Alexander Hasek


Alexander Hasek
Alexander Hasek
Personal
Born3112[1]
AffiliationHouse Hasek-Davion
Profile
RankField Marshal[2]
Title(s)Duke of New Syrtis
ProfessionNoble
Family
ParentsAmanda Hasek (mother)
SiblingsKym Hasek[3]

Alexander Hasek was an officer with the AFFS during the thirty-second century.

History[edit]

Early Years[edit]

Following the conquest of New Syrtis by the Capellan Confederation in 3145 and his mother Amanda's execution, Alexander was, on paper, the commander of the Capellan March. In reality, however, it was unclear if the young Duke was even alive. If he was, he was on the run or in hiding and unable to assert his authority.[4]

By January 3151 Alexander was still missing, with commentators speculating that either he had been killed during the fall of New Syrtis or was still in hiding even after six years.[5]

Duke[edit]

In March 3151, Alexander resurfaced when returned to New Syrtis, claiming the title of Duke. However, he wasn't very popular: his absence in Operation CERBERUS, the reconquest of New Syrtis, was noted. He pretended to have been leading the Sixth Syrtis Fusiliers, fighting a guerrilla war, all six years... but when were published pictures of him on a beach, alongside a beautiful woman, it became evident than he was lying. He was seen as little more than a playboy, and his first actions on New Syrtis, to rebuild the family mansion, didn't help him to improve his image: despite than he paid the rebuilding with his family money wasn't so important as the fact than that slowed the construction of a nearby hospital much needed.[6]

His condemning of Julian Davion's high cost to retake New Syrtis didn't sit well, and his words against the truce with the Capellan Confederation scared all Julian's loyalists in the Capellan March, which feared he reactivated the war against the Confederation, in a moment in which the Suns cannot afford to fight in another front, field Marshal Paxton Fenlon informed Julian Davion of everything.

Soon after, Alexander created a new regiment, which he called the Syrtis Scourge, a regiment created taking members of the Sixth Fusiliers. The new unit was loyal only to Hasek, a pure offensive one.[7]

Pleiades War[edit]

Alexander's intention of beginning a war were evident... but against who, at the end, surprised everybody. On 8 June 3151, the security of Hasek's manor house was penetrated by a would-be assassin. Hasek's guards guards intercept the intruder, forcing him to escape but not before he had managed to kill the Duke's longtime consort. Hasek was certain than the assassin was Capellan, but after the study of a gas grenade used by him proved to be of the Taurian Concordat manufacture, he blamed them. The 13 June, Hasek informed Fenlon about his plans to take reprisals, the Marshal urged him to wait until confirmation, but the duke ignored him, and even threatened to force him to resign; without alternatives, Fenlon had to concede. Hasek didn't waste any time: he always planned to recover the Pleiades Cluster for the Suns, and said so, so he considered the proof was enough, and decided to launch the operation as soon as possible, and without ever telling it to Fenlon; the Pleiades War had begun.[8][9]

Initially, the operation went well: despite having only two understrength regiments, the Scourge and the Sixth Fusiliers, the Taurians had been caught unprepared, and the planet Electra was taken easily. The duke declared it part of the Federated Suns and, leaving the Sixth as garrison, continued with the Scourge. The next target, Merope fell easily. Alexander expected to conquer all the Cluster in a month and return victorious... but soon the tide changed.[10]

The next target, Maia was in the core of the Cluster. The Pleiades Hussars retreated, but the persecution turned a long one. Against Colonel Hallett's advice, Hasek ordered to ignite the forest were the Hussars were hiding. That didn't affect the Hussars, and in a month, the Taurian received reinforcements: the Third Taurian Lancers. Hasek ordered a desperate attack against the Hussars, but the Scourge was crushed, and he captured.[11]

The Pleiades War hadn't ended, not still: The Taurians decided to punish the Suns' for their unprovoked attack, launching several raids against their space. Ironically, Hasek assisted the Taurians, recoding a message accepting full responsibility for the events and ordered any local forces to stand down. He was taken as hostage during some raids by the Third Taurian Lancers, and his words quickly demoralized the defenders of some planets, like Keuterville, Shaunavon and Ashley, which greatly helped the Taurians. But on Firgrove, the defenders instead charged against the Taurians, expecting to rescue his Duke. They failed, but caused heavy casualties on the Third, including his commander, Colonel Griffin. That signaled the end of the war, and Protector Doru send a message to Julian Davion, offering to return Hasek for a ransom.[12]

The ransom was high enough to outfit a new 'Mech regiment. Julian didn't want to recover the humiliated duke, but reluctantly agreed to pay. However, when negotiated on Lindsay, the Taurians didn't wanted to release his hostage, so the delegation, using an MIIO team, rescued the duke forcibly and escaped from the planet fighting. Thanks to a Clan Sea Fox escort, they were able to depart unmolested, which put an end to the war.[13][14]

Return to New Syrtis[edit]

Ironically, before the Duke returned, the "Taurian" assassin had been captured, and he wasn't Taurian or Capellan, but an agent of the Duchy of Andurien, which expected to cause problems for the Capellans. That only made the now-finished war seem worse.[15] If Alexander wasn't very popular before the Pleiades War, after returning to New Syrtis, he was regarded at best with contempt. At worst, his collaborationism with the Taurians made high officers to hate him. Even the Seventh Syrtis Fusiliers leader suggested than Hasek should have showed patriotism dying in battle.[16]

Once back on New Syrtis, his rescuer, Siobhan Sortek and his sister Kym, had a meeting. Alexander wanted to take reprisals against the Taurians, but they didn't leave him: they informed of Julian Davion's dispositions, stripping him of any military authority, giving it to Fenlon. A furious Alexander had to concede, but in exchange, he forced Kym to return to New Avalon.[17]

Ironically, the experience changed Alexander for the best, making him grow. Separated from his assorted hangers-on, he learned a lot about himself and focused on the unglamorous work of ruling the March, though he was in a very weak position and had to redeem himself into his subjects and his own eyes.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dominions Divided, p. 107
  2. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 89
  3. ↑ Dark Age: 3132-3134 INN, p. 106: "Interview with Ambassador Hasek-Davion"
  4. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 78
  5. ↑ IlClan, p. 121: "Extended Absence"
  6. ↑ Dominions Divided, p. 22
  7. ↑ Dominions Divided, p. 23
  8. ↑ Dominions Divided, p. 134
  9. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 6
  10. ↑ Dominions Divided, p. 35
  11. ↑ Dominions Divided, pp. 39–41
  12. ↑ Dominions Divided, pp. 50–51
  13. ↑ Dominions Divided, pp. 72–73
  14. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 20-21
  15. ↑ Dominions Divided, p. 41
  16. ↑ Dominions Divided, p. 94
  17. ↑ The Damocles Sanction, ch. 21

Bibliography[edit]

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