Bernard Hyleas

Character History

"I value education over meaningless victories. More is learned in defeat than success."

Early Life

Bernard Hyleas was born in a small settlement on Sukhur, before Clan Arcona came to the Dajorra System. He was raised by his father, who was a vigilante of sorts. In those days, Sukhur was a wild planet, barren and torn apart by the heat of the nearby star. The few small, clumped settlements of humans lived in resilient tunnels and caverns beneath the seas of glass. Bernard was his father's only child, his mother having left the planet after giving birth to him.

When Bernard turned 16, his father was killed in a gunfight with another "vigilante". So, the young man had taken the credits he and his father owned, and his father's small transport, and left to find his mother. She was, according to Bernard Hyleas Sr., living in Estle City on Selen. Bernard found her place of residence, only to find that she wanted nothing to do with him, and told him to find his own way.

Finding his life

The dejected young man roamed the streets, resorting to thievery to feed himself while he looked for a job. He had only the clothes on his back, a few credits, and a Westar 34 blaster pistol given to him by his late father. Bernard was a good shot with his blaster, but it didn't do him any good when he was looking to feed himself or find shelter. Eventually, Bernard joined a small street gang in Estle City, depending on them for shelter and food, sleeping in the alleys and stealing from the local vendors.

For nearly seven months this was the life Bernard lived, until the police crackdown sent his gang scattering. Bernard was captured by officials, and chose to turn in the rest of the criminals he had lived with for seven months, in exchange for the opportunity to attend the officer's academy, an aspiration he had formed only months before. He renounced the ways of the streets, and threw himself into his studies to become an officer.

He graduated three years later, in 18 ABY, at the age of 19. He served in the 1st Heavy Infantry Brigade, also known as the Palace Guard, for a year. He then transferred to the 3rd Light Infantry Brigade to serve as brigade commander, leading a stronger military crackdown on the gang violence in Estle City. He knew the streets, having lived there for a time, and the crackdown was a huge success.

Division Commander

Riding the wave of his exploits against the gangs of Estle City, Bernard Hyleas requested that a new division be founded, for the protection of his home planet of Sukhur. This was around the time that House Galeres was setting up its initial headquarters there, and the Consul himself agreed with Hyleas. Division XII was formed, and Hyleas took over as its very first Division Commander.

It was 21 ABY, and Hyleas was only 22. He served as Division Commander for six solid years, building his unit up to become the functioning military force he believed his homeworld deserved. However, when the Yuuzhan Vong invasion came, he was transferred to a more needy unit, the XI of Gethsemane. After two years as Division Commander, Bernard helped shape them back to their full strength.

Personality

Bernard was a gruff commander, who appeared to be older than he truly was. Even so, he had a tender heart, and was always kind to his peers and subordinates alike. When everything broke down into the heated chaos of combat, another Bernard took over, one who was quick and decisive, and never hesitated.

Trivia

Legorii created the character biography and background.