Vlad Ward

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Vladimir Ward
Vladimir Ward
Personal
Also known as	Vlad Ward
Born	3026
Died	3083
Affiliation	Clan Wolf
Profile
Rank	Khan
Profession	MechWarrior

Vlad of the Wards (trueborn 3026 – died 3083, aged 57 years), later Vladimir Ward, was a trueborn warrior, a staunch Crusader, and Khan of the reborn Clan Wolf.

History

Early years

While a Star Captain, Vlad captured Phelan Kell on The Rock only to discover that Phelan had a claim to the House of Ward. Phelan and Vlad fought each other during a Trial of Bloodright for a Ward Bloodname. Despite cheating with the assistance of Conal Ward, Vlad lost.

Refusal War

Embittered, Vlad attempted to undo the Truce of Tukayyid by bringing down Ulric Kerensky by joining a Crusader attempt to slander him. Ironically, during the Refusal War, Vlad became awed and respectful of Ulric though he was a Warden. Enraged by Chistu's cowardly murder of Ulric, Vlad goaded him into a Trial of Grievance where he killed the scheming Jade Falcon. As a reward, Khan Elias Crichell undid Chistu's declaration that the Wolves had been Absorbed and created Clan Jade Wolf. Vlad won a Ward Bloodname unopposed and became Khan of the new Wolves. He challenged Crichell's status as a warrior in the Grand Council when he was elected ilKhan in 3058 and killed him. Vlad re-created Clan Wolf and has since bided his time, rebuilding their strength. His actions during the Great Refusal made sure the Wolves were not bound by it. His Wolves are now the only Crusader Clan legally able to renew the war, once the Truce of Tukayyid runs out in 3067.

Khan

At the conclusion of the FedCom Civil War he traveled to Arc-Royal where Katherine Steiner-Davion was held prisoner and demanded that Victor hand her over to him. The novels imply some kind of relationship between Vlad and Katherine, which is the probable cause for this act. Vlad promised to attack if Katherine was not given to him, and in this manner managed to acquire her from Victor.

Now called Katherine Wolf, her presence within the Clan and apparent favoritism by the Khan caused significant internal tension within Clan Wolf, resulting in Vlad facing several Trials over his conduct.

Later years

After the Scouring of Tamar in early 3071, Khan Ward planned Operation DAMOCLES II to move all warriors, genetic legacies, and assets in the Clan Homeworlds to the Inner Sphere. A secret part of that operation, codenamed "Spatha", was to infiltrate Katyusha City, board the WarShip McKenna's Pride, and steal the body of Aleksandr Kerensky. As the Kerensky Bloodnames were the founding legacies of Clan Wolf, Vlad justified the operation by claiming that the genetic line needed to be guarded from the unworthy Home Clans. He also knew that the Great Father's body would be a powerful icon for the Clan in the future.

Operation Spatha was led by Elemental Garmen Kerensky. Initially Spatha's members failed to return, but after a 5 year delay they reappeared with their target and more: Garmen had been forced to steal the Pride to escape. Fearful that the WarShip would attract enemies, Vlad sent Garmen's surviving men to join Stone's Coalition and had the Pride hidden in the Dark Nebula, concealing the location even from Katherine Wolf.

Death

In 3083, Khan Ward led the Golden Keshik on a raid on Rodigo, in Clan Hell's Horses territory, declaring a Trial of Possession for the 53rd BattleMech Cluster. During the fighting Khan Ward was killed in his Timber Wolf by an enemy Hellstar. The enraged Wolves pushed for a full war against the Horses but were reigned in by new Khan Ivan Kerensky.

Other Appearances

Apocryphal Content Starts

The information after this notice comes from apocryphal sources; the canonicity of such information is uncertain.
Please view the reference page for information regarding their canonicity.

In the MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries computer game, Vladimir Ward makes an in-game appearance. One of the possible endings for the game is that the player recovers the location of Katherine's prison, and a Rabid Fox agent convinces him to take the info to Vlad Ward. The Khan's reaction is to order a Trial of Position pitting the player against five Clan Wolf MechWarriors. If successful the player joins the Clan as a warrior and Khan Ward carries out the rescue of Katherine. During the battle Vlad observes from his Dire Wolf but does not participate directly.

Apocryphal Content Ends

Quotes

“	We Clans talk much of honor. Nothing is more precious to a Clan warrior than his honor. How do I define honor? Success.	”
	— CCG Crusade edition, 3058

“	Not just a body—the Great Father himself. Nicholas created the Clans though force of will, but it was the Great Father who gave us purpose. One day he will return to Terra, and on that day he will see what we have reclaimed.	”
	— Icons of War, 3077

BattleMechs

• Timber Wolf - Vlad piloted a Timber Wolf for much of his career, favoring the combination of speed, toughness, and firepower.
• Executioner - During Phelan Kell's Trial of Position with Clan Wolf, Vlad piloted a custom-loadout Executioner armed with two Gauss Rifles.

Gallery

• Vlad of the Wards - Liz Danforth.jpg

  At age 25

• Khan Vlad Ward - D. Alexander Gregory.jpg

  At age 32

• Vlad Ward.jpg

  At age 35

• Vladimir Ward 1.jpg

  At age 36

• Vladimir Ward.jpg

  Around age 50

Bibliography

• Blood Legacy (novel)
• Bred for War (novel)
• Endgame (novel)
• Era Report: 3062
• Icons of War (novella)
• Jihad: Final Reckoning
• Lethal Heritage (novel)
• Lost Destiny (novel)
• Malicious Intent (novel)
• Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers
• Prince of Havoc (novel)
• Shadows of War (novel)
• The Wars of Reaving
• Wolf Clan Sourcebook