Prefect Kal Radick: Battling the Firestorm 06/17/3133
INN - Interstellar News Network
TIKOGRAD, TIKONOV—In this time of darkness, when panic has overtaken many
worlds, the people of The Republic are looking more toward the soldiers, once looked
down upon, to help them through the strife. And where the Prefects have always
taken center stage in the machinations of The Republic, their importance is now
clearer than ever. It is individuals like Prefect Kal Radick who will lead us through the
difficulties ahead and into the peace of the future.
Born into a Clan sibko, Prefect Radick began life as any other Clanner. He was raised
in a warrior society and trained as a MechWarrior. He achieved the ultimate goal of a
Bloodname at the age of 22 and continued his incredible rise from there. He very
quickly rose through the ranks of Clan Wolf, reaching the rank of Galaxy Commander
in short order and soon after was appointed Prefect of Prefecture IV.
To some, that appointment would be the crowning achievement of a lifetime, while
others would use that as a springboard to even greater position within The Republic of
the Sphere. In either case, most would take every opportunity to keep their names in
the press and to be seen by the people they pledged to protect.
But not Kal Radick.
Even among Clanners, the art of politics is not unknown. There have been many very
famous Clan politicians, especially among Clan Wolf. Kal Radick, however, is not one
of those. He is a man devoted to his job--so much so that he has eschewed the
political realm almost completely, concentrating instead on defending The Republic.
“He is not your typical military leader,” said Exarch Damien Redburn upon Radick’s
appointment. “He is a great leader and incredibly loyal both to those under him and
those he serves. We could not have chosen a better man to take this position.”
Or Lord Governor Aaron Sandoval’s assessment, proffered just last week. “There are
few men in this universe who could do the job that Prefect Radick is doing with such
grace and calm. He is a tribute to his upbringing. We are all lucky that we have this
man to help us through this darkness.”
Radick took the position of Prefect with little ceremony, at his own request. Attended
only by the Exarch, Lord Governor Sandoval, and a close circle of advisors and
commanders, the ceremony was both short and to the point, consisting of little more
than the oath of office and a few brief comments on the part of the new Prefect.
Immediately following the ceremony, the Prefect departed on a tour of the prefecture,
visiting every single man and woman under his command before settling in a
command center on Tigress.
Yet the very nature of The Republic makes it almost impossible for anyone in an
office as prominent as Radick’s to remain out of the spotlight--a reality the Prefect
soon discovered first hand. And though he was provided a large and very competent
staff, his opponents soon discovered that he had a tendency to speak his mind, often
figuratively putting his foot in his mouth and forcing his public relations staff to run a
campaign of almost-constant damage control.
As a result, in the almost three years that Radick has held his position, he has been
categorized as an uneven leader by many, not the least of which is Prefect Tara
Campbell of neighboring Prefecture III. “His words and actions prove that he is
incapable of holding such a high office within The Republic. The Clans may have a
long history of honor and duty, but this man’s sole duty seems to be to his own
goals--goals that do not include the continued existence of The Republic.”
Prefect Campbell’s comments, of course, refer to the political row that exploded
between the two earlier this year, after Campbell publicly suggested that Radick was
incapable of carrying out the duties of his office. In true Clan tradition, the Prefect
challenged then-Legate Campbell to a Trial of Grievance. Exarch Redburn quickly
stepped in to put an end to the bickering in an episode that received play throughout
the Inner Sphere. But despite the Exarch’s efforts, a battle of wits and wills seemed
destined to break out between the two when the blackout descended, mercifully
sparing both from the backlash that neither likely could have escaped unscathed.
In the months since the loss of HPG communications, Radick has been extremely
busy, making the rounds and meeting often with Lord Governor Sandoval to discuss
the continued security of his prefecture. In some ways, the blackout loosened the
Prefect’s shackles. No longer mere hours from a rebuttal from Campbell or a censure
from the Exarch, Radick is free to exhort his soldiers in the ways most familiar to
himself--talking of the Star League days and the honor won by reforming a society
based on those principles.
Radick is, of course, a well-known proponent of a reformation of the Star League, a
dream certainly held by many Clanners. He has also publicly questioned the
mysterious origins of Devlin Stone, which has won him far more vocal opponents
than his actions as Prefect have won him allies.
But, at least for the time being, his actions seem to be working. The prefecture militias
are far calmer than those within other regions of The Republic, and the process of
recruiting additional personnel seems to be progressing nicely. Likewise, Radick has
ordered an increase in scheduled training cycles, and is determined to make sure his
soldiers are prepared for anything that might happen.
