3rd Imperium Universal Personality Profile
Appearance
Erika is a statuesque woman with striking features and bearing that indicate her heritage. She is taller than human average, and of average build for someone who participates in moderate regular exercise. Her platinum-blonde hair verges on being silver and is usually kept tied up whilst working, and loose when casual or formal attire. Her hair is naturally slightly curly, but when tied up is not very noticeable but when loose becomes more obvious near the tips. Her hair is usually kept cropped above shoulder level - both a style choice and for practicality of military life. She has striking blue-grey eyes and a disarming smile. When on duty she wears very light make-up (by her own admission "just enough to not look like I just woke up") but on social functions wears more (usually applied by professional stylists).
Erika can normally be found wearing a black and white imperial Cloth jumpsuit (TL10) when actively serving on ship duty, and in her Imperial Navy officer's uniform when not actively on duty. The uniform (standard for most Imperial Officers) is an elegant and custom-fit Protec Suit, which combines functional respectability with a modicum of protection. In proper formal occasions, she will wear her proper Imperial Navy dress uniform (not a Protec Suit)or an elegant dress, depending if she is appearing in her naval capacity as Commander haut-Beaudion, or Imperial capacity as Baroness Beaudion.
When in dress uniform or her Protec Suit it is common to find her wearing her naval officer's sword on her side (or at least have it nearby).
Biography
Background [1073-1091]
Erika is the only issue of Duke Robert haut-Beaudoin, Duke of Dingir and Sector Duke of the Solomani Rim. As common in Imperial aristocracy she has inherited one of his lesser titles, Baroness of Dingir, but will inherit his current title and become Duchess of Dingir when he abdicates, expected to occur in the not-too distant future.
Erika was well educated growing up, though some comment that this was not as elite as could have been. She was educated in the top educational faculties on Dingir, but alongside non-aristocracy. Her father refused to send her to an elite preparatory school as he wanted her to be able to connect with the people she would one day rule, as he does, and a reason Duke Dingir is highly respected if not loved by those under his charge.
This is not to say that Erika's education was second rate - and she did well enough to be able to get into the prestigious Silean Naval Academy on Capital, whereby she graduated with honours with a specialist study on Solomani studies.
As an honours graduate, Erika automatically entered service into the Imperial Navy as a commissioned officer.
Career
Unusual for either someone of noble birth, or a new officer, Erika's first naval service was in Naval Intelligence - a posting that usually requires several terms of duty before being eligible. When asked about this appointment, and to refute accusations of social favouritism, Commodore Mikel Weber stated that her posting had been based on her exemplary academy performance combined with her specialist subject area being invaluable in the Domain of Sol.
Whilst Ensign haut-Beaudoin's activities with Naval Intelligence are highly classified, it is known that she functioned as an Analyst and was instrumental in the breaking of various Solomani Party terrorist groups, resulting in promotion to Sublieutenant.
Erika was initially posted onto the Fleet Logistics Vessel Equus Trojanus and served as a junior officer in fleet logistics and analytics until her promotion to Lieutenant, after which she was given advanced training in a specialist field. Like many naval officers, she changed assignment every few years, sometimes to ships, other times to stations or operational bases. In 1102 she was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander and served as the XO on the heavy cruiser ISC War Maiden when the position became available - a capacity in which she served admirably. It was during this service that she became acquainted with Archduke Kieran, with who she had lengthy discussions about Solomani socio-political affairs.
In late 1104 Lieutenant-Commander haut-Beaudoin was promoted to Commander and given captaincy of the Gionetti-class light cruiser ISC Raymond Beaudoin and attached to the Diaspora sector fleet. The ISC Raymond Beaudoin has been heavily involved in diplomatic missions, on various occasion as escort or transport for Archduke Kieran, or on his behalf.
Current Activities
Current intel has Commander Beaudoin and the ISC Raymond Beaudoin still carrying out diplomatic missions and patrol duties in Diaspora sector, but it is known that she has liased with Archduke Kieran on many missions, and rumour has it that she is being groomed to become his military liason when his current liason retires in the next few years.
Personality
Despite being of artistocratic bith Erika comes from a family with long-standing tradition of pragmatism and military service - and this often surprises people who expect her to be foppish, aloof and arrogant. She has an easy-going, down-to-terra personality and sees herself as just another clog in the imperial machine - perhaps a more important clog than others, but that it is the sum of parts that makes the imperial machinery operate smoothly to everyone's benefits.
As may be expected from someone with Naval Intelligence background, Erika is a thinker. She does not take impulsive decisions and prefers to think things through properly, and view available intel, before making a decision. As a commander, she is a proponent of the carrot-and-stick approach, whereby progress is rewarded, but problems are punished - and is pragmatic about what is achievable, and the proportionate response. She detests favouritism and attempts to be fair to all of the officers under her command. Like her father Erika is extremely loyal to the Imperium but, unlike her father, believes that the Imperium should do more to influence social policies on imperial worlds, which could prevent re-occurrences of tragedies such as on Xiwa.
Whilst she prefers military life to the pomp and circumstance of Imperial nobility, she carries herself like a lady and with elegance when in proper situations, and is even known to be a respectable dancer - likely due to experience gained from all the ball dances with would-be-courtiers at high-society functions she occasionally has need to attend.
