Timeline
Beginnings
Illysia, Brodo's Mother
- "The Past, Present and Future
Are all visible in a child's eyes "
- ―Unknown
He was born Brodo Nul, he was born into an attentive and happy family. His parents were Illysia and Korvem. Korvem was a military leader of skill and prestige in the Shaevalian military. As a high-ranking General, he led the 2nd Grand Battalion into several conquests along the outer regions of the Shaevalian space. Korvem had always been an amazing strategist, and would often outsmart teams of opponents. He was widely considered to be the replacement for the Grand General at the time.
His mother was an outsider, a Kiffar born on Kiffu, but spent the majority of her life on the shipyards surrounding the planet Sluis Van. She did odd jobs around the shipyards, ranging from both working as a barmaid in one of the hundreds of bars for the workers all the way to the assistant to the quartermaster, a position she enjoyed and intended to stay. She regularly took trips back and forth between the main suppliers for the shipyard to maintain a good relationship between the two corporations.
She was on a freighter heading for Sluis Van, assisting the quartermaster crew in transporting a load of metal ore for the factory's foundries when it came under attack by pirates. The captain of the freighter sent the vessel into a blind hyperspace jump. Amongst all the maneuvers the man could have done, a blind hyperspace jump is likely to have been the most dangerous and foolish choice possible. As the freighter dropped out of hyperspace, it coasted, with its thrusters inoperable. It clipped the edge of an asteroid as it bore towards the star of a solar system, leaving it in a tumble, barely under power. Only Illysia and the helmsman was left alive, and they worked together to get the spin under control, by alternating maneuvering thrusters
A frigate in the Nul military at the time, the Cordite Hawk, was in the vicinity at the time, and recorded the entire reentry to normal space, and the subsequent slowing of the tumble. The Hawk, led by a young lieutenant, a subordinate of Korvem, hailed the severely damaged ship, and offered assistance, which was quickly taken. The helmsman died of his wounds after being transported to the frigate, but Illysia lived. She was taken back to the 2nd Grand Battalion headquarters to meet her captor's commander.
During the subsequent interview, Korvem was intrigued with the woman, whose wit and intelligence surprised him. The majority of the races in this region were less than civil, and few were capable of interesting conversation. Despite her status as a prisoner, Korvem had her transported to his home in the Shin'Tar District of Shaevalis City, the capital of Shaevalis Prime.
Korvem and Illysia would spend hours talking, on subjects spanning from cooking all the way to the politics of the Republic. They would grow close over time, and would enjoy their company. Korvem pulled some strings and called in some favors to have Illysia officially 'released' from her bonds, and they were married within the year. Two years later, Brodo would be born.
A young Brodo
- "Cookie!"
- ―Brodo's first word, preceded and followed by inane laughter
Childhood for a Shaevalian is usually harsh, with the majority of the planet's population living just above the Galactic standard poverity line. With the royalty and nobility living in opulence and luxury, only their religious power and military might could maintain the calm throughout the population. Luckily, due to Korvem's military success and rank, he was able to afford a small compound in the Shin'Tar District, the area where the upper echelon of society would pay through the nose to live in.
The compound was not huge, with only three bedrooms and other rooms laid out in a square, and a small courtyard and garden in the center. The small family lived here with one chef and one maid, which was a very small staff for Shin'Tar. Brodo was given almost free run of the compound, running around like a little mad man, giggling and screeching. His favorite pass time in his early years was chasing the birds who called the compound their home.
Over the years, Illysia would take Brodo out with her to the markets to help her buy produce for the week. Now that Brodo had aged a few years, he'd learned to walk quickly, and soon after, run. Despite his development, he did not notice how the Shaevalians would treat Illysia, flashing scornful glares in her and Brodo's direction, all the while whispering amongst themselves.
The Shaevalian people were naturally xenophobic, with many wars having been fought against the violent races who inhabit Wildspace. To them, the Kiffar was just another outsider, tempting away one of the most eligible bachelors on the planet with her alien wiles and under the guise of affection. The upper crust of society often scorned the couple, where Korvem would have been invited to an event, after their marriage, he would not even been considered. The more malicious of nobles would send invitations only naming Korvem.
