Elson
From Encyclopedia Hiigara
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 P'teer Elson
Biographical information
Physical description
Chronological and political information
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P'teer Elson was a key leader of the Taiidan Rebellion during the Homeworld War. Best known amongst Kushan admirers and historians for his famed "Flight of the Kapella" incident, Elson is widely admired in several circles. He is often credited with being the key player in negotiating the alliance between the Taiidan Rebels and the Kushan Exiles and consequently, the end of the Taiidan Empire.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Elson's life has been a subject of moderate discussion due to his important role in bringing about victory for the Kushan during the Homeworld War and for setting in stone the foundations for the Taiidan Republic. Two sources in particular, The Life of P'teer Elson and the Encyclopedia Hiigara have given details to the rebel's life.
[edit] Early Life
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P'teer Elson was born into House Elson, a relatively minor noble house stationed in the Outer Rim to an unspecified asteroid colony located in Vorshan's Rift. His father was however of reputable status, having obtained the rank of Fleet Admiral in the service of His Majesty the Emperor and was greatly respected throughout the Imperial Fleet. During peacetime he spent much of his time administering the colony, mining resources for the Empire in exchange for the supplies needed to sustain the colony.
When P'teer reached the legal adult age he was required to take military examinations to determine if he was eligible for military service. Those who failed were not only prevented from joining the military but by Imperial law disenfranchised as nobility. P'teer was the only son of Lord Elson and so there was a lot of pressure on P'teer to succeed.
The young Elson went above his expectations and was determined eligible for training in the Taiidan Elite Guard, a sub-faction within the upper echelons of the Imperial Fleet charged with protecting the Emperor himself. Lord Elson encouraged his son to take the offer and P'teer left to the Royal Academy of Hiigara to recieve training. It was there that he would encounter the heart of Taiidan Imperial culture and meet his father's friend and his own later ally, Duke Karls Martek. He would also meet the last Empress of the Valois Dynasty and his future wife, the Duchess Aribartha's daughter, famously known as the Lady Aribartha.
[edit] Command of the Kapella
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In the Academy Elson soon proved himself a capable officer, quickly recognized for his talent. Eventually he was given command of the newly constructed destroyer Kapella. He would remain its captain for fifteen years in the service of the Elite Guard. In later days Elson would refer to his Imperial service as "crystalline." During this time he became, like much of the Imperial Fleet, a steadfastly loyal and unquestioning officer, despite his earlier reservations about the Emperor when he was a child.
The Kapella saw little action under the command of Elson. The Empire was in a period of peace and expect for a few rebel activities, acts of piracy, or smuggling rings there wasn't much action throughout the entire Imperium. This all changed however with the Kharakian Genocide, which served as the match to light the proverbial powderkeg. Revolution erupted across the Empire and the Kapella, along with much of the Imperial Fleet and Elite Guard, were assigned with the task of crushing rebellious elements.
Elson himself was, along with many other military officers, troubled by the cold, souless xenocide instrumented by the Imperial Fleet. Yet while his doubts about the Empire had been revived Elson was not yet a rebel, still convinced the Taiidan needed the Empire. Yet there was still more to come that would continue to shake his beliefs in the Empire. During the purges initiated by the Imperial Fleet as a counter to rebellion Elson's fleet took part in the Battle of Vorshan's Rift where Elson's father was defeated and then killed by slow asphyxiation, the life support that sustained his asteroid colony destroyed by the Imperial Fleet.
In the aftermath of his father's death Elson was detained and investigated by the Imperial Military Police. His closeness to his father was considered a security liability and the Emperor's supporters were becoming increasingly worried of defection in the ranks of the Imperial Fleet. This was not without basis as Elson's father as well as many other rebels had been key military personnel before their insurrection, evidence that others might follow in their stead.
Elson was eventually released and deemed innocent of wrongdoing. He subsequently became head of House Elson although there were nothing left for him to rule over. Suddenly, his life seemed empty and without meaning. More and more Elson began to see the corruption around him that was riddled throughout the Empire.
