Captain:Apollo

"War is ruin, predicted and then remembered as glory."

- Apollo

Aedanius "Apollo" Cretacea, more commonly known by his taken name, Apollo is the Gigaquadrant renowned, known for his very successful tenure as President of the , his endeavours to restore freedom to the during the  and his dual role as Proconsul of the  and ambassador to.

A native of Libertopolos, Apollo grew in the loving care of a caring family, a family nearly destroyed by a terrorist bombing in the city when Aedanius was merely twelve years old. This event gave Apollo an early sense of pacifism and justice. His relationship with his famous father, was strained as a child in the aftermath of this event but was rekindled after Apollo was forcibly drafted into military service during the. During his service, he saw the deaths of his friends and family alike and grew to despise violence and war.

Afterwards, he ran for office and was elected Senator of Capricaerón, a position that gave him a great deal of power in the Senate of the, which resulted in his election to President in 7 BNE. As President, he was instrumental in steering the Republic through many conflicts and dark times, such as the and the, as well as marking their place as a mighty Gigaquadrant superpower. However, the sights of higher powers worked against him, and he was eventually forced to flee when the was formed. Eventually, the Empire gave him a reprieve, allowing the former President to travel freely.

Using his new-found freedom, Apollo organised a monumental conference between all major powers of the Cyrandia Cluster, which ultimately resulted in the formation of the. Though he was widely wanted for the position of President, he turned down the position to, instead serving as the chief diplomat, or Proconsul of the Republic and the official ambassador to.

History
A more complete overview leading up to 06 NE.

Early Life (31 BNE - 7 BNE)
Aedanius Cretacea was born on the homeworld  in 31 BNE to Willelmus Cretacea and Muleua Blané. As a child, Aedanius was quite interested in subjects ranging from politics, law and alien culture and was considered by his teachers to be an unusually intelligent and inquisitive student. Though his childhood was quite typical, a terrorist attack in his youth resulted in his mother's death and caused a strain between Aedanius and his father. This enmity was heightened by the outbreak of the, during which the young Libertus was conscripted into the military. Though he was not proficient in combat, Aedanius became quite a capable pilot. As the war drew to a close, Aedanius decided to choose a new name for himself, ultimately deciding on Apollo in reference to a mythical Libertus god known as Apol'eus.

After the war Apollo quickly departed the military, though both he and his father had reached an accord. A month after the war ended, Apollo entered the Legislative Youth Program, where he participated in mock debates with other young people from across the galaxy for over a year before finally seeking office as a delegate representing Capricaerón in the Galactic Senate of the. To his surprise however, he was promptly elected not only delegate, but also Capricaerón's senator becoming one of the youngest Senators in the Republic's history at the age of 21.

Over the next two years, Senator Apollo became one of the most popular representatives in the Republic Senate, in the process becoming a thorn in the side of many of the Republic's more conservative Senators. In 7 BNE, Apollo decided to run for President of the Republic and despite facing harsh opposition from the incumbent as well as the more militaristic Mion of Leonis, he was ultimately elected leader of the free galaxy.

Leader of the Free Galaxy (7 BNE - 01 BNE)
"It's not the amount of years that's important, it's what you've done with them."

- President Apollo, 06 BNE

The early months of Apollo's Presidency saw an increase in diplomatic warmth between the Republic and, which ultimately led to the creation of the against the Cognatus Crusades of the. Though the conflict was the darkest in living memory, Apollo surprised his detractors by becoming a bulwark against the Cognatus, charismatically rallying the citizenry against the sinister Cognatus hordes. The success of the Republic in the war ultimately allowed for Apollo's second term soon after the conflict ended.

Despite the impossible odds, Apollo surprised the galaxy with his remarkable leadership unusual in one so young. Eventually the war ended, and Apollo brought the Republic to the Gigaquadrantic stage, forming the Cyrandia Alliance and many other intergovernmental organisations as well as inaugurating several new alliances with states from across the universe, with the Republic becoming one of the Gigaquadrant's greatest hyperpowers, facing down threats from the Xhodocto, the Nanohorde, the and the s.

