Barbara Liao

Barbara Liao

Barbara Liao (b. 1 May 2731 - d. 18 November 2794) was a Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation, who led the realm through the Amaris Coup and the bulk of the First Succession War.

Biography

Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation

Barbara Liao had a baptism of fire upon assuming the Emerald Throne in 2760; four days after her ascension came news of the nuclear attack on a BattleMech factory on Demeter by the Chesterton Liberation Battalion with the Confederation and Federated Suns were plunged into the so-called Border War. Immediately refuting Davion claims that the Maskirovka aided the CLB in destroying the factory, Barbara's attempts to bring the matter before the Star League High Council for adjudication were overshadowed when First Lord Richard Cameron reached his majority.

Barbara was not warlike, but neither would she flinch from a confrontation. This stance typified her involvement with the Star League as she didn't look for trouble but was quite prepared to fight for her corner.

After the Coup she refused to aid General Aleksandr Kerensky in his moves against Stefan Amaris, citing a legal pretext that it was an "internal Terran matter", the same reason given for the SLDF's non intervention in the Marik Civil War. While this was not popular with her people and the Chancellor personally felt sympathy for Keresnky's cause, Barbara steadfastly believed the Confederation's involvement in the dispute would weaken it in the face of Free Worlds and Federated Suns militarism.

Political unrest resulted and eventually the Chancellor gave her permission for the SLDF to use Confederation worlds, though she stopped short of offering comfort and support to the campaign.

First Succession War

When the Star League collapsed, Barbara’s foresight became clear and the CCAF made significant gains against the Federated Suns in the First Succession War.

The Confederation was less fortunate in its clashes with the Free Worlds League, as House Marik launched a successful offensive that took numerous border worlds. Desperate to push the League back, Barbara Liao sent a massive Capellan flotilla to stage a deep strike against the League world of New Delos. In preparing her troops for the battle, Barbara would issue one of the most infamous orders of the First Succession War, indicating the Ares Conventions were suspended and authorising mass civilian causalities in an attempt to teach the the Free Worlds League the price of striking the Confederation and bullying them into retreat. Using recently captured Marik codebooks, Strike Force Devlin took the vastly outnumbered Marik defenders by complete surprise before engaging in three days of wanton slaughter, withdrawing from New Delos after killing over 20,000 civilians. }}

Unfortunately Barbara's "Devlin Solution" had the complete opposite effect, with the enraged FWLM eager to avenge the dead of New Delos, retaliating with the fire-bombing of Outreach, Ingersoll and New Canton in 2789. Unbowed, in February 2790 Barbara selected Calloway VI as the next target for her "Devlin Solution", choosing to accompany Strike Force Devlin over the strenuous objections of her civil and military aides. This time lacking of codebooks and with the Marik forces prepared for any sudden moves across the border, the Capellan fleet was instantly set upon after arriving in the Calloway system. While able to reach the planet, the Capellans faced heavy opposition, the offensive greatly hampered by the need to keep the Chancellor safe from harm. After ten fruitless days she finally ordered Strike Team Devlin to withdraw, running directly into the teeth of a Marik relief force responding to Calloway's calls for help. Sacrificing the cream of the Capellan navy, Barbara would barely escape with her life, with both her sons killed during the debacle.

The final years of Barbara's reign would see the Confederation suffer defeat after defeat, with the weakened Capellan navy unable to maintain the blockades of Corey and Wazan, and the Marik Militia supported by Smithson's Chinese Bandits successively occupying El Giza, Mosiro, Vanra and Carbonis.

Death and Legacy

Barbara Liao would die from a rare blood disorder in 2795. While her granddaughter Ilsa was the next surviving Liao in the line of succession, she far too young to ascend to the Celestial Throne. In response the Capellan Prefectorate chose Sandol Quinn, Prefect of the Tikonov Commonality, to act as regent until the 12 year old Ilsa reached her majority.

Children and Succession

Barbara Liao had two sons, both of whom died during the First Succession War. The next Chancellor in the bloodline would be Ilsa Liao a daughter of one of her sons.

Quotes

“	Commanders! Henchforth you may consider the Ares Conventions suspended. I expect you to act accordingly.	”
	— Address to CCAF forces sent to New Delos

Bibliography

• Handbook: House Liao
• Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1
• House Liao Sourcebook