Difference between revisions of "Phantom 'Mech"
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==The Phantom 'Mech incident== | ==The Phantom 'Mech incident== | ||
| − | ''Phantom 'Mech'' refers to the conclusion of the famous duel between [[Morgan Kell]] and [[Yorinaga Kurita]]. | + | ''Phantom 'Mech'' refers to the conclusion of the famous duel between [[Morgan Kell]] and [[Yorinaga Kurita]] on [[Mallory's World]] in [[3016]]. |
===Situation=== | ===Situation=== | ||
| − | + | Forces from the [[Draconis Combine]], including the elite [[Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery#Sword of Light|2nd Sword of Light Regiment]], launched a major attack against the [[Federated Suns]] in [[3013]] and killed Prince [[Ian Davion]] in the fighting on [[Mallory's World]]. The [[mercenary unit]] [[Kell Hounds]], sent as reinforcements, made planetfall shortly afterwards. While they could not save the Prince, moved in to allow the defenders to recover the late prince's body before the [[Kurita]] units could take the body as a trophy. This, and their raid on [[Murchison]] a year later, earned the Kell Hounds the emnity of House Kurita. At the beginning of the year [[3016]], the fighting on Mallory's World still raged on and House Kurita decided to crush the remaining Kell Hounds on Mallory's World to demoralize the defenders. | |
| − | The | + | The Kell Hounds' 2nd bataillon was surrounded and pinned down in their base at the town of Cactus Flats by the 36th Dieron Regiment, while the entire Second Sword of Light under Tai-sa [[Yorinaga Kurita]] moved to annihilate the 1st bataillon in their fortified position that had formerly belonged to the 24th Dieron Regiment. |
===The duel=== | ===The duel=== | ||
| − | + | In this hopeless situation, [[Morgan Kell]] stepped forward in his [[Archer]] and recounted the deeds of his ancestors in Japanese, calling for a duel with a member of the 2nd Sword of Light. It obviously fell to the regiment's commander, [[Yorinaga Kurita]], to answer the call; he stepped forward in his [[Warhammer]] and listed the deeds of his ancestors as well, in precise English. | |
| − | + | Although the combattants' 'Mech configurations meant that Kell was clearly disadvantaged at shorter ranges, he ignored his [[LRM-20]] launchers and chose to engage the Warhammer at very short range in a direct match. There could be no doubt that he was going to sacrifice himself and offering his life for that of his men. | |
| − | + | Yorinaga Kurita essentially defeated Morgan Kell in the fight. In the end, he feinted the failure of his right [[PPC]], then surprisingly used it to shoot off the Archer's right arm. Kell's critically damaged 'Mech toppled to his knees right in front of Kurita's Warhammer. | |
| − | |||
| − | + | According to the reports, Kurita's [[Warhammer]] then fired all weapons (''[[Alpha strike]]'') at Kell's [[Archer]] at pointblank range but miraculously missed with each and every weapon although Kell did not even move. Conversely, Kell fired his long-range missile launchers. The missiles failed to detonate due to the very short range; their impact did crack open the canopy of Kurita's 'Mech, however. Kurita fired all his weapons again, only to completely miss Kell again. | |
| − | The | + | Kell (in his Archer) did not return fire. Instead, he respectfully bowed to his opponent, acknowledging him as the better fighter. The simple gesture meant that Kurita could not kill Kell without losing his honour now. Ashamed, Yorinaga Kurita uttered a Haiku, conceded victory to Morgan Kell and allowed the [[Kell Hounds]] to withdraw while he ordered his own troops to retreat. When the pilot of a [[Panther]] objected, he destroyed the 'Mech with a concentrated blast of fire. While his warriors retreated, Kurita threw his Katana and Wakizashi (which he had received from Coordinator [[Takashi Kurita]] personally) from his cockpit. |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ===Aftermath=== | |
| − | + | The duel was a turning point for both Morgan Kell and Yorinaga Kurita. The former largely disbanded the Kell Hounds down from a regiment to a single battailon and went into exile in a monastery on [[Zaniah]] for the next 11 years without a word of explanation. The latter first requested permission from his Coordinator to commit [[seppuku]]. The request was denied, and he was exiled to a Zen monastery on [[Echo]] V instead. From there, he issued the same request each year but received no answer until [[3027]]. | |
| + | |||
| + | ==Patrick Kell's last fight== | ||
| + | A similar phenomenon occurred during [[Patrick Kell]]'s last fight on [[Styx]] in [[3027]], but this is not generally known as the exact events on Styx were largely covered up and remain shrouded in secrecy. | ||
| + | |||
| + | On 1. January 3027 Yorinaga Kurita was recalled and tasked with the creation of a new elite unit, the [[Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery#Genyosha|Genyosha]]. After fulfilling this order, his death wish would be granted. | ||
| + | |||
| + | By sheer coincidence, Morgan Kell's brother Patrick wound up leading the Kell Hounds in a battle against the Genyosha on [[Styx]] on 26. May 3027. He piloted a [[Victor]] that disappeared from the targeting systems (as reported over the radio by Kell Hounds member Austin Brand and witnessed by [[Daniel Allard]]) in much the same fashion as Morgan Kell's [[Archer]] had on Mallory's World. This time, however, Yorinaga Kurita (again in a Warhammer) managed to destroy the other 'Mech. Patrick Kell was mortally wounded and died shortly afterwards. | ||
