Roderick Steiner

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Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field Roderick (Frost) Steiner was a Mid-32nd Century Lyran officer and cousin to both Trillian Steiner and Archon Melissa Steiner.

Roderick Steiner was an honorable man, with a keen military mind. He also possessed a sly sense of humor.

His family changed its surname from Steiner to Frost by the urging of his grandfather, Archon Adam Steiner and had always turned their backs on their Steiner family heritage. He is resentful about the Steiner family and their politics. He avoids revealing his family name at all costs, despite his cousins wanting him to take on burdens of the Steiner family.

Character History

Early Life

Roderick grew up and was raised alongside his cousins, Trillian and Melissa. His grandfather ,"the General", privately educated him in many subjects, including politics and military tactics. He attended and graduated from the War College of Buena in 3135. [1] at rank of Hauptmann.

Early Military Career

In April 3136, his unit, under the command of Colonel Drew Quentin, participated in joint military exercise with Republic forces on Algorab. During the exercises, Clan Jade Falcon expeditionary forces invaded the planet.

On orders of Colonel Quentin, Roderick was forced to fall back to a location that he felt was a bad tactical decision. He then disobeyed Quentin's orders to save the lives of his men. He later took the blame for his decision, without passing it to his commanding officer. The Military Court reduced him in rank from Hauptmann to Lieutenant. The general public sympathized with him, as anyone who followed the news knew the real story. His steadfast insisting to defend his people at the price of his reputation and career was considered by some the stuff of legend. Instead of profiting over the fame he gained from his court trial, he shunned it. This resulted in making him even more popular.[2] After his court-marshal, he was shunned by potential commanding officers.

He was later assigned to LCAF Staging Base Boelck on Cavanaugh II for Operation Hammerfall.

Operation Hammerfall

Roderick was assigned to Trillian Steiner, and he met with her in May, 3137. Trillian informed him that he would be taking command of special unit that would carry out military operations for political reasons. He would answer directly to her as his commanding officer. Roderick insists that he hand pick his people, mainly soldiers who would needed "redemption" and wouldn't necessary be given a second chance. Roderick regains his rank of Hauptmann for his stint as the new unit commander.

In late July, he brings together the new members of his Battalion, who come from various colorful backgrounds, including prison, to form what Roderick calls the Broken Swords.

He points out in a meeting with Trillian that the Silver Hawk Irregulars are being used to bleed Lyran forces in the Commonwealth and are beginning to assemble resistance cells on captured worlds.

The Broken Sword's first combat deployment is to the Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey world of Labouchere in September of 3137. On Labourgiere, they faced a militia unit called Fangs of Marik. Roderick considers them a third rate unit that anyone could defeat. Following the battle and eventual defeat of the Fangs, Roderick is given a silver laser pistol by the Fang's commanding officer as a sign of his unit's surrender.

His unit then arrives on Millungera after receiving word from Trillian Steiner concerning his next operation. He meets with her on 31st of October and she discusses her plans. She plans to meet with Duke Fontaine Marik to convince him to surrender and to have Roderick and his battalion arrive few days later as a show of force. Feeling his dear cousin maybe getting into more trouble that she believes, he hands her the silver laser pistol that was given to him by the Fang's CO.

November 29th, 3137, the Broken Sword battalion arrives in orbit over Tamarind, and receives a message from Trillian Steiner that negotiations have failed. The unit lands its three Union Class DropShips, Sandpiper, Archon's Pride and Rogue Star on Tamarind.

Roderick leads his forces against Marik's 1st Tamarind Regulars Regiment on Harvison Flats near the Zanzidb river. There, the Broken Swords stay ahead of the Regulars and Roderick keeps his force intact long enough for reinforcement to arrive. Over the course of weeks of fighting, his cousin Trillian finally make her way to Roderick's unit after he is held up in village his unit had captured. By the 14th, Roderick's unit had been reduced to a shadow of its former self, his people exhausted. However, after the 4th battle to defend the village of Burkerville from Marik attack, Third Lyran Regulars arrive on world with General Bernard Nordhoff in command. Marik forces, in masse, attack the two battalions. When it become obvious that they are out numbered, Trillian forces him to see the need to live up to his family name and to reveal that he is a Steiner so that the Lyran people, not Duke Vedet could win. Conceding to his cousins logic, he rallies his people, revealing his Steiner heritage. He then proceeds to launch an attack via Dropship on the 1st Tamarind's rear flank as they assaulted the 3rd Lyran Regular. Roderick orders both his and Trillians units to split the 1st Tamarind in two and destroy them. General Nordhoff, seeing he had been betrayed by Steiners, proceeds to his Dropship with his loyal people, and orders his battalions to link up with Broken Swords.[3]

Roderick, left as ranking officer, takes command and orders all units refit before proceeding to the capital of Zanzibar. The city & planet then surrender, but not before Fontain Marik leaves the planet vowing to continue to fight to free his people.

Character Notes

References

  1. Fire at Will, p.60, 82
  2. Fire at Will, p. 40
  3. Fire at Will PP. 263, 271, 277, 281 - Tamarind Campaign & Roderick forcing reveal his true last name.

Bibliography