Editing Melissa Steiner (32nd c.)


{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Melissa_Steiner_3143.png
| caption             = 
| name                = Melissa Steiner
| birthdate           = [[3099]]<ref name=ER3145p98>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 98: "Melissa Steiner profile"</ref>
| died                = 17 July [[3143]]<ref name=ABoWc15>''A Bonfire of Worlds'', ch. 15</ref><ref name=ER:3145p23>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 23: "Timeline of Events"</ref>
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[House Borge-Steiner]]
| rank                = [[Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth|Archon]]
| title               = 
| position            = 
| profession          = 
| parents             = [[Andrew Steiner (32nd c.)|Andrew Steiner]] (father)
| siblings            = 
| spouse              = 
| children            = 
}}
{{Otheruses|the thirty-second-century Archon|the thirty-first-century Archon|Melissa Steiner}}

[[Archon]] of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] '''Melissa Steiner''' showed more interest in commerce than politics.

==History==
===Early Years===
Born on [[Tharkad]], Melissa grew up along with her cousin [[Trillian Steiner]]. As they got older, the two diverged politically. Trillian believed in [[Devlin Stone]] and the [[Republic of the Sphere|Republic]], while Melissa, who was influenced by her father [[Andrew Steiner]], had a negative opinion of the new nation.<ref name=ER3145p97f>''Era Report: 3145'', pp. 97–98: "Trillian Steiner profile"</ref>

===Archon===
Melissa was not prepared for the day when she took over the throne from her father.  Being only 28 at the time of ascension, and more so interested in commerce instead of politics, Melissa decided to surround herself with the aides from her father.  As time went by she began to realize that she had to have people around her that she could trust and rely upon.  She promoted her trusted cousin Trillian to the position of Chief Diplomat and "problem solver" within the Commonwealth.<ref name=ER3145p98/>  In politics, despite adopting her late father's negative views towards the Republic, she recognized the Republic of the Sphere as a strong trading partner; however she opposed many of its policies that didn't benefit her nation. She gave a series of speeches stoking Lyran pride, and ultimately helped bring about revolt within the Republic.  This would lead to [[Jasek Kelswa-Steiner]], a distant cousin and militia commander, to take up arms against the Republic in [[3133]] in the form of a band of like-minded soldiers calling themselves the [[Stormhammers]]. His efforts caused Lyran-leaning civilians in Republic Prefectures to side with his cause, ultimately softening them for possible takeover by Melissa's LCAF units she would end up sending in [[3137]].<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 120: Andrew and Melissa - Info regarding Melissa's early days leading to the Jihad and her influence which led to the formation of the Stormhammers</ref>

After the [[Gray Monday|HPG network crash]], Melissa invested billions of ''kroner'' into [[ComStar]] to help them reestablish the [[HPG]]s, but when that effort failed, the Commonwealth economy suffered.<ref>''A Bonfire of Worlds'', ch. 3</ref>

Later, Melissa created plans for the invasion of the former [[Free Worlds League]], known as [[Operation HAMMERFALL]].  To ensure success, Melissa was able to secure the help of both [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]] and [[Clan Wolf]] forces. Though the invasion was successful, when she heard that [[Alaric Ward]] killed the League's Warden-General [[Thaddeus Marik (32nd c.)]], against Trillian's advice, Melissa ordered the activation of ''Operation Empty Cupboard'': a plan to delay the transfer of Wolves' civilians. This would have catastrophic consequences. When the forces of Clan Wolf felt they had been betrayed, they turned on their Lyran allies, and the defenses Melissa had put in place were bypassed.<ref name=ER3145p98/><ref>''A Bonfire of Worlds'', ch. 3-7</ref>

In [[3141]], with [[Clan Wolf Touman|the forces of Clan Wolf]] bearing down on defenseless worlds of the Commonwealth, Melissa suffered an assassination attempt and military coup. Melissa lost the title of Archon and her realm; however the military-backed replacement, Duke [[Vedet Brewer]], turned out to be incompetent, and his efforts to stop the Wolves was short-lived.<ref>''A Bonfire of Worlds'', ch. 11</ref> 

After the situation on the fronts became critical, Melissa was able to retake her throne after only two years, just in time for the dual invasion of [[Tharkad]] from Clan Wolf and [[Clan Jade Falcon]]. Before the [[Battle of Tharkad (3143)]] began, Melissa refused to evacuate, despite the overwhelming odds. She put [[Callandre Kell]] in charge of the planet's defense.<ref name=ER3145p98/><ref>''A Bonfire of Worlds'', ch. 15</ref>

===Death===
When hope seemed lost, Trillian offered herself to pose as Melissa in order to effectuate the Archon's escape. Melissa refused. Realizing, too late, than her cousin always had been loyal to her, Melissa asked Trillian to take her place as Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth.<ref name=ER3145p97f/>
To ensure that Trillian and the rest of the Lyran leadership survived the attack on the capital, Melissa sacrificed herself in the face of [[Elementals]] from Clan Wolf. When an Elemental ordered her to surrender, she instead shoot him with a laser pistol, before being killed by his return fire. Though it was a futile gesture of bravery on her part, it did leave an impression on the Wolves and gained her their respect in death, even from Alaric Ward.<ref name=ER3145p98/><ref name=ABoWc15/>

==Notes==
The Elemental that killed Melissa was hunted down and killed by [[Kommandant]] [[Bonnie Richards]], of the [[First Royal Guards]] RCT, before the Wolves left Tharkad.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 124</ref>

== References ==
<references />

== Bibliography ==
* ''[[A Bonfire of Worlds]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Era Report: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Fire at Will]]'' (novel)


[[Category:Lyran Commonwealth Characters|Steiner, Melissa]]
[[Category:Archons|Steiner, Melissa]]