HIWG Document #: 3408 Date: 901216 From: David Burden Gushemege Sector Analyst 47 Middle St Brockham BETCHWORTH Surrey RH3 7JT UK To: Kevin Parry, HIWG UK Clayton Bush, Quadrant 1 Editor J Duncan Law-Green, Vland Domain Editor Subject: Sector Duke Kirshaam Miikadgaa and his Family Abstract: A personality profile of Sector Duke Kirshaam of Gushemege, and of key members of the Miikadgaa family. INTRODUCTION Duke Kirshaam of Gushemege ascended to the Sector Duchy in 1116, on the death of his father, Sirgi. The Duke's family name is Miikadgaa, and the family is of Vilani blood. THE MIIKADGAA FAMILY The Miikadgaa are a long standing family of the Gushemege aristocracy. They came to the nobility in 630 following Arbellatra's accession as a result of the support offered to her by Inesh Miikadgaa, at that time a leading executive with Naasirka. Since then the Miikadgaa dynasty has had a leading role in the political development of Gushemege, either directly or as a power behind the scenes. DUKE SIRGI ( 1002 - 1116 ) Under Sirgi Miikadgaa ( ruled 1034 - 1116 ) Gushemege had a peaceful and relatively prosperous time. Sirgi was an enlightened ruler who adopted a fairly lenient attitude to sector development, allowing subcultures to more fully develop their own identities. The Duke only stepped in where conflicts threatened to grow to subsector level or where suffering was becoming widespread. The Miikadgaa and Alkhalikoi families have always been good friends. This friendship grew further with the establishment of a recreational palace on Usdiki in 779, by Paula II, and reached its natural peak in the romance between Strephon Alkhalikoi and Iolanthe Miikadgaa. Their marriage in 1067 was a cause for much rejoicing in Gushemege, whose magnitude reflected the esteem in which the Alkhalikoi and Miikadgaa dynasties were held. Sirgi's wife, the Duchess Laka, died in 1114 after contracting a rare retro-neural virus. Her death was a tragic shock to Sirgi who for the last years of his rule became increasingly withdrawn. The duke died of old age and acute depression on 072-1116. The late Duke had a large family, 4 sons and two daughters. Most persue occupations within the sector, only the youngest daughter playing the part of an aristocratic dilletante. One son, Lasum, was killed in the Fifth Frontier War aboard the Imperial Cruiser Nova Atlanto at the battle of Efate in 1107. DUKE KIRSHAAM ( 1039 - PRESENT ) Kirshaam had a long time as heir apparent to the ducal crown. Unfortunately it was time that was not generally put to good use. The Duke is probably the least intelligent Miikadgaa for a long time, and no amount of computeach has been able to counter this. The Duke is a keen sportsman, but prefers individual to team sports. This has been taken as indicative of the selfish and arrogant attitude that his great physical strength has bred in him. It is hardly surprising that he should be such a poor leader, and his leadership of the Duchy is still further impaired by the court of sycophantic nobles with which he has surrounded himself. All this though is not to say that the Duke cannot be well meaning. He is fervently committed to the cause of conservation and has frequently diverted large amounts of sector resources to deserving causes. The scout service still has mixed memories of the "Save the Gimku" mercy mission that it was sent on in 1115. Kirshaam is also a just man and has been scrupulously fair in all his dealings. His critics maintain that this is because he is not bright enough to be devious. Kirshaam's early years were spent in the Ducal court on Usdiki. In 1057 he joined the Sector Navy, attending Ugnake Naval College before joining his first ship as a midshipman. Kirshaam was soon causing problems for his minders and superiors as he got involved in one fight after another, and rapidly lost the following of his watch. A "diplomatic" transfer to an orbital based staff job followed, where his scope for trouble making was more limited. Kirshaam left the navy shortly after his marriage, and began learning the mechanics of the Ducal court. After the death of his mother in 1114, and Sirgi's slip into senility Kirshaam was effectively requied to act as unoffcial regent from late 1115. At Sirgi's behest Kirshaam had married Countess Jiva Aillto, a Lancian, in 1064. The marriage was part of an attempt by Sirgi to bring the Lancian aristocracy more into the sector line, and into sector life in general. Jiva rapidly gained the respect of the Usdiki