ISB Criminal Investigations
HENRY MANSFIELD
Theme | |
Full Name | Henry Mansfield |
Alias(es) | Manny |
Title(s) | Inspector |
Class(es) | ISB Investigator |
Origin | |
Age | Middle-aged (Born 864 ABY) |
Rank(s) | Lieutenant-Inspector |
Faction(s) | |
Species | Human |
Language(s) | |
Gender | Male |
Force Sensitive | Yes |
Force Alignment | Neutral |
Character Alignment | Lawful Neutral |
Height | 178 cm [5'10"] |
Weight | 80 kg [176 lbs] |
Hair | Brown |
Eyes | Brown |
Played by | Stephen Rea |
Template Credit |
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Lieutenant-Inspector Henry Mansfield is a former CSF detective who works as an investigator and operative within the Imperial Security Bureau for the Galactic Empire.
He conducts investigations on crimes committed within the Galactic Empire and prioritises going after criminals such as slavers, smugglers, pirates, murderers and traffickers.
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HISTORY
Henry Mansfield was born in Coruscant to a mid-level family of civil servants, enjoying a peaceful but boring existence until he reached adulthood. He joined the Federal District Police Academy at the earliest opportunity and graduated with a high distinction.
He soon after became a sworn member of the Coruscant Security Force where he performed traffic enforcement and patrol duties on foot and on speeder. Henry was largely apolitical, other than holding a cynical view that a lot of the crime on Coruscant was enabled by the corruption and lobbying of the political class that operated within the Republican Senate of the Galactic Alliance which ruled the planet then. Nonetheless, Henry had a firm belief in the rule of law and the honour of duty.
After a few years, Henry was inducted into a CSF investigation unit as a detective, where he gained renown both as a competent caseman and for being an honest cop who turned down bribes. Henry would periodically get promotions for his successful investigations, especially after an impactful surveillance operation that uncovered a discreet slave-trading ring that collected trafficked victims in the lower levels and sold them as domestic servants to the upper class with the higher echelons of Coruscant society. However, Henry became more cynical and distrusting of the system when the trail of the investigation was deliberately cut short before any more buyers within the ring could be identified and arrested. Henry Mansfield narrowly survived an attempt on his life after the investigation was prematurely announced to the public media by his superiors; he was promoted to Chief Inspector of his precinct's detective unit soon after the attempt on his life. Henry still suspects to this day that the promotion was an attempt at a conciliatory bribe to not investigate further into the then-closed matter once the assassination failed.
Moving on from that day with regrets and bitterness, Henry continued to conduct investigations within his unit. Even when the galaxy once again pulled itself into more turmoil and war, Henry focused on keeping the peace and preserving order within his precinct's district. When the Galactic Empire invaded Coruscant and the surrounding planets, Henry was tasked with evacuating civilians out of the projected combat zones and cordoning off so-called refugee zones.
When the Galactic Empire won their campaign, Henry decided to stay. He narrowly avoided the Imperial purges of the Coruscant Security Force on account of him never directly engaging Imperial forces during the invasion and having no overt political affiliations with the old regime.
Henry was tasked with restoring law and order to the battered planet by his new masters, with the Chief Inspector obliging his orders. Henry took a liking to the increased powers that were given to local law enforcement under the Galactic Empire, but had qualms regarding the authoritarian nature of the regime and the rumours of war crimes that were suppressed by the newly-instated Imperial State Programming Network but whispered around by the locals. Henry rationalised it as a necessary evil of a wartime government, afraid of the consequences if he was to find out for certain.
Henry continued to be successful in clearing cases and producing successful investigations and prosecutions, soon earning the attention of an ISB Supervisor who was eager to improve the clearance rates of his own Imperial unit. It was not long after that Chief Inspector Henry Mansfield was "offered" a "voluntary" position within the Imperial Security Bureau where he would transfer with a similar rank from his predecessor agency.
Henry is slowly growing accustomed to his changing circumstances and the change in his priorities from his employers; however, he is eager to preserve some semblance of justice and law, even if the system he works for is dubious and perhaps outright evil. As such, Henry focuses on tracking down and arresting those he considers genuine criminals, such as pirates, slavers, racketeers, extortionists, killers and so forth.
