Editing Richard Steiner (31st c.)

{{otheruses|the thirty-first-century military commander|the twenty-ninth-century Archon|Richard Steiner (29th c.)}}
{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = 
| name                = Richard Steiner II
| birthdate           = [[3003]]<ref name=HSLCft>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', foldout: "The Lyran Commonwealth's Line of Succession and Partial Steiner Family Tree"</ref>
| died                = [[3071]]
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[House Steiner]]
| rank                = 
| title               = [[Margrave of Cavanaugh Theater]]<br/>[[Duke of Skye]]
| position            = 
| profession          = Noble
| parents             = [[Jack Milby]] (father)<ref name=HSLCp160>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 160</ref><br/>[[Nondi Steiner]] (mother)<ref name=HSLCp160/>
| siblings            = [[Lisa Steiner (31st c.)|Lisa Steiner II]]<ref name=HSLCp160/><ref name=HSLCft/><br/>[[Ivan Steiner]]<ref name=HSLCp160/><ref name=HSLCft/>
| spouse              = [[Sarah Aten]]
| children            = [[Marcus Steiner (31st c.)|Marcus Steiner II]]<ref name=FCCWp177>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 177</ref>
}}
'''Richard Steiner II''' was a [[Lyran Commonwealth|Lyran]] nobleman and military officer during the era of the [[Clan Invasion]], the [[FedCom Civil War]], and the [[Jihad]].

==History==
===Early Life and Career===
Richard Steiner was born in [[3003]] to [[General]] [[Nondi Steiner]], the sister of [[Archon]] [[Katrina Steiner]], and to Jack Milby, a powerful businessman from [[Gallery]].<ref name=HSLCft/> At some point prior to [[3025]], he joined [[ComStar]], though the exact details of his service to that order are unclear.<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 162</ref> He resigned from the organization under mysterious circumstances in the late 3030's,<ref name=FMC-35>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 35</ref> after which he joined the [[LCAF|Lyran military]].

===Marriage and Children===
In 3056, Richard married [[Sarah Aten]], the daughter of [[Duke of Skye|Duchess of Skye]] [[Margaret Aten]]. He had one known son, [[Marcus Steiner II]], born sometime between [[3028]] and [[3047]] to an unknown mother.<ref name=FCCW177A>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 177: "Those Who Would be Archon," age as of 3067 given only as between "twenties and thirties" alongside his cousins</ref>

===Clan Invasion Era===
By the start of [[3050]], he held the rank of [[Marshal (rank)|Marshal]] in the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth]] and commander of the Tamar Theater, (Benfield Operations Area) in the [[Federated Commonwealth]]'s [[Tamar March]].<ref>''20 Year Update'', p. 26</ref> It is unclear if he saw any action himself during the Clan Invasion.

By early [[3054]], he had been promoted to [[Field Marshal]] of the [[Skye March]], based out of the Ryde Theater.<ref>''Objective Raids'', p. 18</ref> As this took place around the same time the [[Draconis Combine]] appointed [[Isoroku Kurita]], a hot-headed traditionalist, the role of [[Tai-shu|Warlord]] of the neighboring [[Dieron Military District]], threatened the delicate peace between the Combine and Commonwealth. [[Subhash Indrahar]], Director of the Combine's feared [[Internal Security Force]], was deeply concerned that matters would get out of hand with two militant traditionalists staring each other down.<ref>''Wolf Pack'', pp. 70–71</ref> Indeed, as late as [[3058]], there were still concerns that Isoroku Kurita would push for an annexation of the [[Lyons Thumb]] simply to antagonize Field Marshal Steiner.<ref>''Explorer Corps'', p. 24</ref>

In [[3056]], Richard threw in with [[Ryan Steiner]] for the [[Free Skye]] movement.  The plan begun with the marriage of [[Sarah Aten]], the daughter of [[Duke of Skye|Duchess of Skye]] [[Margaret Aten]], who was half Richard's age. The marriage was met favorably in the [[Skye March]], as was the abdication of Duchess Margarette Aten in favor of Sarah Aten to allow the current generation to assume power. This made Richard the Duke of Skye, but unknown to all aside from Richard's inner circle and Margarette, this abdication was anything but voluntary.  As both the Duke and Field Marshall of Skye, Richard now had near total control over the Skye March.<ref>''Blood of Heroes'', ch. 6: initial steps of conspiracy, marriage to Sarah Aten</ref><ref>''Assumption of Risk'', ch. 18: Victor refers to Richard as Duke and troop movements</ref>