Despite this prejudice against them, the couple was happy. Brodo grew quickly into a strong teenager, whose keen skills in sports made him some friends despite his lineage. His schooling progressed well, as his interests in history and geography helped him pass each year of education comfortably. In his final year of secondary education, he was approached by military recruiters, impressed with his size, strength and intelligence. Korvem told Brodo to further his education first before considering a life like his own.
- "An uneducated mind on a battlefield is as useful as a blaster without ammunition"
- ―Korvem Nul
Heeding his father's advice, Brodo enrolled in an academy for furthering his education, especially in the realms of history and geography, his favorite subjects. He found them easy to cope with and the subjects were far more interesting than sheets of numbers, which often didn't have much of a use on the battlefield. Brodo found himself thinking this way more often than not, knowing full well that his destiny lay on the battlefields of the galaxy, not behind some desk or fixing speeders.
Another part of the academy course he followed was developing the mechanical skills of the students, teaching them the inner workings of blasters, speeders, star fighters and droids. While Brodo was not overly interested in this, he nevertheless had a knack for it. The blasters in particular he enjoyed working with, stripping them down and putting them back together again in a flurry of movements to entertain his class mates.
One of his classmates, a man by the name of Jarak Ari, was intrigued by this often shy, but friendly character, whose blood, though tainted with that of an alien, still bore noble Shaevalian blood. Jarak was the son of Ludok, one of the Generals of the Grand Battalions. Ludok led the 7th Grand Battalion, a full five levels down the chain of command from Brodo's father, Korvem. Ever the conniver, Jarak insinuated himself within Brodo's circle of friends, trying his best to get in the larger man's favor. He thought that if he could become Brodo's friend that when they inherited their fathers' positions, Brodo could help promote Jarak up the chain of command, maybe even up to the 3rd Grand Battalion.
While Brodo was unaware of this political posturing, he knew his future was being decided for him. Military officers sat at the back of his classes, trying their best to seem innocuous, but failing miserably. Brodo contacted his father about this, and the military officers disappeared soon after.
- 82 BBY – Butting one's head against a wall
- "Few would deign to such a heresy, as an assassin to a murder"
- ―Korvem Nul
After completing his tenure at the academy, Brodo returned to his family's compound, to the welcoming arms of his parents. He had barely aged visibly since he'd left for the Academy, despite the four years he had spent away during his early life. Meanwhile, his mother had aged considerably, her once raven black hair now streaked with strands of gray. The family would spend that night in a quiet meal, with Brodo doing most of the talking as he recounted his years at the Academy.
Over the following weeks, Brodo settled into a gentle rhythm, spending long hours reading military texts in his father's library, or assisting the chef with the cooking, another one of his passions. He found that quiet strolls through the Shaevalis City were fascinating, seeing the diverse neighborhoods and vibrant marketplaces. Despite all these interesting distractions, Brodo could not help feeling like he was being watched.
Upon returning home after a long trek through the city's merchant's district, Brodo saw a speeder with miltary markings and a soldier at the wheel outside his family's compound. Apparently, the recruiters were back. Korvem had stalled them as much as his position and rank could manage, and the officers had had enough. They laid out their plan to Brodo, that he needs to join the military now, as the son and heir of a General of a Grand Battalion needs to have a firm founding in martial knowledge and skills.
At first, Korvem resisted, trying to protect his son from a life which, though well suited to him, would lead his son down a dangerous and terrible road. The military officers offered Korvem a choice: allow Brodo to go with these officers and enlist in the military or relinquish his Generalship and Brodo's right to succession.
Brodo made the decision for his father, agreeing to join the military. He knew it as against his parent's wishes, but he knew it was the only way he could live with himself. He could not allow his father to give up a title and honor which had been in his family for generations. Brodo left for the military academy the following morning.
- 80 BBY - Military Academy
- "The Army will make a man out of you. It's up to you if you make it out alive or dead."
- ―Korvem Nul
Live Fire Training Exercise
Despite the circumstances under which he would be entering the military academy, Brodo found himself looking forward to this change of pace. He had known his entire life that he would be end up in the military whether against his will or not. His father had always told him the military was always the last option for an intelligent man, and should never been entered lightly. Brodo had heeded his dad, but the military officers who had come to find him were very... convincing.
