Thaddeus Andrus
Thaddeus Jackson Andrus | |
|---|---|
| Personal | |
| Died | 3001[1] |
| Affiliation | Federated Suns |
| Career | |
| Rank | Colonel[1] |
| Profession | MechWarrior[1] |
Thaddeus Jackson Andrus was a notable officer of the War College of Goshen in 3001.[1]
History
Colonel Andrus had just been assigned to the War College of Goshen's staff in 3001 when Goshen was raided by forces from the Tikonov Martial Academy. Unaware of the raider's presence on the planet, Andrus was working with a company of academy cadets in the Hellholme Valley when they detected twelve hostile BattleMechs approaching their position. While both sides were caught equally off-guard, three of Andrus' students were quickly downed when the Tikonov troops opened fire. In response, Andrus ordered his inexperienced soldiers to retreat to Pithom in order to activate the rest of the Goshen War College Training Battalion.[1]
As his cadets fled, Andrus turned to face the opposing Capellans in order to ensure his charges' survival. While no witnesses survived to recount the events of the ensuing battle, the Training Battalion's arrival at the break of dawn revealed that Andrus had successfully killed all twelve of his opponents at the cost of his own life. Later attempts to recreate the battle failed to reveal how Andrus had accomplished such a feat, although the blood and cockpit canopy glass on his 'Mech's right fist demonstrated that he had resorted to melee combat after his weapon systems were disabled.[1]
In honor of his sacrifice, the War College began conducting the Andrus Trial, where the bravest of the school's cadets could attempt to defeat twelve of their fellows in combat. While no student had ever come close to succeeding in the Trial, another tradition was born wherein each year's graduating class nominated the warrior who had demonstrated the greatest amount of selflessness. Any cadet so recognized had their name engraved on the Andrus Wall of Sacrifice to ensure that all of the War College's graduates understood the meaning of service within the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns.[1]
BattleMech
Colonel Thaddeus Andrus piloted a BattleMaster BattleMech in 3001.[1]