In the antebullum period between the Intergalactic War and the to come, Apollo became smitten with his childhood love, with the relationship between the two becoming a subject of intense media coverage, despite the couple only admitting their relationship to the public two weeks before the wedding on Coruindia. Two months after the wedding, Gianne had become pregnant which resulted in the birth of and.

"I am troubled. These are the last days of my term as President. I should be relieved to live out the rest of my days with my family in peace... but I fear something is on the horizon. Something dark."
 * Great Cyrannus War

-, speaking with as the Great Cyrannus War draws to a close.

Despite his attempts to peacefully resolve the differences between the Republic and the quasi-secessionist, the President was ultimately unable to prevent the outbreak of a fully scale galactic war unlike any in the galaxy's history. Over the next three years, Apollo would lead the crumbling Republic through the greatest conflict in the galaxy's history, defending it from threats both within and without. Little did he know, his efforts to defend the galaxy from darkness were futile, with the enigmatic plotting to ensure the death of the Republic and the rise of his new order. During the war, Apollo was the target of many assassination attempts by dark forces commanded by both Tyrómairon and, unknowingly bringing him under the protection of the known as. Though the war would bring much grief to the President, it would also see the arrival of the mysterious entity known as to Apollo's family, as well as the formation of new friendships such as that with  of the.

The war reached its darkest point in 01 BNE when the blockaded the Perliama Run, causing supply issues to grip the Core Worlds. Apollo and the Senate were in crisis. Luckily a smuggler known as Ramtalia and a ragtag fleet of smuggling vessels lifted the blockade and when he returned to Orbispira, Apollo personally congratulated him. However, the blockade was a key event in Tyrómairon's plan, reducing support throughout the galaxy for the Republic and its institutions.

In the aftermath of the breaking of the blockade, Apollo began having premonitions that something devastating was about to happen. Sending a transmission to Ramashe, he confided in her that he felt a deep sense of forbodence as the last battles of the war were drawn up. Informing her about the discovery of the Conexivus Route which led to both Republic and Confederate homeworlds, Apollo later authorised the admiralty to retrieve the information essential to using the route by travelling to the Mid Rim world of Taracondor, where the battle to control the Conexivus Route was already being waged. This event would lead to the Battle of Orbispira and ultimately the fall of the United Republic as the dark shadow of the arose in its place.

Dissident and Founding Father (01 NE - 03 NE)
"As long as we live, the Republic survives."
 * Rebel Leader

- to his followers three days after the formation of the, Ianuaria 01 NE

The machiavellian manipulations of Tyrómairon throughout the war quietly undermined Apollo's leadership and faith in the Senate until finally the Dark Lord was finally ready to strike. Putting the plan into motion, Tyrómairon usurped control of the Republic and created a ; a imperialist hyperpower determined to hunt down those who stood against them. Finding himself in transition from galactic leader to criminal overnight took its toll on Apollo as he and his supporters desperately attempted to flee the Imperial warmachine. Though he managed to avoid imprisonment on, Apollo would gather a large fleet of loyal vessels to the Republic and began a voyage throughout Cyrannus to reach their allies in the , which had become known as the.

Though he retained his largely honourific title of "President" of his band of rebels, Apollo was against the usage of the term "Republic in Exile" claiming to be the galaxy's rightful government, which he claimed would acknowledge the Empire as a legitimate state instead of treating it as an illegal perversion of the true Republic. Instead, the Republic would only be reformed if it had the capacity to truly challenge the Empire.

A year into the Empire's rule, Apollo was captured and assimilated into the nefarious, which used him to unite their disparate factions into a single harmony. For much of 02 NE, Apollo would suffer under the Neraida's control before a team including, , Voro Acetenus and the rescued him and returned him to the remnant's fleet. Upon his return, Apollo was challenged by former terrorist who managed to usurp control over the remnant from Apollo, only to result in the final annexation of the remnant by an Imperial fleet as the first month of 03 NE dawned.

