The Unofficial Biography of Captain Lady Karen, 3rd Contessa of Iksenslet
Captain Lady Karen, 3rd Contessa of Barony of Iskenslet was born approximately 26 years ago (by current date/in question) and the youngest of Colonel Sir Dirk of Iksenslet and Major Lady Karina of Iksenslet, sister to Her Holiness, the Abbess Katinka of Iksenslet, and Lieutenant Sir Brock of Iksenslet, Hero of the Battle of the Canyons (deceased), on the planet Omaha, third principle world of the New Holland Confederation. Her parents were war heroes, and celebrated military strategists of great repute. It had been suggested by scholars and historians that the New Holland system would have fallen to the depredations of the Shogunate, the Hegemony, and the Tech Warriors of Novum Dolorum had it not been for the military tactical genius of Colonel Sir Dirk and Major Lady Karina.
When Lady Karen turned sixteen years of age, she entered into the Grand Academy of the New Holland Defense Force. By all accounts, her record indicated that her performance was good, yet, no known records exist of her class standing, but she did graduate, which suggests that she did not earn enough demerits or nor was she low enough on the grading and tactical scale to cause her to fail to graduate with a commission. It is currently unknown when she was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. What records do exist imply that Lady Karen was undergoing training and education as a special missions operator. However, a deeper search is currently forbidden, as that all active/inactive records of such are heavily classified, and this author regrets a lack of a security clearance that high.
At some point in her career, Lady Karen was promoted to Platoon Leader and 1st Lieutenant, and on her own merits. She was given a small platoon of low grade scout mechs and was told to, “Cause trouble.” The after action reports were almost giddy, to use a descriptor, at the amount of “trouble” she caused. Sabotage, ambuscade, skirmishes, picking fights with hostile elements just to lead the enemy elements back to where the heavy artillery or infantry mechs could eliminate them. Lady Karen’s small force of scout mechs did more to set back any active invasion or strategic effort of hostile enemy forces than any heavy infantry or cavalry force that the New Holland Army could bring to bear. Reports from enemy forces repeatedly stated that hostile opposition was one thing, but a psychotic charge from light and under-armed scout mechs was something else, and was wholly unexpected.
The tactical doctrine of the New Holland Defense Force was to lure the enemy in, and then use heavy artillery, followed by cavalry, and then what remaining opposition would be eliminated by use of infantry. Close in air support was also used, but the ultimate end to battle was brought by heavy infantry mechs bringing all weapons to bear. Lady Karen, however, disregarded the doctrine. In revenge for the loss of her brother in the Battle of the Canyons, and while all sides agreed that he died with honor, Lady Karen rode out to face the Tech Warriors of Novum Dolorum on top of a prize Nephilax mech naked, and while screaming obscenities and waving a laser pulse rifle. The Tech Warriors were completely routed, and Lady Karen had satiated her vengeance. While her “tactics” were lauded, this did cause some of the High Command to begin to question her sanity. Her parents were questioned at length about her stability, but their essential answer was, “Well, it worked, didn’t it?” This action initiated her promotion to Captain, and cemented her official court title of Captain Lady Karen, 3rd Contessa of Iksenslet.
Despite the heroic efforts of the New Holland Confederation to remain free, it was eventually annexed by the Hegemony, and at an extreme great cost to morale, manpower, materiel, and the Pyrrhic victory forced the Hegemony to reconsider their own military and tactical doctrine thence forward. Colonel Sir Dirk and Major Lady Karina were reduced in status to mere freeholders, and their titles and awards stripped and permanently barred from any social or civil service regarding the military under penalty of death. Captain Lady Karen of Iksenslet, for that was her rank and title during the Fall of the Confederation, elected to not surrender. In her mind, and from found documents and witness accounts, she believed that being a mercenary was lucrative, and should the opportunity present itself to avenge her parents and their loss of station and status, then she would take it.
Currently, Captain Lady Karen of Iksenslet is serving with a military mech clan and is working on her reputation as a ruthless warrior and the enforcer of her clan. It is not known what her actual outlook or mindset is, as that her actions are questionable, her motives unsure, and it has been suggested that she’s not mentally stable. However, what is not for debate is that she does appear to be doing well and despite her “issues”, her clan may appreciate her.
***This biography is unofficial and makes presumptions. There may be facts on in evidence, but this is the distillation from best sources and with evidence available. Do not consider this a scholarly account by any means. It serves merely to share facts that were gathered and to present another perspective to the mindset and motivations of Captain Lady Karen of Iksenslet.***
Submitted by Karen Iksenslet#889315