Other Notes
Commander or Baroness?
Despite her noble birth, Erika has been a career officer and prefers to be referred by her military rank over her imperial title - although is used to (and as such expects) both to be used, depending on the current situation. As a general rule, when she is wearing a naval uniform it would be normal to refer to her by rank, whilst it would be more socially expected to refer to her as Baroness when out of uniform. The "haut" prefix before her name indicates her Imperial title, and so simply addressing her as Commander haut-Beaudoin (as opposed to Commander Beaudoin) acknowledges both her military rank and imperial title.
ISC Raymond Beaudoin
Erika commands the Gionetti-class Light Cruiser ISC Raymond Beaudoin. The cruiser was commissioned just a few years ago and Eria was assigned it's first captain. It was christened by her father, Duke Robert, as it was named after Erika's great-grandfather who died fighting during the Solomani Rim war, and was posthumously awarded the Excalibur Sunburst Medal. It no coincidence that Erika was assigned as its first captain considering her namesake.
Her great-grandfather's ship was the light cruiser Ischiatic Portent which was assigned to Imperial Navy task force 54 on a humanitarian supply convoy to Muan Kwoyen on a show of force intended to break a Solomani blockade of that Vegan world. At the sudden outbreak of war with the Solomani Confederation, the task force was caught by surprise and annihilated by the Solomani 2nd fleet. Only the Ischiatic Portent escaped the ambush, Instead of retreating back into Imperial-controlled territory, the Ischiatic Portent began an epic odyssey across Solomani space. Under Commander Raymond Beaudoin's captaincy, the Ischiatic Portent destroyed 23 Solomani merchant vessels and 13 escorts before being finally run down and defeated by the Solomani heavy cruiser Minsk in a battle off Zapuushar/Concord.
Erika is proud that the cruiser is named after her great-grandfather, and proud to serve as its first captain. She knows she has a lot to live up to and endeavours to uphold the family reputation for honour and loyalty of service.
Night Training
Erika works out in the ship's gym on a daily basis in order to keep in shape. Whilst this is not unusual for navy personnel, what makes it notable is that Erika likes to work out in the ship's gym late at night because she prefers to turn up the gravity to a level she is familiar with from her high-gravity homeworld.
Combat Style
Erika was trained and served as an Intelligence Analyst, although she received naval basic training in small arms and unarmed combat, and more extensive training with her officer's blade. Therfore she tries not to engage in combat, relying on her assigned bodyguard for protection whilst attempting to withdraw from combat. Whilst Erika is no coward, she knows that her role is to command others and determine strategy, not to become a liability in combat. If it becomes necessary to fight, Erika seeks cover and fires for effect, usually calling out orders to others.
Whilst her actual combat skills may be limited, she is an intelligent, well-educated and experienced officer with trained understanding of military tactics backed with psychological knowledge. When it comes to ship warfare, Erika has a sharp mind and strong grasp of naval tactics.
Social Style
Although Erika is used to others deferring to her - either because of her imperial title, or her famous and important father, or simply her naval rank - she is easy going regarding being referred by either title or rankm, even having non-courtiers frequently address her incorrectly; which she normally takes with amusement. Whilst she may prefer to be addressed properly (it shows respect) she is pragmatic enough not to let ignorance or even deliberate social rudeness interfere with diplomacy. Someone obviously treating her with disrespect will get her ire, and in social occasions she will dismiss herself (or ask her retainers to escort the offender away), but ignorance or unintented slights/lack of protocol will be treated with amusement and not hinder relations.
Nonetheless, as both an officer and a noble she is used to protocol and order structure. Those who get to know her normally ultimately simply refer to her as Commander, with others of similar rank or social standing encouraged to simply call her by her first name. Whilst she will be friendly (or at least civil) with anyone who is respectful to her, she will keep a respectful barrier between herself and those not of an appropriate level - that is to say that she may get along well with the Chief Petty Officer in charge of engineering, but she would not fraternize with him outside the boundaries of their respective roles; nor would she with a junior officer (at least not one under her command). She has a more easy attitude towards forming friendships with ex-military and civilians, but would likely also not form a close bond with anyone not of high social standing... although lack of actual extended contact is the main inhibitor to low-society relations.
Ultimately, to get along with her others just need to be polite and respectful (if not deferent, and she actually abhors fake deference). Anyone wanting to attempt to court her or become close friends would generally need to respect proper protocol (learning it if required) and be within the above acceptable social/military limits.
Augments
None known.
Signature Equipment
General
- Mobile Comm [TL10]
- Commdot
- Wrist Watch [TL10]
- Autopistol (with secure weapon accessory)
On Ship
- Cloth [TL10] Imperial Navy jumpsuit (with smart fabric and magnetic grapples modifications) & Naval Officer's Beret
Protective Dress Uniform
- Imperial Officer's Protec Suit (with smart fabric and magnetic grapples modifications) & Naval Officer's Hat
- Officer's Sword
Signature Quotes
- "My duty is not affected by what others may or may not do to discharge their own"
- "The world's best swordsman doesn't fear the second best; he fears the worst swordsman, because he can't predict what the idiot will do."
Gallery
Commander Erika haut-Beaudoin