The following begins a project of mine to improve the NPC characters in a sort of alternate reality. The purpose of this project is to present a completely different history and background for the NPCs we all love to hate in EVE lore, for our enjoyment. The following biographies and histories are NOT PF and NOT custom tailored to fit within current PF. They will inevitably counter or ignore Post-TonyG Prime Fiction. In short, they can't be used in actual RP, unless CCP were to magically reton current lore in favor of this. It’s worth noting that yes, this still retains some of the aspects of Heth that were distasteful to some roleplayers: Fascism, centralized leadership, and warmongering. What it doesn’t contain is his ineptitude and ‘humble beginnings’.
A special thanks to Pieter Tuulinen for assisting me with this particular write-up.
General Tibus Heth, State Executor
Tibus Heth, born YC22, is the current Executor of the Caldari State and a national hero to his people.
Born to a typical Civire family, Tibus Heth joined the Caldari Navy at the age of 16 following his graduation from the State creche system. A natural born leader and tactician, he quickly rose through the ranks. For the next fifty two years he served as a distinguished member of the CMEF until the Provist coup of YC110 and his ascent to the newly created position of State Executor. Measuring barely 165cm, Heth is a stocky and gruff man. A heavy brow and perpetual glare permeate his demeanor, making him the type of man you don’t want to see a smile out of. He has no wife or children, having dedicated his life to his career.
At the outbreak of the Second Gallente-Caldari war, Tibus Heth was a Colonel in the CMEF. He was at the disastrous Battle of Tierijev where Federation forces crossed the border in retaliation of terrorist activity stemming from colonies there. The Caracal-class cruiser
CNS Soituu transporting Heth and his men suffered the loss of its senior staff during the initial drone strike. Taking command of the vessel and its escort wing of frigates, Colonel Heth showed his natural skill for the position by leading both a successful pincer strike and boarding action against the enemy Dominix-class battleship
FNS Gorgon. In the following six hours of battle, Heth captured or disabled three more vessels. His success did not go unnoticed by the Navy itself, who quickly awarded him the Bronze Order of the Mountain for distinguished service.
By the later years of the war, General Tibus Heth had reached the pinnacle of his career. Despite having no official command over naval forces, his presence often turned the tide of battle. As the Federation Navy was crewed more by drones than people, Heth's tactic of boarding and capturing enemy vessels through overwhelming force was made use of to great effect by the Caldari Navy. His tactics and actions were brutal and effective, enough so that Caldari boarding pods were feared more than the fighter wings. Their very approach often elicited abject surrender by those ships without the means to fend them off.
Policy changes followed in the wake of Heth’s resounding successes, leading the Navy to institute a twin-commander policy whereby a Marine General and Navy Admiral worked as a pair on the field and in the war rooms. The merits of this system were twofold. Not only were both forces in complete knowledge of each other’s intentions and movements, but command structures were now safely redundant, following in the time honored Caldari tradition of strength under collective cooperation. Heth found his Navy partner in his old friend, Admiral Janus Bravour of the Second Fleet. Together, the two were easily the most feared command duo on the front. The Federation even took drastic steps to attempt drawing them away, avoiding direct confrontation whenever possible.
The war came to a head at the confrontation of three major fleets over the border stargate of Algogille. The Caldari Navy’s Second Fleet jumped through in pursuit of the fleeting Federation 21st Fleet. On the other side, Heth and Bravour found themselves facing Admiral Alexander Noir’s 1st Home Fleet, the largest of the Federation: two titans with full capital escort. The battle was marked as Heth’s first and only defeat that wasn’t phyrric for the Federation in some manner. It was also the battle where Admiral Bravour lost his life.
The following day, the new Federation presidency under Souro Foiritan sued for peace. Voted into office by a public spooked by constant Caldari incursions deep into Federation space, the President offered a conditional end to the hostilities and reversion to pre-war boundaries. The CEP accepted the offer, under pressure from the Eight to end the economic stress caused by the war. General Heth was incensed. Responding to what he saw as a systemic weakness and timidity in the leadership of the Caldari State, he took his most loyal troops and went into hiding.
