Part of Takari's command lance. Pilots the modified (Computers, Ultra AC/20 and combat blade) Victor called Huntress. She's also the Katana's Chief of Intelligence and (more recently) Chief of Security. Catinp may be the boss' right hand man, but Fishbait is the the left hook you never see coming.

Part Polynesian, dark of skin and hair and eyes. Quite attractive, but she rarely bothers to play up her good looks. She's either in her mechwarrior outfit or in the work uniform of a Lancer officer. She looks more like a stern school mistress than sultry stripper (some of the old hands still talk about the good old times, when Fishbait was the hottest piece on the block and men dared each other to make a pass on her).

Fishbait is MIIO (she's never explicitly stated this, but it's a fact), trained to be a sleeper agent from a young age. As part of her "education" she received extensive SpecOps training, technical training, and mechwarrior training. Ah, the wonders a good clandestine indoctrination program can do for young minds and pliable flesh.

She originally posed as a native from a naturalist clan living in an oasis in the deep southern deserts of Galatea (conveniently impossible to run a background check). She had supposedly broken with her people, and was trying to eke out a living in Galaport. As a bar maid and a stripper in the merc district - and a mech astech. She secretly dreamed of becoming a mechwarrior, and spent her disposable income taking piloting lessons from passing merc companies. Everything designed to maximize her ability to gather intel on passing merc companies - and join one if activated (it's not clear if she was activated - or simply chose to join the Lancer on her own initiative).

Takari knows she's been passing on intel to MIIO, but has chosen to accept it as a necessary evil. Besides, MIIO sometimes feeds vital intel right back at the lancers through her, so it's mutually beneficial. Her unique skill set makes her a valuable asset too. More importantly, she's always shown a great deal to personal loyalty to her commander.

Her callsign is derived from her looks and behavior when she cam aboard at Galatea. She seemed so very young... and was so very tempting...

Captain Satan is the commander 2nd Regiment, the Winged Wolf (so named after the angel wings painted on the back of the Colonel's mech).

He is a tall and lanky Eurasian man (think some Caucasian mixed with Indian/Pakistani) in his late 40s, with greying hair and more white than black in his well-groomed beard. He's one of the oldest active service mechwarriors in the Lancers. Little is known of his past, except that he was born and raised somewhere in the Free Worlds League. he’s spent most of his adult life as a mercenary in the Periphery. He seems to know the Black Wolf from this period, having fought with - and against – him on several occasions. He also has a link to Natalia Chesterton, and is a good friend and colleague to Teatime.

Satan is a still a skilled mechwarrior, despite this advanced years. His reflexes probably aren't what they used to be, but as regimental commander they do not need to be. Regimental command requires a different skill set altogether. He’s also a skilled mechtech and a master scavenger, talents acquired after years touring the Rimward Periphery.

At the start of the campaign he was retired on Zaniah, but at Natalia's urging he agreed to come out of retirement to help build the company. He started out as commander of the Battle Lance, then worked his way up through company and battalion command, before being instated as the commander of 2nd Regiment.

Satan’s call sign is derived from his surname, which many of his fellow mechwarriors couldn't pronounce, even if they wanted to. He pilots a SLDF Shadow Hawk named "Angel" that's been fitted with some additional command computers, and doesn't seem like he's interested in anything heavier.

Satan is an Old Wolf. He's aware of the Exodus, the Great Betrayal, and the flight back to the IS. 

Benjamin Walker is an Eurafrican man in his 60s. He keeps his scalp shaved, but sports a bushy beard long since gone to white. He has many tattoos, including facial ones, and wears a patch over his left eye, which makes him look like a caricature of the pirate captain he is. Benjamin hails from somewhere in the Deep Periphery. He become as spacer as a youngster, and eventually worked his way to become a dropship's mate. Then pirates happened, and Mr. Walker had two options: serve or walk the lock. He chose the latter, and was promoted for his willingness to embrace the new way of life.