| + | |||
| + | During this fight, which was not a duel but a battle between several dozend 'Mechs, Yorinaga Kurita's Warhammer, too, could not be acquired as a target for some time. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Final showdown== | ||
| + | The death of his brother brought Morgan Kell out of his self-imposed exile. He took command of the Kell Hounds again and quickly rebuilt them to regiment strength just prior to the [[Fourth Succession War]]. The Kell Hounds and the Draconis Combine, especially the Sword of Light regiments and the Genyosha, frequently attacked each other's bases but the final battle only took place in October [[3029]] on [[Nusakan]]. The Fifth Sword of Light had engaged the Kell Hounds in intense one-to-one fighting when the Genyosha arrived. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Again, Yorinaga Kurita and Morgan Kell squared off in a one-on-one duel. It was a virtual replay of their fight on Mallory's World thirteen years earlier, only Morgan Kell did not fire a single shot this time while Kurita fired virtually everything he had, hardly hitting Kell despite his best efforts. Kell's Archer (again) lost an arm and dropped to its knees before Kurita's Warhammer, then again stood and bowed to his opponent. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Kurita could not return the gesture because the full salvo had overheated and immobilized his Warhammer in the Nusakan desert. By his own honour code, he had again lost the duel and subsequently committed seppuku. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Deeply impressed, Yorinaga Kurita's son [[Akira Brahe]] and a dozend other Genyosha [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] left the [[Draconis Combine]] on the spot and joined the Kell Hounds. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Conclusion== | ||
| + | The mysterious event has never been given a satisfactory explanation. Kurita later claimed that he had had the Archer plain in his sights at very short range, but then Kell's 'Mech had inexplicably disappeared from all sensors all of a sudden, despite standing still, and the salvo missed because the targeting computer could not acquire a lock. Similarly, Chu-sa (Lieutenant Colonel) [[Narimasa Asano]], then a [[Marauder]] pilot with the Second Sword of Light, recalled how the 'Mech had disappeared from all sensors despite being in plain sight. | ||
| + | |||
| + | During Patrick Kell's fight on Styx, [[Dan Allard|Daniel Allard]]'s [[Valkyrie]] managed to acquire an IR signature of Patrick Kell's Victor for half a second when it was hit by two PPCs, possibly disabling the mysterious device briefly. The Kurita 'Mechs obviously could not target him either, and shots at the Victor largely missed. When Yorinaga Kurita's Warhammer closed with the Victor, Allard could not acquire a lock on the Warhammer either. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The most likely explanation is that the Kells used some kind of [[Lostech]] ECM jammer or cloaking device. Alternatively, a mystical ability has been suggested. | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
*The duel is never directly described in canon sources; instead, it is recounted by various people in the novels. Since the duel has a legendary status within the universe, those statements are hardly objective, and may rather be blurring the subject. | *The duel is never directly described in canon sources; instead, it is recounted by various people in the novels. Since the duel has a legendary status within the universe, those statements are hardly objective, and may rather be blurring the subject. | ||
| − | *Although a mystical ability seems rather far-fetched, especially considering the technically oriented outlook of the BattleTech universe and the total absence of any Psi powers, magic, telepathy etc., a rare supernatural skill called "Phantom 'Mech" ability has been suggested. Wether or not such an ability exists at all is ambigous canon. | + | *Although a mystical ability seems rather far-fetched, especially considering the technically oriented outlook of the BattleTech universe and the total absence of any Psi powers, magic, telepathy etc., a rare supernatural skill called "Phantom 'Mech" ability has been suggested in the (canonical) Kell Hounds scenario book. Both [[Morgan Kell|Morgan]] and [[Patrick Kell]], as well as [[Yorinaga Kurita]], alledgedly possess that ability. Wether or not such an ability exists at all is ambigous canon. |
| − | *[[Critter-TEK]] | + | *[[Critter-TEK]] ridicules the ''Phantom 'Mech'' with a special rule called "The amazing Ghost TEK" ability, which "''allows the Swell Hounds to rescue any important character or leader TEK from overwhelming odds or an desperate situation, once during a scenario.''" |
| + | |||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | *''[[List of BattleTech novels#En Garde|En Garde]]'' (Novel) | ||
| + | *[[The Kell Hounds (Scenario pack)]] | ||
Revision as of 07:47, 8 April 2008
The Phantom 'Mech is the only canonical allusion to a possibly supernatural event or power within the BattleTech universe, and as such remains somewhat of an engima.
