Honor Harrington

Lady Dame Honor Stephanie Alexander-Harrington, PMV, SG, GCR, MC*, SC, OG, DSO*, CGM**, Steadholder Harrington, Duchess Harrington, Countess White Haven, was a citizen of the Star Kingdom and Star Empire of Manticore and the Protectorate of Grayson, and an officer in the Royal Manticoran Navy and Grayson Space Navy.
==Physical characteristics==
Honor was 188 centimeters tall, with strong-boned face, slightly almond shaped brown eyes, which she inherited from her mother, brown hair, and a pale complexion. She was tall for a woman, by Manticoran standards, and slender. Early in her naval career, she wore her hair quite short, but after living on Grayson for some years as her Steading developed, she let it grow quite long. She was a third-generation prolong recipient, and has retained an apparent age of early to mid 20's (pre-prolong) into her 60's and beyond. (, )
She had increased metabolic efficiency and enhanced muscle development due to the Meyerdahl beta genetic modification passed down from her 1st Wave (Meyerdahl) ancestors, thus was well able to adapt to Sphinx's heavy gravity. The cost of the higher metabolism was a need for more energy than humans without such enhancement, requiring (or enabling) consumption of large meals and desserts without gaining weight - but conversely, was also more prone to starvation effects if on reduced diets. Medically, she was one of the small minority of humans for whom regeneration therapy did not work. ()
== Biography ==
:For more details, see: Biography of Honor Harrington
Honor Stephanie Harrington was born on October 1, 1859 PD, or 256 AL, at Craggy Hollow, County Duvalier, in the Duchy of Shadow Vale on the planet Sphinx to two physicians, Dr. Alfred Harrington and Dr. Allison Chou Harrington. During her youth, she was adopted by a treecat she named Nimitz. (, , HHA6: TBLP)
As a young adult, she was admitted to the Royal Manticoran Naval Academy on Saganami Island, and earned an officer's commission in the late 1870s PD. Following her Midshipman cruise aboard the heavy cruiser HMS War Maiden, she went through a number of positions aboard RMN vessels and rose in rank, eventually being given command of the light attack craft HMLAC 113 in 1886 PD; a hyper-capable starship the destroyer HMS Hawkwing (1897 - 1899 PD); and the light cruiser HMS Fearless in 1900 PD. After being sent off to Basilisk Station, she and her crew were able to uncover a Havenite conspiracy to take over the system, and destroy a Havenite Q-ship. (, OBS)
Two years later, Harrington, now in command of the new Fearless, a heavy cruiser, was sent to the Yeltsin's Star System to assist her mentor, Admiral Raoul Courvosier, in his deliberations with the Protectorate of Grayson. The Manticorans soon became involved in the Grayson's struggle with the neighboring Masadans, who were secretly supported by Haven. In the end, Harrington and her crew were able to prevent a Masadan ship from bombarding Grayson, and Harrington, who had previously been treated with little respect on Grayson due to her gender, was made a Steadholder, the first female noble and land-owner in the planet's history. To match her new status as Steadholder Harrington, Queen Elizabeth III of Manticore created her Countess Harrington as well. ()
She was able to recover from her wounds through reconstructive surgery and therapy through the efforts of her father. Though it would take over a year for her to recover. Harrington took command of a new battlecruiser, HMS Nike, in 282 AL, with Michelle Henke as her first officer. Nike was assigned as flagship for Rear Admiral Sarnow, commander of Battlecruiser Squadron 5 in Vice Admiral Park's Task Force Hancock. Captain Paul Tankersley of the local shipyard supervised some repairs. He and Harrington became sparring partners, and, after a few weeks, lovers as well.
After receiving a war warning from the Admiralty, Admiral Parks split up his forces, leaving Task Group Hancock 001 under Sarnow to defend Hancock. They soon found themselves forced to defend Hancock Station from a vastly superior Havenite armada. With the help of Harrington's unorthodox tactics, the task force was able to hold off the Havenites long enough for reinforcements to arrive. However, Sarnow was incapacitated, leaving Harrington in command. Captain Pavel Young's cowardice cost many lives when he disobeyed orders and fled the defensive formation protecting the wounded Nike. Harrington managed to keep the rest of the formation together despite this, until she ordered them to scatter for safety when the pursuing force could no longer escape the Manticoran reinforcements. ()
Despite the Queen's strong support for her actions, many aristocrats saw Young's following court martial as a vindictive attack on Young. They were not satisfied when he was removed from the Navy but acquitted on the capital charges, and opposed a declaration of war against Haven which the Queen and the Admiralty desperately wanted. To allow political feelings to calm, Harrington took an extended leave on Grayson. Once there, Harrington was formally admitted to the Conclave of Steadholders. When Adam Gerrick presented his proposal to build protective domes of crystoplast to cover cities and farms, she liked the idea and invested some of her personal fortune. Soon afterward, Michelle Henke arrived bearing the news that Denver Summervale had killed Paul Tankersley in a duel. She brought a devastated Harrington and her dozen armsmen back to Manticore. On a tip from Admiral Sarnow, Tomas Ramirez found Summervale in a remote lodge on Gryphon, and learned that Pavel Young – now Earl North Hollow – had hired Summervale to kill both Tankersley and Harrington. Confronting Summervale publicly in a bar, Harrington goaded him to challenge her. Taking advantage of her opponent's overconfidence, she managed to kill him in the duel. Later, an assassination attempt on her was thwarted by Andrew LaFollet. A frightened Lord Young avoided contact until she accused him in the House of Lords. On the dueling grounds, Young cheated and fired early. Saved by LaFollet's warning, Honor ducked in time, and killed Young. In the political uproar that followed, she was removed from command of Nike and returned to Grayson. ()
==Character==
Honor preferred a hot cocoa over coffee. She did not like the taste of coffee, though she enjoyed its smell. () She would, also, enjoy a good steak. ()
She did not like politicians, especially after the First Battle of Basilisk. She also detested favoritism, and attempted to be fair to all of her officers under her command.