The worst has, of course, come to pass now on several worlds, with outsiders armed
with BattleMechs and other implements of war invading at least three worlds. The
Prefect has relied primarily upon his own Steel Wolves to combat the invaders, with a
detachment currently battling for control of the world of Ronel.
Perhaps the most interesting fact of the battles to date, however, is not which worlds
have been targeted, but who has targeted them. Twice now the Steel Wolves have
come up against warriors pledging themselves to the Swordsworn, a group by all
accounts led by Lord Governor Aaron Sandoval. Even more interestingly, both remain
close political allies.
“The Lord Governor has assured me that the individuals responsible for the attacks
upon Ankaa are rogues and not a part of his personal guard,” said the Prefect in a
recent interview. “We are both still attempting to determine the exact nature of the
conflict on Ronel. There is the distinct possibility that the reported fighting is just a
misunderstanding. What is clear to me, however, is the duplicitous nature of
businessman Jacob Bannson. Forces claiming loyalty to him have caused trouble that
both the Lord Governor and I must now deal with. And make no mistake, we will
show no mercy to that surat.”
At the same time, the Prefect is confident in the men and women under his command.
“They have performed exactly as I expected they would. They have fought with
honor against honorless surats who deserve nothing but death. These are the ideals
that propelled the Star League to greatness. We must rid ourselves of the corruption
and instead exemplify those ideals in the days to come if we are to survive.”
Towne Log
+ As much as I agree with him on many things, this man is psychotic. He’s got a
fixation on the Star League, and he won’t rest until it is reformed or he is dead. Why
can’t the Clanners get the fact that the idea of the Star League just doesn’t work. I
don’t know how the first one lasted as long as it did. No, I take that back; I do:
through the threat of military might. The first Star League worked because the Terran
Hegemony had an army that put all others to shame. As soon as Amaris destroyed
that, the League didn’t have a chance. And that’s why that nonsense a century ago
didn’t last—because the Successor Lords didn’t have anything to fear. I just hope
Sandoval can keep Radick reigned in. I don’t even want to think about what might
happen if Radick decides to go and slap Tara Bishop. Or make a drive on Terra.
Dreams of being ilKhan are big things with Clanners. :- PanzerGruppe
+ Kal Radick just confuses me. It’s been 80 years since we first encountered the
Clans, and I don’t think there’s anyone who really understands them yet. I’ve read the
reports and all of the studies, and I can’t quite figure them out. None of them. Every
single one of those Clans is crazy in its own way. They’ve been here for almost a
hundred years and they’re all still fixated on Terra and the Kerenskys. They were both
psychotics, for God’s sake! :- Goobs86
+ Not all of ’em got a thing for Terra. :-PanzerGruppe
+ So true. The Ravens are an interesting lot, and those two snakes . . . I don’t even
want to know what’s up with them. :- Bobaloo
+ Heh. Sure was fun to watch what happened with the Blood Spirits, though. Serves ’
em right! :- Kemo
+ Don’t get me wrong, here, guys. I don’t understand Clan culture, but aren’t they
what we need? Good warriors? Don’t we need them to slap Bannson and the Dragon?
I don’t much care for their way of leadership, but they do have their uses. :- TimE
+ Radick has his uses. And, yes, he is what we need. In some respects. He’s the kind
of Prefect who isn’t going to take any [deleted] and is going to lead from the front.
The problem is that he is fixated on the Star League. He wants to reform the League,
starting right here in Prefecture IV, and it sure looks like his Steel Wolves have been
more often the aggressors than the defenders. Notice also where he’s pointing his
Galaxy; he’s been moving further and further coreward. I’m betting he’s looking to
cross over into Prefecture III to take the shot at Campbell that Exarch Redburn
stopped him from taking last year. But on the bright side, he’s not exactly what one
would call a bright bulb. Governor Sandoval has been handling him pretty well for a
couple of years now. :- CMike
+ You saying that Sandoval’s running the show behind the scenes? :- DarkJaguar
+ No. But what I am saying is that Redburn has pulled Radick’s fat out of the fryer
numerous times. And there’s got to be a reason for that. Where do you think all of
Radick’s political staff came from? Look at Radick’s track record. There’s no way in
hell he should have been Prefect for so long after opening his mouth like he has.
