TADAMICHI KURIBAYASHI
BIOGRAPHYBorn to Shogun Kodama Kuribayashi in the mid 24th Century, Tadamichi Kuribayashi was never expected to become Shogun. Although officially an elected title, in practice the eldest child of the Shogun was
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always elected, a system that had remained in place for nearly a thousand years. Tadamichi's elder brother Saito died unexpectedly at the age of 17 in a riding accident, and so consequently six years later at the age of 22 Tadamichi succeeded his father to the position of Shogun. Recognising the increasing technological gap between the Shogunate and the rest of the world, Tadamichi arranged for the port of Ko in south-west Ingen to be walled off and designated as a trading port for foreign merchants. This controlled access to Ingenious markets bought rapid development to the metropolitan regions of the Shogunate and also led to the nation being nicknamed 'the Dinosaur Shogunate' by foreign powers, thanks to the extant populations of dinosauria that had survived on the island of Ko.
In 2404 AT, a Neucom mercenary fleet passed by Ingenious coast on their way to intervene in the West Sarmenian Crisis. In support of their new trading partners, the Katasian Ryk, Shogun Tadamichi elected to intervene, menacing the Neucom fleet from the south with assistance from a spotter team that had been covertly landed in Imperial Germania. This co-operation laid the groundwork for the foundation of the Laptev Axis, a triple alliance of the Shogunate, the Katasian Ryk and the Ystovian State. In 2405 AT a Katasian Deathwatch special operations team helped Shogunate forces put down a rebellion by a pretender to the extinct Jade Dynasty, Yaemon Yabu, who was captured and fought an honourable duel against the Shogun. The Shogun's victory cemented his position and enabled him to continue his program of modernisation and industrialisation in the face of conservative opposition.
In 2404 AT, a Neucom mercenary fleet passed by Ingenious coast on their way to intervene in the West Sarmenian Crisis. In support of their new trading partners, the Katasian Ryk, Shogun Tadamichi elected to intervene, menacing the Neucom fleet from the south with assistance from a spotter team that had been covertly landed in Imperial Germania. This co-operation laid the groundwork for the foundation of the Laptev Axis, a triple alliance of the Shogunate, the Katasian Ryk and the Ystovian State. In 2405 AT a Katasian Deathwatch special operations team helped Shogunate forces put down a rebellion by a pretender to the extinct Jade Dynasty, Yaemon Yabu, who was captured and fought an honourable duel against the Shogun. The Shogun's victory cemented his position and enabled him to continue his program of modernisation and industrialisation in the face of conservative opposition.
Over the next decade the Laptev Axis grew in power and size, defeating the Republics of Osean and Revolutionary Mediterranea, overthrowing the corrupt regime of Admiral Hawkins of North Tasmania and forcing the United Soviet States of Krakohzia to de-arm following a nuclear stand-off. A bloody war against the Empire of Barsus was resolved by saturation bombing in 2414 AT, ending the last significant political opposition to the Laptev Axis on the planet.
Leading his people into the Second Age, Kuribayashi led the Axis in repelling an invasion by the Federation of Greater Kuntree, an event which would shape the foreign policy of the Laptev Axis for decades to come. Shortly afterwards, an alien invasion nearly destroyed the fledgling Axis and several other friendly nations, cementing the governmental policy that a strong military was necessary for the survival of the Shogunate. |
Over the next few years Kuribayashi invested in several programs to develop the military of the Shogunate. One, the Chapter Experiment, was an attempt to use genetic and surgical modification to create advanced supersoldiers. The program proved to be untenable due to adverse psychological side effects. The first fully established Chapter to be deployed in the field destroyed an unaligned merchant convoy on the premise it was smuggling illegal goods, before sinking a Katasian warship that arrived to investigate. An international outcry led to the liquidation of the entire Chapter and the dismantling of the program, but not before it caused significant disaffection amongst the minority populations and military castes.
In 2433 AT, a populist uprising against the Shogunate government erupted across Ingenious holdings. Backed by the East Ingen Company and composed of a broad spectrum of katasian and felidaen nationalists, Strasserist dissidents and cultists of Corruption. Taking loyalist Shogunate forces by surprise, the Revolt managed to seize control of the immediate space over Ingen. Whilst loyalists put up a last-minute defense of the Jade Palace, Shogun Kuribayashi elected to commit seppuku to efface the dishonour he believed was his. After a final audience with his consort and daughter, entrusting them to the care of Admiral Cornewaille and his battlegroup, Kuribayashi took his own life, with Lord Matomoro Kanbei acting as second.
In 2433 AT, a populist uprising against the Shogunate government erupted across Ingenious holdings. Backed by the East Ingen Company and composed of a broad spectrum of katasian and felidaen nationalists, Strasserist dissidents and cultists of Corruption. Taking loyalist Shogunate forces by surprise, the Revolt managed to seize control of the immediate space over Ingen. Whilst loyalists put up a last-minute defense of the Jade Palace, Shogun Kuribayashi elected to commit seppuku to efface the dishonour he believed was his. After a final audience with his consort and daughter, entrusting them to the care of Admiral Cornewaille and his battlegroup, Kuribayashi took his own life, with Lord Matomoro Kanbei acting as second.
LEGACY
The Trathiran Revolt was eventually put down by loyalist Exile forces, and Kuribayashi's daughter was acclaimed as a demigod, establishing the Second Jade Dynasty and restoring the Jade Empire. To this day, Tadamichi Kuribayashi is regarded as the founder of modern Ingen. Playing a pivotal role in the foundation of the Laptev Axis, the industrialisation of Ingen and the development of its interstellar empire, statues and artworks of the Last Shogun can be found across the Jade Empire.