#roving golems

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Now that I've posted bios for all fifteen(!) characters in the TO&E, I'll probably post little random snippets of stuff that wasn't in there, and I'm starting to plan out an actual short story, probably about the unit's involvement in Operation GUERRERO.

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I'm gonna use this blog as a low-stakes outlet to post about my Battletech OCs cause otherwise they're just gonna rattle around in my brain forever. I'm probably gonna start with a little description of the merc unit, the roster, and then some bios for each pilot.

Maybe after that I'll post little snippets of writing? We'll just see what I feel like doing.

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assassn Mech perfec t size for put commanding officer in to f/ight! inside very Safe and Armor commanding officer survive the battle put CO in Assassin Mech. Put Commander in Assassin Medium Mech. no problems ever in assassinn mech because good weapons and armor for officer body squishy protect while lead battle. Anassasin Mech yes a place for a commander put commander in ASN-21 can trust assassin for giveing good protection to commander. Command Mech Assassin

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Mealtime with the Roving Golems

Perpetually short on funds, the Golems have made a habit of cooking big communal meals for the unit; Klass Orlov will still complain about the job in '43 where they ate nothing but lentil stew for a month. At first, Myrtle took charge of the cooking, but she made it clear she was not going to get pigeonholed as the cook, and the others made sure to share responsibility.

Of all the new members, Rudolf Steiner has discovered he actually quite likes cooking for the unit. He initially volunteered for extra kitchen duty because he was hoping to get bossed around and perhaps even bullied, but instead he found that preparing a hot meal for his comrades brought him more satisfaction than anything he'd ever done in his life. And so the Mechwarrior with the noblest background in the unit has gleefully committed to role of cook.

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Roving Golems TO&E (c. 3058)

Recon Lance

Major Alena Kusova, Assassin ASN-21

Sergeant Livia Cruz, Firefly FFL-4B

Joe Kresback, Vulcan VL-2T

Gretchen von Edelreich, Valkyrie VLK-QD

Battle Lance

Captain Leo Zwiebel, Merlin MLN-1A

Sergeant Klass Orlov, Ostsol OTL-4D

Madeline Wesley, Scorpion SCP-1O

Bunjiro, Shadow Hawk SHD-2D2

Fire Lance

Lieutenant Silva Song, Longbow LGB-7Q

Sergeant Laura Zheng, Cataphract CTF-3L

Rudolf Steiner, Bushwacker BSW-X1

Marie-Christine von Edelreich, Atlas AS7-K

Other:

Bernard Rockfort, quartermaster

Captain Nikos Rubeas, Leopard-class Dropship Laskarina

Myrtle Kresback, operations coordinator

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Laura Zheng (She/They)

Rank: Sergeant (Fire Lance) Age: 41 (born 3017) BattleMech: Cataphract CTF-3L

Appearance: Approximately 5’8", Laura’s long, stringy hair is partially brown, and contains a significant amount of dark grey. She carries many scars from a lifetime of violence, but they are all covered by horrific burn scars from a specific battle. They wear their pilot outfit at all times, like they might need to jump in the cockpit at any moment.

Bio: Laura Zheng was born into desperate poverty on the Capellan world of Muridox, which was in the midst of a horrific civil war. Laura was recruited as a child soldier, participating in brutal campaigns of violence as a mere eight-year-old. As luck would have it, her side won the war, gaining recognition by the Capellan state as the world’s legitimate authority, and its fighters were rehabilitated back into society. Unable to fit in anywhere, she lied about her age and enrolled in the infantry program at the nearest Regional Training Center. Laura distinguished themself in extreme aggression and technical proficiency, but struggled with discipline and squad cohesion. Bafflingly, the training director papered over their flaws and recommended her to the BattleMech program, probably just to get her out of his hair. 

Passing her ‘Mech qualifications by the skin of her teeth, Laura Zheng was assigned to a Cicada in the Second Confederation Reserve Cavalry, having successfully concealed her true age. Shortly after her arrival, the unit was shifted to Sigma Mare in expectation of an Andurien invasion. When the arrival of the Fourth Defenders of Andurien shattered the Second Cavalry, Laura fought hard but was brought down in the initial ambush, dragging herself from the Cicada’s wreckage in time to be carried to a retreating dropship.

Too fierce to be wasted, Laura found herself filling a Jagermech in Ishara’s Grenadiers during the later part of the Andurien campaign. However, her reckless piloting saw her ‘Mech destroyed by an ammo explosion during the otherwise easy victory on Jacomarie in 3033. Laura was assigned to a busted up Rifleman and kept off the line for the rest of the war, a pariah amongst their peers.

When Silvia Song joined the Grenadiers the following year, she immediately identified Laura as a fellow outsider and a valuable asset. She treated Laura with respect and friendship, rather than the cold distance they were used to. As a result, Laura became fanatically devoted to Silva, becoming known in the unit as “Song’s attack dog.” They were instrumental in helping to split off and form Song’s Sabres and served as Silvia’s sergeant. (Silvia exclusively calls them “Sergeant” or “Sergeant Zheng,” the only time she calls them “Laura” is when she is setting them loose on someone.)

