Yaroslav

Yaroslav
Character Profile
Affiliation Clan Jade Falcon
Rank Star Colonel
Profession MechWarrior

Star Colonel Yaroslav was the commander of Clan Jade Falcon's Ninth Falcon Talon Cluster from at least 3142 to 3148.[1][2][3]

Personal Appearance[edit]

By 3148, in order to avoid gray hair and a receding hairline, Yaroslav had taken to shaving his blackish hair bald. He however retained a goatee, which had streaks of gray.[4] He was also reasonably tall, being 30 centimeters taller than Stephanie Chistu, and left handed.[5]

History[edit]

Early Life[edit]

Yaroslav was a trueborn, from the Hazen Bloodhouse, who grew up in a Jade Falcon 'sibko.[6]

The Rending[edit]

During the Rending of 3136, Yaroslav supported the then Khan Jana Pryde, against her challenger Malvina Hazen. Despite being on the losing side, he survived this Civil War, and grew to accept Hazen and her Mongol Doctrine.[3]

Sargasso[edit]

Yaroslav, with the Ninth Falcon Talon Cluster, was based on Sargasso from its conquest in 3142 until at least 3145.[1][3] He participated in the Falcon's claiming of Sargasso in 3142, leading an aggressive advance by his Cluster against the local Sargasso Planetary Militia on 8 July within the Atlantica Mountain Park, hoping to make Sargasso the third Lyran Commonwealth world he would be credited with capturing. Despite being surprised by the presence of unexpected Clan Wolf-in-Exile forces during this assault, he was ultimately successful in this aim.[3]

Battle of Coventry[edit]

In 3148, Yaroslav was assigned to Galaxy Commander Stephanie Chistu attack on the Lyran world of Coventry by Khan Malvina Hazen, in order to help ensure the anti-Mongol Chistu did not betray her orders.[2] In this role he attempted to pressure Galaxy Commander Chistu into killing prisoners and adopting other Mongol tactics, though he was not successful in doing so.[7]

On 18 February 3148 Yaroslav was tasked by Chistu with taking the symbolic town of Whitting, which due to its role as the host of the Whitting Conferences, had been ordered by Khan Hazen to be razed. While Chistu requested that Yaroslav allow civilians to leave before this occurred, after defeating the defenders from the Coventry Planetary Militia, he instead slaughtered everyone in the town and refused all offers of surrender. This earnt him an even greater enmity of Galaxy Commander Chistu, who promised to meet him in a Circle of Equals following the Coventry campaign.[4] In March 3148 as the Falcon's position on Coventry deteriorated, Yaroslav sought to bully Chistu into using tactical nuclear weapons rather than retreat, being removed from his command by Chistu as a result.[8]

Trial of Refusal[edit]

Following this dispute, Chistu and Yaroslav fought a Trial of Refusal in a Circle of Equals on 13 March, using bladed melee weapons. Taking a coursing spear against Chistu's knife, a type of weapon which he had trained with while in his sibko, Yaroslav broke the rules of the Trial by concealing a Needler Pistol with darts which delivered Goliath Scorpion venom in the shaft of the spear. Using this projectile weapon against Chistu after both warriors had been injured with cuts from each others blades, Yaroslav justified the breach of honor with reference to Mongol principles, and demanded Chistu cede her command to him in exchange for her life.

Distracted by an attempt by Star Colonel Jagger Thastus to intervene in the now honorless Trial, Yaroslav turned his back on the poisoned Chistu, who managed to hit him with three throwing knifes she had strapped to her shin. Receiving a wounds including to his throat, Yaroslav collapsed, leaving Chistu as the winner of the Trial. Despite his serious injuries however, Yaroslav survived the Trial, and was provided with medical treatment despite his dishonorable violation of the Circle of Equals.[5]

Punishment for War Crimes[edit]

Following the final defeat of the Falcons on 18 March, and the granting to them of hegira by Roderick Steiner so that they could leave Coventry, Yaroslav was surrendered by Chistu to the Lyrans for punishment for his war crimes during the razing Whitting. Steiner accepted him as his prisoner, turning him over to Lyran intelligence, with the intention of ultimately prosecuting him for his crimes.[6]

BattleMech[edit]

Yaroslav was known to have piloted a Turkina OmniMech as of 3142[3], and a Summoner OmniMech as of 3148.[4]

Philosophical and/or political views[edit]

Initially in 3136 considering the Mongol Doctrine to be a shameful rejection of Clan honor, following its victory in the Jade Falcon Civil War, Yaroslav came to value its effectiveness in cowering Inner Sphere populations.[3] By 3148 Yaroslav was therefore considered an ardent supporter of Mongol Doctrine and Khan Malvina Hazen, and wore the black uniform of the Mongols to proclaim his allegiance.[2][4]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Field Manual: 3145, p. 168
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Anvil, ch. 1
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 A Bonfire of Worlds, ch. 13
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 The Anvil, ch. 4
  5. 5.0 5.1 The Anvil, ch. 8
  6. 6.0 6.1 The Anvil, ch. 10
  7. The Anvil, ch. 3
  8. The Anvil, ch. 6

Bibliography[edit]