Frideric Rhodes

Frideric Rhodes, Hero of Ashimar.

Commissar Karolina Dreis (cousin)

**Frideric Rhodes** (born 954.M41) is a Colonel of the Ashimar Nova Guard and commander the Ashimar 43rd “Blue Devils” Infantry Regiment. A distinguished veteran with decades of military service, Frideric has spent his entire adult life with the Imperial Guard, and is the most decorated soldier in his regiment. His service record is one that should have seen him become a General long ago, but even with an entire regiment to command, Frideric prefers to serve as a front-line leader of men.

## History

### Early Life and Career

Like many Guardsmen, Frideric was born into the Guard. His parents were both non-commissioned officers in the Ashimar 43rd. His father, Alfon Rhodes, was a Sergeant Major, while his mother, Monika Rhodes, was a supply sergeant and quartermaster. The values of the Guard were pressed into Frideric by his parents from a young age, and he learned to field-strip, maintain, and fire a lasgun as soon as he could walk. Frideric served in the Ashimar 43rd's cadre of Youth Cadets alongside the children of other Guardsmen, and became a full member of the regiment on his 18th birthday.

By 977.M41, five years into his service with the Ashimar 43rd, Frideric had reached the rank of Sergeant and was a squad commander. At the time, the Ashimar 43rd was fighting the Orks of WAAAGH! Steelklaw on the agri-world of Mura Secundus. While Frideric and Alfon were on the front lines, the battalion headquarters was ambushed by a thousands-strong band of Orks. Monika took part in the last desperate defense of the base, and as it was about to be overrun she detonated the base's munitions stockpiles, killing thousands of Orks in the resulting explosion that claimed her life. A despondent Alfon was killed in action a few weeks later. Despite losing both of his parents in the same campaign, Frideric did not despair; instead he did what he felt any true Guardsman would do and soldiered on.

### Battle of Kaluga

Frideric's moment of glory would come during one of the key battles in the Ashimar 43rd's history, the Battle of Kaluga, in 982.M41. The Ork Waaagh! of Warboss Steelklaw invaded the hive world, and the Ashimar 43rd fought to defend Hive Kozelsk alongside Battle Sisters from the Order of the Eternal Flame. When the Warboss took to the field himself, accompanied by his most elite Nob bodyguards, Frideric's squad of veterans were among those who stood against him. The mighty Warboss cut a swath of destruction through Imperial lines, leaving hundreds of Guardsmen and Battle Sisters dead in his wake. Most of Frideric's squad fell in the battle, and Frideric himself was wounded. He watched as Palatine Sayla Amyras desperately dueled Steelklaw in single combat and knew he had to act. He took a krak grenade from his belt, pulled the pin, and after uttering a brief prayer to the Emperor, threw it directly into the Warboss's open maw, killing Steelklaw with the resulting explosion. With their leader dead, the Orks scattered, saving the planet. For his heroism, Frideric was awarded the Star of Terra and received a field commision as a Lieutenant.

### Later Service

In the years after the Battle of Kaluga, Frideric would serve capably as a platoon commander in the Ashimar 43rd in further engagements, facing enemies such as Necrons, Eldar raiders, and even Heretic Astartes, and was further promoted to Captain in 988.M41. Often reporting directly to Lord General Danilus Voltek, his former regimental commander, Frideric would lead a special company of hand-picked veterans, nicknamed "Rhodes's Renegades" on missions of vital importance.

While he was presented opportunities for advancement on numerous occassions, Frideric consistently refused promotion past the rank of Captain, citing his preference for fighting alongside his men on the front lines. He believed it was what he was best suited for, and that being a good company commander did not mean he would also be a good battalion or brigade commander.

### Siege of Ashimar

As Cadia fell and the Great Rift tore the galaxy asunder, Frideric would take part in his most critical campaign yet - the Siege of Ashimar, fighting to defend his own homeworld against the invading heretic coalition led by the Grand Hellguard, a Traitor Guard army led by fallen Ashimar.

In addition to his usual combat duties, Frideric spent a substantial portion of the Siege away from the front for another important duty: training new guardsmen. While First Marshal Ludara Kresh was perfectly willing to spend lives to defend Ashimar, she knew not all lives were equally expendable. Experienced officers, particularly junior officers, are very valuable and very difficult to replace. As a high decorated and battle-hardened Captain, Frideric's experience was needed just as much in boot camps as it was in the trenches. As such, he was assigned to oversee the training of Ashimar Youth Cadets, as well as mentor young officers whose academy training was being greatly expedited to fulfill the needs of the war effort, most notably Ursula Voltek, the daughter of Lord General Voltek.

### The Era Indomitus

After a decade of grueling combat, the Siege of Ashimar was broken by the arrival of reinforcements from the returned Primarch Roboute Guilliman's Indomitus Crusade, and the Grand Hellguard and its allies, save for scattered remnants, were driven from Ashimar. Dozens of Ashimar regiments, including the 43rd, were preparing to join the Primarch's efforts to stabilize the Imperium, and Frideric knew he had to be part of it. He rejected an offer for a comfortable posting on Ashimar training cadets in favor of remaining with his regiment to fight in the Indomitus Crusade.

The 43rd was also in need of a new commander, as Colonel Ulric Tokar had been made a General. Despite his lower rank, Frideric was considered the first and arguably only choice to lead the regiment, due to his experience and reputation. Not desiring the position but recognizing that he could not stave off promotion forever, Frideric reluctantly accepted his elevation to Colonel and command of the 43rd. Heading east with Fleet Primus, Frideric would fight the Death Guard in the Plague Wars of Ultramar before Lord General Voltek's battlegroup was assigned to battle the Tau Empire's Fifth Sphere Expansion.

## Personality

Having been raised within the regiment's culture his entire life, Frideric exemplifies the values of the Ashimar Nova Guard. He is noble, honorable, selfless, and always committed to doing what he believes is the right thing. On the battlefield he is perfectly at home, his fearlessness and resolve inspiring the Guardsmen around him to follow his example. Outside of combat, Frideric is a remarkably laid-back and casual individual who is cheerful, talkative, good-humored, and capable of fitting in with both officers and enlisted Guardsmen alike, though he prefers the company of the latter. Within the Ashimar 43rd he is a friend to all and an enemy of none.

## Equipment

Frideric's signature armament is his power fist. Frideric also carries a hot-shot laspistol, grenades, and a combat knife.

## Quotes

### By Frideric Rhodes

"*I've fought on more worlds than I can count. I've survived some of the most hellish battles you can imagine, and a few that you can't. I was killing greenskins and heretics when your parents were infants. I served a decade as an enlisted man before receiving my commission, and I've been an officer for almost three decades more. I've seen the Guard from every possible aspect. I've been in the trenches and muck with common Guardsmen and I've been in war rooms and strategiums with Generals. I know what makes a good grunt and what makes a good officer. I know what makes a good Youth Cadet too, because once upon a time I was one, just like all of you. There are few who can say they've experienced as much as I have. That's why I'm your instructor.*"
—Captain Frideric Rhodes addressing a class of Youth Cadets, circa 011.M42