Due to his furthered education, Brodo was inducted as an officer-cadet in the military academy. As the son of one of the Generals of a Grand Battalion, Brodo was officially inducted in an appointment with the Commandant. The Commandant, a stout man of advanced years, seemed friendly enough, as he gave Brodo the choice between branches of the military: Army, Fleet or star fighter corps. The choice was simple: Army.
He was assigned quarters in the freshman barracks along side three other cadets, one of whom just happened to be Jarak Ari. Brodo noticed the significance of this assignment, as well as the man's previous endeavors to try and get closer to him. He decided not to allow it to worry him, but instead focus all of his attentions on his education and development as a military officer.
Uniforms and equipment were assigned the following day. Brodo, whose height and shoulder size had always been a problem for him when trying to find clothing, had been provided with a custom fit uniform, very similar to that of his father. A simple blaster rifle and sidearm were also assigned to each of the recruits, an obsolete but still useful version of the rifles currently used by all branches of the military.
After uniforms had been donned and equipment strapped into place, the Drill Sergeants began their work. For the next two years, the officer-cadets were marched up and down the academy's grounds, through the jungles of the nearby valley and the mountains surrounding it. They spent almost as much time in classes, learning the doctrine and tactics used by the Shaevalian Army. The majority of these lessons Brodo had already learned from the texts in father's library and historical lessons at the previous academy. The years flew past, and Brodo found himself enjoying his time there. He hoped it would continue into the real military.
- "Live Fire! Live Fire! Safety Release!"
- ―Drill Sergeant announcement
The training was arduous, with long marches taking up most of the days and evenings being spent in technical or tactical instruction. Brodo's aptitude in weaponry served him well as he beat the entire cadet unit in shooting competitions and timed break down and reassemble drills. While nowhere near the records of previous years, he still impressed his drill sergeants.
In his fourth year, the Drill Sergeants announced a live fire exercise, to take place in the jungle nearby. A wave of excitement ran through the cadets, as well as anxiety. Every year, at least one cadet of each thirty-strong unit died during the live fire exercises, no matter how careful the instructors are or how well trained the cadets are.
The enemy would be automated speeders and weakened battle droids, following tactics and attack strategies similar to that of the main enemies of Shaevalis Prime. These enemies would not be firing full strength weapons like the cadets would, but their lasers would hurt.
The cadets were split into two units, and each unit was assigned arm bands of red or blue. These squads would work in unison, allowing for squad tactics to be used properly. Brodo was given command of the Blue Squad, and Jarak managed to weasel his way into command of the Red Squad, despite his pathetic test scores. Jarak Ari was not a competent cadet, and had his blood not been of a General's, he would never have been allowed into the military. Brodo had begun to see even more failings in the system and how easily someone with connections could alter it for their own devices.
The main war game style exercise was set around a large valley several kilometers northwest of the academy. This valley posed several problems for both sides. The dense forest in some areas would hamper speeder movement for the enemies, whereas there was only one water supply, a large river which cut the valley in half. This river was also an obstacle for both sides, as each force would start on opposite sides of the river. Fording the river was a certainty.
The exercise began with a simulated barrage of artillery from the droid army as they began their advance through the forests. As their main strength was their speeders, the droids did their best to protect them, by taking them along the main thoroughfares in the forest in convoys, protected by a large formation of troops.
The cadets were far outnumbered by the droids, as it usually was for the Shaevalians. The droids numbered over two hundred, with a fleet of ten speeders with blaster cannons mounted both front and rear. The cadets were only thirty Shaevalians, with two high-powered anti-speeder rifles which required two good hits on one speeder to take it out.
The two squads began by ambushing the vanguard of the droid company, the two high-powered rifles being used to great effect. The cadets fought well, with no losses. The droids, despite their programming, were not the most capable of opponents. The kills were tallied for each of the cadets, with Brodo and two others neck and neck, one of whom was Jarak Ari.
As the cadets were taking a twenty minute break for lunch, the droids attacked from the trees. They had ambushed the ambushers, a tactic that no one had expected. Brodo was enraged, as three cadets were taken out without any return fire. The droids had surrounded the units, with speeders slicing through the ranks with heavy blaster fire.