Upon reaching Orbispira in Imperial custody, Apollo was surprised to learn from Potentate that the Emperor had decreed his release, thus allowing him freedom to roam the galaxy. Upon learning of the increase in activity, Apollo decided to travel to the  to aid in the conflict to end the Dominion. In his absence however, his wife was assassinated by a bounty hunter hired by, prompting his return to Cyrannus to care for his children. Devastated by the loss of his love, Apollo travelled to for a much needed period of contemplation and recovery.
 * Road to the New Republic

Several months later, he emerged as a leading proponent of the restoration of the Republic alongside, and , with Apollo working to secure alliances with civilisations such as the  and the  to gain their support for a Cyrandia Conference to discuss the peaceful rebirth of the Republic. Thus, in an address on on 19 Novemex, 03 NE, Apollo declared the formation of the  for all the Gigaquadrant to see.

Proconsul of the New Republic (03 NE - )
"Peace between the civilised states of the Gigaquadrant can only be sustained through understanding, for it is abundantly clear that it cannot be sustained through force of arms."
 * Pre-Cyrandia Wars

- Proconsul Apollo, Dekemurios 03 NE

As the New Cyrannian Republic rose thanks to his diplomatic efforts, Apollo was the favourite to become the first leader of the new superpower, symbolically showing the continuity between the Old Republic and the New. However, Apollo concurred with others that it was time for him to give the spotlight to a new leader; Count of, one of the allies Apollo found while searching for ways to create a Republic. Instead, Apollo was elected Proconsul by the newly convened Republic Senate, serving as the chief diplomat as well as Ambassador to. Over the next year, the Republic would grow and strengthen as a symbol of unity and strength in defiance to the Empire's monopoly on galactic politics. Through the deft art of diplomacy, Apollo subtly worked to undermine Imperial interests by forging new ties with Rambo Nation as well as negotiating with leaders from planets in the neutral Coru Secundus Region of the galaxy to join the New Republic. To his dismay however, conservative elements within Rambo Nation still distrusted Cyrannians for their betrayal at the end of the Great War, providing Apollo with new challenges to ensuring peace in the.

However, these efforts would be unable to prevent the outbreak of the at the end of 03 NE as well as other conflicts across the Outer Gigaquadrant. Blaming the fall of the as well as the universal cooperation which was strongly associated with it, Apollo was a key figure in the formation of the  and the Pax Infinitus Armada to ensure the maintainance of some semblance of order. In doing so, the Republic's links with organisations such as the, the and the  were strenghened.
 * New Cyrandia Wars

However, he would also face troubles from the and even, though the united forces of the Accords were able to overcome these threats, as well as an attack by the  against the peaceful world. Several months later, Apollo's skills as a military tactician came to the fore when he helped organised both the Sacking of Rihanae and the Republic capture of Capricaerón in 05 NE.

As the Cyrandia Wars drew to a close, Apollo worked to alleviate tensions between the Republic's closest allies in the form of the and Rambo Nation by organising a meeting between Queen  and Empress. Though the meeting was attacked by pro-Empire bounty hunters, the Proconsul's efforts were largely successful. Several days prior to the end of the Wars, Apollo was contacted by Collective diplomat who informed him of, a vast astroengineering project undertaken to move all of the Collective's Milky Way colonies to the. Impressed with the scale of the operation, Apollo agreed to send Republic support. "... Aedanius, I think it's saliva..." "Is there any way I can get up as quickly as possible without betraying my cool exterior?"
 * Beginning of the Cold War

- and Apollo during their encounter with the mature Ryderallo Monster and the substance it secretes.

After the end of the New Cyrandia Wars, Apollo was reunited with childhood friend, now a pre-eminent xenoarchaeologist during an unexpected journey throughout the Gigaquadrant with his friend Gorf, which included tense and thoroughly unpleasant encounters with people such as , , and even Emperor. By the end of their time together, Apollo began to develop feelings for Dané, though ultimately felt that these feelings were a betrayal to the memory of his wife Gianne and attempted to put them to the back of his mind, with little success.

To complicate matters, prior to the Battle of Ramar Shadda, during which Ramashe herself went into battle, Apollo made it clear to her that he cared for her deeply. As she departed for battle, she tenderly kissed the Proconsul on the snout. Both deeply concerned for her safety and torn between the two women he cared for, the Proconsul found putting these concerns to the back of his mind increasingly difficult.