[edit] Events Leading Up to Elson's Defection
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A few months later, while the Homeworld War raged on the Kapella was called to the capital world of Hiigara to witness the contest for the new Empress of the Taiidan Empire. Elson was amazed to discover the Lady Aribartha, who he had not seen for more than a decade, was there as one of the contestants. Over the duration of the contest the Lady Aribartha and Elson grew close and fell in love. Their sweet but brief reunion was however ended when it was revealed that the Lady Aribartha had won the competition and was now to be crowned as the Empress Riesstiu Aribartha.
Shortly after the end of the competition Elson and the Kapella returned to active duty, giving the captain a chance to distract himself. For the first time the Kapella was given active escort duty, in part due to the increased danger for Imperial dingnitaries as the result of the war with the Kushan. Furthermore, relations with the Frerrn Aggregate were being strained more than ever before, particularly over a major diplomatic incident in which the Taiidan had effectively kidnapped and enslaved several Frerrn citizens and a subsequent retaliation during which Taiidan nobility had been killed by the Frerrn.
This mission the Kapella was sent on was related to these incidents and an Imperial-Frerrn conference in an attempt to negotiate a settlement. The conference however broke into violence when a Turanic fleet interrupted the negotiations and attacked. Subsequently a three-way battle began in which the Frerrn, Turanic, and Taiidan forces all engaged in the largest battle either the Aggregate or the Empire had been in for centuries, a battle which resulted in a full-scale war between the Aggregate and the Empire, an offshoot of the overall conflict that would come to be known as the Homeworld War. During the battle the Kapella was forced to retreat, allowing Elson to escape certain death.
Later the Duke Martek finally revealed his true loyalties to Elson, hoping to turn the officer to the side of the Rebellion, which he had secretly supported alongside Lord Elson. According to Elson Martek forced him to walk amongst commoners, experiencing their suffering and realizing the cruel tyranny that was the Empire. Martek did not completely convince Elson, but Elson did decide to keep Martek's loyalties a secret, his first step towards becoming a rebel.
Elson's conviction were further shattered when Rear Admiral Tereffi, Elson's superior officer, committed suicide in front of Elson after revealing his own seditious opinions. The Rear Admiral revealed that he had admired Elson's father and respected him for having the courage to fight the Empire. He also revaled to Elson that he had spoken blasphemy, which in the totalitarian Empire in which the Emperor was revered as a near-god was considered treason. Shortly after he killed himself and marines burst into the room, arresting Elson on suspicion of him harboring the Rear Admiral who they were really after.
Again, Elson was released but he no longer felt any real loyalty to the Empire. Tereffi's near-defection resulted in a crackdown by the Military Police on all suspected of treason. Elson later said that there wasn't a day that went by that there wasn't a high profile officer executed on charges of treason or sedition. Elson finally decided something had to be done and shortly after, joined the Rebellion.
[edit] The Flight of the Kapella
One of the most famous moments in the history of the Homeworld War is doubtless Elson's flight aboard the Kapella. After defecting to the Rebellion the Empire that Elson had once been a member of pursued him, hoping to stop him from escaping. Elson, who was an able captain managed to avoid capture by the Imperial Fleet for quite some time. Eventually the Imperial Fleet, guessing his trajectory, set up a trap for him in the outer regions of the Galactic Core.
The Imperial Fleet accidentally snagged the Kushan Mothership Fleet instead, which by now had grown quite large. In the ensuing battle the trap for Elson was almost completely destroyed although he still landed in it. Pursued by Imperial agents Elson recognized the Kushan fleet and requested sanctuary. The Kushan, not sure if they could trust him or not nevertheless took the chance that it wasn't a trap and escorted him back to the Mothership. In doing so they secured what turned out to be one of their most useful allies.
Elson quickly took advantage of his escape and revealed to the Kushan the existence of the Taiidan Rebels. He told them that if he could coordinate the Rebels' strategy and form a cohesive alliance with the Kushan that they might together be able to shatter the Empire. He explained that he would need a strong transmitter however to do this and that fortunately he knew the location of one, in the Karos Graveyard. The Kushan gladly escorted him to the Graveyard, giving him a chance to contact the Rebellion and solidify the Kushan-Rebel alliance.