Brodo ordered the cadets to the trees, spreading out so that the droids could not focus their fire and create killing zones. Jarak Ari was not so smart, ordering his unit to charge the droids head on. The cadets, having been constantly told to follow orders for several years, did so. They were slaughtered by several salvos from the droid speeders.
The Blue unit formed up on Brodo as they retreated through the forest. One of the high-powered rifles had been lost in the fray and Brodo commandeered the other one, as its former user had been one of the few men in his unit to have been taken out. He ordered his unit to split into pairs and perform a skirmishing action. With an odd number, Brodo was by himself. He recalled his sniper training from the academy, and camouflaged himself with leaves and branches.
He positioned himself on a small rise near the droid headquarters position, where they were holding the remnants of the Red unit, as well as most of the speeder fleet. Several seemed to be out scouting for the rest of his unit. Brodo took a long ten minute survey of the grounds, following the patrols of the guard droids and tried to commit them to memory as accurately as possible. As droids, they lacked the capacity to improvise, but also the capability to be distracted, lazy, sleepy or uninterested.
He struck, his first three shots destroying one speeder. The droids rushed to inspect the destruction, as well as running straight in his direction. He gritted his teeth and opened fire, slicing through the ranks of the droids as effectively as he could. Suddenly, from the trees around the camp, blaster fire erupted. The rest of the Blue unit had surrounded the droids. Apparently the other cadets had shared the same ideas as Brodo.
The droids were routed quickly, with Brodo covering the cadets with his high-powered rifle. He did not win the kill tally competition, but he did have the honor of untying Jarak Ari from the bindings that the Droids had left him in. The cadets drank well that night, saluting the bravery of Brodo and the rest of the Blue unit. The only sour grape in the bunch was Jarak Ari, who tried his best to blame his unit's failure on Brodo, but the drill sergeants, who had been watching all the time, would not hear it.
The cadets graduated from the academy the following week, with Brodo as the valedictorian, and Jarak Ari as the salutatorian.
Brodo in his Shaevalian Dress Uniform
- "You're in the Army now, son, I wish you luck and success. Stay safe."
- ―Korvem Nul
After his graduation from the Academy, Brodo returned to his family compound and his old neighborhood. His mother's hair had grayed almost completely, but her smile gleamed like a thousand suns. His father's smile was more restrained, but he could seen the pride in his eyes, despite Brodo having done exactly what he had hoped he would not need to do.
After a week of relaxation at home, Brodo was assigned to a Grand Battalion, the 3rd, as a Lieutenant. It was common practice not to assign officers to units commanded by their fathers, as it is expected that the troops will not have the same amount of respect for the heir as they did the father. By having them spend their early careers in another battalion, they gain experience and a reputation, and by assigning them to command their father's Battalion, they would be able to lead without trouble.
Fortunately, the 3 rd Battalion was located just outside the Shaevalis City. Brodo arrived at the barracks and met with the 3 rd Battalion commander, General Augul Ka. He was impressed with Brodo's accomplishments in the academy, and chuckled heartily as Brodo recounted the actions of Jarak Ari at the end of the Live Fire exercise. Apparently, the Ari family was not as universally liked as Jarak had boasted.
He was assigned as the General's Aide and as a member of the General Staff. It was an amazing assignment for an officer fresh out of the Academy. He was provided with well-appointed accommodations, with access to the officer's mess. He was enjoying himself, with all these men many years older than him joking around with him as if they'd been school yard chums.
Over the years, he found boredom setting in. As a military officer, his training had prepared him for war, for battling thousands of enemies on wide-spanning battlefields. However, it had not prepared him for weekly progress reports, quartermaster orders and mess detail.
- "Snipers in the tower, open fire, open fire!"
- ―Brodo's first order
The boredom was soon replaced with tension as the Galle Order began its offensive into Shaevalian space, by attacking one of the outer colonies. The 3rd Battalion was the first to be mobilized, boarding the Shaevalian Star Fleet, ten large cruisers of various classes.
The Battalion made landfall just ten kilometers away from the Galle Order beachhead. It was the standard tactics of the Galle Order to take a small area, before dropping enough troops to overwhelm the defending forces. The Shaevalian troops would attack them before they had a chance to do so.
