Varakos was born on Nexus to average means. A bright child, Varakos excelled in education and regularly out performed his classmates. He was awarded a scholarship to the university of Apollo, the foremost center of learning in the galaxy. He studied Economics, with a minor in battlefield strategy.
It was rare for a Nexus to attend university at all, and rarer still to be awarded a scholarship. Despite being more intelligent that most of his peers, he was still regularly ridiculed, simply for being a Nexus.
Before long, Varakos had become deeply resentful of his peers. He reached out to other Nexus at his university campus; thinking there was safety in numbers. This group largely stuck to themselves and avoided all others. They called themselves the Nexus Separatist Movement.
The Nexus Separatist Movement
Within a few months, the Nexus Separatist Movement had grown in popularity and Nexus from all across Apollo were gathering together, developing their own communities. These meetings began innocent enough, with the members talking and drinking, but soon the meetings became more and more xenophobic.The Separatist Movement discussed why it was that they should be ridiculed by the other races at Apollo. Their ancestors would not have stood for this; they recognized the power and dominance of the Nexus.
Before the end of his first year, Varakos found himself the leader of a thousands strong movement. Recognizing the opportunity before him, he encouraged the members to go out into the galaxy and gather more to their cause.
When he left Apollo, Varakos quickly found a place within the Nexus military, and rose through the ranks; all the while gathering more supporters in secret for his movement.
During this time he was also able to manipulate galactic stocks to make himself extremely wealthy. He used this wealth to pay off hundreds of Nexus mercenaries with no allegiances to join him. Eight years after finishing university he was named general of the Nexus armed forces, the youngest in history. It’s thought that he bribed, threatened and bullied his way into the position, but once there he had the connections to spread the word of his movement throughout Nexus space.
He quickly established who in the Nexus military could be trusted to follow him, and who were loyal to the Alliance. Those who he decided would not be loyal, he re-located to remote parts of the galaxy, active warzones or simple discharged.
Eighteen months after being named general, almost the entire military was made up of Nexus loyal to him.
The Second Nexus War
Ten years after leaving Apollo University, the stage was set, and Varakos was ready to put his plans into motion.
Councilman Pritchard, one of the Alliance leaders, was visiting a Nexus fringe world on an aid mission. Varakos paid a soldier, disguised as a local to assassinate the councilman, and planted dozens of armed soldiers in the crowd. Once the councilman was dead, these soldiers opened fire. The resulting fire fight ended with almost all other Nexus civilians present dead.
Varakos perverted the events and convinced the Nexus government that humanity had fired first. By the time the truth came out, the galaxy was at war.
The Fall of Aros
Aros is an Alliance system located at the edge of Alliance space. It is an agricultural world with very little significance. However, it became a turning point during the second Nexus war.
Varakos' bombardment, and subsequent invasion of Aros left the planet ruined, and its population almost entirely dead.
This campaign earned him the title of the Butcher of Aros.
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This is another concept by Daniel Comerci. Daniel has once again really captured the spirit of the character. Although he can be brutal himself, Varakos is rather more reserved and cold than his kin; usually assuming a commanding role and coordinating the battle strategy.
I love the cold, disinterested look that the concept has. You can picture Varakos stood on the bridge of his ship as it bombards a planet below; showing no signs of emotion.
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In The Icarus Project, Varakos is a unique character that packs a mighty punch. Armed with an Energy Gauntlet, he is able to reduce enemy's defence values by 1. With his 4 attacks, this makes him deadly in close combat.
He also has an energy shield, giving him a defence of 6. Along with his health of 7, and Cheating Death rule, Varakos is an exceptionally tough unit.
He will be a prime target for sniper and explosive fire; so keeping him in cover while he moves into combat is crucial.
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I hope you've enjoyed this preview of General Varakos, and if you'd like to test him for yourself, you can download the alpha version of The Icarus Project HERE.
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If you'd like to get involved in the play test process, we have a group that you can join and post your thoughts.
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Until next time, happy gaming!
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