Also, Harry's name is most commonly spelled "Harald", not Harold.
Also, Harry's name is most commonly spelled "Harald", not Harold.
Interesting that you think this.
You say he has no known affiliates or allies, but is this true? Do you know for sure? He's currently tied for second place in the poll, with more votes than Patreus and Torval combined, so he clearly has support among members of the pilot's federation.
We actually know quite a bit about him:
He's extremely wealthy, and not just due to inheritance - he has made a great many lucrative business deals.
Aisling's mother, whom he loved, died under mysterious circumstances.
He was forced into an "institute", and he came out rather different. People said he was almost simian.
He's known to go bear-hunting with rocket launchers
He made a solo expedition into the heart of Thargoid territory
He held the important role of Imperial Councillor for Artistic Appreciation
As a lot of people here have apprently not been keeping up with galnet all that well, here is a slightly outdated Dossier on the matter: https://www.dropbox.com/s/g8ohlash8fz92nm/Intelligence Dossier - Duval Succession.docx?dl=0
We currently have no de jure heir. Everything is technically open.
Harold Duval - Was actively disinherited by the curent emperor and presumably snorting coke off someone's or somethings behind somewhere, inept, effectively disqualified.
Aisling Duval - The illegitimate daughter of Harold and as such has no claim. She is an inept child without any talent to rule (most obvious as she is effectively attempting to destroy the backbone of imperial industry by outlawing imperial slavery) she would be little more than a puppet for patreus I'm afraid. Considering she is a public favourite it's quite a blessing there is no democratic vote for emperor.
Arissa Lavigny(-Duval) - Capable, strong willed, no claim however until the marriage of the current emperor; we can only hope. The only would-be de jure heir. Strong favourite heir of Hengist. My uncounted second vote.
Denton Patreus - A strong senator, too warlike to be a very good ruler, has no potential claim or right to rule. He is most useful in his current position.
Zemina Torval - Strong willed, capable, has practically announced she is not striving for position of empress, seems much more comfortable in her current position, I do sympathize.
Kahina Tijani Loren - Strong, capable, has the guts to parade through Sol like she owns the damn place with her private fleet. My (unofficial, you understand, long live the emperor and so forth) vote. Effectively the only other contender besides Arissa that has not had any obvious blunders or undesirable traits, yet. We have not seen all that much of her though. No right to rule.
The current result shows just how many federation loyalists seem to have entered this. Harold is not even up to debate, yet he starts holding a second place? Please.
He has been officially disinherited, and I trust my emperors word on that matter, he knows that, quote: "little idiot" better than any of us.
The very fact that he is even on the list here shows that Imperial succession should never be decided by uninformed rabble.
Look at the polls, he clearly has more support than you give credit for.Because he has no known affiliates, allies politically and militarily.
Man of the world, as opposed to being closeted at court all his life.He spent his life wandering the galaxy debauching
In court... But we all know they're deathly afraid of anything outside their insular little circle, that threatens their precious status quo.little is known about his personality
He already has extensive business interests and real life experience, he's far more capable than some preening peacock who's spent their life hugging the teat of the Imperial bosom.and whether or not he is fit to rule a vast empire.
Abuse? No! Harry uses recreational drugs responsibly, and he's honest about it. The other candidates won't tell you what they get up to, so what have they got to hide? Makes you think...Is mentally stable after years of substance abuse?
Your bias is showing, why do these constraints not apply to the other candidates? None of those made a power move before now either, because the opportunity hadn't presented itself.He has not even made a power move for the throne at all.
There you go with that Imperial court propaganda. Don't believe everything you read in the tabloids, they're controlled by powerful vested interests. He's the best man for the job! Well... primate at least.Most of all, should we Crown a clown, other Senators who believe in a fit, popular and strong ruler will not sit still and watch their beloved Empire fall apart.
Or indeed a Grand Vizier. He certainly has the beard for it.![]()
See these sorry fools wishing to destabilize our glorious Empire, no true citizen would as much as consider the possible future in which this halfwit shall be called emperor. Pah.(senseless rambling)
-Harold Duval-
Pros: None, except being the firstborn of the Emperor.
Cons: Playboy, expelled from court & disinherited, no (known) political and military alliances.
Abuse? No! Harry uses recreational drugs responsibly, and he's honest about it. The other candidates won't tell you what they get up to, so what have they got to hide? Makes you think...
He'd always want to be the Khalif en lieu of the Khalif - which he couldn't bc there is no Khalif which would make him sad and depressed
My vote - should our great Emperor Hengist decease - is for Arissa Lavigny-Duval and my support in struggle of the throne would be hers. Especially against warmongers like Denton Patreus or hippies like Aisling who aim to destroy the Empire's tradition of personal responsibility and servantship.
1) Arissa is the favoured successor to our Emperor
2) She knows how to rule. She is well educated in politics and would be a strong Empress, capable of convincing most of the other Senators to act loyal to the throne and keeping the Empire together.
Nothing would grieve my heart more than to see the glorious Empire collapse under the disputes of different Senators, struggling for more power under a weak Emperor. This is why Prince Harold is no option. I have high thoughts of Senator Zemina Torval and support her in her basic idea: We must do, what is best for our beloved Empire. And the throne should go to an individual most popular with the Citizens. I come to a different conclusion, though. Senator Patreus in not that individual. The majority of the citizens is with Arissa Lavigny.
Let's hope for the best our beloved Emperor manages to marry before his demise, so Arissa's claim is legitimate.
Long live the Empire.