Captain:Voro Acetenus

"No other figure emulates our race to such a fine degree as Voro Acetenus. He is a destroyer, a rebuilder, a heretic and a savior. It was he who led our people from darkness to light and it shall be him who does so again. He is the champion of our people and a foe that the shall soon learn to fear."

- Shiplord, rallying rebel Cognatus of the Harbinger of Truth, 05 NE.

Voro Acetenus is a male who rose to prominence as a ruthless fleetlord in the service of the  during the  and his role as the leader of the  during the, during which he built a strong, pragmatic relationship with the. In the aftermath of the war and the rise of the, his progressive style of leadership inspired a group of rebel Cogsangui to launch a coup against him, ultimately casting down the Remnant and replacing it with a strong and militaristic empire.

Hunted by both his fellow Cognatus and agents of the Galactic Empire, Acetenus found kinship in the during the  and ultimately joined  and the crew of the starship  on their voyages and missions across the, in the hope of finding new meaning for himself after a series of highly turbulent years for the former Cogsangui leader. However, with internal divisions within the Cognatus hierarchy rife after the ascension of the supposedly divine, Acetenus's role in the history of his people is far from complete.

Early Life
Born on the homeworld of Cognalorilos in 95 BNE, Voro Acetenus's early life was one of relative comfort compared to many of his Cogsangui kin. Born into a noble family in one of Cognalorilos' largest principalities, under normal circumstances he would have been a natural recruit to the growing armies of the, his people's interstellar domain. However, due to his higher status in society, he was pressed to join the political arena of his people to serve as a justiciar or a cleric in the omnipotent chantry of Cognatus society. Due to his own personal proclivity for conflict however, he decided to join the armed forces of the Cognatus where his merit allowed him to advance quickly through the hierarchy.

Nearing his second century by the time the broke out, Voro Acetenus held the position of Fleetlord of the Fleet of Rapturous Harmony, one of the largest armadas in Cognatus space. When the leadership of the Cognatus declared that the was a heretical organisation in an attempt to justify an invasion of their territory, due to the large concentrations of  technology, Fleetlord Acetenus was sceptical but nonetheless followed his orders to the letter, becoming one of the most feared assets in the Cognatus warmachine.

Intergalactic War
"These infidels are mere beasts. But even the lowliest of beasts do not deserve brutish cruelty. May they die cleanly with honour and dignity."

- Voro Acetenus, showing his once zealous belief in Cognatus doctrine as well as his honourable modus operandi.

As the war progressed, Acetenus had a hand in the utter destruction of nine Republic worlds, mostly in the Outer Rim. His skills in coordinating large fleets earned him a reputation as a brilliant commander known for utilising highly advanced strategies which outwitted some of the keenest military minds in Republic space, even allowing the Fleetlord to triumph over the highly advanced on three separate occasions. Though Republic propaganda initally depicted him as a bloody tyrannical figure, Acetenus's sense of honour was noted even during the darkest days of the war when the Fleetlord would often allow innocents to leave their planet before bombarding it from orbit, earning him the ire of the highest reaches of the incredibly zealous government of the Cognatus.

During the final stages of the war, Fleetlord Acetenus was stationed away from the final battle over during which over eighty percent of the Cognatus armada disappeared mysteriously upon the discovery of an ancient Oikoumene portal. Shocked by this development, Acetenus nonetheless took the initiative and as the highest ranking officer, reformed the Cognatus military to his own preferences. Though he did not come up with an official name for his new order, it became known as the soon afterwards.

Leader of the Cognatus Remnant
"Forward laser cannons, suppress at my command. Watch as the machines crackle and burn!"

- Voro Acetenus during a battle with the Cyrannian Neraida during the Great Cyrannus War.

