Editing Hassid Ricol

{{Update Needed|[[Tamar Rising]]}}
{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Hassid Ricol.jpg
| caption             = ca. 3027, apocryphal
| name                = Hassid Alexander Ricol
| birthdate           = [[2977]]<ref>''Combat Manual: Kurita'', p. 47</ref>
| died                = ca. [[3072]]<ref name=JSTBD43>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 43: "Black Dragons Unmasked"</ref>
| othernames          = The Red Duke,<br>The Red Hunter,<br>Ruby,<br>Jogen
| affiliation         = [[House Ricol]];<br />''[[Kokuryu-kai]]''
| rank                = 
| title               = [[Duke of Chekaar]]<ref name=DaTRc27>''Decision at Thunder Rift'', ch. 27</ref><br/>[[Duke of Rodigo]]
| position            = [[District Governor of Alshain]]
| profession          = Noble
| parents             = 
| siblings            = 
| spouse              = 
| children            = "Jade" (son; see text)
}}
A tall and heavyset man, '''Hassid Alexander Ricol''', [[Nobility#Draconis Combine|Duke]] of [[Chekaar]]<ref name=DaTRc27/> and [[Rodigo]],<ref>In his (apocryphal) ''BattleTechnology'' write-up in [[BattleTechnology#Issue 0102|Issue #0102]] he is consistently described as Duke of Rodigo, while Chekaar is not mentioned; a canonical source (''Dance of Vengeance'', ''Shrapnel'' anthology) establishes that Hassid Ricol is in fact a native of Rodigo</ref> was an extremely influential [[Draconis Combine]] noble of [[House Ricol]] and a [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]]. He was known as the '''Red Duke''' for his flamboyant and usually red wardrobe, and as a MechWarrior was also known throughout the [[Successor States]] as the '''Red Hunter'''.<ref>''Decision at Thunder Rift'', ch. 10</ref> Within a conspirator ring in the [[Rasalhague Military District]] and later the secret Black Dragon Society (''[[Kokuryu-kai]]''), both of which used gemstone codenames, Ricol used the alias "'''Ruby'''."

Although he was technically a civilian administrator,<ref>As per the description of the position of Duke in the Draconis Combine in ''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 95: "Governmental Structure"</ref> he maintained private military forces at least up until the [[Fourth Succession War]], apparently by virtue of his noble status and military background. Those House Ricol forces had their own uniforms with a characteristic piping<ref name=MS>''Mercenary's Star'', ch. 14</ref> and kana symbols spelling out "Kurita" and "Duke Ricol," with the House Kurita symbol on them;<ref>''Mercenary's Star'', ch. 5</ref> he also had [[House Kurita]] forces at his disposal at times, including naval assets and a [[DEST]] unit.

==History==
===Rise===
Hassid Ricol, born to a noble family in [[2977]], was a native of [[Rodigo]].<ref>''Dance of Vengeance'' in ''Shrapnel'' anthology, p. 45</ref> After graduating with honors from the [[Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy]] he served with distinction in the [[Fifth Sun Zhang Academy Cadre]], then earned a position in the prestigious [[Second Sword of Light]]. However, after his parents died in a [[DropShip]] crash in [[3002]] then-''Sho-sa'' Ricol was granted permanent detached duty from the [[DCMS]] to assume the position of [[Duke of Rasalhague|Duke of the Rasalhague Military District]] (though still a subordinate to the overall civilian governor of the Rasalhague District—Jarl [[Ottar Sjovold]] until [[3019]], then [[Malcolm Kurita]], and by [[3025]] [[Mies Kurita]]). With his military background, Ricol quickly formed a personal military force, the [[Red Hunter Special Operations Group]], despite his nominally civilian title. His right-hand man [[Harimandir Singh]] worked with him since [[3009]] and implicitly had a command role in the Red Hunter Special Operations Group.<ref name=DaTRc27/>

In [[3016]], the [[Seventeenth Rasalhague Regulars]] unsuccessfully attempted to seize [[Tamar]] at Duke Ricol's behest.<ref>''Combat Manual: Kurita'', p. 43</ref>

