Editing Patrick Kell

{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Patrick Kell TKH.jpg
| caption             = Patrick Kell
| name                = Patrick Martin Kell
| birthdate           = [[2988]]<ref>''The Kell Hounds'', p. 17</ref>
| died                = May [[3027]]
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[House Kell]]
| rank                = [[Lieutenant Colonel]]
| title               = 
| position            = 
| profession          = 
| parents             = [[Margaret Maybelle Kell]] (mother)<ref name=ATSORc4>''A Tiny Spot of Rebellion'', ch. 4</ref>
| siblings            = [[Morgan Kell]]
| spouse              = [[Takara]] (lover)<ref name=RGiCv15p8>''Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 15'', p. 8</ref>
| children            = [[Christian Kell]] (illigitimate)<ref name=RGiCv15p8/>
}}
'''Patrick Martin Kell''' and his brother [[Morgan Kell]] were the founders of the famed [[Kell Hounds]] mercenary unit.

==History==
===Early Life===
Patrick graduated in [[3009]] the top 2% of his class from [[Nagelring]], the premier military academy of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]], and was assigned to the [[Tenth Skye Rangers]]. By [[3010]], he had risen to the rank of [[lieutenant colonel]].

===The Kell Hounds Formation===
The Kell Hounds were born even before Morgan and Patrick had thoughts of running their own mercenary command. [[Arthur Luvon]], future husband of [[Archon]] [[Katrina Steiner]] and cousin to Morgan and Patrick, dubbed the two brothers the "Kell Hounds" after witnessing them as young boys running around and terrorizing a neighbor's flock of sheep. Arthur drew up the Kell Hounds' crest and predicted that the two would grow up to become great [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]]. When Arthur died, Morgan and Patrick used the money left to them to form the Kell Hounds mercenary unit in [[3010]]. Though initially mocked as rich boys playing soldier, the two made quite the impression with their surprisingly advanced grasp of strategy and tactics, as well as recruiting a top-notch technical support staff. Patrick became executive officer of the unit.

=== Securing Star League Books ===
The Kell Hounds were involved in the Battle of [[Halstead Station]] in 3014. Initially planned under Prince [[Ian Davion]] in 3012 to destroy a [[Draconis Combine]] supply depot, the operational target was altered under [[Hanse Davion]] after the location of a former [[Star League]] University was discovered. The Kell Hounds succeeded in securing the majority of valuable books. Those which couldn't be removed before the [[Federated Suns]]' evacuation of the planet where piled up and supposed to be burned. However, after retreating from the planet it became clear, that most of the books left fell unharmed into the hands of Draconis Combines [[Internal Security Force]]'s officer [[Harrison Ukita]]. He evacuated them to the nearby planet of [[Murchison]]. After they learned from the situation, the Federated Suns immediately asked the Kell Hounds to attempt a planetary assault to secure the surviving books before they could be transferred to Luthien. Even though the raid was a military success, the books were hidden safely and couldn't be apprehended. When a Draconis Combine relief troop appeared, the Kell Hounds supposedly left the planet. Under disguise Patrick Kell succeeded to locate and secure the hidden books. In the course he met [[Tanaka]], a Kuritan ''[[Renketsu]]'', who helped him in completing his task and with who he apparently had a short relationship from which his son, [[Christian Kell]] originated.<ref>The affair is descripted in Shrapnel's short story ''[[The Judas Blind]]''. Though some details seem to be apocryphal, as the Battle of Halstead Station and the subsequent engagement on Murchison is described as being, whilst the [[Third Battle of Mallory's World]] is going on</ref>

===Mallory's World===
The Kell Hounds had grown to regiment size by [[3013]],<ref>''Warrior: En Garde'', p. 33</ref> with Patrick a Leftenant-Colonel in the expanded unit. While in service to the [[Federated Suns]], the Hounds were called to [[Mallory's World]] for an emergency extraction of [[First Prince]] [[Ian Davion]], whose forces where taking heavy casualties from the [[Draconis Combine]]'s elite [[Second Sword of Light]]. Morgan led the relief force, while Patrick remained behind to safeguard the mercenary unit's dependents. The Hounds arrived too late, and Ian Davion died while covering his people's escape.

To prevent the Second Sword from taking the First Prince's body as a war trophy, Morgan challenged its commander, the infamous [[Yorinaga Kurita]], to a duel. During the epic battle, Morgan Kell used the [[Phantom 'Mech]] effect to force an honorable withdraw by Yorinaga, giving the Hounds an opportunity to escape the planet with Ian Davion's body.

After the duel, Morgan became reticent and withdrawn, reducing the Hounds to a third of its strength and eventually retiring from the mercenary unit to join a [[St. Marinus House|monastery]]. Patrick became commander of the remaining Kell Hounds, leading them through the lowest period of their history, a time called the "Defection."

===Commander of the Kell Hounds===
Under Patrick's leadership, the unit overcame its depressive period. He managed to bring the unit back together with the support of [[Salome Ward]], [[Dan Allard]], [[Clarence Wilson|Clarence "Cat" Wilson]], and others.

By November of [[3026]] the Hounds were stationed on [[Pacifica]],<ref>''Warrior: En Garde'', p. 21</ref> where they garrisoned the planet from incursions or raids for the planet's plentiful water supply.

