Kathleen Dumont]], who had been Delta's commander since before the [[Fourth Succession War]]. The scenario pack states specifically that she replaced Dumont upon Dumont's retirement.<ref name=BCSP59/><ref name=LSP26/> The novel ''[[Wolf Pack]]'', ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries]]'' and ''Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion'' all clearly state that Bill Paxon commanded Delta prior to Brubaker, with Brubaker taking command after a successful challenge. Further, ''Field Manual: Mercenaries'' indicates that Paxon served as Brevet Colonel during the retreat from Murchison, implying that Dumont may have been killed during that battle.<ref name=OTPFI9/><ref name=FMM101/><ref name=WP301/> As the ''Field Manual'' and ''Operational Turning Points'' series take precedence, that accounting is treated as canon in this account.
* The inclusion of Gamma Regiment in the CEF is mentioned in the novel ''[[Malicious Intent]]'' and is later detailed in ''Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion''.<ref name=MI/><ref name=OTPFI11/> In an apparent oversight, it was mentioned only briefly in ''The Battle of Coventry'' scenario pack.<ref name=BCSP9/>

==Notes==
<div class="gamerules">
===Game Notes===
Under the ''[[MechWarrior: The BattleTech Role-Playing Game, Second Edition]]'' rules, Brubaker has the Combat Sense and Extra Edge advantages, as well as an Edge score of 5.<ref name=BCSP59/> Under standard ''[[BattleTech]]'' rules, Brubaker had Piloting and Gunnery scores of 3 at the time of the Battle of Coventry.<ref name=BCSP4748/><ref name=BCSP36>''The Battle of Coventry'', p. 36</ref>

Under the ''[[MechWarrior, Third Edition]]'' rules, Brubaker possessed the Attractive, Gregarious and Combat Sense traits. She had a +1 level Positive Reputation trait among the Dragoons, and claimed the Sniper and Range Master (Long Range) special abilities.<ref name=OTPFI9/>
</div>

==Portrait Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Shelly Brubaker (1).jpg|At age 44
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
<div class="desktop-3-col">
* ''[[The Battle of Coventry (scenario pack)|The Battle of Coventry]]''
* ''[[Dawn of the Jihad]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3070]]''
* ''[[Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents]]''
* ''[[Luthien (scenario pack)|Luthien]]''
* ''[[Malicious Intent]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental Update]]''
* ''[[Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion]]''
* ''[[Wolf Pack]]'' (novel)

[[Category:Wolf's Dragoons Characters|Brubaker, Shelly]]
[[Category:Notable Nightstar Pilots|Brubaker, Shelly]]