Maria Cresswell
The Lady of Red Sands
(a.k.a. Queen Crimson)
"Her? Oh just another pirate queen with delusions of grandeur. The Periphery is full of 'em, and really they're only a danger to- well, those places which can't protect themselves. Pretty good incentive to have the borders the Great Houses draw up be drawn with you inside, don't you think? Food for thought."In the rimward Periphery there are many notorious pirate kings (or queens, or otherwise) who raid other systems for their goods. Among the files kept by the Magistracy of Canopus' intelligence agency, there are several of note near their borders who have been watched closely. Known by the codename "Queen Crimson", one particular pirate queen has been a persistent trouble to many worlds. Few records have her full name on them, and those who know of it can be counted on one hand. It is theorized this also makes it relatively easy for her to go incognito while traveling, or escaping traps meant to corner and capture her specifically. Otherwise, attempts to strike at her power base directly have usually ended poorly. Most choices about how to deal with her as a problem has been shifted more towards trying to garrison border worlds better and make them less appetizing targets.
Part of her success in holding off greater forces is due to her headquarters on Aquagea being defended by considerable anti-aerospace defenses, and having just enough BattleMech assets to keep casual attempts to "swat a pest" from succeeding. Another, perhaps larger, part involves her having a network of debts and alliances with smaller pirate groups and Periphery mercenary bands to help her in times of need. Such as an action in 3024 where the Capellan Confederation dispatched a pair of lances to deal with the problem, or in 3026 when the Free Worlds League sponsored a mercenary outfit to try pirate-hunting on Aquagea. These resulted in almost total losses, as in both cases the assailants were unprepared for the entrenched defenses and defenders considered well-armed for a Periphery world.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Rumors abound as to the origins of Queen Crimson, though the truth is buried in many destroyed databanks and piles of ash who used to be people. Maria Cresswell was a settler from the Magistracy of Canopus who was captured on a raid by slavers. A rival pirate group "liberated" her, further breaking down the young woman as she was instructed in how to use a BattleMech and earn her keep. Over a couple years, she rose in the ranks and became known as "The Lady in Red" since she dyed her cooling vest and jumpsuit a garishly red color to go with her hair. When her band of pirates entered battle on Aquagea, Maria quietly made sure an accident happened to the leader and took charge to press the attack. She managed to put on a face for the pirates in order to win their loyalty long enough to secure a bountiful payday. She used this to help bring new blood into the pirate band, forming what would later be called "The Queen's Own".
Year after year, Maria tore down more minor pirate lords on and around Aquagea to bolster her reputation and forces. She happened upon more BattleMechs, and even mercenaries who had become disavowed and left with no other choice than to take to piracy. A second band became her more distant hands, known as the "Red Horizon". Outside the Periphery, they were considered little more than pirates - out in the rimward regions, they were more known for being willing to take on extra work for the right price. A full thirty percent of their take was returned to Maria, or she would send the Queen's Own to take it back. The Red Horizon were given one other inviolable instruction: do not be seen operating off Aquagea, so any outsiders could make a concrete connection.
Recent years have had Maria more interested in what has happened with the Duchy of Andurien, believing this could be a chance to snap up riches and equipment from a new power who doesn't have the same strong protections she feared before. She remains cautious about committing, because one centimeter over the line could bring considerable force crashing down on her head to destroy everything she has built. She fears this outcome more than actual death, as it would mean losing all her prestige... likely to be followed shortly by her death to bolster another rising star from within her own organization.
Year after year, Maria tore down more minor pirate lords on and around Aquagea to bolster her reputation and forces. She happened upon more BattleMechs, and even mercenaries who had become disavowed and left with no other choice than to take to piracy. A second band became her more distant hands, known as the "Red Horizon". Outside the Periphery, they were considered little more than pirates - out in the rimward regions, they were more known for being willing to take on extra work for the right price. A full thirty percent of their take was returned to Maria, or she would send the Queen's Own to take it back. The Red Horizon were given one other inviolable instruction: do not be seen operating off Aquagea, so any outsiders could make a concrete connection.
Recent years have had Maria more interested in what has happened with the Duchy of Andurien, believing this could be a chance to snap up riches and equipment from a new power who doesn't have the same strong protections she feared before. She remains cautious about committing, because one centimeter over the line could bring considerable force crashing down on her head to destroy everything she has built. She fears this outcome more than actual death, as it would mean losing all her prestige... likely to be followed shortly by her death to bolster another rising star from within her own organization.
Morality & Philosophy
Queen Crimson has a simple compass for her behavior, and this is the concern of "how will this benefit me?" tempered by what the level of risk is. She is someone who clawed her way to the top of a small pirate band, turning it into a force capable of owning a planet and even projecting their power outwards. Such power is impressive, but fragile compared to others near her queendom, and she always weighs whether her gambles will be enough for the Magistracy to take her as a serious threat. Let alone the Successor States, who could swat her out of existence with a forgettable effort. Holding onto what she has already gained becomes harder if she doesn't take action against targets, because her people will turn on her swiftly if they sense weakness. Hesitation to commit to a raid, compassion for prisoners or victims, even a lack of proper decorum and boasting can be seen as Queen Crimson losing her edge. The balancing act wears on her, and drives her to contemplate actions which are distasteful... but in a certain point of view, inescapable or necessary.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Queen Crimson retains an "elite" cadre of ’MechWarriors as bodyguards, called "The Queen's Own", and has the services of the Red Horizon to call on if absolutely needed. Beyond this, she has built a network of favors and debts which allow her to bring in an uncertain number of Periphery warriors should it become necessary. She usually avoids pulling on those strings, since those debts are only useful once before they are gone. An unknown benefactor has helped equip her people with a decent array of BattleMechs for a Periphery queen, including spare parts often enough to keep the more complex machines from breaking down completely.
Children
Current Residence
Aquagea
Pronouns
She/Her
Hair
Long, curly, red
Height
1.79m
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