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Gather round little Children for the legend of "Steiner Claus" the Jolly Red Atlas that shoots presents out his autocannon sack to the good children of the Innersphere on that one special night each year!
Ah yes, who can forget Steiner Claus? The Jolly Red Atlas that fills the stockings of nice children with chocolate Zeus's and leaves an extra special present under the tree for those brave enough to leave an AC/20 round under the chimney. But for naughty children expect your stockings to be torched by flamers and your sleep to be disturbed by the sound of his Jolly Thunder LRM's! Now now, don't be scared children, I'm sure you've all been extra nice this year!
Ah yes, I'm sure you all been told those tales of Steiner Claus; but have you children been told about how he first came to be? No? Ah well, are you all sitting comfortably? Cause here comes a story to spread some Steiner Christmas cheer!
The tale of the Jolly Red Atlas first began in the First Succession War, on the Steiner/Marik border.
He was once just an Atlas, red and sad. Not jolly at all, for he was tasked to attack a world at Christmas at that! He gathered his green commandos and together they went. To attack a poor world to pillage and burn then come straight back. The nice would suffer for those who were naughty.
Their red dropship hurled and twirled, eventually needing towed by what aerospace they had. For they could not see, a red light beacon was placed on a nose. They landed safely, but still so sad. They had no joy in the task that was to be had.
Attack they did, the militia were dead. They spotted a town and hearts sank like stones. For all of them knew the grim task they had. Burn and Pillage they did, but not without sorrow. For tomorrow they knew, was Christmas at that.
The Red Atlas sent his commandos back, but stayed in the mountains to watch the town. He looked so sad, and began to cry, for the crime he commited was too big to go back. But then a little girl, her family hiding, appeared and asked him "Why so sad?" Quickly he jumped, his jump jets flared, but unprepared he fell flat.
He saw the little girl and cried, for he had not wanted to attack. Now this girl and her family were now without a home. But quickly the girl explained, that all could be put right, if the Atlas would help to rebuild all that. The Red Atlas brightened, for all could be put right. He summoned his Commandos and rebuild they did.
By Christmas morning all had been put back. The town celebrated and decorated them all. The Commandos green and lush, bright and eager to work. The Red Atlas glowed, red and white; but his task was not done for he a debt to repay. His commandos worked and produced toys for the children. And each year at that day, they promised to return; to bring gifts fired out his autocannon sack.
He did not go back to the Lyran's at all. He went hiding to where nobody knew. But each year he came back, to that small Marik town and launched gifts from his autocannon sack; but yet he was still not Jolly, just cheery with a hint of sad. It was until he punished those, wicked and naughty; who had set attack those good and nice.
One night across the sphere, the heads of their Houses found their trees burnt down, a note painted squarely in their homes, written in AC/20. "Be nice this year or pay for being naughty!" Then across the Sphere children awoke, those who'd be nice found extra toys in their stockings. For he had decided that all those nice, deserved a little extra in a naughty world. And from there on in, he became Jolly and that is how children Steiner Claus was born!
Edited by Strayed, 24 December 2011 - 08:29 AM.