Honor liked to work out in the ship gymnasium late at night because she preferred to turn up the gravity to the level she was familiar with from her homeworld. (, ) She preferred to have a sparring partner available, as long as they could challenge her.
She had a life support module for Nimitz, which was used at First Battle of Basilisk. (). A deluxe life support module, which was used at Second Battle of Yeltsin's Star and First Hancock, until Paul Tankersley made a skinsuit (a space suit) for him. ()
Honor owns a sailplane plaque that she brings with her. At Basilisk, it was damaged during the battle. She would bring it with her on the second Fearless and then on the Nike. ()
Some of her mannerisms included biting the inside of her cheek and rubbing her nose when in deep thought.
== Service record ==
Notes:
* Most AL dates are according to Jayne's Intelligence Review
* TY dates are calculated with landing year zero AL (MM/DD/YYYY).
=== Promotions ===
* Jun 6th 1878 PD, 17/12/267 AL – Ensign, acting Lieutenant (JG)
* Apr 15th 1879 PD, 03/02/268 AL – Lieutenant (JG)
* Apr 2nd or 3rd 1882 PD, 15/38/269 AL – Lieutenant (SG)
* Nov 29th 1887 PD, 02/35/273 AL – Lieutenant Commander
* Mar 13th 1896 PD, 17/12/277 AL – Commander
* Nov 9th 1901 PD, 04/10/281 AL – Captain (SG)
* c1905 PD – Colonel of Marines
* c1907 PD – Admiral (GSN)
* before 1912 PD - Fleet Admiral (GSN)HH7-HH11
* c1911 PD – Commodore
* 1914 PD – AdmiralIt was the first time that an officer had been jumped three grades from Commodore to full Admiral
* c1921 PD, August – acting Admiral of the Fleetbecause of Home Fleet command
* 1922 PD - Fleet Admiral
=== Posts (RMN) ===
* circa 1874 - 1878 PD – Cadet, Royal Manticoran Naval AcademyTwo and a half years of Academy classes and running till she dropped (45 months), 25 T-years before obtaining HMS Fearless CL-56 (HH1)
* May 22 1878 PD, 11/27/267 AL – Midshipwoman, HMS War Maiden, CA-39 (HH0)
* after May 22 1878 PD, 11/27/267 AL - Assistant Tactical Officer (acting), Assistant Tactical Officer, HMS War Maiden, CA-39 (HH0)
* Apr 16 1879 PD, 03/03/268 AL – Gunnery Officer Trainee, HMS Royal Winton, DN-12
* Jul 15 1881 PD, 08/19/269 AL – Second Assistant Gunnery Officer, HMS Royal Winton, DN-12
* Apr 6 1882 PD, 16/04/269 AL – Sailing Master, HMS Osprey, FG-1069eleven months (HH1)
* May 20 1885 PD, 12/24/271 AL – Second Assistant Tactical Officer, HMS Manticore, SD-01
* Sept 13 1885 PD 15/35/271 AL – Assistant Tactical Officer, HMS Manticore, SD-01
* May 31 1886 PD, 05/12/272 AL – Commanding Officer, HM LAC 113
* Dec 10 1887 PD, 03/10/273 AL – Executive Officer, HMS Trenchant, CL-19
* Dec 13 1891 PD, 09/02/275 AL – Executive Officer, HMS Broadsword, CA-47 (HHA2)
* Sep 29 1893, 09/28/276 AL – Executive Officer, HMS Perseus, CL-92
* Sep 8 1895 PD, 12/01/277 AL – Tactical Officer, HMS Basilisk, SD-105 a turn (HH1, HHA4)
* Mar 17 1896 PD, 17/17/277 AL – Student, Commanding Officer's Course, Royal Manticoran Naval Academy, Saganami Islandcommanding officer's course after eleven grueling years (HH1)
* Jan 13 1897 PD, 02/08/278 AL – Commanding Officer, HMS Hawkwing, DD-1213 the thirty-three months (HH1)
* Aug 21 1899 PD, 17/06/279 AL – Student, Advanced Tactical Course, Royal Manticoran Naval Academy, Saganami Island
* Mar 3 1900 PD, 04/35/280 AL"Thirty-Fifth Day, Fourth Month, Year Two Hundred and Eighty After Landing", Chapter 1 – Commanding Officer, HMS Fearless, CL-56 (HH1)
* after Mar 3 1900 PD and 04/35/280 AL - Senior Officer, RMN Basilisk Station (HH1)
* Dec 3 1901 PD, 04/35/281 AL 13/25/283 AL = Mar 18th 1906 PD as the end of that command according to Jayne's, Polish edition – Commanding Officer, HMS Fearless, CA-286 (HHA4, HH2)