Walker has worked some 20-odd years as a pirate captain, plying the space lanes in his dingy Mule. Like most pirates he's not really a full-time pirate. Most of his time is spent ferrying goods and people between the worlds of the Oberon Confederation and it's vassals. He has visited every world in the Confederacy, the greater Valkyrate and the Elysian Fields at least a dozen times, and knows well many places in the Deep and along the borders of the Commonwealth and the Combine. But when King Grimm calls upon his services, he will fill his dropship to raid the worlds of the inner Sphere for slaves, technology and valuables.

Capt. Walker is now eagerly serving the Black Wolf Lancers. He's not formally an employee, but he's doing his very best nonetheless. Perhaps he seeks to atone for his wicked deeds - or just make himself so useful he's not handed over to the Lyrans...

GM Notes: For some reason poor DROPSHIP Cpt. Walker was mixed up with JUMPSHIP Cpt. Greer during the Crater affair. No idea why, except shitty GM.

Cpt Walker is a colorful, minor NPC that could be worth keeping around, but could also be disposed of. He run a MULE-class dropship, and has firsthand knowledge of a great many worlds in this part of space.

Cpt. Greer is a pretty faceless jumpship captain (SHE is also actually a woman, Greer is her given name, a detail that seems to have slipped into the cracks). She's an experienced captain to be sure, but like most jumpship crew she rarely sets foot on a planet.

Tall, attractive brunette. Almost always wears skirt, blouse and heels under a white lab coat. Natalia’s personal physician. She’s not telling her age, but she’s probably well into her 50s, if not older, but gene therapy and plastic surgery means she looks much younger. Not exactly youthful, just not… old looking. A highly skilled and much sought after gene therapist and plastic surgeon. Canopian born and bred, but has studied and worked in several places, including Terra (where she has connections ot the Holt Clinic) and New Avalon.

Dr. Jacobs is part of Natalia's inner circle, and hasn't always been very forthcoming. After the business with Ilsa/Natalia and the child, plus the trip to Terra, she and Takari has established a working relationship. There is no love lost between them, but she's no longer trying to make his life difficult. Maybe she'll thaw up a bit more now that Takari is in the know.

The “Old Wolves”, sometimes called “The Wolf’s Own” (same as the name for the 1^st Regiment) or the “Wolfpack”, or more rarely “Natalia’s Get”, consists of some key officers, such as the Wolf and Satan, but also apparently unconnected leaders like Stellar and Jinx, plus officers and noncoms in the lower echelons, including techs, infantrymen, and aerospace pilots. People like Baroness Natalia and Doctor Jacobs are also part of the mystery team. It’s not something that’s spoken of very much, but it’s pretty obvious that they share some kind of bond the others don’t. Membership is by invitation only. Age, rank and merit are definitely factors, but there are some young ones in the group, and some that are neither merited or highly ranked.

Alessandro Steiner (b. 2957) was born on Furillo, the Steiner family fiefdom, only 2 jumps out from Hesperus. He spent most of his youth attending the most prestigious schools in the Commonwealth, before attending the Nagelring Academy, where he graduated top of his class in 2976 (judging by his later exploits, it was not entirely a "social" accomplishment).

He rose quickly through the ranks, thanks in part to his pedigree, but also in no small part because of his charismatic leadership and courage under fire. Prior to his father's untimely death, Alessandro had achieved the rank of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) and commanded the 1st Assault Battalion of the Second Royal Guards. It is not difficult to envision that he would have continued to climb the rank ladder had he been given the opportunity.

Instead Alessandro inherited the Archonship in 2980 after his father, Giovanni Steiner, died in an "equestrian accident" according to Lyran officials (in the Combine this event was celebrated event at court, involving several promotions, perhaps indicating involvement in an assassination plot).

Alessandro (unlike his father, the late Archon Giovanni) was a military man by nature, and his first priority was to build up the military in an effort to blunt the generations-long Combine offensives near Skye and Tamar and to rebuild the strength of the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces on the Free Worlds League border.

To achieve this he immediately increased the amount of revenue that went to the military, financing it primarily through increased taxes (mostly by reversing reforms instituted by his father) and increasing federal oversight of commerce (to ensure said taxes were paid in full). This "caused concern among the common folk" according to Lyran media.

