Talk:William Victor de Brightstar

Brightstar's Tale of Woe

• Liver abuse
• Stalled career due lover's betrayal
• Stabbed by robot
• Hugged by Hrang
• Hit by a truck
• Old friend died
• Betrayed by sensi
• Said sensi dies in Brightstar's arms
• Kidnapped/held hostage/captured several times
• Shot at multiple times
• Regularly travels through space via escape pod
• Rifle butted by power armored troopers
• Barely survived destruction of first command
• Is dating married to Tahminah Mina bint Yasmin al-Lasalle
• Had his mind forced into and information pulled out
• Irradiated
• Mind controlled
• Nearly watched a lover die to assassin sent by Auntie al-Lasalle
• Blasted/burned by the Inheritor
• Mizmania
• Broke a girl's heart
• Has still remained a polite gentleman for the most part despite it all

The Haul

• From William to Tahminah: A handcrafted and engraved slugthrower pistol and assault rifle with complete set of rails and accessories.
• From Tahminah to William: A bottle of hundred-year old brandy and a gleaming sword.
• From Duke Ferill: A fancy space steel jeweled encrusted dueling saber (for Tahminah) and a pesonal autographed copy of Emperor's Mendix's Arguments From the Void, form half millenia ago the 12th Phoenix Emperor's mediations on politics and war.
• From Ravashna: the banner/swaddling cloth/tapestry a Sakastani bride is supposed to bring in expectation of the first child, but Ravi knew she for certain that Tah hates sewing and completely forgot about it, so she did it herself with a note that sisters cover for each other.
• From Halie: A flash drive containing a naval simulation scenario and a handwritten note 'it's soluble' (for Tahminah) and an anthropological study of Sakastan (for William).
• From Ariana: A period-correct whole set of unissued commando gear for cosplay (for Tahminah) and a galaxy globe (for William).
• From Aurora: A pair of uterine replicator (portable) inside, obviously built on Yvnes,a old Ventris percussion-cap rifle with scrimshaw stock, a 1:1000 scale RC Ventris Randgriz-class battleship, a leaf from the Star Tree in climate-controlled stasis jar, Blu-Ray of Yvnes choral music, a pair of Yvnes mirror mask (hers and hers), a box of condoms (economy size), a box of assorted Folken's World hot pepper jellies, and an itemized pricetag including credit for 8x predreadnoughts (at scrap metal price) and debit for ships destroyed at Folken's World and unpaid royalties for Rifterdrives built in the Empire
• From Ackerman: His and Hers ponchos which are about knee length and in attractive, bright patterns (made from wool from the Ackerman farmstead itself). The medium-sized boxes are actually military-grade baby beds, Jardini-made and capable of acting as life pods.
• From Empress Miz: A minor duchy of new colonies in the expanse heading towards north in direction of Midas on the map.
• From Fred: A pair of knighthoods in one of the local orders under her.
• From Del Moya: The greatest gift of all, herself (back from the dead)!

Brightstar's Things to do During the Downtime

• Rally the people to the Phoenix throne.

Reign in any excesses on the part of loyalist forces.

Strengthen whatever institutions can be strengthen, focus on stamping out any corruption.

Figure out the source of the Miziuru cult and put an end to it.

Mercy, support and clemency should be the primary tools... The Empire cannot survive another Marshal's Colony, let alone dozens a once.

• Help form a personal division under the command of General Lasalle, said division should be made up naval an Starforce personnel who have distinguished themselves in the recent battles and either commoners or minor houses (this is key, the greater houses should not be allowed constant near access to Her Majesty.)
• Increase networking to cover officers in all there branches, especially the Grand Duchies.

Find the best officers and civil officials to help achieve points one and two.

Secure my place within the Imperial Guard.

• Gain whatever intelligence that can be obtained as to the state of Grand Duchies and more importantly their loyalty to the throne.

The more "interesting" material the better.

Must determine where they stand, neither Gadsen nor Hiroshi can be allowed to increase their powerbases within the Empire.

Side Story

A Turn of the Wheel

William Victor de Brightstar, The True Son of Wu

• Virtue: Excellent Staff Officer
• Vice: Alcohol, traitor to the Empire
• Minor Nobel Family (Baron)
• Disowned (Very Unlikely)
• Allies: Lieutenant Victoria Philippa de Brightstar (sister, now William's aide), Major General Hector Bermudez-Wu (mentor), Fleet Captain Josephine Vargia (old drinking buddy and fellow member of the Fifth Fleet's Staff... she died so that the Empire might live, RIP :-(), Colonel Fredrika Hessian (William's former henchwoman/other woman/drinking buddy/ect), General Fiona "Gadsen" mac Rognvald (leader of Space Revolutionary Army and The Free Star League)
• Enemies/Rivals: Brig General Henry Humphries de Brightstar (brother),Brevet Brig General Roger Eric de Brightstar (brother), Major Katherine Marie [s]Melio[/s] Mably (Warden of Luxor, rival and ex lover), Lt General Tahminah Mina bint Yasmin al-Lasalle (Warlord of the Empire, former lover)
• In order for the Empire to survive it must reform.
• Class Attitude: The Empire rests upon its people, and rewards those who serves it best.
• Aspirations and Goals: Reform the Empire into a better system to ensure the safety and prosperity of its people.
• Mixed Economy (the Empire must ensure a steady flow of resources to the military to ensure its safety)
• Space Easter/Space Christmas Space Catholic
• Bureaucracy: Expert
• Imperial Officer: Professional
• Politicking: Professional
• Protocol: Professional
• Range Weaponry: Professional
• Strategy/Tactics: Professional
• Streetwise: Layman
• Intelligence Gathering: Layman
• Culture/History: Layman
• Stay out of trouble: GOD AWFUL!