As a general staffer, Brodo was not on the front lines, but was in charge of the headquarters defense company. It was not the most dangerous of commands, but Brodo accepted it without question. He knew that this position was important, as the lives of all of his superior officers.
The counter-offense took place just two hours after the Battalion's landfall, with three companies attacking each flank of the beachhead. The attacks stalled as the Galle Order's troops rallied behind their commander, Praetor Shino Takara. The last three companies were sent into the fray, with only one company in reserve, Brodo's.
As the three companies attacked the right flank of the beachhead, the weaker of the two sides, hoping to surge through towards the drop ship landing pads, the Galle Order played their hand. Two dropships, each capable of landing a company of troops, landed west and east of the Shaevalian headquarters.
Brodo rallied his troops, lining them up on the temporary ramparts of the headquarters compound. The majority of his troops were infantry, but some were specialists, such as snipers, scouts and engineers. He had his snipers and scouts disperse amongst the area's hills and forests, ordering them to harass the Order's troop formations as much as possible.
The rest of the company arrayed themselves as best as possible around the headquarters. Brodo reported all ready to his superiors, who had secured themselves inside the mobile headquarters vehicle. General Augul Ka wished Brodo luck, who simply smiled. He had a trick up his sleeve that the Galle Order would never expect.
As the Galle Order's troops neared the headquarters, the Shaevalian snipers picked off officers and non-commissioned officers left right and center, and the Shaevalian scouts had laid traps in their path, slowing the advance, and tying up a score of troops and corpsmen.
Undeterred, the Galle Order troops began their assault on the headquarters, but were rebuffed by Brodo's men almost as quickly. As the companies began to mass for their final attack on the Shaevalian ramparts, Brodo sprung his trap. He radioed the orbiting Shaevalian fleet, and had two of the cruisers get into position above the battlefield. The fleet was not hard pressed, as the Galle Order's vessels were obsolete and easily fended off.
The cruisers bombarded the massing companies with high-powered turbolaser salvos, almost melting the land into glass. The Shaevalian troops roared with victory, and opened fire. The Galle Order troops, routed by the superior strength and tactics of the Shaevalians, soon surrendered to Brodo, as the leader of the men who so effectively defeated them.
Upon his return home to Shaevalis Prime, he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and awarded the Medal of Valor by the Grand General. His father, and now elderly mother, brimmed with pride and joy.
- "That bug needs to be squashed. If we meet again, he will wish he hadn't"
- ―Brodo on Ari
Having been involved in a successful campaign, Brodo was given several weeks leave, which he spent with his parents. The family compound had grown a little since he'd last been home. His father had bought the estates to either side of the compound and expanded outward. He used some of the family's vast assets to fix up the new areas to his own personal requirements, and his wife's gardening specifications.
As the son of a General and a war hero of sorts, Brodo was invited to dozens of events, mostly galas and dances which he would be far out of his depths if he'd attended. He also received a small pile of invitations from young ladies of noble blood, willing to host him for an evening. His father had translated these missives as ladies looking for a good husband for their daughters. Illysia had chuckled as heartily as he had seen from her in years after hearing this.
Brodo was reluctant to accept any invitations without his parents attending with him, another instance of amusement for his mother. He had not had much experience in the ways of the nobility, and his interaction with the fairer gender was limited to a pair of girlfriends during all of his years of education.
The one major event he attended was the Military Gala, a celebration of the officers of the planet's armed forces. It was a large event, with easily five hundred officers and their wives having been invited. Korvem received an invitation for himself and, surprisingly, his wife. Brodo received his own invitation, to which Korvem commented that this was the first time a Captain had been invited to this event.
Dressed in a newly purchased dress uniform, Brodo accompanied his parents into the Gala hall. The announcer had them pause, and called attention to them from the people already there. He presented Korvem and Illysia, and had them walk in. Apparently, it was a great honor to be presented oneself. Brodo was presented, and the audience roared with applause and cheers. With cheeks burning with embarrassment, Brodo followed his parents into the throng.
He tried to stick close to his parents, but the constant press of officers and ladies trying to get his attention, to stop him for a chat, or offering congratulations, he quickly found himself alone. Just as the politicians and ladies began to close in, Brodo found himself rescued by an old friend: General Augul Ka. He and his wife escorted Brodo around the gala hall, as if they were chauffeurs, presenting Brodo personally to important military officers.
