Editing Wayne Waco

{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Wayne Waco.jpg
| caption             = Wayne Waco
| name                = Wayne Waco
| birthdate           = [[2968]]
| died                = 18 October [[3067]]
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[Waco Rangers]]
| rank                = [[Colonel]]
| title               = 
| position            = 
| profession          = [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]]
| parents             = 
| siblings            = 
| spouse              = [[Fiona Richel]]
| children            = [[John Waco]]
}}
Colonel '''Wayne Waco''' was the commander of the [[Waco Rangers]] [[mercenary]] unit. He and his Rangers had pursued a vendetta against [[Wolf's Dragoons]] ever since an engagement between the two units on [[New Aragon]] resulted in the death of Waco's son when a Dragoon [['Mech]] stepped on him after he had ejected from his downed ''[[Locust]]''.<ref>''Making a Name''</ref> The Rangers claimed the incident was intentional, while the Dragoons claimed it was an accident.<ref>''Making a Name''</ref> 

==History==
===Early Life and career===
Born on the [[Capellan Confederation|Capellan]] world of [[Le Blanc]], Waco was recognized for having [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] potential as a child, and by adulthood he was assigned by the [[CCAF]] to the [[Second Kearny Highlanders]], piloting a ''[[Vindicator]]'' BattleMech. He married a fellow warrior, Fiona Richel, and later had a son, John Waco. When his wife was killed by [[AFFS]] [[aerospace fighter]]s, he left active duty to become an instructor at [[Sian University]]. When he left the university, he became an accomplished Company commander with the [[1st Tau Ceti Rangers|First Tau Ceti Rangers]]. When that unit was disbanded in [[3007]], he decided to form the Waco Rangers, initially a company-sized unit.<ref>''Mercenary's Handbook'', p. 86</ref> They accepted a contract with [[House Liao]].

===Fighting the Dragoons on New Aragon===
While on New Aragon in [[3008]], they saw heavy combat against Wolf's Dragoons (then in the employ of the Federated Suns). The Dragoons' [[Zeta Battalion]] smashed through the Rangers' light 'Mechs, resulting in the death of John Waco. Apparently, a Dragoon ''[[Stalker]]'' inadvertently crushed the younger Waco after his ''[[Locust]]'' was destroyed. Wayne Waco and his officers promptly declared vengeance against the Dragoons, despite a [[ComStar]] investigation clearing the Dragoons of intentional wrongdoing.<ref>''Making a Name''</ref> Wayne's pain and fury were such that he swore what he called a "[[Death Oath]]" against the Dragoons, sworn to kill any Dragoon his forces captured. <ref>''The Battle of Coventry'', p. 9</ref> Afterward, Wayne and his Rangers refused employment with any Successor State that also employed the Dragoons.<ref>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 127</ref>

===Later years===
By [[3049]], Waco had apparently turned over field command of the Rangers to Colonel [[Wayne Rogers]], though Waco maintained ownership of the unit. They served with the [[Free Worlds League]] during this time.<ref>''20 Year Update'', p. 57</ref> Apparently, by the aftermath of the [[Clan Invasion]], the unit's reputation had dropped significantly.

In [[3053]], he achieved a small measure of satisfaction when he sat as one of the judges on the [[Mercenary Review Board]] panel when the Dragoons were brought up on charges of one of their battalions violating the terms of its contract while in service to [[House Marik]]. Though Jaime Wolf could have brushed the matter under the carpet, he felt it necessary to demonstrate that the Dragoons were not above the system they themselves had championed. Wolf was suspended from active service for one year. <ref>''Wolf Pack'', chapter 4</ref>

Later hired by the [[Lyran Alliance]], the unit faced [[Clan Jade Falcon]] at the [[Jade Falcon Incursion (3058)|Battle of Coventry]]. Not only was most of the unit destroyed, but they suffered the indignity of being rescued, in part, by elements of Wolf's Dragoons. Colonel Rogers was among the casualties during this engagement.<ref>''The Battle of Coventry'', p. 10</ref> Waco was left to rebuild the shattered Rangers with only a company of 'Mechs, essentially the same as when he first created the Unit.<ref>''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 92</ref>

===Jihad and death===
Waco was killed leading an insurrection of disaffected [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] against the Dragoons on [[Outreach]]. This insurrection was heavily orchestrated by the [[Word of Blake]], who had viewed the Dragoons as a thorn in their side for some time and played on Wayne Waco's legendary hatred for the Dragoons and Jaime Wolf in particular.<ref name=JFS70_11-13>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 11-13, "Jihad Timeline"</ref><ref name=BA_171-73>''Blake Ascending'', p. 171-173, "Jihad Timeline"</ref> However, Waco was not strictly under Blakist influence; on 11 October [[3067]], he called his Word of Blake liaison [[Leopold Jenkins]], days before the planned insurrection, and attempted to convince him to attack that very day. Jenkins refused and Waco murdered him, then began the assault days earlier than Jenkins intended, in order to exploit a relative weakness of the Dragoons forces on planet. Wayne really didn't expect to win or survive to the battle, like most of his Rangers veterans; he only wanted to hurt the Dragoons.<ref name=AICD>''An Ice-Cold Dish''</ref>

On 18 October 3067, amid the conflict, Waco's and [[Jaime Wolf]]'s command lances engaged each other in battle, until only Waco and Wolf remained. Both died in their final duel, Waco never realizing that he had killed Wolf.<ref name=AICD/> Waco and his destroyed ''[[BattleMaster]]'' were found near the ''[[Archer]]'' that contained a slain [[Jaime Wolf]].<ref name=JFS70_11-13/><ref name=BA_171-73/>

Unfortunately, the [[Word of Blake]]–incited insurrection was the final chapter in their history; Waco's Rangers died on Outreach with their founder, wiped out to the last man by a heartbroken and recklessly furious Wolf's Dragoons. This event was considered by many to have been the opening salvo of the [[Jihad]].<ref name=JFS70_11-13/><ref name=BA_171-73/>

==BattleMechs==
In his final battle on Outreach, Waco piloted a ''BattleMaster''.<ref name=AICD/>

==Errata==
* The ''[[Mercenary's Handbook]]'' claims that when Waco was born on [[Le Blanc]], it was held by House Liao. Other sources indicate it has continuously been in [[House Davion]]'s hands since at least the fall of the [[Star League]]. {{cn}}
* The ''Mercenary's Handbook'' states that John Waco was piloting a ''[[Stinger]]'' when he was killed. Other sources state that he was using a ''Locust''.{{cn}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Wayne_Waco_MercHB.jpg|Portrait of Wayne Waco
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[The Battle of Coventry (scenario pack)|The Battle of Coventry]]'' (scenario pack)
* ''[[Dawn of the Jihad]]'' (sourcebook)
* ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries]]''
* ''[[An Ice-Cold Dish]]'' (in: ''[[Shrapnel (magazine)#Issue 5|Shrapnel, Issue 5]]'')
* ''[[Making a Name]]'' (short story)
* ''[[Mercenary's Handbook]]'' (sourcebook)
* ''[[Wolf Pack]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)|Wolf's Dragoons]]'' (sourcebook)

[[Category:Capellan Confederation Characters|Waco, Wayne]]
[[Category:Waco Rangers Characters|Waco, Wayne]]
[[Category:Mercenary Characters|Waco, Wayne]]
[[Category:Notable BattleMaster Pilots|Waco, Wayne]]