Editing Thomas Marik (False)

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{{otheruses|one of several characters named Thomas Marik|the others|Thomas Marik (disambiguation)}}

{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Thomas Marik from Jihad Secrets.jpg
| caption             = "Thomas Marik", ca. 3075
| name                = "Thomas Marik"
| birthdate           = [[2990]]?<ref>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 77</ref>
| died                = [[3097]]{{cn}}
| othernames          = Thomas Halas
| affiliation         = [[Free Worlds League]]
| rank                = [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]]
| title               = [[Duke of Atreus]]
| position            = 
| profession          = Noble
| parents             = 
| siblings            = 
| spouse              = [[Sophina Desiree]]{{cn}}<br/>[[Sherryl Halas]]{{cn}}
| children            = [[Joshua Marik]]{{cn}}<br/>[[Janos Halas|Janos III]]{{cn}}<br/>[[Christopher Marik (31st c.)|Christopher Marik]]{{cn}}<br/>[[Jessica Marik]]{{cn}}
}}
The public persona of "Thomas Marik", [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] of the [[Free Worlds League]], was actually shared between two men, the [[Thomas Marik (Real)|real Thomas Marik]] and his body double, the "false" Thomas Marik. This article is about the "false" Thomas Marik, who would later adopt the name '''Thomas Halas'''.

==History==
===Thomas Marik persona===
{{main|Thomas Marik (Real)}}
It is ultimately impossible to determine which of Thomas Marik's appearances, actions and decisions should be attributed to the real Thomas Marik, or to his double, until the two began to oppose each other.

===Introducing the body double===
On 1 June [[3035]], during at a meeting to discuss ways to bring the wayward [[Duchy of Andurien]] back into the League, a bomb exploded. It was initially believed that all inside had perished, including Captain-General [[Janos Marik]] and his son and legitimate heir, Thomas. In truth, Thomas was narrowly rescued from the attack by [[ComStar]], but his extensive injuries required the use of bionics to save him. It was then decided that a body double should take his place as Captain-General of the Free Worlds League, ostensibly because the people of the Free Worlds League carry strong sentiments against "cyborgs", including prosthetics as well as cybernetic enhancements.{{cn}} Thomas Marik, already affiliated with ComStar, became a cloistered religious zealot, embracing the teachings of [[Conrad Toyama]].{{cn}}

Meanwhile, the unpopular [[Duncan Marik]] ruled the Free Worlds League and pursued a war of reconquest against the Duchy of Andurien. When the popular "Thomas Marik" returned after more than a year, an enthusiastic Parliament acceded to [[Internal Emergency Act|his many demands]] in order to be rid of Duncan. Most of these requests were laws that [[Addendum to the Incorporation|concentrated more power in the Captain-General's hands]] than there had ever been before, including veto power.<ref name=20YU>''[[20 Year Update]]''</ref>

It is uncertain to what extent the real Thomas Marik, who pulled the strings from behind the scenes henceforth, had or even desired control over the rule that his double subsequently exerted over the Free Worlds League in his stead.{{cn}}

===Captain-General===
"Thomas", now Captain-General, decided to cement his power by much the same means. Leading a much more measured response, he eventually reclaimed [[Andurien]] and rebel Dame [[Catherine Humphreys]] in [[3040]]. Though she died from a heart attack while awaiting trial, he pardoned many military and political leaders to aid reconciliation. This paid off when many members of the former [[Defenders of Andurien]] joined a new federal force that Thomas created, the [[Free Worlds Legionnaires]].<ref name=20YU/><ref name=FMFWL>''[[Field Manual: Free Worlds League]]''</ref>

The new Captain-General sought stability and peace above all else. Though his realm was unaffected by the [[Clan Invasion]], he still traveled to [[Outreach]] in [[3051]] for the summit concerning how to deal with them. There, he provided the voice of reason, the perfect counterpoint to [[Romano Liao]]. After she stormed out, "Thomas" and Prince [[Hanse Davion]] agreed that the FWL would convert its industry to provide [[Refit Kit|refit packages]] to [[Federated Commonwealth]] troops so that they could more effectively combat the Clans through using the advanced [[Star League]] technology provided by the FWL. In exchange, Hanse offered to treat Thomas's son and heir [[Joshua Marik|Joshua]] (the "false" Thomas Marik's son) and his leukemia at the [[New Avalon Institute of Science]].<ref name=stackpole>''[[Blood Legacy]]''</ref>

The League continued to provide refit packages, even after the temporary defeat of the Clans and the [[Truce of Tukayyid]], and the League's industry grew larger and richer with a guaranteed market for its new, high-tech goods. As the flow of refits slowed, "Thomas" directed the [[Free Worlds League Military]] to purchase them, resulting in a technologically sophisticated [[BattleMech]] force. This force was soon put to the test.{{cn}}