"Apollo is a nice guy. I seriously don't get how I managed to get along with a politician, let alone one like him. I guess he thought my insanity was an act to make humour, but even then, he's probably too busy doing his thing right now."
 * Death of Koluap

- speaking with prior to his suicide

Several months later, Apollo was deeply saddened by the news that one of his closest friends, of the  had committed suicide. The Proconsul deeply regretted not being able to properly give Koluap the farewell he deserved and immediately travelled to the, where he attended the funeral. While there, he spoke at length to Koluap's best friend, who spoke of Koluap's kind words about Apollo soon before his death. As he departed back to Cyrannus, Apollo promised to keep the memory of Koluap alive in his heart.

Physical Appearance
"He's attractive, I'll give him that."

Apollo stands slightly shorter than the average male at just below three metres in height. Though he is not particularly muscular, he is firm and lean, keeping in shape due to the public nature of his job. Apollo possesses a youthful attractiveness that appeals to many races while also causing some to dismiss his political career as being founded on the electorate favouring him based on his appearance over his policies. Atypical of a politician, Apollo is considered to be very stylish and is often seen wearing formal, clean-cut and polished outfits and suits that are almost always in line with the current fashions, owing to the common perception of the former President as being a dapper individual who always takes care of his appearance.

Persona
"Apollo, how can I describe him? At first I saw him as little more than a boy put into office in order to fulfill the commands of greedy senators who needed a puppet leader to ensure their dominance. However, once you look past his youthful appearance and tendency to endear himself to those smitten by his unintentionally enthusiast and rather undignified demeanor towards areas of his interest, he is a completely atypical politician. He doesn't do what he does for glory or remembrance in the future, he does it out of a genuine interest in the common good. Perhaps this is why so many see him as such a grave threat..."

Aedanius Cretacea possesses a diverse personality that many in the past have attempted to decode in order to fully understand such a notable figure in Gigaquadrantic events. During his childhood, Aedanius grew up in a normal family on Capricaerón, with his father being a naval officer and his mother being a engineer. However, despite his family's best intentions, the young Apollo felt socially isolated throughout his early life, a matter made worse by his mother's unfortunate death at the hands of terrorists and his conscription into the military when he was twenty years old. Despite the fact that it soon became clear that he was more or less useless with his fists or when wielding a weapon, his intellect and surprising levels of bravery ultimately served him well. When the ended, thus ending the policy of conscription, Apollo was one of the first to drop out of the military, despite protestations from his father.

Despite the fact that service in the military would usually mature a person prematurely, Apollo never lost his naivety, optimism and youthful viewpoint of the world, partly the reason behind his decision to try his hand at politics, a profession in which he truly found his calling. Though shy in his youth, Apollo's political aptitude aided in the development of his self-esteem and charisma, ultimately helping him in his run for public office, eventually becoming the Senator representing. Though he originally had no plans to seek election to the higher office of President, the failure of the government during the Trucinex War led many to seek a fresh face in politics, someone who could bring sometime new to the halls of. When he became President of the newly formed, Apollo became noticeably more serious and cynical in his outlook, especially when the broke out, leading to the rise of the. However, he still remained lively, loyal and idealistic, causing some in the Republic military to deride him as a mere "school boy in a nice suit" controlled by greedy senators who held the true power. When his presidency came to a close, some of the cynicism he gained from such a high public office was replaced by the more optimistic outlook he held in his younger years.

Apollo's presidency was seen as being highly successful by both the citizens of Cyrannus and beyond, ultimately making him one of the most popular political leaders in the Gigaquadrant, with many insisting that he did more in his short time as presidency than leaders of other civilisations have in centuries.