In [[3018]], Ricol secretly met with insurgents from the Free Rasalhague underground who conspired to kill [[Coordinator of Worlds|Coordinator]] [[Takashi Kurita]]. He did not commit to their conspiracy but remarked that their plans did not conflict with his and that they might help each other later when it would be mutually beneficial. At that time, it was said about Ricol that he had let his ambitions show too clearly of late and that his enemies in the court on [[Luthien]] were almost in a position to deny his petition for elevation to the status of Archduke over the five worlds he controlled.<ref>''Heir to the Dragon'', ch. 3</ref>

On 22 September [[3019]], Duke Ricol was summoned to the starport control center of the [[Rasalhague]] military starport by a message from District Warlord [[Marcus Kurita]], where he met [[Theodore Kurita]] who had received a similar message. Curiously, Marcus Kurita was not present to meet them. The [[DropShip]] ''[[Startreader]]'' was inbound at the time, carrying Coordinator Takashi Kurita to his son Theodore's planned wedding to [[Anastasi Sjovold]], daughter of Governor Ottar Sjovold, ruling Jarl of Rasalhague. As the DropShip was approaching the starport, the very agitated governor Sjovold approached Theodore Kurita and urged him to come with him. Ricol, sensing that something was amiss, included himself and they left in a helicopter. Moments later, the sabotaged DropShip crashed into the starport. Governor Sjovold then explained that he had saved Theodore's life from the conspirators (and thus, admitted his complicity in the conspiracy; he may have been their leader, "Diamond"). Ricol at that point realized that Sjovold had only sought to rescue Theodore Kurita and made no attempt to rescue him. When Theodore Kurita rebuffed Sjovold, Ricol attacked and killed Sjovold, then pointed out to Theodore Kurita that he had saved his life as Sjovold had tried to attack Kurita with a blade from behind. It is implied, but not stated, that Sjovold had no such intentions after all and that Ricol had actually killed Sjovold to conceal his own connection to the conspirators, and also to ingratiate himself with the Coordinator's heir apparent.<ref>''Heir to the Dragon'', ch. 11</ref>

(Takashi Kurita actually survived the assassination attempt. Marcus Kurita had apparently betrayed the conspirators and tried to become Coordinator himself by arranging for the deaths of both Takashi and Theodore Kurita as well as Sjovold and Ricol; no solid proof could be found, however.)

By [[3025]], Ricol had seized more than a dozen [[Lyran Commonwealth]] worlds. This greatly elevated his reputation, and at some point between 3018 and 3025 he was recognized as Archduke and given control of the worlds he had conquered.<ref>''Combat Manual: Kurita'', p. 47: Duke Hassid Ricol sidebar</ref>
{{ApocryphalContentStart}}
Author [[William H. Keith]], who had created the character, provided a detailed (but technically [[apocryphal]]) write-up on Hassid Ricol and House Ricol in [[BattleTechnology#Issue 0102|''BattleTechnology'', Issue #0102]] (Hiring Hall: The Red Duke). The magazine is written as an in-universe publication from October [[3027]].<ref name=BT>''BattleTechnology'' issue #0102, pp. 4–7: "Hiring Hall—Hassid Ricol: The Red Duke" (apocryphal)</ref>

According to this write-up, Hassid Ricol was 34 years old when he inherited the [[Duchy of Rodigo]] from his father in [[3011]], and became the 12th ruling Duke of Rodigo in his line. (This seems to conflict with the canonical notion that he succeeded his father in 3002 already, though it is possible he was not technically confirmed as Duke until 3011.) The capital and ducal court are maintained at Alexis on Rodigo.

At least five plots against his life failed between 3019 and 3027. It is noted that Ricol's private intelligence-gathering network has a reputation for unrivaled thoroughness and efficiency.