Contents
The Phantom 'Mech incident
Phantom 'Mech refers to the conclusion of the famous duel between Morgan Kell and Yorinaga Kurita on Mallory's World in 3016.
Situation
Forces from the Draconis Combine, including the elite 2nd Sword of Light Regiment, launched a major attack against the Federated Suns in 3013 and killed Prince Ian Davion in the fighting on Mallory's World. The mercenary unit Kell Hounds, sent as reinforcements, made planetfall shortly afterwards. While they could not save the Prince, moved in to allow the defenders to recover the late prince's body before the Kurita units could take the body as a trophy. This, and their raid on Murchison a year later, earned the Kell Hounds the emnity of House Kurita. At the beginning of the year 3016, the fighting on Mallory's World still raged on and House Kurita decided to crush the remaining Kell Hounds on Mallory's World to demoralize the defenders.
The Kell Hounds' 2nd bataillon was surrounded and pinned down in their base at the town of Cactus Flats by the 36th Dieron Regiment, while the entire Second Sword of Light under Tai-sa Yorinaga Kurita moved to annihilate the 1st bataillon in their fortified position that had formerly belonged to the 24th Dieron Regiment.
The duel
In this hopeless situation, Morgan Kell stepped forward in his Archer and recounted the deeds of his ancestors in Japanese, calling for a duel with a member of the 2nd Sword of Light. It obviously fell to the regiment's commander, Yorinaga Kurita, to answer the call; he stepped forward in his Warhammer and listed the deeds of his ancestors as well, in precise English.
Although the combattants' 'Mech configurations meant that Kell was clearly disadvantaged at shorter ranges, he ignored his LRM-20 launchers and chose to engage the Warhammer at very short range in a direct match. There could be no doubt that he was going to sacrifice himself and offering his life for that of his men.
Yorinaga Kurita essentially defeated Morgan Kell in the fight. In the end, he feinted the failure of his right PPC, then surprisingly used it to shoot off the Archer's right arm. Kell's critically damaged 'Mech toppled to his knees right in front of Kurita's Warhammer.
According to the reports, Kurita's Warhammer then fired all weapons (Alpha strike) at Kell's Archer at pointblank range but miraculously missed with each and every weapon although Kell did not even move. Conversely, Kell fired his long-range missile launchers. The missiles failed to detonate due to the very short range; their impact did crack open the canopy of Kurita's 'Mech, however. Kurita fired all his weapons again, only to completely miss Kell again.
Kell (in his Archer) did not return fire. Instead, he respectfully bowed to his opponent, acknowledging him as the better fighter. The simple gesture meant that Kurita could not kill Kell without losing his honour now. Ashamed, Yorinaga Kurita uttered a Haiku, conceded victory to Morgan Kell and allowed the Kell Hounds to withdraw while he ordered his own troops to retreat. When the pilot of a Panther objected, he destroyed the 'Mech with a concentrated blast of fire. While his warriors retreated, Kurita threw his Katana and Wakizashi (which he had received from Coordinator Takashi Kurita personally) from his cockpit.
Aftermath
The duel was a turning point for both Morgan Kell and Yorinaga Kurita. The former largely disbanded the Kell Hounds down from a regiment to a single battailon and went into exile in a monastery on Zaniah for the next 11 years without a word of explanation. The latter first requested permission from his Coordinator to commit seppuku. The request was denied, and he was exiled to a Zen monastery on Echo V instead. From there, he issued the same request each year but received no answer until 3027.
