View source for Revenant (Individual Orion BattleMech)

{{Update Needed|[[Solaris VII: The Game World]]}}
{{otheruses|the individual 'Mech|other uses|Revenant}}

One of the most famous [[BattleMech]]s in history, '''''Revenant''''' is the ''[[Orion]]'' piloted by both legendary [[Commanding General of the Star League Defense Force]] [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] and, some two centuries later, by future [[Draconis Combine]] [[Coordinator]] [[Theodore Kurita (31st c.)|Theodore Kurita]].<ref name=BLp17>''BattleTech: Legends'', p. 17: "ON1-K ''Orion''"</ref><ref name=BLp57>''BattleTech: Legends'', p. 57: "ON1-K ''Orion - Revenant''"</ref>

Notably, the ''Revenant'' moniker was only applied during Kurita's use of the 'Mech.<ref name=BLp57/> Kerensky may never have bestowed his 'Mech with a name, though [[apocryphal]]ly a [[Hero 'Mech]] was created for Kerensky's ''Orion'' with the designation ON1-P '''''Protector''''' (see Hero 'Mech below).

==Operational History==
===Service with Aleksandr Kerensky===
Aleksandr Kerensky would first choose to pilot an ''Orion'' in [[2718]], and while occasionally piloting other 'Mechs including briefly an ''[[Atlas II]]'' in combat during the [[New Vandenberg Uprising]],<ref>''The Star League'', p. 81</ref> he would form a lifelong bond with the ''Orion''. Mindful of its age and ever seeking an edge in combat, the methodical Kerensky would order multiple upgrades be performed on the 'Mech, resulting in substantial modification over its service life, including some of the [[Star League]]'s most advanced and [[Experimental Technology|experimental systems]]<ref name=BLp17/>

Kerensky would pilot his ''Orion'' during the [[Rim Worlds Republic]] campaign and last stages of [[Operation LIBERATION]], most notably combat during the assault of the Star League's capital, [[Unity City (Terra III)|Unity City]]. There, he became a main target of the Rim Worlds forces, and on at least two occasions was almost overwhelmed and saved by his bodyguards.<ref>''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2'', p. 105</ref>

As the tyrant [[Stefan Amaris]] wasn't found in the capital after it fell, Kerensky led the search from his ''Orion'', finally finding him in the Imperial Palace in the Canadian wilderness. There, on 29 September [[2779]], Kerensky would dramatically kick open the palace's gates with his ''Orion'', with the General's aide [[Aaron DeChavilier]]'s ''[[Atlas (BattleMech)|Atlas]]'' following him. In the palace's courtyard, Kerensky accepted Amaris's surrender, putting an end to [[Amaris-Kerensky Civil War]].<ref>''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2'', p. 107</ref><ref name=BLp57/>

When Kerensky later initiated [[Operation EXODUS]], he took his ''Orion'' with him to the [[Draconis Combine]] system of [[New Samarkand]] where the Exodus fleet gathered. By this point, the heavy wear and tear of decades of fighting had left it barely functional. This led Kerensky himself to order it stripped of its advanced systems and left it abandoned, with lots of useless equipment, at an asteroid junkyard in the system in September [[2784]] before his EXODUS fleet departed the [[Inner Sphere]].<ref name=BLp17/><ref name=BLp57/><ref name=HtD31>''Heir to the Dragon'', ch. 6, p. 31</ref>

===Service with Theodore Kurita===
Little more than a gutted shell, the remnants of Kerensky's 'Mech lay untouched for some two centuries, until it was recovered by a Kuritan exploration mission on the system led by [[Florimel Kurita]] at some point during the [[Third Succession War]],<ref name=BLp57/><ref name=HtD31/> prior to [[3018]].

With the [[LosTech]] decline of the [[Succession Wars era]] preventing them from replicating Kerensky's unique loadout, which they were probably unaware of, [[House Kurita]] technicians (with the help of equipment procured from a [[Free Worlds League]] factory said to be the only one at the time still producing ''Orion''s) instead restored the 'Mech as a more mundane ON1-K variant, bestowed by Florimel Kurita as a gift to the young Theodore Kurita upon his graduation on 18 May 3018.

Theodore Kurita for his part was honored to receive the 'Mech that had originally belonged to the legendary General Kerensky, and named it ''Revenant''.<ref name=HtD39>''Heir to the Dragon'', ch. 8, p. 39</ref> He even researched the original paint scheme in order to restore it and, after authenticating it, applied the dark olive paint himself, only exchanging the Star League markings for those of the Draconis Combine.<ref name=HtD39/>

The outbreak of the [[Fourth Succession War]] found Theodore Kurita in command of the [[Legion of Vega]] on [[Marfik]] with his 'Mech, where a [[Lyran Commonwealth]] invasion specifically sought to capture the Kurita prince. Eventually, he opted to switch 'Mechs with his subordinate ''[[Sho-sa]]'' [[Esau Olivares]] and escaped on the [[DropShip]] ''[[Arctic Fox (Individual Union-class DropShip)|Arctic Fox]]'' with Olivares's ''[[Victor]]'' in late September 3028. Piloting the ''Revenant'' in Kurita's stead, Olivares meanwhile led [[Kathleen Heany]]'s forces on a merry chase as a diversion, until the 'Mech was finally destroyed in an artillery barrage on or shortly after 27 September 3028.<ref>''Heir to the Dragon'', ch. 27, pp. 128–133</ref><ref name=BLp57/>