As of 3027, Hassid Ricol is described as the de facto lord of 14 worlds within the Rasalhague Military District from [[Kufstein|Kufstein's World]] to [[The Edge]]; other named worlds include [[Verthandi]], [[New Caledonia]], [[Basiliano]], [[Dahlgren]], and [[Harvest|Auric II (Harvest)]].
{{ApocryphalContentEnd}}

===Trell I===
:''For details, see the plot summary for the novel [[Decision at Thunder Rift]]''
In [[3024]] Duke Hassid Ricol enacted a scheme by which troops from the [[Oberon Confederation]] were sent to the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] world of [[Trell]] I (Trellwan), supposedly contracted to reinforce the Lyran garrison there. Suborned by Ricol's forces, they turned on the garrison, destroying [[Carlyle's Commandos]]. Ricol then arrived with a 'Mech force to ostensibly protect the planet from the pirates' depredations. This would have allowed Ricol to win over the population and gain a secret, strategically valuable foothold in Commonwealth space. In an implied second phase of the operation, he would have launched an invasion into the Commonwealth from an unexpected direction.

However, [[Grayson Carlyle]] survived the initial attack and formed a guerrilla resistance with remnants of the garrison, the militia, and even some of the double-crossed Oberon Confederation MechWarriors. They managed to recapture the [[House Mailai]] [[JumpShip]] that had brought the Oberon forces to Trellwan, uncovered Ricol's plot, and unmasked House Mailai Proctor Sinvalie as an [[ISF]] agent. By using the recaptured JumpShip as a courier vessel to inform [[House Steiner]] of the situation, they thwarted Ricol's plot, negated the world's value as a secret base, and convinced him to withdraw.

===Verthandi===
:''For details, see the plot summary for the novel [[Mercenary's Star (novel)|Mercenary's Star]]''
[[Verthandi]] was one of the planets House Steiner had recently ceded to House Kurita, and which had been placed under Ricol's rule. Despite the heavy-handed, even atrocious actions of Governor General [[Masayoshi Nagumo]], who was answerable to Duke Ricol, a local uprising gained momentum and hired the [[Gray Death Legion]], which incidentally, was the mercenary unit formed from the remnants of the Trellwan guerrillas. Trapped on the world after their DropShip was damaged during a botched insertion on 25 October [[3025]], the Legion fought Ricol's garrison forces to a stalemate in another extended guerrilla campaign for roughly a year. The outcome ultimately resulted in a favorable negotiating position for the people of Verthandi and at least a temporary quasi-autonomy, a dangerous setback for Duke Ricol as it fanned the flames of dissent on other occupied worlds House Ricol had to garrison.

===Helm===
:''For details, see the plot summary for the novel [[The Price of Glory]]''
In [[3028]], Duke Ricol and the Gray Death Legion would meet once again on [[Helm]] in the [[Free Worlds League]]. Ricol had learned of a long-forgotten [[Star League]] weapons depot on Helm, incidentally in a landhold granted to the Gray Death Legion in exchange for their mercenary service. Other parties were also interested in the cache, including the Duke of [[Irian]] and [[ComStar]], who framed the Legion for war crimes to outlaw them and obtain the landhold from themselves. Facing increasing numbers of [[House Marik]] troops on the planet, the desperate Legion entered into a shaky alliance with their erstwhile nemesis Ricol to loot the cache and escape. They succeeded, and Ricol gained not only an unspecified amount of salvage from the vast cache but also a copy of the invaluable [[Helm Memory Core]]. Honoring his pact with the Legion, Ricol's JumpShips evacuated the two Legion DropShips and he also gave them a share of the recovered matériel, which allowed the Legion to rebuild itself after clearing their name.

===Kajikazawa===
:''For details, see the plot summary for the short story [[Dance of Vengeance]]''
Immediately upon his return from Helm, Ricol ordered [[Tyrell's Terrors]], his private 'Mech company under [[Salvadore Tyrell]], from their garrison post on Verthandi to meet with him on [[Kajikazawa]], where he was invited to attend a reception. ''[[Sho-sa]]'' [[Victor Garreth]], whom Ricol wanted dead, was also in attendance. Ricol engineered for Tyrell, who claimed a vendetta against Garreth, to challenge him to a duel in which Garreth was killed.