===ComStar schism===
The fallout of Primus [[Myndo Waterly]]'s [[Operation SCORPION]] and her subsequent assassination by [[Precentor Martial of ComStar|Precentor Martial]] [[Anastasius Focht]] led to a schism within [[ComStar]]. Focht and newly-elected Primus [[Sharilar Mori]] decided to reform the order and remove many of its mystical trappings, but there were several groups of reactionaries who did not agree with these changes. Sticking to the old ways, they summarily seceded from the secularized order as the radical splinter group [[Word of Blake]] in [[3052]]. They were a very diverse group in the beginning, united only through their disapproval of the changes within ComStar. Although they initially lacked a coherent leadership, Thomas Marik was almost certainly among their leaders right from the start through his many connections to ComStar leaders.{{cn}}

Early on, the Captain-General of the Free Worlds League (Thomas' double, acting as Thomas) allowed tens of thousands of Word of Blake zealots to settle on the FWL world of [[Gibson]]. Thomas Marik was named Primus-in-exile by them, which was apparently more an honorary title at the time as the various factions of the [[Word of Blake]] could not agree on a real leader. The Word also took over the administration of [[HPG]]s from ComStar wherever possible, particularly throughout the FWL, ensuring them a source of revenue.{{cn}}

===War of 3057===
In [[3057]], Joshua Marik lost his battle with leukemia and died while in the care of the Federated Commonwealth. In his inexperience, the new FedCom ruler [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] fell back on a plan his father had created that dealt with such a contingency. Fearing that the Captain-General would cease the flow of upgrades, Victor instituted [[Operation GEMINI]], replacing Joshua with a body double. Although he never intended to place a pawn on the throne of the [[Free Worlds League]], when Thomas discovered the switch that seemed the logical goal of the plan. 

Following the discovery of Joshua's death and replacement by a double, the Free Worlds League made a tentative alliance with Chancellor [[Sun-Tzu Liao]] of the [[Capellan Confederation]] to punish the Federated Commonwealth for this duplicity. The two nations launched a [[Operation GUERRERO|joint invasion]] with the goal of regaining all of the territories Thomas' father had lost during the [[Fourth Succession War]], with stunning success. The FWL ended the offensive after having recaptured their worlds.

It was from the fallout created by the Maskirovka attack (contrived by the Word of Blake) on Joshua Marik at the NAIS that led Victor Steiner-Davion and his intelligence chief Jerrard Cranston (Galen Cox) to determine that the Thomas Marik who sired Joshua was NOT the same Thomas Marik who sired his legal half-sister, Isis.

===Star League===
Now an elder statesman of the [[Inner Sphere]], "Thomas" traveled to [[Tharkad]] to take part in the First [[Whitting Conference]] in [[3058]] where the [[Star League]] was resurrected. Here, Victor Steiner-Davion all but told "Thomas" that he knew he was not the real son of [[Janos Marik]], but Victor did nothing as the false Thomas was a stabilizing influence on the Star League Council.{{cn}}

The [[Free Worlds League]] was relatively quiet through the late 3050s and early 3060s, until the [[FedCom Civil War]]. During that war, (real) Thomas' half-sister [[Kristen Marik]] and her [[mercenary unit]], [[Kristen's Krushers]], were garrisoning [[Coventry]] when they were attacked by Lyran troops. The false Thomas did nothing to help the woman who was supposedly his little sister, though Marshall [[Jeremy Brett]] (in defiance of a direct order from him) rescued what was left of the unit on [[Arcadia (LC)|Arcadia]]. The world was held as a protectorate through the end of the war, after which "Thomas" returned it to the [[Lyran Alliance]].{{cn}}

At the [[3064]] [[Whitting Conference]], "Thomas" nominated the [[Word of Blake]] for entrance into the Star League. While this was obviously desirable to him, as it would give him a member that would basically vote the way he wanted, it was also an incredibly desirable outcome to the Toyama faction of the Word. This faction contained the radical [[Sixth of June]], led by none other than (the real) Thomas Marik, "The Master". The real Thomas Marik believed that the Word of Blake would come to greatness through three "transfers of power," the last of which was their membership in the Star League. A ComStar audit of Blakist funding turned up some corruption of the funds paid to them by the Free Worlds, but the Captain-General's internal audit revealed a much more disturbing situation. Incredible amounts of [[M-Bill]]s had been siphoned off to the Word of Blake, which even Precentor [[William Blane]] could not account for. Blane and the false Thomas concluded that only the real Thomas Marik could have been responsible for the numbers. With that revelation, "Thomas" resigned as Primus-in-exile.{{cn}}

The year [[3067]] saw the greatest challenge to the Captain-General's rule. Kristen's daughter [[Alys Rousset-Marik]] started the Great Debate. She argued that [[Resolution 288]], the legislation that established the Captain-General as a permanent position, should no longer be in effect, as there was no emergency (which 288 is contingent upon). With the [[Free Worlds League]] at peace and the Star League resurrected, she argued, the office of the Captain-General should revert to a position that was assigned as needed. While this took much of the false Thomas' attention, it ultimately came to naught.{{cn}}

