The following names on this list are Dark Knights that have fallen in battle. They fought and died with honor, as all Knights do. We remember them in our hearts and minds. They will forever be with us on the battlefield.
"...the bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go out to meet it." -Thucydides, Ancient Terra
Mechwarrior Alistair Gunan Innova, Chaos March, FedCom, 3062 Alistair was a man who spoke more with his actions than with his words. His tactics were often flamboyant, a trait which often got him both the good and bad natured jibes from his fellow Knights. In the first heated and confusing confrontation in the defense of the planet Innova against pirate raiders, Alistair and his Wraith fell to the combined onslaught of an enemy aerospace heavy lance who focused all of their weapons on his deadly machine.
Mechwarrior Christopher Cauldwell Innova, Chaos March, FedCom, 3062 Some considered Chris' death to be an unfair one, if any death can be fair. He was brought into the Dark Knights as an infantryman with 'Mech experience when, in fact, he was a fine mechwarrior without a mount. He beat around the ranks of the Knights until a 'Mech became available to him. The Wolverine of Strike Lance became his new mount when its pilot was assigned to other duties. Chris was given the opportunity to return to a 'Mech. Unfortunately the raid on Innova came before he had a chance to familiarize himself with his new mount. To his credit, he preformed well before the same aerolance that fell his fellow Knight Alistair Gunan turned their attention to him. He survived the first attack and managed to return fire despite heavy damage to his machine. On the second pass the fighters savaged his machine once again, the attack driving his heat up past the red and threatened with an internal ammunition explosion. The damage also reached his ejection system, trapping him inside the dying 'Mech. He struggled for many moments with it before it finally succumbed to the heat. The SRMs cooked off, taking Chris and the Wolverine with them. The remaining members of the enemy aerolance did not survive long enough to enjoy themselves.
PFC Ellen Ripley Innova, Chaos March, FedCom, 3062 Ellen joined the Dark Knights with a large group of jump infantry, before even some of the more prominant mechwarriors did. Immediatly assigned to third squad, the DFB, under Cpl. Ferro (also deceased), she excelled and was soon realized to be command material. Her full potential was never realized, however. During the first defense of Innova, an enemy Jenner entered the city her platoon was defending. They heavily damaged it and began to swarm it when a flash from the 'mech's lasers ended Ellen's, and eight of her fellow infantrymen's, charge.
PFC Timothy Weirzbowski Innova, Chaos March, FedCom, 3062 'Bowski was an amiable Knight, well liked by everyone in the jump platoon, as well as those he knew outside of it. It was well known that he had a dislike for hands-on swarm manuever, preffering to use his almost unnatural ability to land an SRM right in the soft spot. In fact, the battle ROMs show that his single missile did more damage to the enemy Jenner that took his life than the rest of the missiles combined.
PFC Samuel Gorman Innova, Chaos March, FedCom, 3062 Sam joined the jump infantry as an outsider, actually not meeting the rest of the platoon until the transit to the planet Innova. He was quiet but took it on himself to lead in tough situations. Fresh out of boot, his combat skills were evident, yet untested. He was eager to step up and take responcibility, obviously intended to become an officer as quickly as possible. His bravery shone through when he wasn't assigned to swarm the enemy Locust but rather volunteered after the assignments were passed out. His bravery should be an example to us all and his death a lesson: Don't let bravery and ambition get in the way of common sense.
PFC Mark Bishop Innova, Chaos March, FedCom, 3062 Mark was a rarity among infantry: he didn't like to kill. Ironically, he was quite good at it, but he preffered the distance and anonimity of a long-range rifle if his target was human to that of a close up fire-fight. He never did have a problem with taking on a 'mech, the lack of personal contact made it easy for him to disassociate himself; he liked to think of it as a mindless machine rather than a human pilot behind the controls. This mindless machine, however, got the drop on Mark and the rest of his comrades.
