Imperial Special Intelligence Personal Autobiographical File :


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"The society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools." Thucydides 460 B.C. – 395 B.C.


-Mother: Lady Tilva Heron
-Father: Steward Marcus Kynes

Parentage:
My mother was a noblewoman in the House of Heron. She was the daughter of Count Ulysses Travize Heron the Senator of Ekono. She was his second child after her brother Doug Heron. Ulysses died in 3297 and Doug Heron took the mantle of Count and Senator. My mother was killed in 3195 by a Federal raid in a neighboring system while on a trade delegation. In her lifetime she was one of the most esteemed artists in the Imperium.
My Father was what is known as an Imperial Steward. These are men and women charged with ensuring that the biospheres of inhabited and habitable planets stay that way, as well as terraforming new planets for inhabitants. He was not a nobleman, he achieved rank in the Imperium by being a true master in the field of terraforming. At the end of his life, he was High Steward of Conversion (Achenar). He died in the NMLA bombing on Dawes Hub on March 11, 3307.
My parents met when my father was on assignment in the Ekono System. They wished to marry but due to my father's lower status, Count Heron did not allow this. I was born out of wedlock in 3278. My Grandfather was not a harsh man and allowed me to become part of his household but did not bestow his name on me. I was a bastard child in the Count's eyes, but not a disowned one. I was however always a Kynse, and that name would grow in fame due to my father being offered a position as a Steward of the planet Conversion in 3284. My parents remained close but never married, I feel they saw no need in it, they knew what they were to each other. When my father was assigned to Conversion, my mother came with us for a time to Achenar but left several years later when my grandfather's health began to fail and her duties increased.

Early Life:
My first 6 years were spent in the Heron Estate on Ekono. I swam in the rivers, I ran in the valleys, I hunted in the forest with my uncle and cousins. It was a good and simple life. But I was a Kynse and when my father got the stewardship in Achenar I went with him.
In a way, this was the best time of my life and the freest. My father for the first few years of his stewardship was in charge of over one-third of the planet. Every living thing that was non-human was his domain, his to care for, and I was next to him the entire time. I watched as he turned failing and desolate regions into oasisies and gardens. In my eyes he was a god of life, everywhere he went life grew and thrived. After several years he achieved the status of High Steward, and the entire planet was his responsibility.
This was a true time of learning for me. I was my father's apprentice in a way. I also had the best teachers in the empire. I learned the art of genetic engineering from the cloners on my father's staff (The men and women in charge of making sure there was plenty of biodiversity in every system my father designed). I learned how to repair and build drones for every need of terraforming from the engineers, as well as work on ships that we used in the field. I learned ecology, biology, and xenobiology from my father, and studied in my later teens at the Imperial Science Academy.
One of my most important teachers was Commander Theron Seldon, who taught me how to fly. Seldon was a pilot for field operations on my father's staff as well as his best friend. He deployed drones, observed packs of wild animals, collected specimens, and delivered them, he also took stewards wherever they needed to go. When I was 9 he taught me how to fly in a flight simulator. By the time I was 12 he and I were flying the skies of Conversion together. I remember long expeditions into the man-made wildernesses of Conversion with him. At night around the fire, he would tell me of his life as an explorer before meeting my father. And the many worlds his feet had touched. And he told me of the Thargoids... He awakened a dream in me to explore and to find life outside of the Bubble.
I was trained in court life by my mother. A truly elegant and eloquent woman. In court, she was a force to be reckoned with. She taught me how to pick a person apart from my words and my mind. As well as the proper dances and dining arrangements. She was not some completely posh noble, she was an artist, one of the best in the Imperium. She was also a fierce businesswoman, I have never seen someone close a trade deal on tantalum with so few words. By the age of 15, I was a master at maneuvering the dangers and intrigues of the high court. I also made several good connections that would serve me later. The connections my mother had were seemingly endless, but none were more critical to my life than the Duval’s. I am not sure how, most likely through a large reserve of wit and cunning, my mother was well known to the Duvals, and she became one of Princess Aisling Duval’s tutors in Imperial Art.
Aisling was a smart girl, and one full of passion for life. Every word my mother said to her I saw she hung on and absorbed readily. I met her grace for the first time when I was 13, to my horror I interrupted one of her lessons with my mother. Her Grace, unlike many posh nobles, was not offended. To my surprise and boyish delight she already knew who I was, most likely my mother had been subtly dropping information about me. She was kind to me in a way no one in high court had been. I “interrupted” as many of my mother's lessons after that as I could. We became confidants and, if I may be so bold, friends. Through the years we grew close and our friendship took a turn, a turn that will not be recorded here or in any history. Eventually, duty took her grace elsewhere, back to her home system and her days of ruling began. But we remained in sporadic contact. My allegiance will always be pledged to her grace. When my mother was killed in the Federal raid, the princess comforted me as well as she could, and was proud when I told her my plans to join the Imperial Navy.