A Patriot's Heart

1: Who were you before you joined the Space Revolutionary Army?

• I was born the third son to Baron Humphries de Brightstar from the world of Piedmont, as such I was taught from an early age to make use of the opportunities presented to me but that ultimately what success I gained in life would be through my own skill and ability. I entered the Academy and unlike my brothers and ancestors choose a career in the staff officer track. There I came under the tutelage of Major General Hector Bermudez-Wu who taught me not only what it meant to be an officer and gentleman but also what loyalty and service to the Empire truly meant. Since then my life became roller coaster as I and Colonel (now General) Tahminah al-Lasalle (my former CO) became embroiled in the fight against the Dread Pirate Hrang and then the vast conspiracy to destroy the Phoenix Empire by the Jardins, Sebastien Phoenicia-zel-Zarya, the traitor Admiral Ellison Mugombe and to my horror Wu. After a hard struggle with several questionable actions, we won back the Empire and I was rewarded with a Guard commission, a new lover and lifted to the heights of Imperial power... But at too high a cost...
  

2: Why did you join the SRA?

• In the closing days of Wu's Rebellion/the Jardinist Invasion I was forced to confront my own comfort zone of what I thought of the Empire and those who ruled it. While I initially thought that I could succeed where the Old Man (Wu) failed by influencing change from within but I quickly discovered that power corrupts quickly as Tahminah and other companions from the Rebellion engaged in questionable actions. Still I pushed ahead, lying to myself more than anything, to do my best and reform the Empire. On a mission to win back Duchy of Vasudan my group was attacked by force of the SRA. There I first met Miss Gadsen who forced me to once again confront my beliefs and experiences in a way I never hed... It was at that moment the defenses and barriers I put up broke down and realized I could not serve the Phoenix or its people as it is but that in this time of change and upheaval that I could carve out a better way.
  

3: What's your opinion of our fine General?

• Miss Gadsen is a monster who killed two million of my fellow citizens in an attempt to bring the Empire into a Civil War (which I prevented)... Yet I have also seen her act with charity and kindness to her people and those who stand with her, including myself. There is something to this young woman... Perhaps its natural charisma or perhaps its the power of her Ark but there is something to this strange green-haired woman that is... Compelling. She does appear to be interested in me for some reason. Miss Gadsen isn't the first monster I've worked with but perhaps, perhaps, I can reform her as I wish to reform the Empire... If the intelligence is correct we will need to work closely together.
  

4: What do you hope to accomplish?

• To succeed where the Old Man failed. It may seem silly to think that given that I have an even worst hand he did but he choose his allies poorly. The Jardin designs are different from that League... A strong League just wants to be left alone and the Empire can easily expand elsewhere. I want to see a reformed, better, Empire led by just rulers with just laws where people respect the rights and obligations of those above and below their station and where there is true mobility. I believe Miss Gadsen will help me accomplish this if I help her.
  

78th Guard Brigade (Independent)

• Flagship: Command Battleship Vidar
• Alpha Regiment

x4 Battleships

x8 Destroyers (Lasers)

• Beta Regiment

x2 Battleships

x8 Destroyers (Lasers)

• Gamma Regiment

x3 Cruisers

x4 Destroyers (Lasers)

• Delta Regiment (Pursuit/Recon)

x2 Cavalry Cruisers

x4 Destroyers (Lancers)

• Epsilon Regiment (Fires)

x4 Missile Cruisers

x4 Destroyers (Missiles)

Trainings Completed

Year 2: 1x (Successful)

Year 5: 2x (Successful)

Time Skip Activites

• Year 1

Combined Propaganda Roll with Tahminah, the beauty and pageantry of the al-Lasalle/de Brightstar union and honeymoon tour - 3 Months/Lowers populace mood from +1 to -1 (8 sux)

Economics Roll as Brightstar moves through the parliamentary procedures to pass needed economic reforms - 8 Months/Lowers economics from +1 to 0 (10 sux)

Personal Power as Brightstar goes through the rolls of current and potential Guard inductees to build his powerbase/bodyguard unit - 1 Month (4 sux)

• Year 2

Combined Propaganda Roll with Mizuru to sell Imperial efforts to save the Royal twins from the Black Brethren's plans for Baal Day - 3 Months/Lowers Imperial populace from -1 to -2 and lowers Rift Kingdom's populace from +1 to 0 (28 sux)

Economics Roll as William meets and tries to personally win over various members of the economic ministries, Guilds and industry magnets to help improve the economy - 8 Months/Economics remain steady at zero as Brightstar finds out his efforts are the only thing keeping the natural economic forces working against the Empire at bay (12 sux)

Personal Power as Brightstar attempts to maneuver within Guard politics to gain an advantage over Ferill - 1 Month (2 sux)

• Year 3

Combined Economics Roll with Ravashana and Mizuru (maybe) - 8 Months

Research - 3 Months

Personal Power - 1 Month

• Year 4

Build Forts - 12 Months

• Year 5

Stability - 5 Months

Research - 3 Months

Personal Power - 4 Months