Hendrik Grimm
Sarna News
- This article is about the first (29th century) Hendrik Grimm. For his pirate king successors in later centuries, see Hendrik Grimm II and Hendrik Grimm III.
Contents
Character History
Early Life
Hendrik Grimm was considered a bright rising star in the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces in the early 29th century and had earned fame at a young age already as a battalion commander in the 3rd Lyran Guards[1] with the reported rank of "Major"[2] (although technically, that rank does not exist in the LCAF; its equivalent is "Kommandant" instead).
In "recent" years just prior to 2839 he developed violent mood swings, however, that got him into vicious fights. Only his close ties to House Steiner prevented a court-martial on three occasions. An examination found that he suffered from a psychiatric disorder that required immediate treatment; however, he was instead made Colonel and given command of the 65th Lyran Regulars (Old One-Eyes) which was considered a "safe" assignment for him.[1][2]
Desertion
As of 2839 Grimm's regiment was stationed on Graham IV, a planet recently captured in a Lyran offensive against the Free Worlds League. A surprise counterattack saw the Lyran forces on Graham IV facing superior enemy forces. When the LCAF could not provide requested support in time, Grimm snapped. His paranoia led him to believe that he had been sent to hold an untenable position because his superiors wanted him dead.[1][2] He even claimed that the reason for the plot was that he was the true heir to the Star League's throne.[1]
Against explicit orders, he ordered the 65th Lyran Regulars to withdraw from Graham IV in early 2840, effectively surrendering the planet to the League.[1][2] House Steiner attempted to strip him of his commands and reclaim as many troops and equipment as possible, ultimately declaring them renegade and placing a price on his head. However, they found the crazed colonel had lost none of his battlefield prowess.[1] Grimm's forces marauded the Lyran Commonwealth/Free Worlds League border for eleven weeks.[2]
Oberon Confederation
The 65th Lyran Regulars managed to escape into the periphery virtually intact[1] and, picking up defectors from the shattered 5th Lyran Regulars on the way,[2] settled on the warm temperate world of Oberon VI sometime "in the 2840s" where Grimm recreated the moribund Oberon Confederation into his personal pirate empire.[3]
While on one hand it was said that madmen like Hendrik Grimm subjugated populations and bent them to their will,[4] it was also noted that in the early days of Grimm's empire, they raided the Lyran Commonwealth and Draconis Combine mostly for supplies and spare parts, and did not plunder simply for plunder's sake; the descendants of Hendrik Grimm I were primarily genuinely concerned with the welfare of their subjects.[5]