Lucius Valerius Maximus

Lucius Valerius Maximus is the current Admiral of the Empire of the Mechyrdian Navy and the Commander of the Void Defense Ministry. Appointed by Chancellor Basileiów in 253 UC (2893 AD), Valerius has expanded the fortifications of the Empire's western border to the Olympia sector, with the aid of Governor Caton, and has exerted pressure on the Vyssikah government to allow fortifications against the Diadochi in Calibor as well.

Early life and education

Lucius was born to the patrician gens Valeria in Olympia; his parents were wealthy magnates, and so Lucius spent much of his childhood traveling across Olympia. Valerius started his university education at the Praxagora Institute of the Social Sciences, before transferring to Starkihet Naval Academy, where he earned his doctorate in general relativity and advanced void engineering.

During his time as a graduate student, Valerius invented the bulkspace snare that can intercept ships resurfacing from bulkspace within the range of hundreds of light-years, teleport them to a location near the snare, and trap them within a tractor beam or power-drain; for this, Valerius was awarded the Alesia Prize for Engineering in 223 UC (2863 AD).

Career

Valerius joined the Mechyrdian Navy's officer corps at age 30, where he defended the Empire's western border against Diadochi raids. He also helped the Navy understand the mechanics of his bulkspace snare, so that they may approve it for use. Valerius' invention first showed its effectiveness in a skirmish at Roazhon Nevez, a Breton colony in Olympia. Bulkspace snares were placed in orbit of the brown dwarf RoNev-4, configured to target Diadochi ships, and once the Diadochi started arriving at the outer rim of the system, they were trapped by the snares and disabled by the brown dwarf's powerful magnetic field, before the Diadochi ships fell into the gas giant, never to be seen again.

Having risen to the rank of Lord Admiral, in the year 251 Valerius offered his help in fortifying the border with the Diadochi to then-Chancellor Velga Pthilnora, however she not only refused his offer, but also had the admiral censured for the political act of discriminatory speech against the Diadochi. Using a legal loophole to get around the Senate's selection for a military tribunal, since the Senate at the time was controlled by Basileiów's Freedom Party, Pthilnora had Valerius discharged from the Navy.

Early retirement

Valerius retired to a family farm on Olympia, where he tended to the chickens. He was restless, and often expressed concern that the Mechyrdian government was ignoring the threat posed by the Diadochus Masra Draetsen: a rapidly-rising power under their new leader Ogus Khan. When Marc Basileiów was elected Chancellor in 252, he offered Valerius reinstatement in the Mechyrdian Navy as Commander of Void Defense, for the purpose of fortifying the border from the Masra Draetsen. Valerius enthusiastically accepted the offer.

Admiral of the Empire

Valerius was not only given military command of the Void Defense Ministry, he was also given the authority to make arrests of political leaders for obstructing the fortification of the border. These arrests would be followed by a senatorial trial for the crime of insurrection, with a maximum sentence of being barred from public office.

Over the years, Valerius has waged many legal battles against Calibor politicians who refuse the Chancellor's and Senate's orders to fortify, as well as many naval battles against the progressive corsairs of the sector who attack and dismantle the border fortifications. He is known for his hardline stance against those who get in the way of his orders, and will use any method available to him to punish such obstruction.

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