The Black Orchestra - Character Introduction Thread

[Konrad von der Heyden]

Konrad von der Heyden

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Meeting the Emperor.

Formerly an Admiral within the Federal Military Intelligence, Von Heyden was approached by agents of the now Emperor of Rheinland following some of his more publicly expressed dissent with the workings of the Federal government. The agents offered the Admiral an audience with the Emperor, which against proper conduct of a military officer he chose to accept.

The man that would be Emperor was more than the Von Heyden expected, he shared some of his own frustrations with the Federal government and was openly empathetic to situation of the Admiral. The two began to converse more frequently and after a few weeks the Emperor shared his vision of a Rheinland re-imagined. This conversation would come to inspire the Imperial coup d'état.

Schwarz Dreizehn, the Black Thirteen.

Von Heyden later informed a number of like minded officers from across the Federal intelligence and military apparatus about whom had approached him. He saw these officers as sympathetic to the plight of the common Rheinlander and potential assets to a realized Imperial Rheinland. Although this handful of officers alone were not enough to realize the vision fully, the group was set to work laying the groundwork for a successful coup.

The Emperor and his council watched the group with particular interest, their efforts would be crucial in maintaining the surprise element of what was to come, and the length the group went too, to insure the element was kept earned them the nickname of The Black Thirteen.

Die Schwarze Kapelle, the Black Orchestra.

Von Heyden became suspicious of some of the courtiers who come to know of the Thirteen prior to the Emperor's ascension, and ordered the monitoring and deeper investigation of those individuals. Von Heyden had personally ordered such operations out of paranoia of potential leaks or traitors among the Emperor's associate or friends. Intercepted communications referred to the Thirteen, and in the stupor of excess and luxury the courtiers dramatized the group even more. Dubbing them the Black Orchestra, a name which the group came to adopt.

Rheinland Civil War.

After the initial success of the coup, and the major centers of population were secured by Imperial Forces, the Emperor approached the group to reward them. Lifting Von Heyden and the rest of the Thirteen into the ranks of the nobility of Rheinland for their actions in putting him on his throne. He then tasked the Admiral once more, to organize a loyal intelligence and protection group which served the Empire and the Emperor, a task he candidly accepted. Upon acceptance Von Heyden was promoted to the first High Admiral of Department of Imperial Security. The office of Die Schwarze Kapelle.

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