One of the last Generals that the trio met was General Ludok Ari, the father of Jarak Ari. Brodo instantly disliked the man, before hearing his name. He had the same slimy look and feel about him, and his voice was unmistakably the same. General Ari called his son over, who had gotten into the gala on his father's coattails.
A mere lieutenant, Jarak Ari was smug, despite addressing a captain. He commented that the tactic that Brodo had used to defeat the Galle Order was an obvious one, and any Academy reject could have thought of it. General Ka chortled at this remark and slapped Jarak on the arm gently, dismissing his comments as idle banter. But Brodo heard the edge in the man's voice, and his eyes were staring needles into his own.
It was at this point that Jarak Ari made his mistake. With a sly grin, he made a comment about Brodo's mother, and how filthy her alien blood must be. Brodo had spent the entire encounter with his fists clenching and releasing constantly. This pent up frustration and anger fueled Brodo's arm as it swung out at Jarak Ari, the fist striking him in his smug, laughing jaw. Jarak spun away into several other guests, stunned and angry.
Korvem, seeing this encounter from nearby, pushed his way through the throng, putting himself between General Ari and his son. General Ari, who was enraged, his fists up to defend his son, was being held back by General Ka. It was only by the intervention of the Grand General, Shemus Bloodfyre, who had been watching the group from afar, did the anger subside in both sides. Brodo and his family left soon after, but not before General Ka gave Brodo a firm pat on the back with congratulations at giving that little snot a good smack that has been a long time coming.
- 64 BBY - Assassination attempt
Korvem, Brodo's Father
- "Few would deign to such a heresy, as an assassin to a murder"
- ―Korvem Nul
After the Military Gala, Brodo was not invited to any more events. He returned to the boredom and consistency of the barracks. The quiet soothed him, and gave him time to think. He knew that he should have been disciplined for his actions, but perhaps General Ka or even perhaps Grand General Shemus Bloodfyre might have had something to do with it.
Korvem, Brodo's father, had been ordered to take over the nearby space sector known as Ifrica. It had been a thorn in the side of the Shaevalians, as it was the home of the Galle Order. Korvem's 2nd Battalion attacked on a wide front, taking planet after planet, ruthlessly and efficiently removing the Galle Order from their stronghold. The success of attack earned Korvem a new medal, though he had a large collection already, as well as a plot of land provided to him by the royalty.
A large banquet was held in his honor at General Ka's residence, a palatial estate just outside Shaevalis City. Though Korvem did not wish to attend, he did so only after Brodo nearly forced him to. It was a celebration for his success, and he should be there to accept the praise.
The dinner was pleasant, with many congratulatory speeches between each course. Brodo was enjoying himself immensely, and even Korvem cracked a smile at one of General Ka's jokes. A goblet of wine was placed in front of each of the dinner guests. Despite his request for white, a goblet of red wine was placed in front of Korvem. Brodo, wanting to make sure that this night was extra special for his father, swapped his goblet of white wine for his father's goblet.
Korvem smiled at his son's generosity, and they toasted each other. Brodo looked instantly pale, and slouched in his chair. Korvem sat up in his chair, watching his son as he seemed to deteriorate in front of him. A doctor was rushed in and Brodo was evacuated to the nearest hospital.
Brodo had been poisoned by the venom of a spider known to cause paralysis and neurological death. It was only a matter of time before Brodo would die from it. It was only by sheer luck that Brodo's immune system managed to battle back enough for the venom to only push him into a coma. Korvem never left his son's side, distraught at the possible loss of his son.
- "How can there be Gods when such a travesty happens to someone so young? "
- ―Unknown
Nearly a year had gone by, and finally Brodo had healed enough to be woken. He had a long physical therapy schedule, but managed to finish it early. He was very touched by how his father had acted, and sought to do him proud with everything he did. He spent another month in hospital still getting over his near-death experience as well as the year in a coma.
The first couple weeks were spent doing tests for neurological problems and any extra signs of the poison. While no real neurological problems were found, some psychological problems arose, especially along the lines of mild paranoia (which was expected), and a survival instinct that surpassed even the most war hardened Shaevalian warriors (which was mostly unexpected). He had gained an almost feral edge to his personality, with increased aggression when he felt cornered or with his back to a wall.