With this control he began rotating forces loyal to Prince [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] out of the March and forces loyal to the new Duke in. With Free Skye forces now in ''de facto'' control of the region, there was only one remaining obstacle to the plotting of Ryan and Richard: the [[Gray Death Legion]]. Prince Victor granted [[Glengarry]] as a landhold to the leader of the Gray Death, [[Grayson Carlyle]], a move which deposed the previous landholder [[General-Kommandant]] [[Wilhelm von Bulow]].  This was also the opening Ryan and Richard were waiting for and they ordered von Bulow to retake his hold, while maintaining plausible deniability. Once Glengarry was secured, other loyal forces would then overtly declare for Free Skye and move to secure other worlds in Skye. Assembling a new force, the [[Fourth Skye Guards]] composed of loyal elements of the [[Fourth Skye Rangers]] and the [[Tenth Skye Rangers]] - including all 'Mech formations of the latter - and von Bulow departed for Glengarry.

Ryan Steiner had originally intended for the conspiracy to extend as far as independence for Skye, but Richard took it one step further.  He declared that not only was he the Duke of Skye, but that the marriage of [[Melissa Steiner-Davion]] to [[Hanse Davion]] and the formation of the [[Federated Commonwealth]] was a violation of the Lyran Constitution and thus the union—and all Melissa's heirs—were invalid. In doing so, he declared himself the "legal head of [[House Steiner]] and the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]." This declaration appeared to skip over several other heirs before Richard, even with Melissa's children being discounted. As the conspiracy fizzled out on the HPG-less Glengarry (before spreading to the rest of the March), it was unknown if Ryan was aware of this additional betrayal prior to his 24 April death.<ref>''Blood of Heroes'', ch. 17: Richard's representative von Bulow declares him the ''de jure'' Archon</ref>

In the aftermath of this conspiracy, Prince Victor stripped Richard (and presumably Sarah Aten) of the title and his position as Field Marshal of Skye, installing [[David Sandoval (31st c.)|David Sandoval]] to both. This consolidation of military and civilian leadership in a solidly pro-Davion figure further inflamed tensions in the Commonwealth.<ref>''Tactics of Duty'', ch. 4: confirmation of Richard ("Ryan's number two man") as Duke and his removal as Duke and Field Marshall</ref>

===The Lyran Alliance===
Later in 3057, in the wake of [[Operation GUERRERO]] and the revelation that [[Archon-Prince]] [[Victor Steiner Davion]] had replaced [[Thomas Marik]]'s [[Joshua Marik|dead son]] [[Operation GEMINI|with a double]], [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]] declared herself Archon and seceded the Lyran half of the Commonwealth, forging the [[Lyran Alliance]]. Richard Steiner retained his position, though he took the old Lyran title of Margrave.

During the secession, he came into a political conflict with [[Hauptmann General]] Gary Terlecki, head of the [[Penobscot]] Command and former commander of the [[Tenth Lyran Regulars]].<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 92</ref>

As of early [[3062]], he was a General in the [[LAAF]] and the Margrave of the new Cavanaugh II Theater in the [[Bolan Province]].<ref>''Shattered Sphere'', p. 51</ref>

Sensing the dissatisfaction the [[Fourteenth Lyran Guards]] felt with Archon Katherine due to her détente with [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Thomas Marik]], Steiner attempted to solicit the Guards' loyalties.<ref name=FMLA79-14LG-RS-1>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 79: "14th Lyran Guards RCT: The Fearsome Fourteenth", Richard Steiner curries favor with the Fourteenth Guards</ref>

===The FedCom Civil War===
In the outbreak of the FedCom Civil War in late 3062, Steiner was greatly concerned that the [[Free Worlds League Military]] would exploit the situation. He was also enraged when the [[Second Crucis Lancers]] relocated to [[Cavanaugh II]] and successfully convinced the Tenth Lyran Regulars to side with [[Allies (FCCW)|Victor's Allies]], and he attempted to order the Lancers off Cavanaugh.<ref>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 84</ref>

In March [[3064]], he sent the [[Second Donegal Guards]] to attack the [[Fourth Crucis Lancers]] on [[Giausar]].<ref>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 101</ref> By February [[3065]], he added the [[Seventh Donegal Guards]] to this conflict.<ref>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 130</ref>

