Editing Eric Steiner

{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = 
| caption             = 
| name                = Eric Steiner
| birthdate           = [[2872]]
| died                = [[2913]]<ref name=HHSp49>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 49</ref>
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[House Steiner]]
| rank                = 
| title               = [[Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth|Archon]]
| position            = 
| profession          = [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]]
| parents             = [[Elizabeth Steiner (29th c.)|Elizabeth Steiner]] (mother)<ref name=HHSp46>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 46</ref>
| siblings            = 
| spouse              = 
| children            = [[Simon Borge-Steiner]]<ref name=HHSp49/><br>[[Tatyana Steiner (30th c.)|Tatyana Steiner]]<ref name=HHSp49/>
}}
'''Eric Steiner''' was the twenty-fourth [[Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth|Archon]] of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]].<ref name=HBHSp97>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 97: "Lyran Leadership Profile"</ref>

==History==
===Early Life===
The son of Archon [[Elizabeth Steiner]], Eric assumed control of the Commonwealth without opposition following her death in her sleep in [[2895]]. Eric inherited a realm under siege as House Kurita's long-running offensive against the Commonwealth continued, and while the [[Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces]] inflicted heavy damage upon the [[Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery]], it was unable to prevent the loss of [[Imbros III]], [[Buckminster]], [[Moore]], [[Phalan]], [[Sakhalin (LC)|Sakhalin]] and [[Orestes]]. The ongoing conflict with the Combine and the [[Free Worlds League]] would also overshadow one of the greatest natural disasters in Lyran history, the [[Beta Regulus Tragedy]] of [[2901]], with Eric and the entire Lyran realm barely able mourn the four million people killed as the fighting continued unabated.<ref name=HSLC70>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', pp. 70–71: "History - The Third Succession War - Calling All Citizens"</ref><ref name=HHS-46>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 46–48: "History of the Lyran Alliance - Third Succession War (2866–3025) - The Combine Front - The Beta Regulus Tragedy"</ref>

Unfortunately as the [[Third Succession War]] dragged on, the future outlook for the Commonwealth looked increasingly dire with the LCAF experiencing severe manpower shortages, with few LCAF regiments boasting even 70 percent of their full strength. In response, Eric modified the [[Military Services Acts]] in [[2908]], reducing the minimum age of conscription to sixteen, increasing the duration of service to five years and tightening up rules for valid exemptions from service. Despite its vital need, Eric's decision was highly unpopular among the civilian population of the Commonwealth, even on worlds directly threatened by the Combine. Farming worlds particularly resented the changes, citing their increasing need for labor in the face of the [[LosTech|steep decline in technology of the era]]. Demonstrations and riots erupted on numerous worlds, but Eric had the support of the nobility who understood the need for the new measures, allowing him to weather the political backlash.<ref name=HSLC70/>

As badly-needed recruits finally brought many line regiments back to full strength, Eric revealed to the Lyran High Command his plan for [[Operation Freedom]], an offensive intended to recapture [[Federation of Skye]] worlds and reclaim vital industries from the Combine. After [[Tamar]] itself was placed at risk when the worlds of [[Kobe]] and [[Sevren]] fell in [[2912]], the High Command quickly approved the plan and Operation Freedom was officially launched in February [[2913]]. Eric personally led the [[Third Royal Guards]] in the recapture of [[Freedom]] itself during the opening of the offensive. Through skillful maneuvering and strong attacks, the Third was able push the bulk of the [[Sixth Sword of Light]] into a closed valley, blocking their escape as the Third Royal's artillery and aerospace support pounded the Kurita forces and allowing the Lyran 'Mechs to easily mop up the remainder.<ref name=HSLC71>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 71: "History - The Third Succession War - The Cost of Freedom"</ref> <ref name=HHS4849>''Handbook: House Steiner'', pp. 48–49</ref>

==Death and Legacy==
The news of the Third Royal Guards victory was quickly overshadowed when Archon Eric Steiner died in its immediate aftermath, unwittingly straying into a field of unexploded mines in the valley and killed instantly when his ''[[Zeus]]'' toppled head-first onto a live [[vibrabomb]].<ref name=HSLC71/>

==Family==
[[Simon Borge-Steiner]] is described as Eric's eldest son, and in conjunction with his sister [[Tatyana Steiner (30th c.)|Tatyana Steiner]] as Eric's two grown children. It is possible therefore that Eric had one other son, who was not of age by the time of Eric's death.

==Quotes==
{{quote|''I didn't expect to be a very popular leader. But I assumed I would be the unpopular leader of the Commonwealth and not 300 separate, selfish worlds.''|Archon Eric Steiner, on objections to his revision of the Military Services Act, in ''[[Royal Court Transcripts Year 2909]]'', [[Commonwealth Historical Press]], [[2909]]<ref name=HSLC70/>}}

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Handbook: House Steiner]]''

[[Category:Lyran Commonwealth Characters|Steiner, Eric]]
[[Category: Notable Zeus Pilots]]