court, and gradually that of the Gushemege people. Although fiercely loyal to Lancia she was intelligent enough to realise her position, and the good she could do for Lancia's standing in the Sector. Kishaam and Jiva have had 5 children. The oldest, Ganidiirsi, was born in 1084. With the death of Sirgi and Kirshaam's succession being almost immediately followed by the news of Iolanthe's death and Strephon's assasination Kirshaam's unsuitability for the Duchy was soon found out. For weeks he was effectively paralysed, locked away in the palace awaiting the news reports from neighbouring duchies and from Capital. As it became increasingly clear that order was not about to be restored he almost indicated to the subsector duke's that they should fend for themselves, and that his role as sector duke, the Emporer's representative, was now superflous. Duchess Jiva was quick to avert this though, prompting Kirshaam to keep the sector system going, and making full use of her own contacts amongst the nobility and in the moot. The feeling generally amongst all Gushemege was that they should lie low until peace was restored, although certain quarters were calling for a vengence attack on Dulinor. Such attitudes were however superceded when "Strephon" arrived secretly on Usdiki in 1117, and then made his public appearance on the balconey of the recreational palace. Kirshaam was overjoyed, grateful that Gushemege would now look to someone else for leadership, and hoping that he could bask in the reflected glory. The Duchess was less certain about "Strephon" and his true nature, but she now rapidly lost the added influence that she had gained amongst non-Lancians over the last few hundred days. As the rebellion has continued Kirshaam has been content to look after the "domestic" affairs of an increasingly shrinking Duchy whilst "Strephon" leads the fleets into battle. DUCHESS JIVA MIIKADGAA ( 1042 - PRESENT ) Duchess Jiva was born on Kukhun into the leading Lancian noble family. Her father, Sual Aillto, was Duke of Tansa. After schooling Jiva attended the Lenlli Institute of Hypermedia, where she majored in the Art of Sociopolitical Interaction. After graduation she worked briefly in the Kukhun Ducal Office for Sector Liaison before being married to Kirshaam Miikadgaa in 1064. She was initially against the marriage but Sual managed to persuade her of its benefit to Lancia, and of the artistic opportunities it would bring, especially in her field of Sociopolitical Interaction. Begrudgingly she accepted, but with characteristic flair set about making the best of her new position and influence. Whilst there has naturally been some overt furthering of Lancian interests through Jiva's position she has had the good sense not to be too excessive in this. Her natural good charm and intelligence have endeared her to the moot and the Gushemege people. COUNT GANIDIIRSI (1084 - PRESENT) Count Gani, the heir apparent to the Sector Duchy, was born in 1084. He has so far shown himself to have inherited his mother's and grandfather's intelligence, but also his father's bravdo. He is currently serving with the Imperial Navy, where he has won high marks for both his leadership and his application of fleet tactics. This has earnt him the respect of his naval colleagues. Nobles at court and in the moot are learning to accept his sometimes overbearing ways, thankful that he does at least have the intelligence and application that his father lacks. With the onset of the revolution Count Gani has, much to his chagrin, been called back from fleet duties to a staff post at Sector Fleet Headquarters on Usdiki. THE FAMILY OF SIRGI MIIKADGAA Name DOB UPP Comment Sirgi Miikadgaa 339-1002 A46A9F Married 227-1024 Succeeded 047-1034 Died 072-1116 Laka (nee Maarshud) 035-1003 A7A57F Wife of Sirgi Died 203-1114 Kirshaam 264-1039 CA856F Eldest Son Eneri 195-1045 C958BE Son. Doctor. Lasum 038-1047 A97B6E Son. Naval Officer. Killed 078-1107 Iolanthe 165-1052 48BB8G Daughter. Married Strephon 251-1067. Murdered 132-1116 Naarid 320-1055 5CBAAE Son. Xenobiologist. Nashu 306-1056 9A744E Daughter. Huntress. THE FAMILY OF KIRSHAAM MIIKADGAA Name DOB UPP Comment Kirshaam 264-1039 CA856F Married 352-1064 Succeeded 072-1116 Jiva (nee Aillto) 281-1042 787A8F Wife of Kirshaam Ganidiirsi 226-1084 89ABAE Son. Naval Officer. Laka 179-1086 88BA9E Twin - daughter. Diplomat. Sirgi 179-1086 98C99E Twin - son. Ducal Staff. Maki 128-1091 7467AE Daughter. Sonic Sculptur. Lasum 140-1093 92A9AE Son. Sophontologist.