Two months later, in May of YC110, Tibus Heth appeared before the CEP seemingly alone. He petitioned them a resumption of hostilities, citing reasons for the good of the State. He outlined his plans for economic restructuring that would enable the State to not only survive under the pressure of war – but thrive from it. The plan was comprehensive, covering almost every major aspect of Caldari society. The CEP rejected it out of hand, and demanded Heth return to his post. Their decision was answered with Heth’s loyal marines storming the room and placing the entire Executive Panel under arrest. Heth declared himself the new Executor-General of the Caldari State three hours later on national holovision.
The civil war lasted only days. Loyalist forces found themselves vastly outnumbered as more and more of their brethren pledged full support to General Heth. With rousing speeches and fiery propaganda, General Heth even secured the support of the rank and file Caldari public. Understanding that a centralized leadership would not be accepted by the Caldari public for long, he placed people under his thumb in positions of power with the Big Eight, to be regulated by a new governmental body that replaces the CEP called the “New Provincial Directorate”. Stocks and shares were transferred, new CEOs appointed when necessary, and soon enough the Eight fell in line behind the Provists. The CEOs and Eight were ensured that they served the State before their own profits. Capitalism took a step back in favor of fascism. The Eight became parts of a whole, working more like divisions of the military than independent profit-driven entities.
As the State militarized, the Federation scrambled to respond. Requests for contact went unanswered. Diplomatic overtures were turned away at the border. Embassies were evicted. Even CONCORD went ignored, as Heth saw them as foreign interlopers seeking only to force their own ambitions over the good of his people. The Federation was ill prepared for a resumption of hostilities, and political bickering paralyzed the Federation Senate as Heth gathered his forces.
On the morning of June 10th, The Caldari Fleet jumped to the border and prepared to invade Federation space. The Federation’s Tripwire program worked flawlessly, and the Federation Navy was already waiting on the other side for him, along with the CONCORD’s Directive Enforcement Department. With the odds stacked sorely against Heth, he finally began talks with the CONCORD diplomat on scene. Refusing to back down, he made it clear that the Caldari State needed war, and he would seek it by any means necessary.
Faced with an inability to stop both the Federation and State going to war along with troubles at the Minmatar-Amarr border, CONCORD offered him a deal. If he would stand down for now, they would give him his war. Knowing he did not need to strike this moment, he agreed under a timetable. For the next fourty eight hours, Heth attended long-distance discussions with Foiritan, Sarum, and Shakor. The four powers agreed to settle their disputes under proxy war, utilizing capsuleers and low-security holdings as pawns to be played. While slightly disappointed with the outcome, Heth understood that this plan fit even better with his own. A low key simmer of fighting that would temper the Caldari people under the constant state of war, but without directly threatening the security of the Tri-Region State.
Despite his methods, Tibus Heth is regarded fondly by all but the richest Caldari. With the administrative acumen and strategic skill to enforce it, Heth is by no means inept in his current position. His policies are effective and flexible, accounting for vast increases in State prosperity in the last five years. While traditionalists often mourn the loss of independent and decentralized government under the old CEP, most Caldari recognize the benefits of the new system. While responsible for countless violations of what were once considered ‘civil liberties’, Heth has managed to use his oratory skills to convince the populace that such measures are as necessary as cutting cancer from the body. For the most part, the ever stoic Caldari have maintained a stiff upper lip and tolerated the discomfort.
Due to his unique view that conflict strengthens the State, he is perhaps unique in the history of dictators in that he tolerates the undercurrent of dissent. CEP Loyalists still resist the new government, and Heth only suppresses them enough to never be a real threat. He has no intention of eliminating his opponents completely. Even the Guristas are allowed their treats to nibble on, if only to provide target practice for State forces. If he is not allowed his war with the Federation, he will find new enemies to fight.
Author
Topic: The Better NPCs Project - Tibus Heth (Read 2331 times)