During the period between the Intergalactic War and the, Acetenus became known as a pragmatic and just ruler, motivated not by blind faith but by a strong sense of honour and loyalty to his people. In this way, Acetenus's leadership contrasted greatly with the leadership of the old rulers of the Cognatus in that he often sought out mutually beneficial partnerships with other races which would have been seen as heretical in the days of the old empire. During the second year of the Great War, Acetenus's followers detected an Atlantica signal coming from a planet in the. Seeking to return his people to greatness, Acetenus followed with a large fleet of Remnant ships, ultimately coming into conflict with both Rambo Nation and the Republic. Upon winning the battle, Acetenus activated an ancient library of secret knowledge, discovering much about the true nature of his supposed gods and ultimately deducing that the war against the Republic and the Rambo was fought to gain power and not to destroy non-believers.

Contacting the Rambo in the aftermath of this discovery, Acetenus signed an official peace treaty between the Cognatus and the Cyrandia Alliance which included cross border exchanges in the hopes that an intergalactic war could never be repeated at the hands of his people. As the war went on, he initally supported his people's neutrality, but when they were attacked by the 's Cyrannian faction, he was forced to request aid from his former enemies. Under the leadership of President, the Republic accepted and ultimately fostered a prosperous alliance with the Cognatus under Acetee's guidance, much to the chagrin of the more traditionalist elements of the Remnant's leadership. Nevertheless, Acetenus's involvement in the war from that point allowed him to forge a peculiar bond and friendship with the Republic's President.

Dark Times
"Wretched Imperials. The madness of their rule must end!"

- Voro Acetenus, voicing his distaste of the Cyrannian Empire.

This bond however could not save him from the fall of the Republic and the rise of the, which used the widespread fear of the Cognatus to brand Acetenus a dangerous terrorist seeking to destroy the Cyrannian Core Worlds. Nevertheless, Acetenus remained in contact with Apollo while he led the in the voyage to the Quadrants. As the grew worse under the rule of the Empire, Acetenus was the victim of a plot by traditionalists within the Remnant, who ultimately usurped control and created the, a violent and militaristic group emulating the Cognatus of old. The new Cognatus Empire ordered the death of Acetenus, keenly aware of his nigh-unstoppable skills in battle and sent assassins to strike him down. Ultimately however, Acetenus managed to escape their radar by utilising a decoy to fake his own death. Secretly, he took the assault carrier, the Placidi Itiniere, along with his most loyal followers and fled into the Unknown Regions, eventually coming across the, saving them from a attack, though at the cost of his ship. He later joined the Remnant, becoming a military adviser to. Soon afterward, Voro Acetenus joined Cretacea in his quest on the ancient world, Amemoriam, where Voro's faith in the Oikoumene was challenged. Nevertheless, Acetenus teamed up with, , , Cretacea and the Thirteenth Tribe construct to rescue his "battle-brother" Apollo from the evil clutches of the. Acetenus managed to cut down many Neraida drones in their infiltration of Apollo's Cube, and even managed to hold his own against the powerful,. Ultimately, Apollo was rescued by the team.

Renegade
"My former kin have indeed ousted me from power and declared me a traitor. Now, they toil under the leadership of a powerful entity, the origins of which are unknown to me. It cannot bode well."

- Voro Acetenus confides in Empress.

When the Republic Remnant was found and absorbed into the, Voro was shocked that the Remnant's goal of reaching the Quadrants had failed. He was surprised when the Empire agreed to give many in the higher echelons of the Remnant a reprieve but knew all too well that the Empire discriminates heavily against former members of the Cognatus and would be particularly unkind to a former leader. Unsure about what to do, Voro travelled to of all places and hid himself deep in the city planet's endless chasms. While in exile, Voro learned of the latest events in the, which had come under the control of an ancient AI and later the mysterious. As the year came to an end, Acetee remained on Orbispira until he was discovered by Imperial Intelligence. Despite their attempts to capture him, Voro managed to escape, soon contacting the smugglers and Tyronius, who managed to secure his release from Orbispira by contacting famed Rambo operative, who agreed to let him join their newfound crew on the smuggling freighter Falcon. After escaping the clutches of the Imperial captain, Voro Acetenus and his new shipmates travelled to the Rambo Capital, where he met with Empress Ramashe for the first time since the. Though Ramashe suggested to Acetee that he would be safer with the, he instead decided to stay with the Falcon, which soon left on its first mission to the slaver-controlled world of. When the crew of the Falcon visited Koerband several weeks later, the outbreak of the dreaded Virals caused Acetenus to be separated from his shipmates, ultimately leading him to a young woman known as, who helped the Cognatus warrior battle his way through the hordes of Virals preventing him from joining his allies. However, to his shame, he was unable to save Lana from the virals and she was dragged off away from him. In his attempt to rescue the young girl, he did not realise that she had been found by a dreaded dark lord and transformed into a deadly servant vying for his blood.