* Oct 27 1904 PD, 06/21/282 AL?according to HH3, on the other hand Captain Harrington was absent in service for a standard year - according to HH3 also – Commanding Officer, HMS Nike, BC-413 (HH3, HH4)
* 1904-1905 PD - flag captain, Battlecruiser Squadron 5 (HH3, HH4)
* c1908 PD, September - c1910 PD, March – Commanding Officer, RMN Task Group 1037, Commanding Officer, HMAMC Wayfarer, (HH6)
* c1910 PD - c1911 PD – member of the Weapons Development Board (HH7)
* c1911 PD – Commanding Officer, Cruiser Squadron Eighteen (HH7)
* c1911 PD - c1912 PD - as Commodore of the RMN - Senior Officer in the Cerberus System (HH8)
* c1914 PD - c1915 PD – Commandant, Saganami Island Advanced Tactical Course, Tactical Instructor, Royal Manticoran Naval Academy (HH9)
* c1915 PD - c1919 PD - Tactical Instructor, Royal Manticoran Naval Academy
* c1918 PD - c1919 PD – Commanding Officer, Sidemore Station, Commanding Officer, Task Force 34 (HH10)
* c1920 PD, July - c1921 PD, August – Commanding Officer, Eighth Fleet (HH11)
* from c1920 PD, July – Commanding Officer, HMS Unconquered (HH11)
* from c1921 PD, August – Commanding Officer, Home Fleet (HH11)
* 1921 PD, December – Commanding Officer, Eighth Fleet ()
* 1922 PD – Commanding Officer, Grand Fleet ()
=== Posts (GSN) ===
* c1907 PD - c1909 PD - Commanding Officer, First Battle Squadron,
* c1907 PD - acting Commanding Officer, Home FleetDuring Fourth Battle of Yeltsin's Star, as GSN's second in command. (HH5)
* c1911 PD - c1913/1914in is not certain, when exactly ESN was disbanded PD - as Admiral of the GSN (HH8-HH9):
** Senior Officer in the Cerberus System
** Commanding Officer, Elysian Space Navy
** Commanding Officer (Prize Master), ENS Farnese
* from c1914 PD - Commanding Officeras Protector's Champion's duty, Protector's Own Squadron ()
From 1909 PD detached for temporary duty with the RMN ()
===Periods of inactive service===
*06/21/282 AL?according to HH3, on the other hand Captain Harrington was absent in service for a standard year - according to HH3 alsoTime is stated at 18 T-months in "Honor Among Enemies" – c1908 PD, September - Half-pay
*Oct 23, 1911 PD - prisoner of war, People's Republic of Haven
==Orders, decorations, and medals==
===Medals===
* Parliamentary Medal of Valor - 1915 PD
* Star of Grayson - 1903 PD, Crossed Swords - 1907 PD
* Manticore Cross with cluster - 1901 PD
* Saganami Cross - c1911 PD
* Sphinx Cross
* Order of Gallantry
* Distinguished Service Order with cluster - 283 AL
* Monarch's Thanks with Clusters - 271 AL, 275 AL, 280 AL. 282 AL, 283 AL
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal with two clusters
* Wounded in Action
* Mentioned in Dispatches
* Conspicuous Service Medal with two clusters
* List of Honor Citation
* Royal Unit Citation for Gallantry
* Fleet Excellence Award with three Battle "E" Devices denoting two further awards
* Prisoner of War Medal
* Silesian Anti-Piracy Campaign Medal
* Manticoran Combat Action Medal
* Navy Pistol Expert Shooter Medal
* Sidemore Presidential Medal - 1911 PD
===Orders of Knighthood===
* Knight Grand Cross of the Order of King Roger
===Other===
*Colonel of Marines - c1905 PD
* White Command Beret of the HMS Unconquered
===Aristocratic Titles===
*Steadholder Harrington - since 1903 PD (title created)
*Countess Harrington - since 1903 PD (title created), succeded by Devon Harrington in 1912 PD
*Duchess Harrington - since 1914 PD (title created)
*Countess White Haven - since 1921 PD (as earl's wife)
==External links==
*Honor Harrington's Medal Case c.a. 1904 PD by Thomas Marrone on DeviantArt
== References ==
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