Many regard Apollo as being a wide-eyed idealist, both before the rise of the and after it. Despite the horrors he experienced throughout the and the various other conflicts he was involved in, Apollo is known to insist that no-one is inherently evil though is also known to take betrayal and threats against those he loves very seriously due to the strong feelings of loyalty towards those he considers friends, sometimes revealing a more ruthless side to his personality that few ultimately see. Though Apollo is technically a pacifist, he is not afraid to defend himself using either his hands or a tranquiliser pistol that he keeps on his person. However, he is known to balk at the idea of actually killing someone and has been known to become squeamish around death or anything to do with it. Apollo has a dry sense of humour, characterised by the occasional sarcastic or snarky remark about people or situations that he sees as being ridiculous. He is also known for being quite proficient at impersonations and can mimic several i accents, much to the humour of those he interacts with. Even by the time he became Proconsul of the, he is known to unknowingly endear himself to individuals due to his occasional tendencies to be charming in a way that combines his youthful attractiveness and perceived innocence, intelligence and somewhat posh accent, despite his years of grooming by his political team to present him as a serious statesman. However, these attempts have not been entirely successful, which can be seen in the fact that he both dislikes pomp and ceremony, people he finds pretentious and warriors who seek glory in battle, all three of which Apollo often greets with an exaggerated yawn.

Apollo's hobbies include the study of history, politics and alien cultures, hiking, listening to modern Cyrannian music and piloting. Secretly, Apollo is also quite interested in the latest in Capricaerónn fashion, with commentators often pointing out that he dresses more like a student at the University of Orbispira rather than a skilled political leader. The former President also has a special affinity for s.

Abilities
"Weak. But underestimating him has led to my defeat at numerous occasions. His power lies in his voice and mind, not in his fists."

Unlike most politicians, Aedanius Cretacea boasts a genius-level intellect above the average intelligence of a. This intellectual proficiency allows Apollo to quickly absorb and store information including the names of thousands of Cyrannian planets, historical figures and indeed people he has met during his terms as both President of the and the Proconsul of the. Unfortunately however, this does not equate with martial prowess; though Apollo is capable of defending himself and possesses an unlikely amount of bravery, he is not particularly adept at combat, though he often contends that he has no interest to be. However, his father claims that if he put in an effort, he would be quite capable.

Alternate Timelines

 * In a future timeline, one of Apollo's descendents, Aquillius Cretacea, serves in the Navy of the Cyrandian Republic circa 1250 NE in the aftermath of an invasion by the sinister Xeranbha that left much of the Gigaquadrant in ruin. Though Apollo is no longer around by 1250 NE, his deeds in the distant past are well regarded by those he left behind and he is honoured in a number of ways, such as a new starship class dubbed the "Apollo"-class.


 * In an alternate reality in which the United Republic of Cyrannus survived intact after the Great Cyrannus War, Apollo's presidency ended, giving way to the presidency of . Apollo eventually decided to live out his life out of the public eye on content that he helped make the galaxy a better place for future generations.

Family
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Friends
"Friends are the family we choose for ourselves. Or the ones that save you from rampaging demons or orbital bombardments."


 *  - He is a great President.
 * Carillion - A shame we have lost contact.
 * Rambo Founder - I wish I had a bearded mentor like Ramashe does. He's a pretty snazzy guy.
 *  - ... Hi.
 *  - Who knew that he could be such a great hugger?
 *  - I'll never forget you, old friend.
 *  - I'm sorry for your loss.
 *  - He's one of my best buddies.
 *  - We work really well together, people should really give him a chance.

Liked
"If you surround yourself with good people, they can only raise you up."


 *  - We may share a great deal of differences, but both he and his empire have saved the universe time and time again with no expectation of gratitude. I will not forget that.
 *  - He's scary in a good way. If that's possible.
 *  - Yeah, he follows us around now.
 *  - I've enjoyed the conversations we occasionally have.
 *  - A benevolent and wise leader for the Radeon and their kin. Under her leadership, they have survived and thrived.
 * Senator Chuinaylia - She's pretty adorkable.
 *  - A great diplomat and a good example for his race to follow.
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Acquaintances
"I don't know a lot about them."


 *  - I'm not sure what to make of him.
 *  - I don't often find people annoying, but...
 *  - I have only had fleeting encounters with him.
 *  - I wasn't a fan of the whole "brand Apollo as a traitor and replace the Republic with the Empire" thing.
 *  - I worked well with him at the signing of the Confederate peace treaty.
 *  - He's not the friendliest, is he?
 *  - I hope we can mend relations between our two powers.
 *  - I wish him well.
 *  - She seemed like a friendly lady when we met during the War.
 *  - Organisations such as the one he leads need more oversight.
 *  - A consummate politician. Can't say I'd vote for him though.