In 3050, the lance-sized Sabres had been hired to settle a dispute between some feuding nobles on a Periphery world, only to find that the opposing noble had found an SLDF cache of eight Puma assault tanks. The other two mechwarriors were killed, and Laura fought until her Rifleman had melted into slag to make sure Silvia’s Longbow could limp to safety. They were pulled from the wreckage, but had suffered severe burns on most of their body.

The pair made their way to Outreach, where they signed on to the Roving Golems and procured a junkyard Commando for Laura. Naturally, the ‘Mech wouldn’t survive the Golems’ action in Operation GUERRERO, but after the fighting, Laura stole salvaged a brand-new Cataphract CTF-3L from the allied Capellan forces, which she was able to keep after fighting off the onsite CCAF quartermaster (and after the officers agreed to accept a lower rate for the mission). Captain Zwiebel has expressed concern that Laura isn’t temperamentally suited to being held back in the fire lance, but Lieutenant Song is confident she can keep them in line. 

While she isn’t the closest of pals with most members, the Golems don’t treat Laura as an outcast, and she is quite comfortable. However, she is extremely dubious of her precious Silvia getting involved with young Madeline, and the two of them have not quite figured out how to get along.

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Myrtle Kresback (she/her)

Rank: Operations Coordinator Age: 37 (born 3021)

Appearance: 5'8" and fair-skinned, Myrtle wears her wavy brown hair in a low ponytail. She has a slightly heavier build, and wears very sharp professional civilian clothing.

Bio: Myrtle grew up on the independent Periphery world Rockwellawan, where she started a career as a material planner for a mining company, where she met her soon-husband Joe. They adopted their three children Joseph, Clarence, and Carla after they were orphaned by a mining disaster, and Myrtle ended up quitting her job, as the workplace became increasingly toxic as she transitioned. With her stuck as a housewife, Joe had to take increasingly hazardous jobs at the mine, and their situation remained precarious. When the Golems came to Rockwellawan and offered Joe a job, she was ecstatic to get offworld. She was initially put on the rolls as Joe's dependent, but it was quickly apparent how much responsibility she was picking up to make sure the unit ran smoothly, so Alena and Leo officially hired her as an administrator.

Now, Myrtle is absolutely vital to the operation of the unit. Between her and Bernard Rockfort, they handle the payroll, contracts with local workers, inventories, contract negotiations, you name it. She is absolutely in her element amd runs a staff meeting like a major commanding a battle.

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Bunjiro (He/Him)

Rank: Mechwarrior (Battle Lance) Age: 33 (Born 3025) BattleMech: Shadow Hawk SHD-2D2

Appearance: Standing about 5'7", Bunjiro has a short beard, light mustache, and wears his short hair in a loose topknot. He is in decent shape, but wears the weight of someone cares more about enjoying life more than their figure. The front of his torso shows surgical scars, and his back sports deep battle scars. The last two fingers on his right hand are prosthetic (also battle wounds). He typically wears a kimono and loose pants, suggesting he is a samurai in his leisure clothes.

Bio: Bunjiro was born to a family of some very little influence on Soverzene. His father intended for him to seek a post in the prefecture government, but became furious with Bunjiro’s lack of ambition and constant fooling around with the men who worked on their meager estate. His father wielded his limited sway to secure Bunjiro some rushed Mechwarrior training, and Bunjiro soon found himself on Garstedt, in the cockpit of a recently vacated Stinger. During his time in the Third Alshain Regulars, Bunjiro’s performance was described as “barely mediocre.” When Clan Smoke Jaguar hit the planet in 3050, his battalion was lost during the unit’s retreat, and he was taken as a bondsman. Failing to distinguish himself in any meaningful way, he was made a technician and assigned to the 22nd Jaguar Regulars. Two years later, the unit was crushed by the combined forces of Wolf’s Dragoons and the DCMS, and the mononymic Mechwarrior found himself free in the Combine once more. However, rather than rejoin Combine society, he turned Ronin (“Not that kind of Ronin,” he’ll say with a chuckle) and hitched a ride to Outreach on a Dragoon Jumpship. 

A dispossessed Mechwarrior of middling skill, Buniro initially struggled to find mercenary work. He eventually found a unit that needed a pinch hitter for their Shadow Hawk, and through his warm personality and infectious charm, he secured the position in exchange for living expenses. Unstable local politics meant the security contract turned out tense and stressful, and Bunjiro played a key role in keeping the unit’s spirits up during the hard times. As a thank you, they let him keep the ‘Mech. 

When Leo and Alena were searching for new Mechwarriors, they found Bunjiro earning food and lodging by using his Shadow Hawk to help build a bridge for a small town outside Harlech, and he was more than happy to join up. Bunjiro and Joe get along famously, and he very quickly established himself as a fun uncle figure to the Kresback children, especially Clarence, who is obsessed with cartoon programs from the Draconis Combine. Bunjiro hates talking about his experience with Clan Smoke Jaguar, though he will sometimes spin tall tales about the Clanners for the kids.