Shortly after he jumped into hyperspace to lead the rebellion in a series of missions against the Empire. He would later reunify his fleet with that of the Kushan at the Second Battle of Hiigara during which he would play a key role in defeating the Emperor's Elite Guard.
[edit] First and Second Terms as Premier of the Taiidan Republic
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According to the Encyclopedia Hiigara Elson played a key role in reuniting the Taiidan Empire under the new regime that would come to be known as the Taiidan Republic. When election were held in the aftermath of the Taiidan Civil War Elson was elected leader of the new government, much to his surprise, assuming the newly created Office of the Premier of the Taiidan Republic. Elson had never considered himself a politician but nevertheless fit into his new role, at first with some hestitation and he and his new wife, the former Empress, quickly became national icons.
Elson was concerned mostly with the reconstruction of Taiidan space after the havoc that had been wreaked on it as a result of both the Homeworld War and the following Civil War. He immediately began work with the newly elected Congress to form a solid constitution from which the Republic could be built. He moved the capital from Hiigara, which was now considered Kushan territory, to the city world of Triistara and there began construction of the Palace of the Republic, where he and future premiers would dwell.
Elson immediately faced a separate crisis however. The Republic had already lost considerable territory to the new Taiidan Imperialist faction when he came to power in 3 AHL as well as the Frerrn Aggregate. Now, with the young and inexperienced Republic in power many worlds sought to break away from Taiidan rule. Many considered the Republic the Empire with a different name and were eager to break away. There was an immediate threat of civil war but fortunately, Elson knew how to deal with the possibility.
Elson called together the Galactic Council to negotiate the new boundaries of the former Empire. The result pleased all and the Imperialists won a handful of scattered systems and a few worlds recieved independence. The Frerrn also recieved concessions with the Kushan recieving a five lightyear radius domain around Hiigara at its center. But the Republic recieved the lion's share, in part due to Elson's key role in the negotiations. Elson benefitted greatly from the settlement, his poll ratings soaring in response to what many considered a diplomatic success.
Over the next few years Elson spent much of his time in reform. He transformed the corrupt Imperial economy into a bustling quasi-socialist system which vastly benefitted the poor although it heavily taxed the rich. Yet Elson was far from a communist and spent a great deal of time also promoting commerce throughout the Republic's borders, lifting up many barriers which the Empire had put down to monopolize trade.
Elson, always a military man at heart, also spent a great deal of time organizing the rebel cells into what would become the regimented Taiidan Republican Navy. Many elements of the old Imperial Fleet were retained, in order to prevent the Republic from being unable to defend itself. Still, for many of Elson's first years in office the Navy was limited to scattered patrols, not yet strong enough to form a cohesive military force. As a result Elson sought out alliances with others, particularly the Kushan but also from other factions.
As a counter to the Imperialists' strong ties to the Turanic Raiders Elson sought out the aid of the Ascalon Crusade of the Vaygr, an alliance which would have long term implications. With the aid of the Republicans the Ascalon would continue to harass the Imperialists and their Turanic allies, thereby keeping them from attacking the Republic en masse. This, along with many other careful moves by Elson would help stabilize the Taiidan Republic in the days to come, guaranteeing its survival.
[edit] Later Life
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Elson won a second and third term, proving his longterm popularity with the Taiidan people. His third term would be, however, his last, in part due to a crisis which struck the Republic during it. This crisis was the disastrous Beast War, which would prove deadly to the young Republic.
Elson's efforts to fight the Beast were valiant but for the most part, unsuccessful. He, like many others, was unable to comprehend the way in which this new threat, so very different from other enemies the Republic had faced, acted. Despite the fact that he was not the only one to fail and indeed, he did better than many, Elson was blamed a great deal for the failures of the Republic to fight the threat effectively. In particular the Nomad Moon project struck a deep blow into Elson's reputation, in part because he had funded the project himself and attached much of his credibility to its success. When it failed and was overwhelmed by the Beast Elson's days of power were effectively ended.