Disliked
"I don't hate you. I just don't like that you exist."


 *  - A nauseating windbag.
 *  - I once thought that he was an honourable man. Clearly I was wrong.
 *  - Maybe he's not as bad as I thought. Still, I'm not a fan.
 *  - He doesn't seem to like me. Like I care.

Enemies
"If people must judge me, it should be by the enemies I make."


 *  - Fantastic, a crazed rebel with a personal vendetta against me.
 *  - Ugh, demons.
 * }

Quotes
"You impress me, Libertus. A rare distinction in these times."

"President Aedanius Cretacea is an institution of the Cyrannus Galaxy and a true role model for people across the Gigaquadrant that even those from the most humble of backgrounds can change the galaxy."

"He is weak in both body and leadership. If his rule was so legendary, then why did it collapse into the Empire? The next time we meet, the people of Cyrannus will see the true face of their beloved son; the face of a coward and a child given powers to cater for the corrupt."

"He's pretty cool. For a dad."

"When I see pictures of Apollo, I feel something below the neck. I think I have feelings for him. Erotic, non-murdering feelings."

"I think Apollo's a cool guy. He leads empires and isn't afraid of anything."

"I can do nothing but admire this man greatly and see him as a role model for myself. I could never get anywhere near his might."

- Milinitt

"I will enjoy the day maggots feast off his corpse!"

"I remember speaking with him. He was a very interesting person indeed. Charismatic for sure."

"so is he one of dose "diplomat" fingies i heer bout? I THOUGHT DEY WERE A MYTH MAN"

"I seen tastier, eh?"

"The democratic process cast you out, dear president. As decent as a man you are, this universe is controlled by wolves."

- Mandator

"You shall go far Libertus, and be immortalised in legend. Make this life count."

"The great diplomat, beloved father and dear friend! Secretly I have a crush on him!"

- of

"Pathatic! All he is good for is his skin as it could be used to make some boots!"

"If only humanity had a leader like him."

"You stand for the government of the ignorant, by the ignorant and for the ignorant."

- Taev Voseatiur

"An inspiration. Proof that not all politicians have their heads stuffed up their own bottoms."

"He and I have evolved from foe to friend. The galaxy is all the better for his leadership."

"Gorf not sure why he chose you of all people... but Gorf has no regrets."

In-Universe

 * Facts
 * Though generally accepting of the differences between civilisations, Apollo dislikes caste systems and even hereditary systems in which people are given absolute power based on parentage rather than merits. Though he still remains friendly with rulers who have proven themselves despite being born into power.
 * Though often seen as an idealist, Apollo has been known to be cynical when dealing with people who have betrayed him in the past.
 * He is a romantic, with being his first love, a fact which made her death all the more difficult for Apollo.
 * He enjoys informal state visits more than formal ones, viewing the pomp and ceremony that many Cyrannians love as being pretentious.
 * Apollo considers his most embarrassing moment to have been an incident in which he tripped and fell on top of an ancient tapestry, almost ripping it beyond repair. Luckily, his way with words managed to prevent the outbreak of a new war.
 * He claims that a close second occurred when attempting to impress Gianna Invia by leaning against what appeared to be a wall in an attempt to look cool. However, his attempt failed when the "wall" turned out to be a particularly heavy-set female D'annaoi.
 * His personal hero is Chancellor Tythoran of the.

Behind the Scenes

 * Apollo is the fictional representation of the user, Cyrannian.
 * The Heart of the Sun, composed by Bear McCreary for Battlestar Galactica represents Apollo.
 * Apollo is Cyrannian's overall protagonist.
 * In the Mirror Universe, Apollo is known as Emperor Aedanius I, the sinister leader of the Gigaquadrant.
 * The "Wardrobe" and "Alternate Reality" sections were coded by.
 * Introduced in early 2009, Apollo is one of the longest running and well-known characters in the Fiction Universe.