Frederick Jasper
From Gineipaedia, the Legend of Galactic Heroes wiki
Frederick Jasper was a fleet admiral in the Free Planets Alliance fleet and a member of the Year 730 Mafia.
History
Little is known of Jasper's past, aside from the fact that he was born somewhere in the Alliance in 710 UC (401 IC / 3510 CE), and that he enrolled at the Free Planets Officers Academy in 726 UC (417 IC / 3526 CE).
His time at the Academy was fruitful, and Jasper showed himself to be an excellent student, graduating 16th in the Class of 730. During those four formative years, Jasper became friends with the rest of those who would become the Year 730 Mafia. Of these individual, it is probable that he was somewhat closer to Alfred Rosas and Wallace Warwick.
Jasper's early years in the Free Planets Star Fleet was, just as it was for the rest of his friends, a quick rise through the ranks, so that by the Battle of Firezard in 738 UC (429 IC / 3538 CE), Jasper had attained the rank of commander, and was presumably put in charge of a ship, logically a cruiser, during the battle. Having brought the Alliance a complete tactical victory, Jasper and the others became celebrated heroes and were each promoted one rank.
From 739 UC (430 IC / 3539 CE) to 742 UC (433 IC / 3542 CE), Jasper continued to rise, from commodore to rear admiral one step behind his friend and leader, Bruce Ashbey, something which caused tensions within the group. It was presumably by 743 UC (434 IC / 3543 CE)-744 UC (435 IC / 3544 CE), that he became a vice admiral, taking command of the 4th Fleet. He, as well as the other members of the Year 730 Mafia, were then selected to form the massive defensive fleet which met the Galactic Empire at the Second Battle of Tiamat.
At Tiamat, Jasper was initially ordered to take his fleet to a particular portion of the corridor, where one defensive fleet could easily hold three enemy units, Ashbey explaining that the Imperial commanders would attempt to move to the Alliance's rear, cutting them off from Alliance space. Jasper, while agreeing that he could hold the fleets, was sceptical. There had been nothing to suggest that the enemy would even attempt such a movement, but his objections were sternly overruled by Ashbey, and he was compelled by duty to obey his orders.
Due to circumstances, no enemy ever came to fight the 4th Fleet, angering Jasper, who wished to be reassigned to the front lines, something Ashbey allowed. While at the front, Jasper's aggressive nature and quick thinking was instrumental in throwing the enemy into disarray several times, one of which saw the death of an enemy admiral. Eventually, the Alliance forces prevailed, but both Bruce Ashbey and Vittorio di Bertini died, which definitely broke the 730 Mafia. By 746 UC (437 IC / 3546 CE), the group had disbanded.
Personality
Frederick Jasper was fearless and intelligent, a genuine straight-shooter. He was nicknamed "March Jasper," for his dynamic tactical proclivity. He was always flashy in winning or in losing, and a KO was his only end, either way. "Half-hearted is not my style," was his motto. In his dictionary, there was "complete victory," but no "close victory;" and there was "total defeat," but no "close defeat." He had a strange jinx: when he won twice, he always lost the next battle. His crew knew of this trend of victory, victory, loss, victory, victory, loss... and when they had to fight in a "loss" battle, the would write their wills. It's not a laughing matter, as some soldiers tried to escape on those "loss" turns. But this tanned, dark-haired man was well-liked by his soldiers.
An example of Jasper's military record:
- December 737 - Victory
- March 738 - Victory
- August 738 - Defeat
- May 739 - Victory
- July 739 - Victory
- September 739 - Defeat
Frederick Jasper commanded his men in battle from his flagship, the Brigitte, during the Second Battle of Tiamat. During the battle (which resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Free Planets Alliance) March Jasper led his forces to a particularly decisive victory over an Imperial fleet in only 15 minutes. After the battle, however, the allied commander (and the leader of the Year 730 Mafia's leader), Bruce Ashbey, was killed in action. With Ashbey dead, the Alliance command was crippled, and incapable of capitalizing on their overwhelming victory. (SL: 'A Profile of Heroes'SL: 'Between the Mourning Dress and Military Uniform')
After Ashbey's death, the Year 730 Mafia broke up. Of his peers, Frederick Jasper remained in the FPA military the longest. Becoming an full admiral in 749 UC (440 IC / 3549 CE), he succeeded fellow Year 730 Mafia member Wallace Warwick as Chief Commander of the Free Planets Alliance Space Fleet in 753 UC (444 IC / 3553 CE). Jasper would continue to serve in that position until 770 UC (461 IC / 3570 CE), making his the longest tenure in Alliance history. From 770 UC (461 IC / 3570 CE) to 771 UC (462 IC / 3571 CE), he served as Alliance Joint Chief of Staff, but his performance would later be described as "merely average." After retiring from the military in 771 UC (462 IC / 3571 CE), Frederick Jasper was killed in a spaceship accident while on vacation with his wife. SL: 'Between the Mourning Dress and Military Uniform'
| [show]v•d•e |
|---|
