Jackson Davion

Jackson Davion is the second cousin of First Prince Hanse Davion, one of the Davions of Argyle. The third of seven children of Yvonne Davion, Jackson had very few options outside going into the military. A rather apolitical animal, Jackson is very task focused and generally liked by the troops and the populace but disliked by the elite. His years of military experience in all the critical wars of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns, and then Commonwealth, during the 31^st century makes him one of the most experienced commander in the Inner Sphere

Early Life

As the middle son of a large noble family, Jackson did not have much weight on his shoulders in his youth. His mother, Yvonne Davion, was a military woman but mostly known for her charity work around the New Avalon region and Jackson often accompanied her during these acts, where he learned to better understand the lower classes of the Federated Suns population. Rather than going to a private college, Jackson asked his mother to enroll him into a military school for his middle and high school years. Yvonne refused at first but changed her mind when Jackson’s older brother Thierry promised he would take care of him by going to the same military school. Thierry graduated two years before Jackson but went to Argyle University for Business while Jackson enrolled in the Albion Mliitary Academy.

During his time at the Academy, he was said to be a remarkable student with good understanding of logistics and tactics, while also getting impressive results in military intelligence classes. Thanks to his name, he graduated on a Captain commission and was assigned to the Davion Assault Guards.

Military Career

Fourth Succession War

By the time he was 26 years old, Jackson was already the XO of the Davion Assault Guards, but an opening came in the Second Crucis Lancer as Dino Riggs retired from command. First Prince Hanse Davion placed his cousin in command of the unit, confiding into him some of the upcoming plans for the 4^th Succession War.

At the opening shot of the Fourth Succession War, Jackson led the Second Crucis Lancers on Tikonov, where he faced off against the elite Ariana Grenadiers. Proving his skill, he achieved all his objectives quickly and decisively. In the third wave of Operation RAT, Jackson and his men attacked Tigress along with the Third Crucis Lancers. The fight on Tigress was fiercer and the Third Crucis needed to be rescued by Jackson and his troops. The whole operation improved the status of the young general.

War of 3039

Jackson Davion had been promoted to commander of the Crucis March in 3036, his last order as commander of the 1^st Davion Guard being to elevated Bishop Sortek to the rank of Major. During the War of 3039, Jackson Davion served in his regional command, but also as an aide and tactician with First Prince Hanse Davion. In various war games replicating the upcoming War of 3039, he defeated the First Prince through the use of subterfuge, but his tactics were considered “too dishonorable for the Dracs to ever use them”. He was proven right after the war.

Years of Peace

Marshal Davion was assigned to the Capellan March in 3042, following Morgan Hasek-Davion’s promotion to Marshal of the Armies. His official title was Marshal of the Davion Brigade of Guards and associated Regimental Combat Teams. He also served as Commanding Officer of the Federated Suns State Command, essentially controlling the military of half the Federated Commonwealth. He often butted head with Nondi Steiner, Commanding Officer of the Lyran State Command, but he often regarded the older woman as an experienced stateswoman.

Clan Invasion

As part of the command staff of the Federated Commonwealth, Jackson Davion participated in most strategic and tactical meetings during the Clan Invasion. It was under his advice that Melissa Steiner commissioned her cousin Adam Steiner to take the fight to Clan Jade Falcon. While not directly serving on the front lines, Jackson was keely aware of the state of the Lyran part of the realm and attempted to assist his Lyran counterpart, Nondi Steiner, as much as possible.

Sadly, his responsibility required him to keep significant defenses on the Capellan front while the Sandoval family refused to weaken their Draconis March at all costs. This created a gap between the two State Commander, as Nondi generally regarded the former AFFS as not contributing enough to the defense of the Lyran realm.

The Loyalist conflicts

Marshall Davion requested his command be relocated on the Clan front after the Truce of Tukayyid, relinquishing the Federated Suns State Command to Prince’s Champion Ardan Sortek. This was apparently done out of duty to the Federated Commonwealth crown and to help the damaged regiments of the Lyran State Command recover.

Things took a turn for the worse when Ryan Steiner fomented revolt in the Skye Province. While the rebellion was put down by Peter Steiner-Davion and the Gray Death Legion, the damage to the image of the Federated Commonwealth was done. Even the death of Ryan Steiner did not stop various local nobles and upper tier officers from taking Nondi Steiner’s side in what slowly became known as the Lyran Alliance conflict.

Jackson had already had many issues with Nondi Steiner over the years and her disregard of the Federated Commonwealth wellbeing triggered the Marshal to move his troops more aggressively towards worlds that declared themselves for the General of the Armies. Melissa Steiner’s relentless media campaign to denounce her aunt’s actions helped the various Federated commands on the Clan front gain the upper hand in the political campaign and move the general population on their side.

Marshal Davion kicked out the corrupt leadership of the planet of Hamilton in 3057 to secure a planet for his regional headquarters a bit further away from the Clan frontline. While the upper crust of the planetary population opposed him, the average citizens enjoyed seeing the presence of a strong military force, assuaging their fear of Clan attacks. The deposed planetary government fled to other Alliance-friendly worlds and Melissa Steiner named Jackson Davion Duke of Hamilton for the time being.

Fifth Succession War

While far from the front lines of the Fifth Succession War, Jackson Davion had to keep a balance between protecting the Commonwealth worlds from the Clans and the Alliance “loyalists”. The Davion Brigade of Guards kept a strong presence on A Place, Morges, Dustball and Koniz to dissuade Clan Jade Falcon and Steel Viper raiders, while the remainder of the unit “kept their heads on a swivel”, moving from one world to another to keep the peace.

To improve on the legitimacy of his troops in the region, Marshal Davion approached Lieutenant Colonel Dan Allard of the Kell Hounds and built a rapport with him. Morgan Kell also supported the Federated Commonwealth claim to the Lyran realm and became friends with the two new Dukes of the region, Bishop Steiner and Jackson Davion. The new General of the Armies and Lyran State Commander, Adam Steiner, also became close friend with his Federated counterpart as they planned the defense of the Clan front. It is likely that these friendships is what prevented a larger revolt in Lyran space,

Personal Life

Jackson is an avid reader of classical literature, with a focus on 20^th century “pop scifi”. In his youth, he was a long distance and cross-country runner, which he occasionally still partakes in. He has been married since 3022 and has a single son, Christoffer Davion. She used to remain on his estate on Argyle before he was given the title of Duke of Hamilton by Melissa Steiner, where she relocated to be closer to her husband. The two have a caring relationship, even though they are not very close due to work. Jackson Davion was close to his mother Yvonne while she was alive. He is a practicing New Avalon Catholic.

Jackson Davion’s BattleMech

For his entire career, Jackson Davion piloted a BattleMaster of various makes and models.

Clan Watch Report

“Avoid at all cost. Jackson Davion is likely the biggest threat on the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth front, comparable to Theodore Kurita on the Draconis Combine front. His years of experience and skills, combined with his outrageous popularity with the line troops and population, makes him a triple threat. Unfortunately, the other Marshals and Generals on the Federated Commonwealth front are also quite dangerous.”