In reality it was not the commoners, but the nobility, the military high command and industrial magnates (who were largely drawn from the same bloodlines) that were concerned: limited war - and low taxes - are good for business. Totaler krieg - and government interference with the acquisition of wealth and power - is very bad.

In 2987 the Archon secretly ordered the "Deep Raid", which began with an attack on the Marik 'Mech factory on Ling, then struck five more worlds before returning. Despite heavy losses, the mission was wildly successful, and the Archon's popular support soared. The Lyran high command, however, was furious at having been kept out of the loop.

Over the course of the next decade the LCAF pushed repeatedly into Draconis space, along the Tamar and Skye fronts, recapturing several lost worlds, but failing to reach the lofty goals set by the Archon. The realities of offensive operations were by now taking a toll even on the common people, for the rich are loathe to suffer taxation without compensation. The Archon's popularity began to dwindle.

In 2997 the Free Worlds attempted to pay the Archon back for the Deep Raid, striking at Hesperus II with a regimental combat team (the 10th Battle of Hesperus). It was turned back by young, dashing Katrina Steiner and the 10th Lyran Guards. Suddenly the public had a new, exiting heroine, cousin to the Archon, commander of mechs and destroyer of invaders.

Alessandro, undaunted as always, continued with his plans, but found it increasingly difficult to assemble the forces he needed. The nobles and military leaders stubbornly resisted his attempts at reform. His "Doktrin der Umverteilung von Mech-Kerneinheiten auf entscheidende Schlachtfelder" was ridiculed as "The Doctrine of Concentrated Weakness", while in reality it was quite the opposite, seeking to gather line mech regiments into combat groups, while forcing the nobles to garrison their own fiefs with house troops or mercs.

To show his determination and to lead by example, Alessandro shipped the traditional Hesperus garrison - the 10th, 11th and 12th Lyran Guards, along with Katrina Steiner - to the Marik front for active duty. In their stead he placed mercenaries, primarily three regiments of Eridani Light Horse. Duke Brewster of Hesperus did not, however, increase his own guard as requested, quoting back to the Archon his own words "Hesperus is safe for the time being".

Alessandro incorrectly assumed there would be no further attacks on Hesperus for a while. In reality the Marik attack had only been a probe, or feint if you will, for Anton Marik was well aware of the political and military situation in the Commonwealth. With the Lyran Guards out of the way the Free Worlds attacked with five regiments (11th Battle of Hesperus). They were later joined by three (four if you count the Crimson Wolverines mercenary company) Combine regiments, including the 2nd Sword of Light (12th Battle of Hesperus).

Were it not for the stubborn defence of the Eridani Light Horse and the smaller Black Wolf Lancers, the remaining Lyran militia regiments would surely have been overwhelmed. Instead the bold mercenaries first blocked the main Marik advances, before regrouping to not only turn back the Kuritans, but to deal the 2nd Sword of Light a mortal blow. By the time Katrina Steiner returned with her three regiments, the fighting was all but over, much to everyone's surprise.

In the aftermath of the battle Katrina Steiner disappeared from view. Some speculate that she's gone to ground, possibly to prepare for a coup. Others claim the Archon took her out - or that the snakes did. Be that as it may. What is more important is the fact that the Archon's strategy - and his prestige - has taken a severe blow, from which it might never recover. The Guards regiments can NEVER be moved from Hesperus again in Alessandro's lifetime, and the battles there have "proven" how dangerous "Concentrated Weakness" is.

Perhaps in an attempt to restore some of the lost prestige of the Archonate and his own person, Alessandro invited every peer and a myriad important personae from across the Commonwealth and beyond, to attend his birthday on October 1st 2999. It was a grand festival, lasting a full week, plus many smaller events both before and after. It was indeed the social event of a lifetime. While it may have improved Alessandro's popularity with the small folk, it did nothing to restore his prestige in the eyes of the nobility. He remains marginalized, and true power now rests with the military-industrial magnates and the Lyran High Command. Perhaps an abdication would be for the better - the Commonwealth is not well served by having a figurehead Archon.

