Difference between revisions of "Maximilian Liao"
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In [[3020]], he began dealing illicitly with [[Michael Hasek-Davion]], Duke of the [[Capellan March]] and a rival of [[First Prince]] [[Hanse Davion]]. From that point on, Hasek-Davion began illicitly supporting the Confederation with information. | In [[3020]], he began dealing illicitly with [[Michael Hasek-Davion]], Duke of the [[Capellan March]] and a rival of [[First Prince]] [[Hanse Davion]]. From that point on, Hasek-Davion began illicitly supporting the Confederation with information. | ||
| − | In [[3024]], in direct response to the [[Federated Commonwealth|FedCom Accords]], Maximilian met with [[Takashi Kurita]] and his old enemy, Janos Marik, as they signed to [[Concord of | + | In [[3024]], in direct response to the [[Federated Commonwealth|FedCom Accords]], Maximilian met with [[Takashi Kurita]] and his old enemy, Janos Marik, as they signed to [[Concord of Kapteyn]]. This was an agreement of mutual support against their common enemies, [[House Davion]] and [[House Steiner]]. Though some back and forth raids would continue between the Confederation and the Free Worlds League, his borders became more stable than they had been in decades. |
===Operation Doppelganger=== | ===Operation Doppelganger=== | ||
Revision as of 16:32, 28 March 2010
Maximilian Liao (2964 – April 21, 3036, aged 72 years), nicknamed "The Diablo", was Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation during its darkest days in the Fourth Succession War.
Contents
History
Early Life
Born on Capella as the son of Tormax Liao, Maximilian was nephew to Chancellor Ingrid Liao. In 2980, Ingrid died without issue, and Tormax became with Maximilian as his heir. These were dark times for the Confederation, with House Liao surrendering territory on nearly every front.[1] This was the setting in 2990, when Maximilian orchestrated a coup of his father's throne, luring his father off of Sian by staging minor religious rebellions on various key worlds and winning the support of the Red Lancers and the Warrior Houses.
Chancellor
Early on, Maximilian imposed a number of successful military policies early in his reign, placing greater authority in the hands of regimental commanders. This gave the CCAF the tactical flexibility it needed to properly defend a domain the size of the Confederation. He also expanded the number of Warrior Houses from four to eight. These elite units would be loyal solely to him. Finally, he increased recruitment to the Death Commandos, an even more fanatically loyal unit.
As early as 2997, he began allocating tremendous resources towards the Maskirovka, with the goal of undermining the Federated Suns with special projects ranging from minor global rebellions to sabotage to damaging their scientific community through kidnappings and assassination.
In 3014, Maximilian supported Anton Marik in latter's attempts to usurp his brother, Janos Marik, as Captain-General of the Free Worlds League. Maximilian had apparently been in contact with Anton as early as 3003. To that end, he transferred the contract to the elite Wolf's Dragoons regiments to Anton's control, and provided financial support as well. Some reports indicate he had even promised Anton the hand of his daughter, Candace Liao, should he have been successful. In the end, Anton failed in his bid and was killed. Nevertheless, House Marik had been weakened and distracted, and it would take time for them to recover. This served Maximilian well, allowing him to focus his attentions elsewhere.
In 3020, he began dealing illicitly with Michael Hasek-Davion, Duke of the Capellan March and a rival of First Prince Hanse Davion. From that point on, Hasek-Davion began illicitly supporting the Confederation with information.
In 3024, in direct response to the FedCom Accords, Maximilian met with Takashi Kurita and his old enemy, Janos Marik, as they signed to Concord of Kapteyn. This was an agreement of mutual support against their common enemies, House Davion and House Steiner. Though some back and forth raids would continue between the Confederation and the Free Worlds League, his borders became more stable than they had been in decades.
Operation Doppelganger
The leader of a nation continually at war with House Davion and the Federated Suns after the dissolution of the Star League, Maximilian Liao almost managed to substitute a mind-wiped double for Prince Hanse Davion of the Federated Suns in 3025, a plan dubbed Operation Doppelganger. Only ingenuity on the part of Ardan Sortek and the security system on Hanse' BattleMaster allowed Hanse to reclaim his identity and kingdom. Hanse later used this act by Maximilian Liao to justify the Fourth Succession War.
Fourth Succession War
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Death
The Fourth Succession War broke Maximilian's mind and he was committed to an insane asylum. Though technically still Chancellor, his daughter Romano ruled in his stead. In 3036, he died of an apparent suicide, though it was speculated he had been assassinated.
Marriage and Children
After the accidental death of his first wife Jasmine, he married the ambitious Lady Elizabeth Jordan.[2] He had three children with Jasmine: Candace, Romano, and Tormano.
Personality and Traits
Though history would remember him as the madman he became during the Fourth Succession War, Maximilian was an extraordinarily clever planner and manipulator. He reversed what had been a collapsing military, ultimately achieving a position of surprising strength. He secured his throne by playing various sides against each other, and later secured his borders by playing the same game on an Inner Sphere-wide level. He was even willing to play such games between his children, demonstrating a cold ruthlessness. For most of his reign, he was quite successful despite possessing considerably less resources than his rivals. His grandson, Sun-Tzu Liao, would use similar tactics decades later, reversing most of the losses that had broken Maximilian. Despite this, Maximilian was considered a megalomaniac and manic-depressive in the best of times. This helped to allow Justin Xiang to win his complete trust, with devastating results. The complete failure in the Fourth War was too much for his mind to stand, and he fell into complete insanity.
References
Bibliography
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