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