Unless he’s had someone powerful, someone with all the right connections, watching
his back. :- CMike
INN - Interstellar News Network
TIKOGRAD, TIKONOV—In this time of darkness, when panic has overtaken many
worlds, the people of The Republic are looking more toward the soldiers, once looked
down upon, to help them through the strife. And where the Prefects have always
taken center stage in the machinations of The Republic, their importance is now
clearer than ever. It is individuals like Prefect Kal Radick who will lead us through the
difficulties ahead and into the peace of the future.
Born into a Clan sibko, Prefect Radick began life as any other Clanner. He was raised
in a warrior society and trained as a MechWarrior. He achieved the ultimate goal of a
Bloodname at the age of 22 and continued his incredible rise from there. He very
quickly rose through the ranks of Clan Wolf, reaching the rank of Galaxy Commander
in short order and soon after was appointed Prefect of Prefecture IV.
To some, that appointment would be the crowning achievement of a lifetime, while
others would use that as a springboard to even greater position within The Republic of
the Sphere. In either case, most would take every opportunity to keep their names in
the press and to be seen by the people they pledged to protect.
But not Kal Radick.
Even among Clanners, the art of politics is not unknown. There have been many very
famous Clan politicians, especially among Clan Wolf. Kal Radick, however, is not one
of those. He is a man devoted to his job--so much so that he has eschewed the
political realm almost completely, concentrating instead on defending The Republic.
“He is not your typical military leader,” said Exarch Damien Redburn upon Radick’s
appointment. “He is a great leader and incredibly loyal both to those under him and
those he serves. We could not have chosen a better man to take this position.”
Or Lord Governor Aaron Sandoval’s assessment, proffered just last week. “There are
few men in this universe who could do the job that Prefect Radick is doing with such
grace and calm. He is a tribute to his upbringing. We are all lucky that we have this
man to help us through this darkness.”
Radick took the position of Prefect with little ceremony, at his own request. Attended
only by the Exarch, Lord Governor Sandoval, and a close circle of advisors and
commanders, the ceremony was both short and to the point, consisting of little more
than the oath of office and a few brief comments on the part of the new Prefect.
Immediately following the ceremony, the Prefect departed on a tour of the prefecture,
visiting every single man and woman under his command before settling in a
command center on Tigress.
Yet the very nature of The Republic makes it almost impossible for anyone in an
office as prominent as Radick’s to remain out of the spotlight--a reality the Prefect
soon discovered first hand. And though he was provided a large and very competent
staff, his opponents soon discovered that he had a tendency to speak his mind, often
figuratively putting his foot in his mouth and forcing his public relations staff to run a
campaign of almost-constant damage control.
As a result, in the almost three years that Radick has held his position, he has been
categorized as an uneven leader by many, not the least of which is Prefect Tara
Campbell of neighboring Prefecture III. “His words and actions prove that he is
incapable of holding such a high office within The Republic. The Clans may have a
long history of honor and duty, but this man’s sole duty seems to be to his own
goals--goals that do not include the continued existence of The Republic.”
Prefect Campbell’s comments, of course, refer to the political row that exploded
between the two earlier this year, after Campbell publicly suggested that Radick was
incapable of carrying out the duties of his office. In true Clan tradition, the Prefect
challenged then-Legate Campbell to a Trial of Grievance. Exarch Redburn quickly
stepped in to put an end to the bickering in an episode that received play throughout
the Inner Sphere. But despite the Exarch’s efforts, a battle of wits and wills seemed
destined to break out between the two when the blackout descended, mercifully
sparing both from the backlash that neither likely could have escaped unscathed.
In the months since the loss of HPG communications, Radick has been extremely
busy, making the rounds and meeting often with Lord Governor Sandoval to discuss
the continued security of his prefecture. In some ways, the blackout loosened the
Prefect’s shackles. No longer mere hours from a rebuttal from Campbell or a censure
from the Exarch, Radick is free to exhort his soldiers in the ways most familiar to
himself--talking of the Star League days and the honor won by reforming a society
based on those principles.
Radick is, of course, a well-known proponent of a reformation of the Star League, a
dream certainly held by many Clanners. He has also publicly questioned the
mysterious origins of Devlin Stone, which has won him far more vocal opponents
than his actions as Prefect have won him allies.
But, at least for the time being, his actions seem to be working. The prefecture militias
are far calmer than those within other regions of The Republic, and the process of
recruiting additional personnel seems to be progressing nicely. Likewise, Radick has
ordered an increase in scheduled training cycles, and is determined to make sure his
soldiers are prepared for anything that might happen.