Elson did not bother to run in 17 AHL for a fourth term. Indeed, Elson was reputably happy to leave the premiership as he much more enjoyed the military or peacefully administering the House Elson lands which had since been returned to him. He did however, before leaving, attempt to reconcile with the Imperialists, hoping that in the future the Imperialists and the Republicans would not have to be enemies, particularly in the light of the Frerrn's increasing rivalry with the Republic.
His efforts were later thwarted however by the blunders of his successor, Absolon Matel. In fact, Absolon, who was a Consignist conservative, reversed many of Elson's reforms. He cut from Elson's welfare programs while simultaneously bringing back monopolistic policies practiced by the Empire to increase profit for corporate entities which had possessed great power in the days of the Empire. Matel's contrast to Elson even took an almost legedary stature and Matel went out of his way to insult Elson who he considered a "weak and senile fool."
In opposition to the new premier Elson reemerged in politics although he refused to run himself. Instead he played a key part in forming the Socialist Party of the Taiidan Republic which would quickly emerge as a major opposition party. Yet Elson's efforts to oust Matel were not immediately successful and the Socialists lost by a margin of 10%.
It is not specified what happened for the remainder of Elson's life although he died sometime in the next few decades, mourned greatly by the Taiidan people, even amongst the Imperialists who had come to begrudginly admire Elson.
[edit] Legacy
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- "Over my years as an admiral and leader of my people, I had come to respect and admire Elson and though I had no wish to rejoin with the insurgent Republic, I did find myself sympathetic to his hopes for peace between our people and his."
- — Konstan Corelon
Elson was well respected by many of those who followed him. Republicans and Imperialists alike admired him. Lord Konstan of House Corelon in particular was one famous Imperial admirer although there were many others. The Republic itself immortalized their most famous leader with the naming of the Elson-class battleship.
Elson was also seen as a hero amongst the Kushan, particularly those with pro-Republic leanings.Many even would credit him in the future for the success of the Exodus.
[edit] Behind the Scenes
Elson is believed to be named for Peter Elson, the space artist whose covers for the Terran Trade Authority series of books inspired the design of many in Homeworld. This theory was conveyed perhaps best when Relic Forums user Ben Tusi chose to use the name "P'teer" (likely based on "Peter") as the first name for the rebel captain in his story The Life of P'teer Elson.
The flight of the Kapella is not disimilar from the Tantive IV's flight from Imperial forces in the Star Wars movies, suggesting a possible influence. There is nothing substantial to base this on however and it is also speculation.
In Ben Tusi's story Elson seems to be in part influenced by the character Paul Atreides from the Dune novels. Like the young Duke Atreides Elson is born into nobility, yet not a corrupt nobility like that of much of the Empire but rather a truly noble family that seeks to benefit its subjects. Furthermore the Atreides family is later destroyed by the Emperor's forces, just as Elson's is destroyed effectively. The Imperial society in the story also seems heavily influenced by the milieu of the Dune universe.
Finally some readers have noted a possible similarity between the characters of Lady Aribartha and the Princess in Dune although this is probably mostly superficial due to the fact that the Princess is not considered the epitome of feminine virtue in the novels, nor is she the romantic interest of Paul. The apparent similarity is mostly linked to a dance scene in the story that parallels that of a similar scene in the original Dune.
[edit] See Also
- Taiidan Republic
- Taiidan Rebels
- Taiidan Revolution
- Premier of the Taiidan Republic
- Kapella
- Lady Aribartha
- House Elson
[edit] Sources
- Homeworld
- The Life of P'teer Elson
- Encyclopedia Hiigara (fan fiction)
| Preceded by: Elson the Senior | Head of House Elson 1 BHL – 0 AHL | Succeeded by: None (aristocracy abolished)
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| Preceded by: None | President of the Taiidan Republic 3 AHL – 17 AHL | Succeeded by: Absolon Matel
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