Bishop Sortek

Bishop Sortek is a military officer in the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth and commander of the First Ceti Hussars RCT. He served with distinction and was given the role of guarding the Clan border in 3055 along with colleague Adam Steiner. While he would not participate directly in the Fifth Succession War, Bishop Sortek would be a key figure in the Federated Commonwealth in opposition to Nondi Steiner’s “loyalists” and against Clan aggression.

Early Life

Born in a wealthy New Avalon family and related to Ardan Sortek, Bishop Sortek was not wanting for anything in his youth. Idolizing his second cousin Ardan and the military history of the AFFS, Bishop always wanted to join the force to serve his nation. He was part of the New Avalon Cadet League at 10 years old and was learning military discipline. At 15, he joined the Albion Military Academy “on the ground floor” rather than using his family ties to secure better billing and bunk. His previous NACL experience granted him “seniority” over other cadets and he was put in charge of his promotion. He finally graduated with honors and was given a Leftenant commission as part of the First Davion Guards.

Military Career

In Service of the Crown

Bishop quickly advanced through the ranks through a mix of nepotism due to his family name and his dedication to work. Most senior officers originally saw him as just another noble kid, but they quickly understood Bishop Sortek was a real soldier who wanted to serve his nation. He achieved a position as First Leftenant after two years and made Captain by 3034. Marshall Jackson Davion’s last order as commander of the First Davion Guard was to promote Bishop to Major.

War of 3039

Major Bishop Sortek served as commander of Bravo company of the Davion Guards at the start of the War of 3039. Along with the Seventeenth Avalon Hussars, the First Davion Guards engaged with the Ryuken-Roku on the world of An Ting. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, in command of Bravo Battalion, after the First Davion Guards were forced off world due to serving with distinction.

Interim years and Clan Invasion

In 3044, Bishop Sortek was promoted to Colonel and put in charge of the First Davion Guards as a whole. Rather than remain behind on New Avalon, Colonel Sortek requested to be posted in the Sarna and Robinson March, moving his unit across the region to gain experience and hunting regional pirates and malcontents.

At the start of the Clan Invasion, Bishop requested his unit be moved to the frontline, but First Prince Hanse Davion refused. The reasoning was that the First Davion Guards were needed to defend the realm closer to home, especially as there was still fear the Combine and Capellan forces could take advantage of the situation. As a trade, Bishop and his unit was given salvaged Clan equipment after it was processed by NAIS. In response, Bishop requested transfer for many of his officers to other units fighting the Clans while refurbishing the First Davion Guards with younger officers.

Time of Truce

The Truce of Tukayyid opened up an opportunity for Bishop Sortek, who was promoted to Marshal and given command over the Ceti Hussars by recommendation of Jackson Davion (once again). Both men and their brigades, the Davion Brigade of Guards and the now reinforced Ceti Hussard, wer relocated to the “Clan border” to prevent any additional advances from the invader. Bishop was not known to “break the truce”, preferring to keep the peace and especially control local civil unrest.

Against the Alliance Loyalists

Things degenerated on the Clan front after the Skye Revolt of 3056. Nondi and Ryan Steiner started agitating across the Lyran portion of the Federated Commonwealth, leading multiple nobles to refuse to help the AFFC or even actively revolt. With constant pressure from the Clan war machine, the various officers in charge of the Clan front decided to secure “their own backyard” even against the wish of some of the upper leadership in the Federated Commonwealth.

One of the first action taken by the First Ceti Hussar was securing the world of Medellin, whose Duke, Juan Van Medellin, had declared himself for Nondi Steiner and her loyalists. The world itself had had some level of unrest since the Clan invasion as many locals lost friends and family to Clan Jade Falcon. While classified as “police action”, Bishop Sortek had to enforce the Federated Commonwealth law a bit harder than he expected, deposing the Duke and taking control of the planet directly. He established the headquarters for this Davion Brigade of Guards on the planet and was then granted the title of “Duke of Medellin” by Melissa Steiner in 3058.

Fifth Succession War

While far from the fronts of the Fifth Succession War, Marshall Bishop Sortek was busy throughout the war on his own front. Alliance loyalists were a constant problem due to agitators affiliated with Nondi Steiner and powerful local nobles, with the AFFC Marshalls all working to improve the standing of the Federated Commonwealth against Lyran loyalties.

This was combined with constant raids and attacks from Clan forces, who had diversified over the years. While originally facing Clan Jade Falcon, other Clans slowly started making their presence known. The ardent defense of the realm by the united Lyran and Federated forces did start assuaging the fears of the locals and moved the lower population to support the united realm rather than their local lords.

Personal Life

Bishop is a champion marksman, having won multiple trophies while at the Albion Military Academy. He also is a trained boxer but never “went pro”, even though some said he would have won championships as well in his youth. He married Michelle Van Jasper in 3034, a nurse-practitioner serving the First Davion Guards. His parents originally were not too happy with the marriage with a commoner, but they came to terms with it after a few years. Many see the friendship between Bishop Sortek and Jackson Davion in the same way people see the friendship between Hanse Davion and Ardan Sortek.

Bishop Sortek’s BattleMech

Bishop Sortek piloted an Enforcer in his early career, which was replaced by a modern Thunderbolt in 3052. In 3062, he received one of the first Templar to walk off the Kallon Assembly lines.

Clan Watch Report

“Bishop Sortek is a consummate professional and one of the major threats to Clan leadership in the Federated Commonwealth. While he does not have the charisma of Adam Steiner or Jackson Davion, his military acumen and decisiveness can easily cause changes on the battlefield and in a full region of space. Having been granted lands in the general area where we are planning further operations, we can fully expect Marshal Sortek to become a problem sooner than later.”