Military Career:
I don't think I joined for revenge, or even out of hatred for the Feds. I joined to stop what happened to me from happening to anyone else in the Empire. But that seems like so long ago that I don't remember. What is sure, now I hold no malice towards the Feds in general, perhaps the leadership, but not the populous.
I am not sure what my father thought when I told him about my plans to join the Navy. Part of me thought that he was worried I would be focusing on taking life, rather than his life's goal of creating it. But he gave no objections. Seldon was proud and told me I would do amazing and be the captain of a capital ship within a year. The Princess wished me luck and told me not to get hurt, I think she was proud I joined. I wore and still do wear her crest into every battle and expedition.
Due to my connections, but still not being a noble “technically”, I was commissioned as an ensign. I quickly showed my talent as a pilot and was given my first command. I was an Imperial dropship pilot. I dropped from The Dreadnaught, a Majestic Class Interdictor. We patrolled the border between the Imperium and the bordering superpowers. In this time I saw many conflicts, dropping my fair share of troops on hot targets and providing air support. This is when I got my first kill. A federation gunship was hightailing it toward our position during an evac mission. I intercepted and my railguns won the day. Countless offensive and defensive missions passed in these conflicts and I saw many fight and die.
Eventually, I was transferred to an in-atmo taskforce on %&$@, where I was given command of a thopter. The planet was contested at the time and we constantly encountered ground units and assaulted enemy facilities. I deployed covert operations as well as engaged in close air support. This campaign lasted a year and a half. Close to the end of it, we were hit by an EMP blast that knocked us out of the air, we lost half of our unit in that crash and the rest of us were assaulted for days by federal troopers. This is the first time I fought with a rifle in hand. I had dueled in court, even killed, but never had I been in ground combat. I did what I had to do, I am not sure how many feds I dropped, but those days seem endless in my memory. Eventually, we were supported by railgun fire from orbit and escaped. Soon after that campaign ended, I was offered a place in the Imperial Auxilia Legion.
The Auxilia is a special forces legion of Pilots/Commandos that are deployed across the bubble. We are in units of 3 known as a Contubernium, one assigned pilot, one assigned sharpshooter, and one assigned scout. But all three are cross-trained to where we can fulfill any role when deployed. We are deployed in Centurys of 4 Contubernium, 12 men total, with 1 knight in command. Mostly we are deployed as force recon in advance of a much larger force, as well as covert operations and peacekeeping missions. Most of what I participated in was classified beyond measure. I was part of assassinations, raids, invasions and if I remember correctly one or more clandestine operations. We fought pirates, feds, and even Alliance forces on some occasions. I was promoted to the rank of lieutenant 3 years into service with the Auxilia, meaning I was in command of my own Contubernium. I served 4 years with those men and they fought like demons. What changed everything was the fall of $&&%=%. We were stationed on $&&%=% as a peacekeeping force when federal forces invaded with overwhelming numbers. They had the system blockaded and our fleet couldn't respond. The legion we were supporting was wiped out and we roamed the planet conducting a torch and burn campaign to deny the Feds valuable intel and resources, as well as gathering intel for a counter-invasion if our fleet could break the blockade and return to the planet. Eventually, we were hunted by a large contingent of Federal Special Forces. During this time we lost more than half our number, I received the field promotion to Knight by our injured Commander. After his death, the command of the Century fell to me. With less than 2 Contubernium left we continued to cause havoc for the feds. After 2 months we were down to just 3 men, Lieutenant &%$#@, Serf %&*#, and me. At this time we had a trove of intel stored in our suit computers, if we could somehow get it to the fleet it would help us secure the planet again. Eventually, we got a tight beam out to the fleet and were told to meet at a hot evac site. The battle to get there was fierce. Lieutenant &%$#@ sacrificed himself so Serf %&*# and I could escape. Tragically Serf %&*# died of injuries in the evac shuttle. I was the only survivor. But their sacrifice was not in vain, the intel we gathered allowed our fleet to retake the planet. Upon my return to Achenar, I was officially given the title of lord and made a noble for my service to the Empire. Princess Aisling Duval presided over the ceremony herself.
I resigned from my commission after this campaign. For a time I was an operative for Imperial Intelligence, and still occasionally am given an assignment.