===Fourth Succession War===
In the [[Fourth Succession War]], the Lyran Commonwealth participated on the Draconis Combine front through [[Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG]] and captured many worlds before being stalemated. Ricol's private army fought well in the Kurita counterattacks and it was acknowledged that he achieved limited military success, but was ultimately unable to stop the Steiner juggernaut. By [[3034]], it was noted that Ricol's forces and estates had suffered greatly and that he had been dispossessed of his estates in the Steiner invasion.<ref name=HD51>''Heir to the Dragon'', ch. 51</ref>

===Alshain Military District===
On the eve of the formation of the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] in 3034, Ricol bought himself back into House Kurita's good graces by providing them with a copy of the Helm Memory Core, a full six years after he had obtained it himself. (House Kurita had known about copies of the core being distributed, but had been unable to procure one for themselves before for unknown reasons, speculating possible obstruction by ComStar could be the reason.) As a reward, he was installed as duke and civilian administrator in the newly formed [[Alshain Military District]] which consisted of the remnant of the former Rasalhague Military District plus ten worlds from the Buckminster Prefecture.<ref name=HD51/>

In the [[War of 3039]], the lack of experience of the troops in the Alshain Military District, namely the [[Alshain Regulars]], showed. Chastised for their performance, ''Tai-shu'' Ricol instituted an intense training regime. By [[3046]], following sweeping reforms of the [[DCMS]], Ricol had used his influence to create a personal MechWarrior training battalion and staff it with men and women loyal to him from the best of the Alshain Regulars,<ref>''Combat Manual: Kurita'', p. 46</ref> to gain some influence in the new army that Theodore Kurita was building; it was noted that he had invested "much" in this training program.<ref>''Vengeance'', p. 38</ref> The training battalion was sent to attack [[Ryde]], but suffered heavy losses when it turned out the [[ISF]] had failed to note or report the presence of the [[12th Donegal Guards]] on the planet. This was the last time that any military forces were directly associated with Duke Ricol.

===Post–Clan Invasion===
By [[3062]], Duke Ricol liked to sit on a favorite bench in Peace Park, Newbury, on [[Dieron]],<ref>''Path of Glory'', chs. 5, 29</ref> still planning and scheming for the ''Kokuryu-kai''. At this point, his hair and beard had grown white. Ricol mentioned at one point that he had discontinued the use of "a most ostentatious uniform" and that it was his visible age that now commanded respect in the Combine's society.<ref>''Path of Glory'', ch. 21</ref>

Although he had not used the appellation Red Hunter (or ''hanta akai'') in decades, he took the name again in 3062 when he planned and prepared [[Operation BATU]], the attack of the [[Alshain Avengers]] on [[Alshain]] that would instigate the [[Combine-Ghost Bear War]]. It was also observed in a discussion that Ricol had made investments that had proven more than worth the expenditures, referring to the attack on the [[Lyons Thumb]]; the entire area had been annexed by the Combine.<ref>''Path of Glory'', ch. 12</ref> In the aftermath of the attack on Alshain, Theodore Kurita suspected that Hassid Ricol was involved but no evidence could be found.<ref>''Path of Glory'', ch. 29</ref>

By [[3067]], Ricol, in the guise of a ragged old man called "Jogen," was active undercover on [[Luthien]], still pursuing the agenda of the ''Kokuryu-kai'' in a leading position.<ref>''Black Mist Rising''</ref>

===Jihad and Death===
After 3067, several unverified audio recordings relate meetings of the [[Council of Gems]] (which appear to be the ''Kokuryu-kai'', where Ricol was a leading figure as "Ruby"). During the meetings "Ruby" is increasingly suffering from failing health, wracked with coughing. One conspirator called "Jade" addressed him as ''sensei'' and later ''Otosan'' (father) and seemed particularly concerned about his health.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 53: "Council of Gems"</ref>

In a meeting in ca. [[3071]] they discussed the problems of [[Clan Nova Cat]] disobeying the Combine's current government and civil disobedience of the [[Arkab Legion|Azami]] people. "Ruby" suggested having their agents influence the crew of the ''[[Kirishima]]''-class [[WarShip]] DCA ''[[Siriwan]]'' to attack one of the worlds of the Azami. This was the last time "Ruby" appeared on the recordings; he appeared to be very sick and left the meeting early, apparently for health reasons.

