Editing Ivan Sorenson (30th c.)

{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Ivan Sorenson.jpg
| caption             = 
| name                = Vladimir Sorenson
| birthdate           = [[2973]]<ref name=HK:DCp172>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 172: "Ivan Sorenson profile"</ref><ref name=H:BWp98>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 98</ref>
| died                = 13 March [[3034]]<ref name=H:BWp99>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 99</ref>
| othernames          = Ivan
| affiliation         = [[House Sorenson (Draconis Combine)|House Sorenson]]
| rank                = 
| title               = [[Warlord of Rasalhague]]<br/>[[Knight of the Dragon]]<ref name=HK:DCp172/>
| position            = 
| profession          = Noble
| parents             = 
| siblings            = 
| spouse              = 
| children            = 
}}
'''Vladimir "Ivan" Sorenson'''<ref>''Heir to the Dragon'', p. 36</ref> was an officer of the [[Draconis Combine]] and the last [[Warlord]] of the [[Rasalhague Military District]] before the formation of the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]].

==History==
[[File:Ivan-Sorenson.png|right|thumb|Ivan-Sorenson in 3025]]

===Early Life and Career===
Sorenson was born on the backwater planet [[Echo]] in the [[Pesht Military District]].<ref name=H:BWp98/> He became involved in gang activity, but he turned traitor on his confederates when the authorities moved in. Sorenson himself was assigned to hard labor on a [[DCMS]] base. He eventually gained the notice of one of the officers there, who helped him test out as a [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]]. He graduated from the Pesht District Gymnasium with honors.

Though an excellent MechWarrior, early on Sorenson was considered too undisciplined for an officer. After being assigned to lead several [[BattleMech]] charges, he learned to temper his anger and soon demonstrated excellent tactical and strategic ability. He qualified for officer training, and eventually found himself commanding various units along the [[Periphery]] border. During this time, he first came to the attention of [[Takashi Kurita]], who would soon assume the role of [[Coordinator of Worlds|Coordinator]] upon the death of [[Hohiro Kurita I|Hohiro Kurita]].  

===In Service to the Dragon===
By [[3019]], Sorenson had achieved the rank of ''[[Tai-sho (rank)|Tai-sho]]'' on the staff of [[Marcus Kurita]], Warlord of the Rasalhague Military District. He was assigned to personally escort the Coordinator on the last leg of the voyage to [[Rasalhague]] to attend the wedding of Takashi’s heir, [[Theodore Kurita]], to the daughter of the district governor. While still in orbit of the planet, their [[DropShip]] was sabotaged as part of an assassination attempt on the Coordinator. With quick thinking, Sorenson managed to save himself and Takashi by bailing out of the doomed DropShip in his BattleMech, using his 'Mech’s jump jets to guide their descent and manage a crash landing. Though injured, he survived, and was soon rewarded with a promotion to Warlord. (In addition, Takashi clearly suspected Marcus Kurita of being party to the attempt on his life.)<ref>''Heir to the Dragon'', p. ?{{cn}}</ref>

When Marcus Kurita was relieved as Warlord of Rasalhague and made commanding officer of the [[Otomo]], Ivan Sorenson was appointed Warlord by Takashi Kurita.<ref name=HKDCp172>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 172: "Ivan Sorenson"</ref>

Sorenson was unquestionably loyal to Takashi. He would not hesitate to follow Takashi's orders to stamp out any hint of rebellion in the district. While Sorenson was good quelling rebellion in the area, his military skills were not good at planning and his skills tended towards defense, and the district suffered against Commonwealth attacks.<ref name=HKDCp172/>

===Fourth Succession War===
In [[3028]], the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] conducted a massive invasion of the Combine as part of the [[Fourth Succession War]]. Sorenson was hard pressed to effectively fight off the attacks on his district, and a large number of planets were lost. Particularly embarrassing was the assistance Rasalhague partisans provided to the Lyrans. Despite these setbacks, Sorenson was not removed from his position. 

According to an [[canon|apocryphal]] scenario,<ref>''[[Wunderwelten]]'', Issue #14: ''[[Drachentrick]]'' campaign</ref> Ivan Sorenson masterminded a plan to conquer [[Suk II]] with minimal forces at some point between the Fourth Succession War and the formation of the Free Rasalhague Republic. Because of the heavy losses the DCMS had sufferen in the Fourth Succession War, the attack was carried out (primarily) by the [[Tooth of Ymir]] [[mercenary unit]] but the defenders—[[Hansen's Roughriders]] and a minor mercenary unit implied to have been [[Cameron's Legion]]—ultimately thwarted the plan.

===Death and the Free Rasalhague Republic===
Sorenson was killed in a traffic accident on 13 March 3034, while on his way to the press conference where [[Christian Månsdottir]] announced the formation of the Republic.<ref name=H:BWp99/> It is implied, though ultimately unproven, that Theodore Kurita and his supporters engineered his death, believing that Sorenson would never support the Republic’s birth unless directly ordered to do so by Takashi Kurita.<ref>''Heir to the Dragon'' p. 282</ref> Marcus Kurita attempted to hold the District, resulting in the brief [[Ronin War]]. With the assistance of forces loyal to Theodore Kurita, the Republic would survive this conflict.

==Personality and Traits==
Sorenson was considered a talented but blustering officer. Though a capable field commander, his planning skills seemed grossly insufficient for coordinating an entire district. Nevertheless, he apparently inspired enough loyalty in the troops under his command that they sided with Marcus Kurita after his death. In his later years, he was well known for his fierce loyalty and respect to Takashi Kurita. Indeed, Sorenson seemed to be one of the few Warlords whose loyalty Takashi never openly.

==BattleMechs==
At the time of the assassination attempt on Takashi Kurita in 3019, Sorenson was piloting a ''[[Grasshopper]]'' 'Mech, which was sacrificed to save the Coordinator.<ref>''Heir to the Dragon'', p. ?{{cn}}</ref> When he was promoted to Warlord, he was awarded an ''[[Atlas (BattleMech)|Atlas]]'' by the thankful Coordinator.<ref>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'' pp. 174</ref>

==Notes==
* Despite his family name, Sorenson it is unknown if or how Ivan Sorenson was related to the ancestral "Sorenson" family of Rasalhague.
* Ivan Sorenson was the uncle of [[Daniel Sorenson (31st c.)|Daniel Sorenson]], the famed leader of [[Sorenson's Sabres]].<ref>''Starterbook: Sword and Dragon'', p. 35</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[20 Year Update]]'' 
* ''[[Heir to the Dragon]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Historical: Brush Wars]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)]]''
* ''[[Starterbook: Sword and Dragon]]''

[[Category:Draconis Combine Characters|Sorenson, Ivan (30th c.)]]