Stella Aurelii

Named for the founder and last Imperator of the Aurelian Empire - Aurelion Aurelos - The *Stella Aurelii* (SA), or "Star of Aurelion/Aurelian Star", is the highest and most prestigious award of the Turian Empire's honours system. It is awarded for "valour in the presence of the enemy" to active members of the Imperial Armed Forces and, like many turian military honours, is often awarded posthumously.

It may be awarded to actively serving soldiers of any military rank in any branch of the Imperial Armed Forces, including the Auxiliary Legions. As per an executive order from Primarch Adrien Victus, potential recipients may now include biotics serving in the Cabals. As it is the empire's premier award it may only be awarded by the Primarch of Palaven, who traditionally presents it to the recipient in person during an investiture ceremony.

The civilian equivalent of the *Stella Aurelii* is the *Stella Septoniae* (SS), the "Star of Septonia".

## Famous recipients

Since its creation, the *Stella Aurelii* has been awarded to hundreds of service personnel, many of whom gave their lives for their empire. Some of the most famous recipients are, in chronological order:

* **Aurelion Abrudas** - invested by his adoptive uncle, Primarch Pallix Arterius, for uncovering and stopping a separatist plot to assassinate him and destroy the Hierarchy. Aurelion was the first-ever recipient of the prestigious award.
* **Lucan Marnek** - posthumously invested by Primarch Aristeia Verrikan for successfully hunting down and terminating several rogue cabals before succumbing to his wounds.
* **Fidericus Mehrkuri** - invested by Primarch Dacia Tiervian for his defeat of Warlord Graken Dhal and the breaking of the Siege of Digeris during the Krogan Rebellions.
* **Valerio Partinax** - invested twice. Firstly by Primarch Regnaltus Fedorian I for his defeat of the terrorist group Facinus during the War on Taetrus. Secondly by his brother, Primarch Antraxes Mehrkuri, for his sacrifice in defence of Taetrus during the Reaper War, which bought time for civilians and high-value military assets to be evacuated to Palaven. The second award was posthumous. Both awards were posthumously rescinded, the first by Primarch Desolas Arterius II on the grounds that Valerio had committed war crimes against the citizens of Taetrus, and the second by Primarch Fidellion Victus, who stated that Antraxes' investiture of his brother had been invalid on the grounds of Antraxes' reign being illegal. Valerio remains the only turian to have ever been awarded the *Stella Aurelii* twice while simultaneously being stripped of both medals.
* **Desolas Arterius II** - invested by Primarch Adrien Victus, for his leadership of the united galaxy against the Reapers during the Reaper War.
* **Regnaltus Fedorian I** - posthumously invested by his successor, Primarch Adrien Victus, for his leadership of the empire during the first half of the Reaper War before being killed in action on Menae.
* **Ravis Kandros** - posthumously invested by Primarch Adrien Victus, for her sacrifice in defence of Palaven during the Reaper War.
* **Aren Sparatus** - posthumously invested by Primarch Adrien Victus, for his sacrifice in defence of Petraea's Necropolis and the High Priest of Bostra during the Reaper War.
* **Irix Coronati** - invested twice. Firstly by Primarch Adrien Victus, for his leadership during the Battle of Taetrus during the Reaper War. Secondly by Primarch Desolas Arterius II, for his heroic final stand against the Leviathan during the Leviathan War, which allowed the turian fleets to retreat and regroup, saving thousands of lives. The second medal was awarded posthumously. Irix is the only turian in history to have been legitimately awarded the *Stella Aurelii* twice.
* **Achaeus Corinthus** - invested by Primarch Adrien Victus, for his leadership in the Battle of Menae during the Reaper War.
* **Marion Cailus** - invested by Primarch Adrien Victus for holding the strategic Vallum Dam against overwhelming odds during the Reaper War, saving thousands of lives and buying unified galactic forces precious time to engage Harbinger and access the Citadel. Marion is only the second biotic to have ever received the prestigious award, following the investiture of Desolas.
* **Eulia Valen** - invested by Primarch Adrien Victus for holding the strategic Vallum Dam against overwhelming odds during the Reaper War, saving thousands of lives and buying unified galactic forces precious time to engage Harbinger and access the Citadel. Eulia is only the third biotic to have ever received the prestigious award, following the investiture of her husband, Marion.
* **Adrien Victus** - posthumously awarded by Primarch Desolas Arterius II for his wartime leadership during the Reaper War.
* **Tarquin Victus** - posthumously invested by Primarch Desolas Arterius II for giving his life to disarm a turian weapon of mass destruction on Tuchanka, which was in the hands of the human terrorist group Cerberus, saving millions of Krogan lives in the process.
* **Sarena Arterius** - posthumously invested by her father, Primarch Desolas Arterius II, for her sacrifice to destroy a Leviathan indoctrination facility during the Leviathan War.
* **Astraea Mehrkuri** - invested by her husband, Primarch Antraxes Mehrkuri, for her supposed "martyrdom" at the hands of Primarch Desolas Arterius II, whom Antraxes had named an "enemy of the state". The award was posthumously rescinded by Primarch Fidellion Victus, on the grounds that Astraea had committed treason by conspiring to commit regicide and murdering several high-ranking Hierarchy officials.
* **Ariteus Victus** - posthumously invested by his cousin, Primarch Fidellion Victus, for his leadership of the Bostran Rebellion and subsequent execution during the illegal reign of Primarch Antraxes Mehrkuri.