Difference between revisions of "Marcellus Valens"

Latest revision as of 01:55, 19 March 2007

Marcellus Quintus Valens

Gender	Male
Age	71, as of 19 March 2007
Rank/Position	President of Kahanistan / General of the Republic Guard
Height	213 cm (7'0")
Weight	141 kg (310 lbs.)
Blood type	A-
Frame	Large, powerful
Hair/Eyes	White/Brown
I.Q.	118
Economic Left/Right	(0.42)
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian	(-1.09)
Religion	Neo - Roman Pagan
Education	B.S. in aviation, Kahanistan Military Academy, 1955 M.S. in communication, University of Kahanistan - Najaster, 1963
Hobbies / Interests	Roman history, gardening, technology, flying
Languages spoken	English, Italian, Latin
Weapon	M9 Beretta, AK-47, MiG-29
Affiliation	Kahanistan Government, Kahanistan Republic Guard
Service	Intervention in Jenrak, Invasion of Xirnium, Ottoman War, Invasion of Kahanistan

Marcellus Quintus Valens (born 13 August 1935) was the 32nd President of Kahanistan, and a former Defense Minister and General of the Republic Guard. He is one of the most famous pilots in Kahanistan, in part simply because he had piloted for over fifty years, longer than most wing commanders have even been alive, but also because of his exploits in battle.

Early life

Valens was born in Al-Qamar, Kahanistan, in 1935 to a poor, technologically conservative Luddite family. However, despite their poverty, his parents sacrificed everything so that young Marcellus, an only child, could have all that they lacked and feared. At twelve, he arrived home from school one day and announced that he wanted to be a pilot. His parents discouraged him, fearing technology in general, but they allowed him to train in the Republic Guard, hoping he would drop out of training long before he reached combat age, but in 1955, he graduated as a second lieutenant in the Republic Guard.

Military career

Lieutenant Valens's career was not easy. He advanced slowly through the ranks, his superiors not wishing to promote him because they considered his skills as a pilot too important to lose him to administrative work. However, by 1978 he had reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and the position of wing commander, having been shot down three times and made over 200 shoot-downs. He was able to assure his superiors that a wing commander, or even a fleet commander, could in fact not only fight in the air, but that doing so would make him a more effective commander than the "desk jockeys" who commanded from behind their desks. His career soared after that; he was the first person to receive two Heroes of the Republic.

General Valens achieved national fame late in life, in 2005 during the Jenrak conflict. While his air force was forced to withdraw due to problems on the homefront, he proved himself again in the Ottoman conflict, commanding the 11th Air Force in battle. After the end of that war, he assisted Xirniumite forces in Operation Divine Retribution, personally escorting a convoy of MiG's to the AKA.

Tragedy

Shortly thereafter, tragedy struck the general. After his victory in Xirnium, Automagfreek invaded Kahanistan, killing millions of Kahanistanian civilians, including General Valens' wife of 42 years, Claudia A. Tiberia (1936-2005), who died on a Freekish stake. The event depressed and angered the general deeply, filling him with a hatred of AMF that lasts to this day.

Post-war

After the war, Valens was made Minister of Defense, replacing the mentally unbalanced General Abdullah Hassan al-Ghazi. In 2006, the Communist Party of Kahanistan nominated Valens for President, despite the fact that he himself is apolitical. It is widely believed that he was nominated due to his martial skills, which would enable him to protect the country and not interfere with the Communists' social goals. Valens won with roughly 26% of the vote.

President of Kahanistan

As President, Valens sought to improve the military more efficiently, with less spending, citing the ability of Doomingsland to defeat Kahanistan with a far smaller defense budget. He planned to divert some of the savings into law and order, public transportation, and the environment, which suffered under President al-Za'if's term in office.

Shortly before Operation Silva, he suffered a major heart attack and resigned the Presidency, becoming a commander of reserve forces. He is believed captured by the Doomani.

He is known to be close to his former security commander, Lt. Colonel Mara K. Fulton. Rumors of a relationship between the two are currently unfounded.

Family

President Valens has a son, Julius (born 1961). He is a Commander in the Kahanistan Republic Navy. The President also has two grandchildren, Marcus (born 1993) and Claudia (born 1998, and named for her grandmother.)