Difference between revisions of "Adam Steiner"

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{{quote|''Information is ammunition.''}}
 
{{quote|''Information is ammunition.''}}
--Credo of [[Major]] [[Adam Steiner]], 1st Somerset Strikers<ref>
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--Credo of [[Major]] [[Adam Steiner]], 1st Somerset Strikers  
  
 
Unbowed, in early [[3052]] Adam was able to successfully convince the AFFC high command to let him lead another behind the lines raid, this time aimed at [[Barcelona]]. Leading a larger body of troops based around his original Somerset Strikers, Adam built upon his lessons of his previous success, finally silencing his critics. Shortly after the [[Battle of Tukayyid]], the [[Tharkad Broadcast Company]] would released a semi-fictionalized holoseries based on Adam's exploits during the invasion, mixing in the battles on Barecelona into his initial raid and recapture of Somerset. Intended as a morale boosting exercise, the poorly reviewed series would successfully help to instill national pride in the Lyran youth and sell trillions of [[S-Bill]]s of merchandise in the process. <ref name=M&M-86/> <ref name=ER3052-13/>
 
Unbowed, in early [[3052]] Adam was able to successfully convince the AFFC high command to let him lead another behind the lines raid, this time aimed at [[Barcelona]]. Leading a larger body of troops based around his original Somerset Strikers, Adam built upon his lessons of his previous success, finally silencing his critics. Shortly after the [[Battle of Tukayyid]], the [[Tharkad Broadcast Company]] would released a semi-fictionalized holoseries based on Adam's exploits during the invasion, mixing in the battles on Barecelona into his initial raid and recapture of Somerset. Intended as a morale boosting exercise, the poorly reviewed series would successfully help to instill national pride in the Lyran youth and sell trillions of [[S-Bill]]s of merchandise in the process. <ref name=M&M-86/> <ref name=ER3052-13/>

Revision as of 20:53, 23 February 2013

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A member of the cadet line of the House Steiner, Adam Steiner (born 3024[1] - died 3???) first rose to prominence in a daring reconnaissance mission during the Clan Invasion, eventually becoming Archon of the Lyran Alliance/Lyran Commonwealth during the final years of the Word of Blake Jihad.

Character History

Early Life to Clan Invasion

A member of the cadet line descended from Simon Borge-Steiner, who refused the Archonship in 2914 in favor of his more capable sister Tatyana Steiner, Adam was born on Somerset, attending the Military Academy of Somerset as a MechWarrior. Graduating with honors, while many attributed it to his famous last name, the untried Adam quickly secured the rank of Major and a position as a instructor at the famed Nagelring on the basis of his tactical and strategic acumen in 3049. [2] [3]

Appalled upon learning of the fall of his homeworld to Clan Jade Falcon during the opening waves of the Clan Invasion, Adam successfully convinced the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth that he be allowed to launch a reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines to gain valuable intelligence on the invaders. Leading a ad-hoc multi-national unit which was dubbed the 1st Somerset Strikers, Adam's unconventional unit would take an indirect route to Somerset and against all odds in fact succeed in defeating the second-line forces in control of it and retake the world for the Federated Commonwealth in November 3050. Unfortunately with Somerset now so far behind the Clan line of advance, the AFFC refused Adam's pleas for reinforcements to hold the world and ordered the Strikers to retreat back to FedCom space, with a bitter Adam forced to watch as the Falcons effortlessly recaptured his undefended homeworld during their fifth invasion wave.[4] [3]

Information is ammunition.