A determined Brodo started walking a full three weeks earlier than he should have been able to. He struggled to regain his motor skills but not for want of trying. In a week of collapses and pulling himself up, he finally managed to walk unaided for a distance of ten meters, this fact in itself being a feat. In the next two weeks were spent relearning how to move in a variety of ways, including jumping and crouching. He was unable to eat solid foods just yet, his stomach and other organs needing a bit more time to heal the scars. He still needed crutches most of the time for movement.
Upon arriving home, Brodo learned of the death of his mother. At the age of 67, she'd been returning from the day markets in the center of Shaevalis City when another assassin attacked. His mother was killed by a hold-out blaster to the kidneys. She was pronounced dead at the same hospital that Brodo had been in that very same day and all the days for a year before that. The pain of her death would shock Brodo to the core,and would hurt his father almost beyond repair. The assailant had escaped amid the confusion after the shooting.
Brodo knew exactly who had tried to kill him and had managed to kill his mother. The Ari family was hardly innocent of such attempts in their past, and their hatred for the Nul family was well documented. He swore that he would destroy the Ari family one day, and he knew that it was only a matter of time, no matter what was in his way.
Supported by a pair of crutches, Brodo stood as tall as he could at his mother's funeral, with his father beside him. All of the Generals in the Shaevalian Army attended, even Ludok Ari, despite the suspicion cast on his family for the death. Brodo had to hold his father back from attacking the fiend. He had never seen his father so angry and so distraught before, and this fact alone pained Brodo harshly.
- "One must be broken down before one can be rebuilt"
- ―Brodo
After the death of his mother, Brodo closed himself away from the rest of the world. Restricted by his crutches, his movement was slow, laborious and tiring. He spent most of his time in the garden of the family compound, which had been the pride and joy of his mother who had always been an amazing gardener. He tried his best to maintain it, barring any professional gardener from it in a futile attempt to keep her work safe. It took some stern words from his father and General La to get him to allow gardeners in, and to get him moving.
Those stern words had angered Brodo, but he knew he had to let go eventually. He wanted to fight the thoughts in his mind, to defeat the people who had done this to his family. This anger, he found, turned into a kind of determination, one that he had after his mother's passing. He began spending his time in the compound's gym, lifting weights to improve his upper body. Most of his upper body was as it had been before the coma, just degraded from so many months without activity. It was only a matter of time before these muscles were better than they had ever been.
His lower body, however, had taken the brunt of the poisons attack and after so much disuse during his coma, many of the muscles had atrophied, with some pockets of muscular necrosis. Doctors had warned him to take things slow, especially after these pockets had been removed. Brodo ignored this for the most part, using as many leg-centric machines to develop his leg muscles. He also changed his diet, including far more protein and carbohydrates than he had had before. This, along with nutritional supplements, could help build his muscles again, slowly replacing what was removed by doctors.
He began swimming lengths in the nearby community pool, spending several hours a day simply swimming. His legs slowly began to bulk up, the added protein fueling the growth. General La stopped by occasionally, talking with Brodo about his recovery, and the battalion. He expressed his surprise at how quickly he had recovered, and told him that his position would be ready for him when he was sure he would be healty enough.
Several months of hard physical training, despite pain and warnings of his doctors, had given Brodo a revitalised view of life, and a strenghtened will to continue and conquer any difficulties. He would soon rejoin the 3rd Grand Battalion, stronger and fitter than ever.
- 60 BBY - Hereditary Promotion
- "He's too young, far too young. But I am far too old to stand in his way."
- ―Nul'Korvem'a
Korvem, Brodo's father, was aging, and years of campaigning in the nearby sectors had taken their strain on the man. After a lengthy debate between himself and the other Generals, Korvem decided to retire from military service. As was the custom in Shaevalian society, the son is promoted to follow his father. It is expected that the blood would be enough to make an excellent general. Brodo was promoted from Captain in the 3rd Grand Battalion general staff to General of the 2nd Grand Battalion.
Brodo's reputation had preceded him, with almost every officer in his new command recognizing his name, and both his previous war experience and his survival of an assassination attempt. Upon arrival at the 2nd Grand Battalion's headquarters, he met his executive officer and general staff. His father had always been a brilliant judge of character, and had chosen an excellent staff, all of whom Brodo already knew from past dinners and meetings.