Physical Appearance
A physically imposing male garbed in the traditional armour of his people, a key physical feature of Voro is his golden armour, which has seen multiple variations down through the years. This is the armour of a high-ranking official in the old Old Cognatus Empire, illustrating his respect for the honourable days of old in which the Cogsangui were honourable knights of the stars who fought for glory and prestige rather than the blind zealots they have become under the new Cognatus empire. Standing at nearly 3.5 metres in height, Voro Acetenus is an impressive and awe-inspiring sight to those who encounter him, bolstered by the fact that he carries himself with dignity and respect, even as a member of the motley crew of.

Personality and Traits
Like most, Voro Acetenus was raised with an almost religious devotion to the vaguely established concept of Cogsangui honour, though he is also considered somewhat of an exception, being unwilling to allow this abstract concept get in the way of his higher reasoning. This pragmatic approach to life greatly enhanced Acetenus's skill as a fleet commander being noted by Republic Intelligence during the as a far more dangerous combatant in battle compared to a typical blood thirsty Cogsangui opponent. Indeed, his prowess and skill in battle border on legendary, being considered on a par with individuals such as and.

As a young warrior, Acetenus was considered to be a cold and calculating individual, preferring solitude and cultivating a sardonic and even abrasive sense of humour. However, as he matured into a Fleetlord and later as the leader of the Cognatus Remnant, he became significantly more optimistic and progressive with regard to his attitude toward other species, which he would have considered mere beasts prior to the destruction of the old leadership of the zealous Cognatus empire. He also developed a healthy interest in the cultures of other races, even those hostile to him, perhaps in an attempt to understand their history, strengths and weaknesses.

In contrast to his unlikely friend of the, Acetenus is quite disdainful of the democratic way of governance and instead places his trust in a strict meritocratic system in which leaders must prove themselves capable of ruling massive space-faring empires. Nevertheless, despite his disdain for politics in general, he has proved himself to be a capable negotiator and diplomat, as well as an exceptional leader capable of inspiring great loyalty in those who follow him.

Friends
"I admire your tenacity and honour, friend."


 * : He and I have evolved from foe to friend. The galaxy is all the better for his leadership.
 * : You have my thanks, orange one.
 * : Her small size does not limit her bravery in the face of combat.
 * : A capable warrior worthy of a Cogsangui's respect.
 * : A curious creature.
 * : Unstable, but a mighty warrior. He must have been a Cogsangui in a past life.
 * :Wise and powerful, no doubt.
 * Empress Ramashe: Yet another strong leader.
 * : Could it be? An angel from the gods?
 * : Forgive my failure.

Indifferent
"There is little I can say."


 * : I hear intriguing things.

Enemies
"You are unworthy of my blade."


 * : Our battle was rudely interrupted.
 * : A demon in the form of a warrior!
 * : Your rule is not infinite.

Quotes
"I may not forgive your actions during the Intergalactic War, but I would surely be dead if you did not show yourself to be a great ally in the years past. Our friendship is dear to me and you are a symbol of hope for a future galaxy of peace."

"Weak. Primitive. Simple minded."

- Commandant Khuenaten

"I thought your kind were all dumb zealots with their heads stuck up their guts. I'm glad I'm wrong."

"You may be problematic."

"You oppose the Primercer? How intriguing..."

"You're safe with me, big guy!"

Trivia

 * Voro Acetenus's name came from a website which generates names for Elite characters in the Halo franchise. Despite Cyrannian's fondness for the character, he deeply regrets this unimaginative origin.
 * Voro Acetenus is known to greet people, such as, with a friendly hug.