--Credo of Major Adam Steiner, 1st Somerset Strikers

Unbowed, in early 3052 Adam was able to successfully convince the AFFC high command to let him lead another behind the lines raid, this time aimed at Barcelona. Leading a larger body of troops based around his original Somerset Strikers, Adam built upon his lessons of his previous success, finally silencing his critics. Shortly after the Battle of Tukayyid, the Tharkad Broadcast Company would released a semi-fictionalized holoseries based on Adam's exploits during the invasion, mixing in the battles on Barecelona into his initial raid and recapture of Somerset. Intended as a morale boosting exercise, the poorly reviewed series would successfully help to instill national pride in the Lyran youth and sell trillions of S-Bills of merchandise in the process. [2] [3]

FedCom Civil War

With the Strikers disbanded after the initial Clan Invasion, Adam remained in the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces when Katrina Steiner seceded from the Federated Commonwealth, eventually reaching the rank of Lieutenant-General. He was involved in the defense of the Lyran Alliance against the Jade Falcons when they attacked during the FedCom Civil War, and was the commander of the Lyran forces during Operation Audacity. He negotiated the Blair Atholl Agreement after fighting the Falcons alongside Archer Christifori and the troops sent by Victor Ian Steiner-Davion.

Jihad and Archonship

When the civil war ended, Steiner was named General of the Armies. Despite admonishing both Duke Robert Kelswa-Steiner and Duke Alder Umayr for their actions in declaring a state of war between the Free Worlds League and the Skye and Bolan Provinces of the Alliance following the raid on Skye by renegade League forces in February 3068, Adam redeployed LAAF units in an effort to shore up the border with the League in March.[5] On the 27th of February 3070 the Word of Blake attempted to assassinate Adam on Atocongo using a suicide bomber, although the attempt would narrowly be avoided.[6]

Adam would briefly succeed Peter Steiner-Davion to the Archonship of the Lyran Alliance in late 3071 when Peter handed the title to him in the face of continued Word of Blake occupation of Tharkad. Adam then promptly invaded Tharkad and freed both the capital and Peter from Blakist forces. As a show of Lyran solidarity, he handed the Archonship back over to Peter in early 3072.

When Peter was assassinated by a Blakist operative after leaving a multi-nation meeting with Devlin Stone on Tukayyid in late 3073,[7][8] on his deathbed he named Adam his successor, his last words speaking of the absolute trust he held for his cousin:

I know no one better to usher the greatness of House Steiner through the darkness ahead into the light.

Ratified by the reformed Estates General on Tharkad, among Adam's first acts was to uphold Peter's promise support for Devlin Stone's Coalition.[2][7][8] On the 14th of May 3074 Adam announced his engagement to Baroness Heather Fyhne, daughter of Arielle Fyhne, ruling Duchess of Arcturus.[8][9]

Adam's support of the allied coalition was not universally popular within the Lyran Alliance; this was highlighted on the 13th of December 3077 when an angry mob attacked Heather on Enkoping in protest. While Heather was unharmed, 29 civilians were killed and almost a hundred killed when the guards' attempt to disperse the crowd by firing weapons resulted in a stampede.[10]

On the 15th of January 3078 Duchess Therese Brett-Marik of the Duchy of Tamarind, demanding that he prevent the Buena Archonette from continuing it's attacks on the Duchy and various independent Free Worlds League worlds nearby. Duchess Brett-Marik emphasized that the ongoing attacks on the Duchy and neighbouring worlds were the reason the Duchy hadn't provided any forces to the allied coalition and Operation SCOUR at that point.[10]

Whatever actions were taken by Adam in response to Duchess Brett-Marik's demand, following the dissolution of the Free Worlds League in January 3079 elements within the Lyran Alliance moved to annex a number of Free Worlds League systems between August and September that year. By the time Adam halted offensive operations by declaring that any further incidents of what he termed "unauthorised adventurism" would be considered an act of treason, seven worlds had been conquered by the Alliance, including several planets from the Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey.[11]

Republic era and the Lyran Commonwealth

Following the completion of Operation SCOUR, Adam requested the Archonettes return their powers to Tharkad, however most were reluctant to give up their new authority. When Duchess Tamari LaRue boldly refused to ever give up her powers, on June 23rd 3083 Adam sent the 1st Royal Guards RCT and 2nd Bolan Guards LCT supported by the Yggdrasil, easily defeating the defending Blackstone Highlanders and capturing the Duchess. The other Archonettes quickly ceded their powers back to the Archon when Adam placed her on trial for treason, finding her guilty and executed by lethal injection.[12]