Exploration Begins:
After my return to court, I realized it wasn't as interesting and fulfilling as it once was. I am still an Imperial through and through but I had little interest in High Court life, even after becoming a noble. I returned and worked with my father and taught terraforming and xenobiology at the Imperial Science Academy.
During this time Seldon and I began constructing a vessel for me to go exploring in. We built the vessel out of a Type-6. With our resources, we could have made it from a Courier or even a Clipper. But the Type-6 had a big advantage, easy to manufacture parts, even alone in the black. None of the fancy engineerings of Gutamaya for us, we wanted to be able to rely on this ship and fix it ourselves if it broke down. We named her the Hokulea.
I went exploring out past the frontier, finding worlds, and beautiful sights. Sometimes Seldon would accompany me, other times it was just me and the stars. This was the life I had been dreaming of. I saw things beyond imagining, and I knew it was only the beginning.
I often returned to the bubble and Achenar, to help my father with terraforming and prepare for my next voyage. During one of these stays back home I was sent a message by Princess Aisling, about a scientific voyage that would be exploring a habitable waterworld. It was overseen by the Cemiess Exploration Institute (a sister Institute to the one in Achenar) and sponsored by Sirius Corp and Saud Kruger. I immediately joined as a xenobiologist. Little did I know what would happen on this expedition. I ended up being stuck on the planet for a year, alone. I won't go into detail about the events on the waterworld, something to do with a crash, a disease, some guardian tech, and another Emperor. But what I will tell you was that life under the waves on this planet was extraordinary. I mourn for those lost in the crash but I don't regret a second on that planet.
After escaping the waterworld I returned home for a short time. My father was relieved that I was alive, I told him of the planet and he was enamored and amazed. I shared my personal findings on the ecosystems and organisms of the planet with him and we spoke for many days on the subject as well as planned to see the planet together one day. I should have stayed longer to give us that chance.
While I was away Seldon had been putting together a new ship for me. Still, not a fancy Imperial ship, but an ASP Explorer, designed and engineered to be a proficient exploration vessel, I named it the Khaara. I took one trip before venturing into the black again.
I made my way to the Cemiess System to see the Princess. I told her of the worlds I had seen and the adventures I had been on. We spent days together on Emerald (Capital of Cemiess). It was like old times. Her life and ambition had taken her on many adventures as well it seemed, but you can read about that in the histories. It was good just to be in her company again. She had thought me dead on the waterworld like so many of the expeditions. After some time I left Emerald and returned to Achenar to teach and plan my next expedition into the black.

Colonia:
After some time remaining in the bubble after the waterworld expedition, I grew tired of life in civilized space, everywhere that I explored was already inhabited or had been seen by others. I grew tired of teaching at the Imperial Science Academy and the responsibilities of a Lord. Also, Imperial Intelligence continued to give me death-defying assignments many of which I cannot speak of. One of my particularly bright students gave me the idea to head for Colonia. The idea had crossed my mind but this was the first time that I actually considered it. The idea of the far frontier and of being that close to the core, with so many unseen stars, excited me beyond measure. I asked Seldon if he would come with me, but he told me that his place was beside my father. I made contact with Holloway Biological Institute in Colonia and was offered a lab there, so I made my way to the New Worlds.
The journey there took almost 3 months. I took my time and mapped as many systems as I could. As well as stopping at as many nebulae as possible. It was a good time, a free time. This was my first long-range expedition, and the Kharaa was the best companion a man could ask for, and truly built for this journey.
By the time I arrived in Colonia I had a treasure trove of exploration data. And it made me a pretty penny. After a while I began to venture out and around the core, even making my way to Sagittarius A*. There is no point in me trying to explain the magnificence of the center of our galaxy, you simply must see it to understand. After this, I made my way to the fairgrounds and around several nebulae.
Once I returned from this, things in the bubble were starting to heat up. Corporations like Jupiter Division were vying for power and this leaked into Colonial politics. Corporations in Colonia began seeking more power and control and a militia was formed to fight them. Imperial Intelligence sent orders for me from the Emperor herself to join up with them and help. And so it was more war for me, I can't say that I was happy. But perhaps it made me a patriot for this new bubble of humanity. This conflict only lasted months and eventually it calmed. Executives in Colonia were replaced, sometimes forcefully and the order returned, at least as much as it could in this far frontier. I stayed for a while and was given a position in one of the recently overhauled companies, I think Imp Intel lent me out to them. This company will remain unnamed for classification reasons, but I did and do believe they have the best interests of Colonia in mind, at least second to profit. I was used as a mercenary of sorts, and that's all I will say on the subject. I stayed in Colonia for nearly a year, I grew to love it there and my return to the bubble was not voluntary.