By late [[3072]], elements of the [[ISF|Sons of the Dragon]] and a [[DEST]] team managed to capture two of the Black Dragon Society's ruling members on Luthien, "Pearl" and "Diamond." They named their leading members after interrogation. It was thus officially revealed that the "now deceased" (as per a report dated 12 May [[3074]]) Duke Hassid Ricol had been a member of the ''Kokuryu-kai''.<ref name=JSTBD43/>

===Legacy===
In an undated and unverified message from [[3072]] attributed to the Red Duke<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots 3072'', p. 77: "Passing the Gem"</ref> that is addressed to Warlord [[Kiyomori Minamoto]] he named Minamoto his heir in the fashion of a last will and testament, noting that he had "''no riches to bestow. No lands. Not even a title, but a mockery of one. A flimsy shell from decades ago, when my title and my name brought fear to many. No longer.''" In the same letter, the author warned that "Jade", explicitly called the author's "own flesh and blood," was unhappy with this arrangement. This seems to confirm that "Jade", whose true name remains unknown, is indeed Ricol's child but would not inherit Ricol's legacy. "Jade" is referred to a tool in the message, and Minamoto is advised that one "''discards of a tool once it is dulled.''"

Following the events of [[Gray Monday]] in 3132, Black Dragon Society members aided Rasalhague Dominion warrior [[Abdoun Ricol]] in his desertion from the Dominion military. They informed Ricol of his family ties to the ''Kokuryu-kai'', namely that he was descended from Duke Hassid Ricol or "Ruby". This confirmed stories that Abdoun's father had told of being the son of "Jade" and being forced into the labor caste as a result of the [[Second Combine-Dominion War]]. Abdoun Ricol subsequently went on to make a fearsome reputation as a MechWarrior and bounty hunter and taking the moniker of the Red Hunter, often going after targets from House Kurita and Clan Nova Cat or the Spirit Cats, leading to speculation that he was seeking to aid his Black Dragon benefactors by killing their enemies.<ref>''BattleTech: Legends'', p. 154: "Abdoun Ricol"</ref>

==Titles and Positions==
Hassid Ricol was a ''[[Sho-sa]]'' (Major) with the Second Sword of Light when he was granted permanent detached duty from the DCMS and became a civilian administrator, albeit one with a sizable private army and marked success as a conqueror. Draconis Combine dukes generally had responsibility for only a single world; his rule over several conquered worlds soon saw him recognized as an Archduke.<ref>''The Price of Glory'', ch. 22</ref> He would still at least in theory be answerable to the District Governor, however.

After losing most of his assets in the Fourth Succession War he was appointed Duke of the Alshain Military District, and apparently also held the position of Warlord (''[[Tai-shu]]'') there at the time of the War of 3039.

His title and position after the Clan Invasion remain unclear. It would seem he became an advisor or power broker, working through his extensive connections rather than maintaining a power base of his own.

==BattleMech==
As a MechWarrior, Hassid Ricol preferred to pilot a ''[[Marauder]]'' painted red with black legs and trim.<ref>''Decision at Thunder Rift'', ch. 33; an image of the 'Mech is shown in ''Combat Manual: Kurita'', p. 47</ref> In at least one instance, the 'Mech itself was also referred to as "The Red Hunter", a name otherwise applied to Hassid Ricol personally.<ref>''Decision at Thunder Rift'', ch. 28</ref> From ca. [[3009]] through [[3024]] he maintained a "Red Hunter Special Operations Group" under Captain Lord [[Harimandir Singh]] who was, however, killed on Trellwan, implicitly with heavy, possibly crippling losses to Ricol's 'Mech forces at the time.