The worst has, of course, come to pass now on several worlds, with outsiders armed
with BattleMechs and other implements of war invading at least three worlds. The
Prefect has relied primarily upon his own Steel Wolves to combat the invaders, with a
detachment currently battling for control of the world of Ronel.
Perhaps the most interesting fact of the battles to date, however, is not which worlds
have been targeted, but who has targeted them. Twice now the Steel Wolves have
come up against warriors pledging themselves to the Swordsworn, a group by all
accounts led by Lord Governor Aaron Sandoval. Even more interestingly, both remain
close political allies.
“The Lord Governor has assured me that the individuals responsible for the attacks
upon Ankaa are rogues and not a part of his personal guard,” said the Prefect in a
recent interview. “We are both still attempting to determine the exact nature of the
conflict on Ronel. There is the distinct possibility that the reported fighting is just a
misunderstanding. What is clear to me, however, is the duplicitous nature of
businessman Jacob Bannson. Forces claiming loyalty to him have caused trouble that
both the Lord Governor and I must now deal with. And make no mistake, we will
show no mercy to that surat.”
At the same time, the Prefect is confident in the men and women under his command.
“They have performed exactly as I expected they would. They have fought with
honor against honorless surats who deserve nothing but death. These are the ideals
that propelled the Star League to greatness. We must rid ourselves of the corruption
and instead exemplify those ideals in the days to come if we are to survive.”
Towne Log
+ As much as I agree with him on many things, this man is psychotic. He’s got a
fixation on the Star League, and he won’t rest until it is reformed or he is dead. Why
can’t the Clanners get the fact that the idea of the Star League just doesn’t work. I
don’t know how the first one lasted as long as it did. No, I take that back; I do:
through the threat of military might. The first Star League worked because the Terran
Hegemony had an army that put all others to shame. As soon as Amaris destroyed
that, the League didn’t have a chance. And that’s why that nonsense a century ago
didn’t last—because the Successor Lords didn’t have anything to fear. I just hope
Sandoval can keep Radick reigned in. I don’t even want to think about what might
happen if Radick decides to go and slap Tara Bishop. Or make a drive on Terra.
Dreams of being ilKhan are big things with Clanners. :- PanzerGruppe
+ Kal Radick just confuses me. It’s been 80 years since we first encountered the
Clans, and I don’t think there’s anyone who really understands them yet. I’ve read the
reports and all of the studies, and I can’t quite figure them out. None of them. Every
single one of those Clans is crazy in its own way. They’ve been here for almost a
hundred years and they’re all still fixated on Terra and the Kerenskys. They were both
psychotics, for God’s sake! :- Goobs86
+ Not all of ’em got a thing for Terra. :-PanzerGruppe
+ So true. The Ravens are an interesting lot, and those two snakes . . . I don’t even
want to know what’s up with them. :- Bobaloo
+ Heh. Sure was fun to watch what happened with the Blood Spirits, though. Serves ’
em right! :- Kemo
+ Don’t get me wrong, here, guys. I don’t understand Clan culture, but aren’t they
what we need? Good warriors? Don’t we need them to slap Bannson and the Dragon?
I don’t much care for their way of leadership, but they do have their uses. :- TimE
+ Radick has his uses. And, yes, he is what we need. In some respects. He’s the kind
of Prefect who isn’t going to take any [deleted] and is going to lead from the front.
The problem is that he is fixated on the Star League. He wants to reform the League,
starting right here in Prefecture IV, and it sure looks like his Steel Wolves have been
more often the aggressors than the defenders. Notice also where he’s pointing his
Galaxy; he’s been moving further and further coreward. I’m betting he’s looking to
cross over into Prefecture III to take the shot at Campbell that Exarch Redburn
stopped him from taking last year. But on the bright side, he’s not exactly what one
would call a bright bulb. Governor Sandoval has been handling him pretty well for a
couple of years now. :- CMike
+ You saying that Sandoval’s running the show behind the scenes? :- DarkJaguar
+ No. But what I am saying is that Redburn has pulled Radick’s fat out of the fryer
numerous times. And there’s got to be a reason for that. Where do you think all of
Radick’s political staff came from? Look at Radick’s track record. There’s no way in
hell he should have been Prefect for so long after opening his mouth like he has.
Unless he’s had someone powerful, someone with all the right connections, watching
his back. :- CMike
| June 17, 3133 |