In April [[3027]], a battalion of the Second Sword of Light assaulted Pacifica during a visit by Colonel [[Ardan Sortek]] and Leftenant [[Andrew Redburn]]. Patrick and the Hounds had already tapped into various intelligence networks on the planet and were forewarned of the attacks.  Sortek, Redburn and visiting Lyran Hauptman-General Sarah Joss participated in repulsing one of the incoming raider companies.  The battle concluded with the assistance of Colonel Sortek's ''[[Victor]]'' Assault 'Mech dueling with and defeating a Kurita ''[[Awesome]]''.  However, the other two companies of 'Mechs, composed entirely of ''[[Panther]]s'', spread out across the planet, forming resistance guerrilla cells.

On 26 May, Kurita commandos led an assault on the Kell Hounds' compound, whereby a twist of fate only Patrick was injured, albeit by ''[[Katana (Weapon)|katana]]'' blow that collapsed his lung.  After the assassins were dispatched, a demi-company of ''Panther'' BattleMechs arrived to finish up. However, they were repelled by Hound 'Mechs led by [[Cat Wilson]]'s ''[[Marauder]]'', taking down three enemy 'Mechs in the process.  Doctors managed to save Patrick, telling him that as long he rested he would recover from his injuries. The Hounds withdrew from the planet, taking most of the salvaged Panthers with them, to their JumpShip the ''[[Cucamulus]]''.  As part of a plan Patrick had made with the JumpShip's captain, [[Janos Vandermeer]], the Kell Hounds made the jump ''into'' Kurita space to throw off inbound forces seeking to destroy them.<ref>''Warrior: En Garde'', pp. 264–265: "Hounds depart Steiner space for Kurita Space"</ref> After jumping into an uninhabited star system [[A2341CA]], the plan was for the JumpShip to "hot-load" its [[K-F drive]] so that they could jump again in eighteen hours instead of eight days and proceed to the [[Styx]] system, where they would hide out at a suspected [[Heimdall (organization)|Heimdall]] base.<ref>''Warrior: En Garde'', pp. 279–280: "Patrick explained that the move was part of plan"</ref>

===Silver Eagle===
{{main|Silver Eagle Incident}}
When the Kell Hounds arrived at Styx, they found the Heimdall base under attack by House Kurita, a combined task force of [[ISF]] commandos and the [[Genyosha]], though the latter were not recognized at first.  When Captain [[Dan Allard]] and his team breached the base, they discovered that the ''[[Silver Eagle]]'' had been taken there and that among the passengers was Patrick's cousin, [[Archon-Designate]] [[Melissa Steiner (31st c.)|Melissa Steiner]].  During the course of the [[Silver Eagle Incident]], Patrick engaged the Genyosha 'Mechs in Sortek's ''Victor'', buying time for the Kell Hounds and Melissa to make her escape using while receiving a mortal wound from Yorinaga Kurita.  Aboard the ''Silver Eagle'', a dying Patrick Kell met with Melissa, where she revealed the purpose of her trip was for a secret wedding to [[First Prince]] [[Hanse Davion]].  Patrick Kell wished his cousin happiness, and tells Dan Allard to pass a message to his brother:
{{Quote|''Dan, tell him...Morgan I understand. Tell him I finally understand.''}}
As his final order, Patrick turned command of the Kell Hounds over to Salome Ward before finally dying.<ref>''Warrior: En Garde'', p. 319: "Patrick Kell's last moments"</ref>

===Legacy===
After the Kell Hound's actions in the Silver Eagle incident, First Prince Hanse Davion rewarded the Kell Hounds with lands and titles, but asked what else he could do in thanks.  It was at Dan Allard's suggestion that a scholarship be set up in Patrick's memory, to be offered to potential MechWarrior candidates who shared the same spirit of bravery as Patrick did.  Hanse Davion agreed and Melissa Steiner also promised to create a similar program in the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] as well.<ref>''Warrior: En Garde'', pp. 324–325: "Dan proposes scholarship in memory of Patrick Kell"</ref>

A memorial in Peace Park in [[Avalon City]] to honor the memory of those who died in the Silver Eagle incident was also created, with Patrick's name among those listed.

Unknown to him, Patrick had sired a son named [[Christian Kell]] with a mistress named [[Takara]]. <ref>[http://www.classicbattletech.com/index.php?action=text&page=Kell_Hounds] BattleTech timeline - Kell Hound history</ref> He first appeared to Morgan Kell in [[3042]] on [[Arboris]], presenting evidence provided by his late mother.  Morgan brought Christian to [[Outreach]] where he could be trained by [[Wolf's Dragoons]], and later joined the Kell Hounds as an officer.

==BattleMechs==
Patrick Kell was noted to pilot a ''[[Thunderbolt]]'', but used [[Ardan Sortek]]'s ''[[Victor]]'' Assault 'Mech in his final moments.  He was qualified to pilot the ''Victor'' while at the Nagelring Academy, and took part in rebuilding a captured Kurita ''Victor'' during his senior year.

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[The Kell Hounds]]''
* ''[[Not the Way the Smart Money Bets]]'' (short story)
* ''[[Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 15]]''
* ''[[A Tiny Spot of Rebellion]]'' (novella)
* ''[[Warrior: En Garde]]'' (novel)

[[Category:Lyran Commonwealth Characters|Kell, Patrick]]
[[Category:Kell Hounds Characters|Kell, Patrick]]
[[Category:Nagelring Alumni|Kell, Patrick]]