Allen Higgins

Allen Higgins was a Manticoran citizen and an officer of the Royal Manticoran Navy.
== Biography ==
While Higgins held the rank of Admiral of the Red, First Lord of the Admiralty Edward Janacek, to whom he was related by marriage, appointed him to a major fleet command: he served as the commander of Grendelsbane Station. His flagship at the time was HMS Indomitable.
When he realized the system could not be held against the Havenite forces invading it during the Battle of Grendelsbane, part of Operation Thunderbolt, he ordered its evacuation and the complete destruction of all infrastructure and ships being built in its shipyards. ()
He was placed on half-pay by Lord Janacek "pending the determination of a full and impartial board of inquiry" as soon as he got back to Manticore.
After the Battle of Manticore, Higgins was one of the most senior flag officers left in the entire Navy. Once Admiral Honor Harrington retook command of the Eighth Fleet and left for peace talks on Haven, he was promoted to Fleet Admiral and given command of the Home Fleet, his flagship being the superdreadnought HMS Inconceivable. As the CO of Home Fleet, Higgins was forced to watch helplessly as HMSS Hephaestus, HMSS Vulcan, and HMSS Weyland were destroyed in Operation Oyster Bay. ()
Witnessing another act of system-wide destruction seemed to lay heavily on the Admirals heart, to the point where the empathic treecats called him "Shadow Heart". As a result of this, it was felt that a space-going command might push him over the edge. Instead, First Lord of the Admiralty White Haven, First Space Lord Caparelli and Grand Fleet CO Fleet Admiral Alexander-Harrington unanimously nominated him for the post of Vice Chief to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Grand Alliance. This post involved ensuring continuity and stability within the Joint Chiefs, due to the post of Chief of the Joint Chiefs rotating monthly between the representatives of Manticore, Haven and Grayson. ()
== Service Record ==
=== Promotions ===
* Admiral
* Fleet Admiral
=== Posts ===
* Commanding Officer, Grendelsbane Station
* Commanding Officer, Home Fleet
* Vice Chief of Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Grand Alliance
== References ==
Higgins, Allen
Higgins, Allen
Higgins, Allen
Higgins, Allen
Higgins, Allen