The ceremony took place the following day, in front of the entire 2nd Grand Battalion, as well as the assembled generals. It was presided over by the Grand General, who, after a short speech, removed the mantle of command, a simple sash of blue and gold, from Korvem, whose eyes were damp, but unflinching. The Grand General turned to Brodo, and drapped the sash over his shoulder. The Grand Battalion made one loud roar, as a signal that they had accepted their new General. Brodo's eye caught the smile on his fathers face, and the roaring clap from General La.
Upon return to his headquarters, he immediately set about planning an offensive, one his father had on the drawing board, but hadn't managed to get to. The Ter'Lak'a Rift was a wide expanse of space, mostly unpopulated and barren. It did, however, have an abundance of Tibanna Gas,in the form of numerous gas giants orbiting the majority of the stars in the region. This Tibanna Gas would help power blasters and would assist in many forms of construction. The problem is a rebellion in the Ifrica region.
- "My father subjugated you, and I will do the same"
- ―General Brodo Nul
The Ifrica Region, an area of space taken in recent wars conducted by the Shaevalian Military, rose up against their conquerors in a vicious uprising that in the first days killed over thirty Shaevalian military and administrative personnel. As the region was designated a 2nd Battalion protectorate, Brodo was sent with his Grand Battalion to quell the rebellion. Landfall was simple and uneventful, with his troops taking key locations on the main planets in the region. Riots and gangs rampaged through the streets at random, but no direct contact to the Shaevalians was made, other than the deaths in the first days.
However, this did not last. Twenty-four days into the rebellion, a leader appeared from the midsts of the chaos. Ventario Kalliam, a local marshal, was an outspoken proponant against the Shaevalian occupation. He had fought in the battles which had led up the occupation, and had been in prison for much of the time between the wars and the rebellion. He preached the extermination of the Shaevalian "bourgeoisie" and the liberation of the war heroes from the Shaevalian prison camps.
He ordered several surgical strikes on 2nd Grand Battalion locations, including an ammunition dump where several Shaevalians were killed along would a score of wounded. In reply, Brodo ordered a full platoon of special operations troops into the cities, with the primary task of taking out anyone sporting the dagger and star logo of the Rebellion. Their secondary objective was to find out any information about the leaders, and their location. This tactic, however, soon backfired.
The main population center on Ifrica
The riots and mobs increased in number and intensity as the special forces troops assassinated hundreds of civilians who hadn't been involved in any of the rebellious behavior. Facing an all-out war with the main planet's population, Brodo ordered his Battalion to bunker down and prepare for new orders. With the riots ravaging the planets, their economy and civil structure collapsed quickly, soon followed by social disintegration.
Seven months into the rebellion, Brodo implemented Operation Fallen Hawk. The operation was simple: a systematic census and cleansing of the planet's population, including large scale bombardment of suspected rebellion headquarters. The intent of the Operation was fear and control, and with the use of high-yield proton bombs, it succeeded. The population slowly returned to their old ways. But, as one would expect, the rebellion leader, Kalliam, did not give up.
Instead, in a last ditch attempt, he hurled all of his supporters, some 7000 men and women, into a strike on Brodo's Headquarters. Fanatic rebels ran through the hallways, having overcome the outer defenses by sheer weight of number. Brodo lead his personal guard in a counter-assault, often resorting to hand-to-hand combat to defeat the fanatics. After what seemed like hours of fighting, the two leaders of the different factions came face to face. Their weapons depleted of charge, they attacked each other with fist and weapon butts. Brodo's Shaevalian size and strength overcame the rebel's rhetoric and trickery. He beat the man to death and hung his bloodied body over the archway of the main market of the planet, as an example to those who would follow his ideas.
While Brodo has often been criticized by his peers for his reckless endangerment of civilians and his grotesque display of the leader's body, the region has fallen into place quickly, and almost no rebellious problems have been reported since. Brodo's victory is examined as a prime example of the use of fear and control at the Shaevalian War Academy. Korvem made the effort to send a congratulatory message to his son, but the note felt cold and empty, as if no emotion were behind the words.