The son of Denver

[Blake Wayne Van Leer]

• Name: Blake Wayne Van Leer
  
• Marital Status: Married
  
• Children: Two
  
• Birthplace: Planet Denver
  
• Serves in: Liberty Navy
  
• Current Rank: Admiral of the Armada
  
• Birth Date: 8 November 770 A.S.
  
• Flagship command: 1st|LNS-Barbara.Jacobi
  
• Height: 189 CM
  
• Weight: 78 Kg

Early childhood

Blake was born into a family of honest unambitious working-class people. His father came from a long lineage of miners, but he himself was a local man, a tour guide, taking wealthy Manhattanites around the sights of his neighbourhood, never once leaving the planet or even the area where he lived. Despite being eighty-seven years old, he still does his job part-time, and still has no plans of ever leaving. "Staying close to home, a man finds treasures beneath his own roof." Jacob has lived a happy, satisfied life, in his small town and home.

Blake's mother Martha is now a retired shop clerk, she used to sell produce from local producers. She was a no-nonsense mother, teaching Blake that duty is all that matters, things like making his bed, respecting authority and his parents, and most importantly feeling great after a satisfying day at work is what life is all about.

His parents are alive and well, and they instilled into Blake the values of modesty, and belief in Liberty that allowed them to make their honest living thanks to its capitalist values. Blake was long removed from the upheaval of the 600s when Denver started losing its mining jobs.

Adolescence

Denver was a prosperous planet, a grateful planet. After the mining industry collapsed, and the California droughts brought in tourists from all over Liberty, Blake witnessed the elites coming in planet-wide, supporting the local economy including his parents' businesses. But unlike his parents, a generation who cherished what they had, Blake started feeling like he could become more, to be the first Van Leer to even leave his neighbourhood and planet Denver. He always knew his family had a comfortable living, but just enough to forever stay where they were.

He started to idealise the naval officers on their shore leaves who his father was showing around, Blake in tow. He was asking them questions, always curious, always enthusiastic, before long he knew a lot about the naval life and history, and it seemed like his life path was clear.

First steps

The decision wasn't lightly taken - his parents expected Blake to go in their footsteps, but ultimately they knew there was no stopping Blake, he wanted to serve, to protect honest people like his parents, to elevate his life to the level of the officers he so admired, so, age 16, he enlisted into the Liberty Navy with little money or relevant education to his name.

....to be continued.

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THE FIRST ARMADA (1st|)

The son of Denver: A Blake Wayne Van Leer Biography

[Blake Wayne Van Leer]

Despite rebounding with a thriving tourism industry, Denver never shed its reputation. Despite being a popular vacation destination for officers still didn't carry a lot of prestige. People born there haven't shaken the reputation of the planet's past - lower class blue collar silver miners, dock workers and farmers.

West Point

Blake was the son of simple parents, and the view of the universe they passed on to him was likewise simplistic and idealistic, he lacked the education and demeanour of the privileged Manattanites. Blake came in with a great honest work ethic, but he didn't stand out. Despite a lot of the knowledge he gained from the officers his father took around Denver, at West Point he was always average in competence tests, and average in the combat simulator, even physically he wasn't particularly gifted but he kept on par through hard work.

Where he excelled was his unrelenting work ethic, his hunger for studying the Navy, and his knowledge of the Navy and laws. Despite not being always treated with respect, he idealised the officers, he was grateful for his chance, for being one day one of those Naval Commanders whom he saw on their shore leave on Denver. He studied every procedure ad nauseam, studying naval bases, memorising the stellar maps, and always asking questions of his instructors about command structures, how engineering processes work, how weapons are chosen and how motivating officers relates to productivity.


He was well-liked in the academy, but not because he was partying after hours - Blake has always been modest yet not a prude - he was this Denver kid destined for a middling role in the Navy, with stellar knowledge-based results and middle-of-the-pack competence tests who had a passion for the Navy and strong grateful faith in Liberty. He was the perfect follower - idealistic and grateful for where he was to a fault, hard-working, one who didn't stand out too much

Education at West Point (Graduated 794 A.S.):

• Academic Performance:
  • Maintained a solid work ethic throughout his academic journey.
    
  • Demonstrated consistent competence in various tests and simulations.
    
  
  Physical Fitness:
  • Displayed determination and hard work to compensate for average physical abilities.
    
  Expertise in Navy and Laws:
  • Excelled in the knowledge of the Navy and legal frameworks.
    
  • Studied procedures exhaustively, including naval bases, stellar maps, and command structures.
    
  Social Likability:
  • Built a positive reputation at the academy.
    
  • Known for being modest, yet not overly reserved.
    
  • Valued for his strong passion for the Navy and unwavering faith in Liberty.
    
  
  Graduation Achievements:
  • Class Ranking:
    
  • Graduated in the middle of his class in the year 794 A.S.
    
  
  Focus Areas:
  • Command and Leadership in Space Operations:
    
  • Studied principles and practices of effective leadership in space missions.
    
    
  • Fleet Formation and Tactics:
    
  • Specialized in the strategic arrangement and tactical maneuvers of naval fleets.
    
    
  • Interstellar Navigation:
    
  • Acquired in-depth knowledge of navigating through interstellar space.
    
    
  • Strategic Resource Management:
    
  • Explored techniques for efficient allocation and management of strategic resources.
    
    
  • Intergalactic Diplomacy and Alliances:
    
  • Delved into the complexities of diplomacy and alliance-building on an intergalactic scale.
    
    
  • Deep Space Reconnaissance:
    
  • Specialized in the art of deep space reconnaissance for advanced intelligence gathering.
    
    
  • Stealth and Evasion Techniques:
    
  • Mastered techniques for evading detection and executing stealth operations.
    
    
  • Space Combat Maneuvers:
    
  • Developed skills in executing effective combat manoeuvres in space.
    
    
  • Covert Fleet Operations:
    
  • Specialized in leading covert operations for the Liberty Navy.
    
    
  • Rapid Response Protocols:
    
  • Developed strategies and protocols for swift and efficient responses to emerging situations.
    
    
  • Interplanetary Conflict Resolution:
    
  • Focused on diplomatic and strategic approaches to resolving conflicts between planets.
    

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THE FIRST ARMADA (1st|)

The son of Denver: A Blake Wayne Van Leer Biography