Overseer of Imperial Armed Forces
TAG: Open
LOCATION: Aboard the ENS Retribution, in Orbit over Bormter
Bormter - It had never arisen to be little more than a footnote in the anals of history. During the fall of the Galactic Empire, a warlord of some modest renown had attempted to reforge a domain for himself amidst the ashes upon the world. The planet had only risen to a slightly elevated level of importance due to the fact it possessed a wide array of resources that the Empire deemed valuable to its manufacturing capacity, as well as the fact it now bordered a nation the Empire viewed as its rival.
While the Empress herself appeared stalwart in her desire to establish formal diplomatic relations between the Empire and the Galactic Alliance, Ström did not exactly share her ideals. Of course, the Baron would not oppose her openly in such a thing. He played the role of an ever loyal and ever obedient servant to her overall goals very well indeed. But that would not stop him from pursuing his own machinations under her protection, and under the influence of the authority thrust upon him as Overseer of the Eternal Empire’s Armed Forces.
He did not covet the Imperial throne itself - at least, not yet. No, there was value in being the strength behind the throne. When one stood under the spotlight of public life as the head of an Empire, there was little such a person could do outside the scope of said spotlight. But as someone who served upon the Empress’s pleasure, he had more latitude to pursue his own ends whilst hiding under the veil of formal ‘Imperial business’.
Baron Reinhardt Ström did not seek the throne, but he did seek to secure his position as one of the most powerful men in the Empire. Although he was currently placed at the 4th most powerful man in the Empire within his capacity as Overseer, he sought to consolidate his power ever more so. He may have stood within the Empress’s good graces now, but that could easily change if things developed poorly.
In a galaxy teetering on the edge of all out war, the fortunes of men such as him were balanced upon a knife’s edge. Only the truly discerning could shield themselves from such collateral damage that would result from a galaxy-wide conflict. It was this discernment that led Ström to target one man in particular.
Despot Desirak Fa’arkhan had been placed above him for nearly a decade prior to his ascension to the role of Overseer. Within Imperial Society, while Barons were considered nobles of high station, Despots wielded the true power in regional politics. While few ever dared to raise their blades in rebellion to the Empire at large, Despots wielded enough power to pose a real threat nonetheless; holding sway over entire sectors instead of a single system if they could indeed marshal the loyalty that came with such a vast stretch of territory.
For nearly the same amount of time spent under the vassalage of Despot Fa’arkhan, Ström coveted the position of his former liege lord. Even though he was now the Despot’s senior in rank and power, the Baron did not feel it wise to rely upon the position he now held. As he stood aboard the observation deck within the CIC of the ENS Retribution and gazed upon the planet of Bormter, his thoughts drifted to the fate awaiting his sons, and the legacy he had forged for their house.
The role of Overseer was not hereditary, and upon his death, the Empress was well within her rights to nominate another Baron or Despot entirely. But the ranks and privileges of a Despot however... they remained within the family provided they served in the armed forces. All three of his sons served with distinction within the military, with Sondheim standing secure as a bastion of loyalty and military service. While the Baron still had his health, and could easily live for several more decades, he needed to start making moves to make the power he had built thus far more permanent.
Despot Fa’arkhan would need to be removed, and his own family would need to ascend in his place. But he would need loyal men and women to see such a scheme to its conclusion. What better way to recruit such potential servants than in staging wargames throughout the Empire? Rear Admiral Aximand Sicarus was engaged in such an exercise with the fleet of the Ashlan Crusade near Odessen. Upon the Overseer’s orders, several military units were being deployed to the terrestrial world beneath him to engage in a series of staged tactical operations to test their combat readiness. Publicly, this was nothing more than an exercise. Within the confines of STRATCOM and hushed back rooms, this was also a pointed gesture of strength to cow the hardliners within the Galactic Alliance.
To Baron Ström himself, this was a test to see which units were effective and powerful. Of those who demonstrated themselves as such, he would see about testing individuals within them to assess their potential... discretion in the matters of Imperial politics. But as wiser men than he had said eons ago; ‘One step at a time.’
LOCATION: Surface of Bormter
As hundreds of units across different outfits mobilized and amassed upon the surface of Bormter, they would eventually receive a communique directly from STRATCOM’s very own Overseer - Baron Reinhardt Ström. The memo would read thusly:
’To all the fighting men and women deployed upon the planet of Bormter,
On behalf of her Imperial Majesty Ingrid L’lerim, STRATCOM has authorized a series of wargames to assess the readiness of the Empire’s armed forces, as well as to provide field training for units that have not as of yet experienced live combat scenarios. The exercise today is straightforward, but will be no less challenging. Team Leaders, you are all expected to demonstrate both tactical flexibility, and strategic steadfastness to the overall orders you will receive. All fighting units will be divided into two teams.
Task Force Alpha will be designated the ‘attackers’ of this scenario, and Task Force Besh will be designated as the ‘defenders’. The terrain of the battlefield will be within the badlands of Bormter. The defenders will deploy within a valley (see below tactical map), flanked on either side by durasteel wall emplacements. The attackers are to breach through the perimeter and secure a flag hidden and guarded on the other side, then exfiltrate with the flag back to their deployment zone.
The time allotted for this operation is (1) 24-hour period. Whichever side wins this engagement will be awarded with 5-day leave passes, as well as training-level commendations. By the will of the Empress, proceed. May the Empire’s finest prevail!’