In the summer of 3065, he was able to secretly move the [[Seventh Lyran Regulars]] and the [[First Bolan Jaegers]] to Cavanaugh, in an effort to crush the pro-Victor Tenth Lyran Regulars in an effort to build upon his own power base. When his initial efforts were stymied, he suspected ComStar interference, and ordered the [[Com Guards|Com Guard]] [[182nd Division (ComStar)|182nd Division]] elements off Cavanaugh. When the Com Guard troops refused to comply, he ordered his forces to attack. The Com Guard elements escaped destruction and linked up with the pro-Victor forces.<ref>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 144–145</ref>

In May of [[3066]], the battle for Cavanaugh II was still ongoing, with the [[Penobscot Cavanaugh II Theater Militia|Penobscot CTM]] joining on Richard's side and the [[Forty-second Avalon Hussars]] joining with the forces opposed to him. When Steiner began micromanaging the CTM in their battle with the Hussars, they were defeated and forced to withdraw.<ref>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 161–162</ref>

The situation worsened in September, when Steiner failed to adjust his defensive strategy in the wake of severe losses to his Seventh Lyran Regulars. The Allies now had dominance over the skies and a decisive numerical advantage. When the Seventh's commander advocated coming to terms with the Allies, Margrave Steiner had her promptly executed. Intended as an object lesson, it instead drove many of his remaining troops to defect. By February [[3067]], the allies were ready to crush Margrave Steiner's force, liberating the capital. By now, most of the [[Loyalist (FCCW)|Loyalists]] were completely demoralized, having been ordered to fight to the death, most quickly surrendered. Steiner himself, however, evacuated before he could be captured, fleeing the planet on a [[DropShip]].<ref>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 174–175</ref>

By the end of the war, Steiner had still not been found.<ref>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 179</ref>

===Jihad===
As of [[3071]], the Lyran Alliance still had a bounty on Richard Steiner's head, seeking him for war crimes. On October 7, 3071, Richard Steiner appeared on [[Tamarind]], seeking to meet with one of his old enemies, [[Jeremy Brett]], who had been commander of the region of [[Free Worlds League|Marik]] space that had bordered the Ryde Theater. He claimed to have critical information regarding the [[Word of Blake]]'s activities in regards to the [[Duchy of Tamarind]]. Apparently Steiner had at some point, ran afoul of the Blakists, and he had been not only conditioned, but turned into a walking bomb. The explosion killed Steiner, Brett, and Brett's aides.<ref name="JHS3076p17">''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 17: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp50">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 50: "The Jihad In Review"</ref> It also devastated Brett's wife, [[Therese Marik]], leader of the Duchy.<ref name=JHS3072p60>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 60</ref> It was implied that Steiner's involvement with the Word of Blake may have been related to his previous membership in ComStar.

However, in some way, the Blakists failed, as Richard's last words imply that he also was supposed to kill Therese, but she wasn't there. His actions enraged Therese, who would become a major opponent of the Word for the rest of the Jihad, even sending her son, Reginald, to liaise with [[Devlin Stone]]'s coalition.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'' p. 60</ref>

==Notes==
* Richard Steiner was apparently lightly regarded as a military officer, which may help to explain why he was never given a regimental command. Even Nondi Steiner apparently acknowledged her son's "foibles", and refused him additional troops during the FedCom Civil War.<ref name=FCCW144>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 144</ref>
* Given Richard's prior membership in ComStar and his eventual death as a Blakist suicide bomb, there are questions about how much was brainwashing, how much was true belief, and when it started.  For example, had his actions during the Second Skye Rebellion gone as planned it would have destroyed the Federated Commonwealth, a longtime goal of the Word of Blake. Even his death served the Word and his last words were"Blake's Vengeance be done!" Being able to resolve his grudge with the 182nd Division surely helped with his motivation no matter his devotion.<ref name=FCCW144/><ref name=FMC-35/><ref name=JHS3072p60/>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Assumption of Risk]]''
* ''[[Blood of Heroes]]''
* ''[[Explorer Corps (sourcebook)|Explorer Corps]]''
* ''[[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: ComStar]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Lyran Alliance]]''
* ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]''
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3072]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3076]]''
* ''[[Objective Raids]]''
* ''[[Shattered Sphere]]''
* ''[[Tactics of Duty]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade]]''
* ''[[Wolf Pack]]'' (novel)

[[Category:Lyran Commonwealth Characters|Steiner, Richard (31st c.)]]
[[Category:Word of Blake Characters|Steiner, Richard (31st c.)]]