Ricol himself felt in 3024 that it had been too long since he had piloted his 'Mech in combat, suggesting his MechWarrior heydays as the Red Hunter were already behind him at that point.<ref name=DaTRc27/>

Around 3025, Ricol hired [[Salvadore Tyrell]] to create a new unit, [[Tyrell's Terrors]], from scratch, apparently to replace the lost Red Hunter Special Operations Group.

==Notes==
* Immensely wealthy, Duke Ricol owned at least the following starships (and implicitly many more):
:*private [[JumpShip]] ''[[Huntress (Individual JumpShip)|Huntress]]'';
:*private DropShip ''[[Alpha (Individual DropShip)|Alpha]]'', used as a command/HQ vessel during military ventures abroad;
:*the only (as of ca. 3025) privately operated ''[[Behemoth (DropShip class)|Behemoth]]''-class DropShip in existence.<ref>''Handbook: House Liao'', p. 162: "Mówáng-class courier"</ref> (Its name is not mentioned, but the aforementioned ''Alpha'' landed at Helm at one point whereas ''Behemoth''s are famously incapable of landing, establishing the ''Alpha'' and the unnamed ''Behemoth'' to be separate vessels.)
* In the Draconis Combine, the position of Duke usually entails civilian administration of one planet while those ruling over several worlds are typically Archdukes. It thus seems unlikely that Hassid Ricol was made Duke of the entire Rasalhague Military District upon the death of his parents, given that he was only elevated to Archduke after capturing a number of Lyran systems and bringing them under his control. The overall civilian District Governor was Ottar Sjovold until 3019, followed by Malcolm Kurita and then Mies Kurita. Ricol was "a" (but not "the") Duke of the Rasalhague District. As noted above, apocryphal information also suggests he formally inherited the Duchy proper only in 3011, possibly after a successful period as designated regent.<br />It was also not specified in canon what system formed the core of Ricol's duchy, or which systems Ricol ruled over beyond those named above.
* It seems Ricol's final ploy with the Black Dragon Society succeeded beyond all expectations. Analysis of (unverified) Council of Gems discussion transcripts and events within the Draconis Combine implies that he managed to place at least two of his associates into the Combine's most important positions, where they were ironically tasked with hunting down the Black Dragon Society from a trusted position; this allowed them to sacrifice their coconspirators and thus cover their tracks while at the same time "proving" they were not Black Dragons themselves.<br />A fan theory even suggests that "Tiger's Eye" ([[Order of the Five Pillars]] Abbess [[Tomade Yamiro]]) was falsely fingered as a coconspirator by the Black Dragon Society to free the way for her successor, Black Dragon Society member [[Mara Selencia]]. That would make three high-ranking Black Dragons in key positions. (Supporting this theory is the fact that "Tiger's Eye" never seems to appear as a speaker on any council meeting transcripts.)

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Hassid Ricol MW5.png|Hassid Ricol in ''MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries''
Marauder (Hassid Ricol) CMKurita.png|The ''Marauder'' piloted by Ricol.
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[BattleTech: Legends]]''
* [[BattleTechnology#Issue 0102|''BattleTechnology'', Issue #0102]]
* ''[[Black Mist Rising]]''
* ''[[Combat Manual: Kurita]]''
* ''[[Dance of Vengeance]]'' (in: ''Shrapnel'')
* ''[[Decision at Thunder Rift]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Handbook: House Liao]]''
* ''[[Heir to the Dragon]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3072]]
* ''[[Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents]]
* ''[[Mercenary's Star (novel)]]''
* ''[[Path of Glory]]''
* ''[[The Price of Glory]]''
* ''[[Shrapnel (anthology)]]''
* ''[[Vengeance (novella)|Vengeance]]'' (novella)
{{div col end}}

[[Category:Draconis Combine Characters|Ricol, Hassid]]
[[Category:Black Dragon Society Characters|Ricol, Hassid]]
[[Category:Notable Marauder Pilots|Ricol, Hassid]]