Patrick Kell's last fight
A similar phenomenon occurred during Patrick Kell's last fight on Styx in 3027, but this is not generally known as the exact events on Styx were largely covered up and remain shrouded in secrecy.
On 1. January 3027 Yorinaga Kurita was recalled and tasked with the creation of a new elite unit, the Genyosha. After fulfilling this order, his death wish would be granted.
By sheer coincidence, Morgan Kell's brother Patrick wound up leading the Kell Hounds in a battle against the Genyosha on Styx on 26. May 3027. He piloted a Victor that disappeared from the targeting systems (as reported over the radio by Kell Hounds member Austin Brand and witnessed by Daniel Allard) in much the same fashion as Morgan Kell's Archer had on Mallory's World. This time, however, Yorinaga Kurita (again in a Warhammer) managed to destroy the other 'Mech. Patrick Kell was mortally wounded and died shortly afterwards.
During this fight, which was not a duel but a battle between several dozend 'Mechs, Yorinaga Kurita's Warhammer, too, could not be acquired as a target for some time.
Final showdown
The death of his brother brought Morgan Kell out of his self-imposed exile. He took command of the Kell Hounds again and quickly rebuilt them to regiment strength just prior to the Fourth Succession War. The Kell Hounds and the Draconis Combine, especially the Sword of Light regiments and the Genyosha, frequently attacked each other's bases but the final battle only took place in October 3029 on Nusakan. The Fifth Sword of Light had engaged the Kell Hounds in intense one-to-one fighting when the Genyosha arrived.
Again, Yorinaga Kurita and Morgan Kell squared off in a one-on-one duel. It was a virtual replay of their fight on Mallory's World thirteen years earlier, only Morgan Kell did not fire a single shot this time while Kurita fired virtually everything he had, hardly hitting Kell despite his best efforts. Kell's Archer (again) lost an arm and dropped to its knees before Kurita's Warhammer, then again stood and bowed to his opponent.
Kurita could not return the gesture because the full salvo had overheated and immobilized his Warhammer in the Nusakan desert. By his own honour code, he had again lost the duel and subsequently committed seppuku.
Deeply impressed, Yorinaga Kurita's son Akira Brahe and a dozend other Genyosha MechWarriors left the Draconis Combine on the spot and joined the Kell Hounds.
Conclusion
The mysterious event has never been given a satisfactory explanation. Kurita later claimed that he had had the Archer plain in his sights at very short range, but then Kell's 'Mech had inexplicably disappeared from all sensors all of a sudden, despite standing still, and the salvo missed because the targeting computer could not acquire a lock. Similarly, Chu-sa (Lieutenant Colonel) Narimasa Asano, then a Marauder pilot with the Second Sword of Light, recalled how the 'Mech had disappeared from all sensors despite being in plain sight.
During Patrick Kell's fight on Styx, Daniel Allard's Valkyrie managed to acquire an IR signature of Patrick Kell's Victor for half a second when it was hit by two PPCs, possibly disabling the mysterious device briefly. The Kurita 'Mechs obviously could not target him either, and shots at the Victor largely missed. When Yorinaga Kurita's Warhammer closed with the Victor, Allard could not acquire a lock on the Warhammer either.
The most likely explanation is that the Kells used some kind of Lostech ECM jammer or cloaking device. Alternatively, a mystical ability has been suggested.
Notes
- The duel is never directly described in canon sources; instead, it is recounted by various people in the novels. Since the duel has a legendary status within the universe, those statements are hardly objective, and may rather be blurring the subject.
- Although a mystical ability seems rather far-fetched, especially considering the technically oriented outlook of the BattleTech universe and the total absence of any Psi powers, magic, telepathy etc., a rare supernatural skill called "Phantom 'Mech" ability has been suggested in the (canonical) Kell Hounds scenario book. Both Morgan and Patrick Kell, as well as Yorinaga Kurita, alledgedly possess that ability. Wether or not such an ability exists at all is ambigous canon.
- Critter-TEK ridicules the Phantom 'Mech with a special rule called "The amazing Ghost TEK" ability, which "allows the Swell Hounds to rescue any important character or leader TEK from overwhelming odds or an desperate situation, once during a scenario."