Srgt. Cynthia Ferro Innova, Chaos March, FedCom, 3062 Seargent Ferro joined the Knights at Major Henderson's request, the two had been acquantences in Henderson's military days. He knew of her past and her skill in an infantry possition, both jump and regular, so, without a biased personal opinion, assigned her command of Jump Squad Three, "Death From Below" (DFB). It was she that led the ill-fated swarm against the Jenner, however no one doubts that no error lies with her; simply the luck that so frequently changes on a battlefield swung out of her favor.
PFC David Spunkmeyer Innova, Chaos March, FedCom, 3062 A truly tragic story is that of Private First Class David Spunkmeyer. The youngest member of the Dark Knights combat staff, he was thrilled to be a soldier fighting on what he considered the side of good. He was eager to face the jaws of death and overcome them, bringing glory to the Knights. Always energetic and always happy to be a part of the team, David was a good source of moral. His loss will be felt for some time. A good man and a better soldier, cut down before he could even reach his prime.
PFC Robert Frost Innova, Chaos March, FedCom, 3062 Robert was well liked by all members of his platoon. Not one to mingle with the rest of the Knights, he was still a familiar face, if not name. Always around, always friendly, Robert never had a frown for anyone. Whether he knew it or not, he kept spirits high and will be missed not only by those who knew him personally, but all of those that garnered evergy from his boyant attitude.
Crpl. Thomas Delaney Innova, Chaos March, FedCom, 3062 Thomas was a man of little words. Not many people knew him. He stayed to himself and wouldn't talk unless giving an order. Because of his high-level strategic thinking, he was given third possition of first squad, the Avenging Angels under platoon CO Kyle Mathis. Thomas beleived in the philosophy of seperating the commanders from the troops, a possition that innitially garnered him distain from his men. They soon realized however, that while he might not have the personal skills, he was an adept leader. He joined in the swarming attack with the DFB when it appeared that things were going downhill in hopes of distracting the enemy enough to let some troops through to do their job.
PFC Marcus Wantanabe Innova, Chaos March, FedCom, 3062 Nothing bad can be said about this Knight. He was always friendly, enjoyed the good-natured jibes about his short stature with his comrades and enjoyed life in general. Never one to steal the spotlight, he often quietly relished in his friendships with the rest of the Knights. Someone that kept himself in excellent shape, he could have taken out half of the raiders himself, if he was just told to do so. His is perhaps the greatest sacrifice, for he wasn't assigned to the task of swarming the Jenner. Rather, when his comrades, those not even of his own squad, began falling, he risked his life to save them. He quickly pulled a fully jump-suited and injured comrade out of the line of fire before jumping back out to save the others. His quick actions saved many men and kept the Butcher's Bill far under what it would have been if he wasn't there. He truly held the Dark Knights' ideals when he bought the lives of his fellow infantrymen, paying with his own. A price many lesser men would consider too high.
Mechwarrior Qolen Kurita Innova, Chaos March, FedCom, 3062 Qolen was a well-liked member of the Knights. Something that was rather surprising considering his Clan Smoke Jaguar history. While in the beginning he did get his fair share of vicious comments and dirty looks, he held his ground and showed that he was still a competant warrior, that his capture at the hands of a Kurita on Luthien was a great warrior being bested by an even better warrior, not a sign of lacking skill. He preformed admirably in the infamous "Dark Knight Sim", downing an enemy Hunchback with some help from his fellow Knights. It saddens the Knights when his death is talked about for he died in one of the ways a warrior hopes to never experience. He did not die on the feild of battle, he did not die honorably to save a fellow Knight. His death was caused by the worst kind of attack: sabotage. His company-owned Blackjack had a heat-sensitive explosive pack placed next to its fusion engine. When Qolen was out on standard tests and patrols his 'Mech's hot-running engine finally reached the critical point, igniting the explosive. His 'Mech, and Qolen himself were caught in the white-hot miniature nova that expanded from the center of the machine, killing both instantly. This atrosity, this breach of honor, was horrible for one that was raised in what some consider the most honorable of societies. First the Clans, then Kurita's own house, and finally: the Dark Knights. We salute this fallen Knight. May no other warrior suffer the same fate.