---

The Archon is a tall, athletic man. He is only middle aged, but the years as a sovereign have taken their toll: his dark hair is greying and his face gaunt. His eyes have lost none of their intensity, however, nor has his personal charisma faded. Even his enemies cannot deny that he is a great orator and a fine military leader.

Emmerson Conte, "Black Wolf", was formerly the commander of the Taurian Guards 3^rd Battalion, a formation with proud traditions all the way back to before the Reunification War. He was honorably discharged from his Taurian commission in 2997 after he got an offer from natalia Chesterton: to command her 5 regiments. He and Natalia go way back, and seem to have renewed their acquaintance after her divorce.

Emmerson has many years of command experience under his belt. His callsign is a reference to an incident when he was a young mechwarrior. He was garrisoning a Taurian world that was the victim of particularly vicious pirate raid. Emmerson hunted down those responsible and challenged each of them to single combat. Those few who accepted he defeated, but let live. Those who refused he mercilessly butchered. Throughout the process he wore only black and his mech was painted the same color (his mech is still black). Thus was born the legend of the Black Wolf.

His current rank is General-Oberst (Brigadier). He still pilots his trusty jump-capable Thunderbolt in the regimental command lance.

Ilsa Chesterton-Liao (b. 2978), "Princess”, is the daughter Natalia Chesterton, the founder-owner of the Lancers, and Lama (Marquis) Wolfgang Liao (from a cadet branch of House Liao). 

Ilsa resembles her mother, but is "heavier", with clear Caucasian features, whereas Natalia is more slender and more Asiatic looking. The eyes and the dark hair are the same though. She’s something of a wild child, a late bloomer that’s trying to find her place in a world where her mother takes a lot of space. She’s estranged from her father, whom she blames for her parent’s divorce.

She’s a highly trained, if somewhat inexperienced, mechwarrior and commander. Both her parents are nobles from old mechwarrior dynasties. The men used to call her “Princess” behind her back. She’d rather have a cool, epic callsign, but unfortunately you don’t get to decide that for yourself. The callsign stuck, and now it's second nature and hardly derogatory anymore. The Lancers love their Princess (way more han they'll ever love "the scary bitch") and would do anything to keep her safe.

She has the rank of Major and technically commands the 3rd battalion from her Battlemaster. She's currently taken a leave of absence (from her mother mostly) and resides in London, Terra.

Natalia Chesterton was the third daughter of Baroness Moira Chesterton, vassal to the Countess of Luxen in the the Magistracy of Caonopus. With no real hope of inheriting the title and family wealth, Natalia was dissatisfied with the career choices made for her my her mother: modeling and legal work. She secretly arranged for mechwarrior training, and when she came of age she ran away.

She eventually wound up in the Taurian Concordat, where she fell into the arms of dashing young Lieutenant Emmerson Conte (who would later be called 'the Black Wolf'). Her life took a sudden and very unexpected turn when her mother and elder sisters all died within a short time. Recalled to Canopus to claim her title, the pull of blood and duty proved stronger than love, and she parted ways with Emmerson.

Natalia married slightly above her station, taking Lama (Marquis) Wolfgang Liao of the Capellan Confederation for her husband. It caused quite the ruckus at the Sian court, as the House of Hargreaves felt slighted by a Liao (however far down the line of succession) choosing to marry a Chesterton. Within a year of their marriage they had a daughter, Ilsa.

The couple divorced when Ilsa was 10. The reason was never publicly announced, but in the event it was related to rare hereditary genetic disorder. A disease that made neural interfacing - there therefore piloting - impossible. It was a selfless thing: to give up her marriage to save Wolfgang's descendants from this genetic curse. Rumor has it that she walked away with quite a bit of money.

In 2997 she registered the Black Wolf Lancers as a battalion-sized mercenary company with the Mercenary Review Board on Galatea. Commanding Officer: Emmerson Conte. Owners: Natalia Chesterton (75%), Ilsa Chesterton-Liao (10%), Emmerson Conte (10%), Konrad Satyanarayana (5%).

Natalia Chesterton, former mechwarrior, founder and chief owner of Black Wolf Lancers, photographed at Valhalla, Solaris 7, 2997.