Paxton Fenlon

Paxton Fenlon
Personal
AffiliationHouse Fenlon
Career
RankField Marshal of the Capellan March[1]

Paxton Fenlon was an officer of the Federated Suns.

History

After the liberation of New Syrtis during Operation CERBERUS, Fenlon would be appointed to the post of Field Marshal of the Capellan March. He remained in control of the Capellan March until March 3151, when the legitmate heir Alexander Hasek, returned to New Syrtis, assuming control. Fenlon wasn't pleased at giving control of the planet to Hasek, who insisted that he must remain administrator of the March, as only his First Prince, Julian Davion could replace him. That relegated Fenlon to the role of military advisor, with little to no authority.[2]

Since the beginning, Fenlon feared Alexander's actions, and rightfully so: seen as a playboy rather than a soldier, his increased military spending and vitriolic speeches against both the Capellan Confederation and Taurian Concordat raised fears he would begin a war merely to increase his prestige. And he has good reason to fear it, as both Alexander's mother and grandfather had each done exactly that. Alexander's creation of the Syrtis Scourge, a new regiment loyal only to him, and outside of the Marshal's chain of command, increased his fears, but was unable to do anything more than keep his Prince informed, sending reports to Argyle.[3]

Fenlon's attempts to keep Hasek's aggression in check failed, though he refused to follow any orders that conflicted with the ones Julian Davion had given him. After an apparent assassination attempt against Alexander on the 8th of June killed his mistress, Hasek decided to act. On June 13th, Alexander informed Fenlon that as the assassin had used a Taurian grenade, he was convinced it was a Taurian agent, and had therefore decided to invade the Concordat. Fenlon urged Alexander to restrain himself and await the official investigation's findings, but Hasek simply ignored him. When Fenlon insisted, Hasek asked if he wished to resign. Without alternatives, Fenlon was forced to concede. The Duke, taking the Scourge and Sixth Syrtis Fusiliers, invaded the Pleiades Cluster; the Pleiades War had begun. Fenlon was left behind on New Syrtis, informing Julian of the few facts that he know, as Hasek hadn't even told him where he was going, or that he intended to began a war.[4][5]

Fenlon placed all the worlds in the New Syrtis region on high alert, fearing the worst: with the Duke's departure, New Syrtis was almost defenseless, with only a green militia and the Langendorf Lancers for defense. However, he hid the Duke's intentions, telling his commanders that the Duke was simply leading an exercise.[6]

Fortunately, Fenlon's fears never became reality: though the war ended in a disaster with Hasek's capture, the Taurians only launched some reprisal raids and ransomed the Duke, who returned to New Syrtis as a humiliated and defeated man with even less power and respect than before.[7]

After Prince Davion stripped Alexander of his military authority, Fenlon would take over operational control of the March's military forces, limiting Hasek to civilian authority.[8]

References

  1. The Damocles Sanction, ch. 6
  2. Dominions Divided, p. 22
  3. Dominions Divided, p. 22-23
  4. Dominions Divided, p. 33
  5. The Damocles Sanction, ch. 6
  6. Dominions Divided, p. 39
  7. Dominions Divided, p. 72
  8. The Damocles Sanction, ch. 21

Bibliography