Back to the Bubble:
After the uprising of the Jupiter Division, Imperial Intelligence needed me back in the bubble. They had gotten tips that a group of Marlinists (a splinter group of the Empire) were planning an attack. I was briefed in Colonia but thought that I was not going to be involved. I had recently started working with Canonn Research (a huge multi-superpower research group) and became a member. One day I was flying out of Jaques Station and my ship was destroyed, I died. Imperial Intelligence used this to get me back to the bubble quickly to help deal with the threat. I was "revived" in Achenar and immediately began covert operations with Imperial Intelligence to discover the threat. During this time the Galactic Summit of 3307 was taking place. We feared the Marlinists planned to attack the summit. After some days Imperial Intel thought the danger had passed, how wrong we were.
I began working with Canonn again, they were planning an expedition all around the galaxy on the fleet carrier Khonsu, and I joined up as a xenobiologist. Around this time Princess Aisling had arranged a gift for my return, it was brought to me in Varati. A beautiful exploration vessel. It was a Krait Phantom outfitted for long-range expeditions, she had named it the Reefback. She told me she themed it off of some of the stories I told her from the wildlife of the waterworld, and it did indeed resemble a Reefback. It was the best gift that I had ever received, and in the coming days, it would be essential for me to have this ship.
On March 11th, 3307 The Marlinists calling themselves the NMLA bombed major starports in all of the superpowers, including Dawes Hub in the Achenar system. I made my way to Achenar to help the relief effort. For days I flew rescue missions into Dawes Hub to save civilians trapped in the station. We saved many but far more were lost in the attacks. I learned later that my father and Seldon were among those lost in the attack. They died together trying to save as many as they could, but a secondary explosion struck Seldon's ship and all hands were lost.
For my efforts, Aisling Duval and the Imperial Senate bestowed me with the Rank of Baron and I inherited all of the Kynse Estate on Conversion. None of that could fill the void Seldon and my father left. I left soon after to meet up with the Khonsu which had already started its journey. I left my close friend from the Imperial Science Academy, Lord Alexandre Polyanos in charge of my Estate. IMP Intel wanted me to stay and fight the NMLA, but I knew that this upcoming war will be one of the shadows and no clear enemy and I will have no part in it.

Khonsu:
I left the Bubble for a long time after my father and Seldon’s death. I took the Reefback and joined the Khonsu on its expedition; planned by members of Canonn Research. I had to link up with the Khonsu after it had already begun its expedition due to the NMLA events. We surveyed nebulae, and explored planets and alien relics. I threw myself into my work on xenobiology/xenoecology. It was an escape from the losses and intensity of last year. An escape that I found incredibly fulfilling. Studying the life forms of the galaxy is what I live for. Seeing beautiful and exotic planets that no one has ever set foot on filled my life with joy. I studied several organisms in the void. One that I found most interesting was the Gyre Trees.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gU0EUhGXSABo4aNTmPhSNxuGLfyRhAHUsdoDJXNEnX0/edit?usp=sharing

I explored the galaxy with the Khonsu. I did my science and taught many students. Two of my favorites were from the Sirus Gov, Samantha, and Robin. Both were brilliant engineers and scientists. Of all the minds I touched in my time theirs were the most fulfilling. In a way being with a crew flying the depths of the galaxy was something new to me, I had always been a solo explorer but now I had a team. Sadly all things come to an end.
I stayed with the Khonsu until we found ourselves in Colonia. I wanted to make my way back to the bubble the long way in the Reefback. It took me almost a year for me to wander back to civilization. I discovered many beautiful things. I hoped my father would have been proud.

Break:
I was back in the bubble for a time, working with Canonn and teaching at the Imperial Science Academy. Much of my time was spent on the Kynse holdings on Conversion. Lord Polyanos kept my estates in order while I was away. They are a large swath of ecological reserve lands that my father put aside. After his death and my service, I was given them as my barony, under the stipulation that most remain ecological reserves. Many stewards now work for my estate, maintaining these lands. I also use the land to teach and I allow Canonn and Institute personnel on-site to conduct research and develop an understanding of proper terraforming techniques. It seemed right and feels like what my father would have wanted.
I hunted, fished, studied and explored this planet that the great Steward Kynes made so beautiful for the Empire. Our lands are also home to several cloning parks, very interesting places where great beasts and small microbes are made in the name of discovering the limits of control we have over DNA. Plenty to do on Conversion it seems.
This was a time of rest and introspection. Especially with the immense choice, humanity faced soon when it came to the Thargoids.