One of the most important changes made by Adam in the post-Jihad era was the announcement during his Independence Day speech on January 5th 3084 that the Lyran realm would henceforth be known as the Lyran Commonwealth once more. This change was almost overshadowed by the revelation that Adam had reconstituted the long-destroyed 4th Royal Guards, proclaiming the reborn Fourth as the renewed symbol of the unity of the Commonwealth new and old. [13]

Despite having originally held similar opinions regarding the nature of the Lyran armed forces and the notorious Social Generals as his General of the Armies, Rebecca Simons, the clash between new practicality and old values within the armed forces became typified in the early 3080s in the clashes between Simons and Adam. Simons' staunchly-held and outspoken views about the "spoiled elite" of the LAAF clashed with the more inclusive path Adam tried to tread as the Lyran nation rebuilt itself.[14]

While some questioned whether Simons' dedication to reforms would continue under pressure from the established old guard within the political structure of the Alliance, [15] by the renaming of the Alliance back to the Lyran Commonwealth in 3084 Simons continued to tread a moderate line with the Archon's support, reshaping the renamed LCAF as she wished, with the Social Generals with the lowest military ability assigned where they could do the least harm. Ultimately, the Archon had favored Simons over other appointees not only for the high level of support she had shown for him, but also her strength of will in openly speak out about some of his poorer decisions, and Steiner continued to support Simons despite their clashes.[12]

BattleMechs

During his service at Nagelring, Adam piloted an LRM-equipped AXM-2N Axman which he would use during the early missions of the 1st Sommerset Strikers. [16] Steiner would later receive a customized Command Console-equipped AWS-9Ma Awesome, which he would pilot during the liberation of Somerset. By the FedCom Civil War, the future Archon was piloting a Thunder Hawk.

Family & Marriage

While often linked with Rachel Spector, a former Nagelring cadet who accompanied him on the Somerser Striker mission, with increasing political pressure to strengthen his realm and the line of succession, Adam married Heather Fyhne, the heir to Arcturus Archonette, in a by Lyran standards relatively tiny wedding on December 11th 3074. Viewed by many as purely a political arrangement, days after the wedding the couple announced they were expecting a son,[17][18] Andrew Steiner after Adam's deceased older brother, who was born in 3075. [2] [19]

Adam is the grandfather of Roderick Steiner, unknown but assumed to be a son of Andrew.[20]

Ranks & Titles

Preceded by Archon of the Lyran Alliance
30713072
Succeeded by
Preceded by Archon of the Lyran Alliance
3??? – 3???
Succeeded by
???

Notes

  • Dark Ages sources indicate that rather than the Blakists that Peter was overthrown by the Brotherhood of Cincinnatus who then brought Adam back into the Archonship as part of a plan to install a "pure" Steiner into the seat of power, the plan backfiring when Adam discovered their meddling and he destroyed the brotherhood on the planet Gacrux.[citation needed]

Portrait Gallery

References

  1. Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, p. 85 - "Adam Steiner Profile"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Masters and Minions, p. 86-87
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Era Report: 3052, pp. 12-13 "Of Myths and Reality"
  4. Era Report: 3052, p. 14 "Small Victories"
  5. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 45, "The Jihad In Review"
  6. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 48, "The Jihad In Review"
  7. 7.0 7.1 Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 38, "Timeline of the Jihad"
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 52, "The Jihad In Review"
  9. Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 52, "Timeline of the Jihad"
  10. 10.0 10.1 Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 58, "The Jihad in Review"
  11. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 60, "The Jihad In Review"
  12. 12.0 12.1 Field Manual: 3085, pp. 94-95 "The Lyran Commonwealth - Reclaiming Authority" Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "FM3085-95" defined multiple times with different content
  13. Field Manual: 3085, p. 94 "The Lyran Commonwealth - General Review"
  14. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 83-84, "Clashing Values"
  15. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 86, "The Political Landscape Of The Lyran Alliance"
  16. Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 70 "AXM-1N Axeman - Notable MechWarriors"
  17. Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 55, "Timeline of the Jihad"
  18. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 53, "The Jihad In Review"
  19. Masters and Minions, p. 89
  20. Fire At Will

Bibliography