Group Captain 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.

BiographyEdit

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 fanon sources in particular, The Life of P'teer Elson and the Encyclopedia Hiigara have given fan made details to the rebel's life.

Early LifeEdit

Elson was born in several years unspecified.

When he 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.

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. It was there that he would encounter the heart of Taiidan Imperial culture.

Command of the KapellaEdit

In the Academy Elson soon proved himself a capable officer, quickly recognized for his talent. Eventually he was given command of the destroyer Kapella. He would remain its captain in the service of the Elite Guard.

This all changed however with the Emperor's insane actions, primarily 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 slaughter 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.

In the aftermath of his father's death Elson was detained and investigated by the Imperial Military Police. 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. 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.

The Flight of the KapellaEdit

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 a capable 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 (and terrified the Imperial Fleet also) 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 titanic battle for the re-liberation of Hiigara in the name of the Kushan.

Leader of the Taiidan RepublicEdit

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 Rebellion Elson was elected leader of the new government, much to his surprise. Elson had never considered himself a politician but nevertheless fit into his new role, at first with some hestitation but less in time.

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.

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. 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. 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. Elson spent a great deal of time promoting commerce throughout the Republic's borders, lifting up many barriers which the Empire had put down to monopoly trades.

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. Elson sought out alliances with others, particularly the Kushan but also from other factions. This, along with many other careful moves by Elson would help stabilize the Taiidan Republic in the days to come.

Later LifeEdit

Elson had long enough proved his longterm popularity with the Taiidan people. His new 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 was overwhelmed and taken over by the Beast, Elson's days of power were technically ended.

Elson did not bother to run in 17 AHL for more popularity. Indeed, Elson was reputably happy to leave as he much more enjoyed the military or peacefully administering the lands which had since been returned to him.

LegacyEdit

Elson was well respected by many of those who followed him. Many of Taiidan admired him, as well some other people.

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.

Behind the ScenesEdit

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.

See AlsoEdit

• Taiidan Republic
• Taiidan Rebels
• Kapella

SourcesEdit

• Homeworld
• The Life of P'teer Elson (fan fiction [fanon])
• Encyclopedia Hiigara (fan fiction, defunct)