House Malthus
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| House Malthus | |
|---|---|
| Family Profile | |
| Title(s) | Graf[1] |
| Affiliation | Lyran Commonwealth |
House Malthus are an ancient and wealthy family from the Lyran Commonwealth, founders of the Malthus Syndicate.
Contents
History[edit]
Origins[edit]
House Malthus settled on Romulus in the 2100s. By the time of the Commonwealth's founding, they were already a powerful family, successful in the shipping and mining enterprises, enough that Brandon Malthus could secure the post of Archon Treasurer in The Nine Archons. Brandon brazenly abused his position to enrich himself and the rest of House Malthus. By the time they brought Malthus Gambling Unlimited to Dustball, the family had already grown to control the largest criminal syndicate in the Tamar Pact, the Malthus Syndicate.[2]
Clan Invasion[edit]
While Dustball had been considered safely out of reach during the Succession Wars, it was not so safe from Clan Jade Falcon. When the Falcons discovered that one of their founding members was related to the leaders of the Malthus crime family, they swore to avenge the insult by wiping Dustball out entirely. Malthus family leaders attempted to deny the blood ties, but genetic testing later confirmed the relation. Rather than following through on their threats, though, the Falcons purged everyone with ties to the Malthus Syndicate. However, not only they failed to erradicate the criminal Malthgus: their relocation to the Syndicate's former members to the Free Guilds allowed the Syndicate to infiltrate into the Guilds and to extend their activities through Clan space, finding natural allies into the Dark Caste.[2][3]
Dark Age Era[edit]
The Falcons never ceased to raid Dustball, but the Malthus survived until Malvina Hazen conquest of the planet. However, the -apparent-destruction of Malthus Gambling Unlimited didn't destroy the Malthus; instead, they were welcomed by their allies into the Guilds.[4]
IlClan Era[edit]
The arrival of IlClan Era brought great prosperity to the Malthus. Not only it removed the Falcon's Damocles sword pending over them: also allowed them to abandon the shadows, reclaiming Dustball and founding the Malthus Confederation. After willingly joining the reborn Tamar Pact in exchange for protection, they easily extended their activities through the chaotic Hinterlands, resurrecting Malthus Gambling Unlimited. Despite the appearance of new enemies in the Arc-Royal Liberty Coalition and Clan Hell's Horses, after the Malthus' mutilation of Khan Mirault prized Hell's Horse mare, their business flourished. House Malthus even managed to compete for some markets with Clan Sea Fox' merchants.[5] The Malthus Confederation has temporarily reduced its criminal activities in order to avoid conflict with their new allies in the Pact, but view this as an acceptable price to pay for maintaining the relationship. The Pact relies on House Malthus' intelligence network, and there is a real possibility that if the family bides their time, they could capture the state entirely.[6]
Known members of the family[edit]
- Apollinaire Malthus
- Brandon Malthus, Archon Treasurer of the Lyran Commonwealth in 2365.[7]
- Donal Malthus, governor of Graceland[8]
- Koji Malthus[9]
- Graf Mitch "The Dean" Malthus[1][10]
- Robert Malthus, commander of the Tsarahavana Operations Area's Neerabup Command in 3050.[11]
- Romita Malthus, head of the Orange Wind Free Guild and then the Malthus Confederation.[12]
- Vander Malthus[13]
Other Malthus's[edit]
- The prestigious Clan Malthus Bloodhouse shares a common ancestor with the modern family.[12]
Family Heirlooms and Holdings[edit]
The Malthus family are the legitimate owners of Malthus Gambling Unlimited, and are notorious for controlling an extensive series of illegal operations.[12]
By the 3130s, descendants of bondsmen taken from House Malthus had become guildmasters in the Black Rose Free Guild, Blue Narcissus Free Guild, Crimson Hellebore Free Guild, Golden Snapdragon Free Guild, Indigo Summit Free Guild, and Orange Wind Free Guild organizations. When Clan Jade Falcon left to join the invasion of Terra, House Malthus and the Malthus-controlled Free Guilds joined together and created the Malthus Confederation under Romita Malthus.[12]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 144: "Other Major Commonwealth Industries"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Shrapnel (magazine), Issue 8 - "The Malthus Confederation"
- ↑ The Malthus Confederation, p. 132-133
- ↑ The Malthus Confederation, p. 134
- ↑ The Malthus Confederation, p. 134-135
- ↑ Tamar Rising, p.82
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner p. 15
- ↑ Tamar Rising, p. 31
- ↑ Historical: Operation Klondike, p. 36: "Clan Jade Falcon"
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 139
- ↑ 20 Year Update, p. 28: "Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth"
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 The Malthus Confederation (fiction), Shrapnel 8 Kindle Edition
- ↑ 1st Somerset Strikers, p. 14: "Episode 2: Well Bargained and Done - Coded Transmission 1 of 11"
Bibliography[edit]
- 1st Somerset Strikers
- 20 Year Update
- BattleTech: The Animated Series, (Episode 3)
- Handbook: House Steiner (sourcebook)
- Historical: Operation Klondike (sourcebook)
- Shrapnel Issue 8
- Tamar Rising (sourcebook)