Vera Mataram

Vera Mataram

**Vera Mataram** is a female imperial officer, who was quite successful in climbing imperial hierarchy ladder, eventually hitting the glass ceiling. She was born on a remote world and spent her entire life under imperial doctrine. She joined the Navy early and proved to be efficient and valuable student and further - commander. Her career was quick, but the woman found his overseer to tame her and restrain further advances. Fortunately, after Empire's defeat on Yavin, she was moved to Abrion Sector, when she was assigned as an aid-de-camp for Seth Astari. He proved to appreciate her skills and character, so much so that they eventually became friends. She was his most trusted officers and when Emperor Palpatine met his demise, dragging the Empire to hell along with him, Vera remained loyal to Seth, joining and reinforcing him on his conquest of the outer rim. Eventually, she became the Prime Minister of the Outer Rim Protectorate, being the most important individual in the faction, second only to Astari. She was responsible for running the day-to-day activities and generally responsible for the faction, as Seth travelled a lot on private missions. In fact, she's the one responsible for initial successes of the faction in fields of economy, infrastructure and military. She was the one to negotiate peace with Hutts after the defeat in Imperial-Hutt war and she remained loyal to Astari, becoming the real ruler of Aldebaran. She fulfills the throne, while Astari keeps a low profile, rather advising her what and how to do.

## History

### **Early life**

Vera was born to a pair of teachers. Both her father and mother were mathematics teachers, living a simple life on Sartinaynian. They had two children - an older son named Arnold and Vera. Arnold always desired to be a soldier, he always dreamed about reinforcing the Republic and fighting for this sake. And so he did - joining the military, he was an officer to the Republic, then to the Empire. When Vera was 7, a tragedy happened. The entire family was visiting a space station Arnold was promoted to oversee. They were enjoying time and felicitate the rise in ranks, when a group of X-wings dropped out of hyperspace. Alarms yelled, but the station was almost completely harmless - it was meant for refueling and accomodation of troops. The raid was a slaughter - bombing runs tore the station apart, everything was exploding, the lights went down.

When nearby fleet approached, they found only a single survivor - Vera. His brother managed to throw her into an escape pod, before the space station collapsed. The imperial military needed to take care of her, as not only was his brother an officer, but her parents died on a military facility. Due to this, young Mataram was send to an imperial training facility, where she was meant to become a soldier.

### **Service in the Galactic Empire**

Vera was a good student, because he had a perfect motivation. She despised the Rebels, she hated them for what they've done to her family. She saw them as ruthless and lawless savages, who cloth carnage in a encasement of freedom fighting. She studied fiercly, as she continued education on the Imperial Academy of Anaxes. She wasn't the most gifted of students, yet she had the will and tenacity to finish the academy.

> *"The Rebels are nothing like the Empire. We kill to exist, they exist to kill"*
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> ~Vera, assessing Rebel Alliance
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She started as an ensign in the Braxant Sector. What differentiated her from others was her relentless hatred towards the Rebels. She fulfilled all her duties, even these least enjoyable with devoution, as she wanted to grasp revenge. He was so devouted, that she was being promoted quite quickly, until the moment when she came under direct command of Admiral Lew Doston. He was of an opinion that women should not be present in military, as they are too weak, lenient and emotional. Because of that, her career was stopped - despite her faremost attempts, she wasn't granted any promotion for a long time. Such a state remained until the Battle of Yaving, after which she was reassigned to a remote sector in the Southern Outer Rim - to Abrion Sector. There, she got under the command of Seth Astari , being his personal aide-de-camp. It was a new opportunity for her, which she could use.

She and Astari made a good duo. They were compementary and both their strengths and weaknessess crossed and mixed into a perfect combination. Very quickly the pair gained fame in Imperial Navy and managed to develop some weird kind of friendship. Their relation remains inconclusive, as it's somehow falling between frienship, military professionalism and an odd form of romance, with mutual solicitude. Whatever, Vera was granted promotions and as she gained Seth's respect, she became his most trusted officer, making her his second in command. When the Empire collapsed, Vera remained loyal to Astari, helping him in establishing the Outer Rim Protectorate.

### **Outer Rim Protectorate**

First as a Lieutenant, then as a Prime Minister, Mataram was one of the most, if not the most imporant people in the faction. She was responsible for everything Astari didn't have time or couldn't attend to - overseeing investments, establishing diplomatic relations, controlling budget and much much more. She proved to have great administrative skills, was a prominent leader and excellent manager. Thanks to her, the faction was developing and thriving, power stood consolidated and investments took place. Everything changed when Seth, clouded by the Dark Side, threw a gauntlet at Hutts, causing a war with them. Vera tried all she could to prevent ORP from collapsing, she rallied forces and was preparing each world for the invasion. Yet the plans were different - they had to flee. She was the mastermind behind a successful retreat of her forces and a brilliant asset stripping of the world. She was also the one to sign peace with the Hutts, giving ORP enough time, to pick everything they had and needed and venture to the Wild Space.

After finding Aldebaran, she was the one being the face of the faction. She took all responsibilities, so that Astari could focus on his personal assignments and remain in shadows. She is the governor of the planet, she established bases, built colonies, she oversaw all investments. It was her to whom anyone could speak in time of problems and she was the very person responsible for everything. Yet, she remained loyal, as Seth was not only her commander - it was her friend and her heart was telling her, than not only a friend.

## **Personality and traits**

Vera is a woman who knows what she wants from life. She is disciplined, loyal, devouted and very diligent. She obeys each order, giving all she has to fulfill it and she always tries to do her best. She cares for the people she rules and commands and she cares for her friends - probably of fear from losing them. She has some form of maternal instinct, always putting the good of her friends above herself and trying to protect ones she loves from any danger. Yet, Mataram is diehard and emotional woman. It's difficult for her to tame emotions and to act when they are tearing her from inside. She tends to feel lost and uncertain when she cannot resolve some problems, but her persistence helps her in fighting the intense feelings.