Meamnar:For Mariah - Galen's Background

General Galen, Commander of the infamous Khyber Brigade, is a model officer of the Imperial Army. An exceptional tactician, he has managed to earn nearly every honor that could be bestowed on an officer. Of course, he leads Octavius' own brigade, the unit that held the Khyber Pass for three days. Galen was there, all those years ago, as nothing more than a footsoldier, but he served well enough to be noticed by the General. Before long, he was Octavius' Aide de Camp, taken under the General's wing, and instructed in all manner of field tactics. By the end of the war, he was in charge of his own regiment.

When he was passed up for promotion to general the second time, he confronted Octavius, demanding an explanation. He remembers that day vividly, in Octavius' tent, while the 2nd and 3rd Corps were stationed on the Amari Plains. The General sat quietly, listening to him unload. A long pause ensued, in which Galen wondered if he'd overstepped his bounds, if he really deserved what he was now demanding.

"Who's in charge of the Khyber Brigade?" Octavius had asked him, in a quiet, calm voice. "S-s-sarek," Galen stuttered, surprised at just how nervous he was. "And how old is he?" Octavius asked, in the same tone. "Mid-50's, I'd say?" Galen replied with a shrug, wondering where this was going. "He's 59," Octavius stated flatly, then, with one foot crossed over the other knee, he began absently rubbing at a dull mark on his boot with his thumb. Silence reigned once again, as Galen stood dumbfounded before his commanding officer. Octavius continued rubbing out the dull mark in his otherwise immaculate black boot.

Finally, Octavius stopped, and looked up at Galen, as a disappointed teacher would eye his star pupil who'd just failed an exam. "I didn't give you the 2nd Brigade of Septron's Corps," he lectured, "because Septron's a pompous ass and doesn't deserve such a good field commander."

"I didn't give you the 2nd Brigade of Vellus' Corps, because you'd be doing nothing but hunting kobolds in the Brind Marshes for the next 20 years." He paused, to let those comments sink in, before adding, "Galen, I'm giving you the Khyber Brigade." He waved his hand, dismissing Galen's inevitable self-humbling response before he could utter it.

"Sarek's only got another good year or two in him," he continued. "And besides, he's got grandchildren now, and," he added, staring Galen down and lowering his voice for effect, "he'd like to be alive to see them grow up," obviously hinting at the risk involved with being in the military, and delivering a thinly veiled reprimand of some of the more recent actions of Galen's regiment.

Indeed, within two years Galen had command of the Khyber Brigade, the most coveted field assignment in the entire Imperial Army. Now, three years later, the General who guided Galen's career was asking for his help, for the first time in his life - and to commit treason, of all things! The word itself brings a foul taste to his mouth, but Galen knows the one fact, the one truth, that is greater than all others. He can trust Octavius. He has trusted him, countless times, as have hundreds of people, if not thousands. And Octavius has never violated that trust.

Galen has become the most decorated officer of his generation. And today, he has become something else - a traitor.