For the most part, Henry Mansfield believes in the Empire and its promise of stability and order, yet he has some reservations about the Empire that he would never share with anyone. Henry is also aware that due to the "heavily-encouraged" nature of his entrance into the ISB, he is only tolerated for his successful work ethic. He knows that within the fanatical ranks of his new home, any failure can be construed as sabotage, hesitation as disloyalty and discretion as treason. As such, Henry puts aside any moral reservations and dignity for the sake of his life and precarious employment within the Imperial Security Bureau.
Perhaps what is more dangerous than a fanatic is a competent and reasonable man with power, desperate to prove his loyalty to a fanatic.
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PERSONALITY
- Principled but Cynical
"The law isn't perfect, yet it is better than anarchy."
- Stoic and Measured
- Suspicious and Analytical
- A Haunted Rationaliser
STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
Experienced Investigator
A lifetime of casework has given him exceptional deductive reasoning and forensic discipline. He notices inconsistencies others overlook which is useful both for policing and internal ISB purges.
Moral Clarity in Ambiguity
Even in moral grey zones, Henry distinguishes between necessary evil and excess cruelty. He may enforce Imperial law, but he despises sadism and corruption, earning him vengeful mirth and cautious respect from subordinates and criminals alike.
A Subtle and Repressed Force Sensitivity
He is not a trained Jedi or Sith, but his intuition is unnaturally sharp. His "gut instincts" about guilt, danger, or deceit might quietly stem from latent Force perception. It is a secret even he does not fully understand.
Emotional Control and Diplomacy
Henry can read social tension and defuse volatile situations with words before violence erupts. This makes him valuable in interrogations and political environments alike.
Unflappable Under Pressure
Assassination attempts, bureaucratic treachery, and war have made him psychologically resilient. Panic is foreign to him; he reacts to crises as if they were puzzles to solve.
Moral Compromise
His adherence to the law blinds him to the ethics behind it. He follows orders that violate conscience, rationalising them as procedural necessities.
Isolation and Paranoia
Henry's distrust of peers isolates him. He avoids forming friendships with his colleagues and maintains cautious professionalism, fearing betrayal. Even allies find him emotionally unreachable, which limits his capacity to inspire loyalty in others.
Over-Rationalisation
Henry intellectualises everything, even grief or love. His inability to process emotion leaves him spiritually hollow and disconnected from the human cost of his actions.
Cynical Fatalism
Deep down, Henry no longer believes real justice exists, only the management of evil. This cynicism can paralyse him in moments that require conviction, leaving him reactive rather than proactive.
Physical Decline
Henry is no longer his young self and has passed his physical prime, meaning he struggles to keep up with more agile criminals and rebels.
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GALACTIC EMPIRE
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FAMILY
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OTHER CONNECTIONS
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NOTABLE SKILLSInvestigative ExpertiseA veteran detective and interrogator, Henry Mansfield possesses advanced analytical reasoning, case management, and forensic assessment skills. He can reconstruct crime scenes, read behavioural patterns, and identify inconsistencies in testimony or evidence with great precision.
His methodical approach is grounded in real police work such as interviewing, surveillance, data retrieval rather than intuitive leaps, though the Force occasionally sharpens his insight without him realizing.Interrogation & Counter-IntelligenceYears within the Coruscant Security Force and ISB honed Henry's skill in psychological manipulation, threat assessment, and deception detection. He's capable of conducting interrogations that balance empathy and intimidation, extracting truth without unnecessary brutality.
He also understands Imperial intelligence protocols, data encryption, and counter-espionage procedures which is crucial for surviving the treacherous bureaucracy of the Galactic Empire.Stealth & Surveillance OperationsHenry is trained in covert surveillance, both physical and electronic, including tailing suspects, maintaining cover identities, and conducting long-term observation operations.
In the post-Galactic Alliance era, these skills translate well to intelligence gathering, infiltration, and counter-insurgency work.Command & LeadershipAs a former CSF Chief Inspector and now ISB Lieutenant, Henry has extensive experience managing investigative teams and coordinating with other Imperial departments. He values order, accountability, and discipline in subordinates.
He leads through quiet authority rather than charisma, fostering respect through competence, not fear.Digital LiteracySkilled in digital forensics, surveillance data analysis, and Imperial records navigation.
SKILL PROFILE / OTHER SKILLS & ABILITIES
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INVENTORY
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