===Jihad===
The [[Fourth Whitting Conference]] in [[3067]] saw the unexpected dissolution of the [[Star League]]. When the [[Capellan Confederation]], [[Federated Suns]], and host [[Lyran Alliance]] announced their intentions to pull out of the League, outgoing First Lord [[Christian Månsdottir]] called for a vote of no-confidence in the League with the intention of forcing them back in. Even with the admission of the provisional members, the vote failed and the Star League dissolved. The [[Word of Blake]], especially Thomas Marik's Sixth of June, were incensed and attempted to force the Alliance and Suns back into the League through intimidating force aimed at their respective capitals. When that failed, the Blakists engulfed the [[Inner Sphere]] and near [[Periphery]] in their [[Jihad]].{{cn}}

===Separation===
The "false" Thomas Marik, who ably ruled over the Free Worlds League while the true Thomas Marik was a shadowy sect leader deeply involved in the dramatic and devastating Jihad, finally attempted to break his dependency on the Word of Blake and the real Thomas Marik in whose stead he ruled. The Word of Blake responded by using a chemical attack to kill the members of Parliament and the [[1st Knights of the Inner Sphere|1st]] [[Knights of the Inner Sphere]]. They also revealed the knowledge that the Captain-General was an impostor placed on the throne by [[ComStar]]. Despite that, the false Thomas attempted to stay on, but was deposed by Thomas' brother, [[Paul Marik (31st c.)|Paul Marik]], in [[3069]]. Paul put his daughter [[Corinne Marik|Corinne]] on the throne, though she did not prove to be as malleable as the Word of Blake had hoped.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', pp. 7-8, "The Shrouded Blade" (Corinne helps Thomas Halas escape from Atreus.)</ref> Others attempted to claim the Captain-Generalcy, namely [[Therese Marik]] and [[Kirc Cameron-Jones]], leading to four different Captains-General and effectively shattering the Free Worlds League as a political entity (a situation that persisted until [[3139]]).{{cn}}

As the false Thomas Marik fled the Word of Blake, an assassination attempt took the lives of two of his children, his sons [[Janos Halas-Hughes Marik (31st c.)|Janos]] and [[Christopher Marik (31st c.)|Christopher]]; only his youngest child, [[Jessica Marik|Jessica]], survived. He subsequently took the surname of his second wife, [[Sherryl Halas]], daughter of the ruler of the [[Oriente Protectorate]].{{cn}}

For the remainder of his life Thomas settled in his father-in-law's realm, the now-independent Oriente Protectorate. As its leader, he successfully oversaw the integration of the [[Duchy of Orloff]] and several independent worlds into Oriente.<ref name=HWOTREp48>''Historical: Wars of the Republic Era'', p. 48, "Jessica Marik"</ref>

===Death and Legacy=== 
Thomas Halas passed away in [[3097]], succeeded by his only surviving daughter, [[Jessica Marik]]. Jessica's one ambition in life was to reestablish the Free Worlds League and validate her father's work; Thomas' success in absorbing Orloff into Oriente proved to her that this goal was possible.<ref name=HWOTREp48/> Decades later, in [[3139]], she finally achieved her dream and attained her father's former position of Captain-General of a reunited Free Worlds League.<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 21, "Timeline of Events"</ref>

===Marriage and Children===
Thomas Marik (the "Real" Thomas Marik) was survived by one illegitimate child, [[Isis Marik|Isis]]. His only legitimate child, Joshua (actually the son of Thomas Halas), died in [[3057]] while being treated for his leukemia on [[New Avalon]]. (Thomas Halas later had three other children, but by this time he was revealed to have been an impostor.){{cn}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Thomas Marik.jpg|Portrait of "Thomas Marik" 
Thomas Marik (4).jpg|At age 60
Thomas Marik ER3062.jpg|Thomas at age 70, from ''[[Era Report: 3062|ER:3062]]''
Thomas Marik ShSphere.jpg|Thomas at age 72 from ''[[Shattered Sphere]]''
Thomas Marik from Jihad Secrets.jpg|At age 85
Thomas Marik (1).jpg|"Thomas Marik" in his dress uniform.
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Dawn of the Jihad]]''
* [[Herbert A. Beas II|Beas, Herbert A. II]], ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20050308191029/http://wizkidsgames.com/mechwarrior/courier/pda.asp?a=38504 Epitaph for a Realm]'', [[WizKids]] Games.
* ''[[Era Report: 3145]]''
* ''[[Grave Covenant]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Handbook: House Marik]]''
* ''[[Historical: Wars of the Republic Era]]''
* ''[[House Marik (The Free Worlds League)]]''
* ''[[Ideal War]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3070]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3072]]''
* ''[[Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents]]''
* ''[[Patriots and Tyrants]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Prince of Havoc]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Principles of Desolation]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Storms of Fate]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Surrender Your Dreams]]'' (novel)

[[Category:Free Worlds League Characters|Marik, Thomas]]
[[Category:Captains-General|Marik, Thomas]]
[[Category: Word of Blake Characters|Marik, Thomas]]
[[Category: ComStar Characters|Marik, Thomas]]