===Museum Piece===
While the 'Mech as such was ultimately unsalvageable, at least its cockpit was removed and ended up in a BattleMech museum on [[Solaris VII]].<ref name="SBS-PGp26">''Solaris VII: The Game World - Player's Handbook'', p. 26: "International Zone - Points of Interest"</ref> In [[3145]] that world's [[Wolf Empire]] garrison received a surprise ''[[batchall]]'' from the [[Scorpion Empire]]'s [[Chi Galaxy (Escorpión Imperio)|Seeker Galaxy]] specifically to secure the Museum. The shocked Wolves granted them [[Clan]] honors; elements of the [[2nd Scorpion Seekers (Escorpión Imperio)|Second Seeker Cluster]] subsequently defeated elements of the defending [[9th Wolf Cavalry (Clan Wolf)|Ninth Wolf Cavalry]], loading the priceless artifacts including the Great Father's 'Mech's cockpit before departing Wolf Empire space.<ref name=BLp57/>

==Technical Characteristics==
Starting out as a standard Star League era ON1-K model, Kerensky's ''Orion'' initially mounted an [[Armstrong Class 10]] [[Autocannon/10|Autocannon]], [[Harpoon-15]] [[LRM-15|LRM launcher]], two [[Starfish]] [[medium laser]]s and a [[Holly (SRM-4)|Holly 4]] [[SRM-4|SRM Launcher]]. Frequent tinkering and upgrades led to substantial modification over its service life.<ref name=BLp17/>

One of the most notable modifications saw the removal of the LRM-15 launcher and Autocannon/10 to add an experimental [[Snub-Nose PPC]] in the left torso and an [[Artemis IV Fire Control System]] for the SRMs. Fitted in a gimbal mounting controlled by [[myomer]] bundles, the Snub-Nose PPC could be skewed by Kerensky toward the centerline of the 'Mech to deliver precision fire at point-blank range. After extensive structural reinforcement, the right torso was fitted with a [[Gauss rifle]] in the former location of the autocannon. The medium lasers from the original model were retained. Finally, [[ferro-fibrous]] armor and [[CASE]] were used for added protection for the SRM reloads and against Gauss rifle detonation.<ref name=BLp17/><ref>''Record Sheets: 3050 Unabridged (Inner Sphere)'', p. 204</ref>

These and other upgrades paled in comparison to the extensive changes Kerensky had had made in the cockpit, with a custom [[Studebaker-T19]] command and control interface wrapped around the ''Orion''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s standard SLDF command couch and [[Neurohelmet]] system. A masterful system only possible during the height of the Star League, the S-T19 included "smart-assist" software capable of automatically identifying and bringing forward communications and tactical displays to assist Kerensky in determining when a particular combat command needed strategic guidance or needed his attention. However, the brutal fighting against the forces of Stefan Amaris eventually meant the S-T19 system could no longer function without crashing the 'Mech's control systems. This was a key factor in Kerensky's decision to order the 'Mech be abandoned.<ref name=BLp17/>

With Kurita technicians unable to replicate the advanced and experimental systems it once mounted, when restoring it Theodore Kurita they did so as the Succession War era standard ON1-K variant. The ''Revenant'' would mount a [[KaliYama Class 10]] Autocannon/10, [[KaliYama Death Bloom]] LRM-15 launcher, two [[Irian Weapons Works (ML)|Irian Weapons Works medium lasers]] and a [[Irian Weapons Works (SMR-4)|Irian Weapons Works SRM-4 launcher]].<ref name=BLp57/>

==Hero 'Mech==
{{seealso|Orion#Apocryphal Variants}}
{{ApocryphalContentStart}}
''[[MechWarrior Online Legends]]'' created a [[Hero 'Mech]] named ON1-P ''Protector'' based on Kerensky's ''Orion''. It should be noted, however, that despite its valid license this game, like all computer games, is in no position to add [[canonical]] content to the [[BattleTech]] universe. Consequently, the name and configuration it gives for Kerensky's ''Orion'' is [[apocryphal]].

The ON1-P ''Protector'' as described by MWO features [[Double Heat Sinks]]. In the place of the regular model's autocannon, it carries a Gauss rifle and the LRM-15 was replaced with a PPC. The SRM-4 launcher was moved from the arm to the left torso. The medium lasers in each arm remained unchanged.
{{ApocryphalContentEnd}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Amaris surrenders to Kerensky 1stSW.jpg|Stefan Amaris surrendering to Kerensky
Orion (A Kerensky) BTL.png|Kerensky's ''Orion''
Orion (Revenant) BTL.png|The ''Revenant'' as piloted by Theodore Kurita (but with a different color scheme)
Image: Historical Liberation of Terra 2.jpg|Cover of ''[[Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2]]'' depicting Aleksandr Kerensky's ''Orion'' entering [[Stefan Amaris]]'s palace at the end of [[Amaris Civil War]]
Fall from Glory (cover).png|Cover of ''[[Fall from Glory]]'' (2021 edition) depicting Kerensky's ''Orion''
ClangründerAbkehrCover.jpg|Cover of ''[[Clangründer: Abkehr]]'' (''Fall from Glory'', 2004 German edition) depicting Kerensky's ''Orion'' (apocryphal)
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[BattleTech: Legends]]''
* ''[[Heir to the Dragon]]'' (page numbers are for the 1st edition print novel)
* ''[[Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2]]''

[[Category:Individual 'Mechs]]