OVA
Description
Ulrich Kesler was born in 762 UC (453 IC / 3562 CE) on Kleingelt. In his youth, he knew Vier and Aubend von Kleingelt, heirs to the planet's ruling family. Though initially intending to marry Vier von Kleingelt, he pursued a military career instead, causing their shared history to fade. This connection later shaped his actions during military operations on his homeworld.
His early military service involved legal advocacy within the Imperial Fleet. Transferred to the Military Police for commander training by 793 UC (484 IC / 3593 CE), he demonstrated pragmatic justice. He protected a woman who destroyed imperial portraits by declaring her insane, averting execution, and argued for punishing her neighbor who witnessed but failed to intervene. This approach caught Reinhard von Lohengramm's attention during Reinhard's temporary Military Police service. By June 794 UC (485 IC / 3594 CE), as a captain, he maintained order at Viscount Grimmelshausen's promotion celebration, preventing a clash between Reinhard and Hermann von Lüneburg. That December, he delivered Grimmelshausen's compiled nobility secrets to Reinhard at Iserlohn Fortress and reported Count Erich von Hartenburg's murder. Disliked by high officials, he was reassigned to a frontier post, though Reinhard promised to recall him.
Promoted to commodore by 796 UC (487 IC / 3596 CE), he served under Reinhard during the Free Planets Alliance invasion. He implemented the strategy of removing food supplies from border regions, including Kleingelt, to starve enemy troops, reassuring subordinates about Reinhard's intentions. During the 797 UC (488 IC / 3597 CE) Imperial Civil War, he commanded the fleet from his flagship Forseti against the Lippstadt League, marking his last frontline fleet command.
Following Admiral Oppenheimer's arrest for corruption in early 798 UC (489 IC / 3598 CE), Reinhard appointed Kesler as the new Military Police commander. His early actions included arresting Admiral Anton Hilmer von Schaft for corruption, signaling reforms. That summer, he reported on former Lippstadt officers arriving on Odin, unaware of their involvement in a Fezzani plot to kidnap Kaiser Erwin Josef II. Reinhard permitted the kidnapping without informing Kesler, resulting in a salary reduction and reprimand for Kesler afterward.
Under the new Goldenlöwe Dynasty (established 799 UC (1 NIC / 490 IC / 3599 CE)), he continued as Military Police chief, reforming the organization by removing corrupt officers. During Operation Ragnarök, he served as Capital Defense Commander for Odin. After the capital moved to Fezzan, he remained on Odin with Ernst Mecklinger.
In 800 UC (2 NIC / 491 IC / 3600 CE), he investigated Internal Security Chief Heydrich Lang at Cornelius Lutz's request, uncovering Lang's conspiracy to murder Nikolas Boltik. Though he provided evidence to Hildegard von Mariendorf, it arrived too late to save Lutz or prevent Oskar von Reuenthal's revolt. He upheld legal procedures by stopping Wolfgang Mittermeyer from killing Lang prematurely. During the 801 UC (3 NIC / 492 IC / 3601 CE) Terraist attack on the Imperial Residence, he entered through a window under fire, armed only with a pistol, and protected Hildegard and Annerose von Grünewald until evacuation. He later defended the provisional residence during Reinhard's final hours against another Terraist attack. Reinhard's deathbed recommendation led to his promotion to Fleet Admiral.
He married Marika von Feuerbach in 803 UC (5 NIC / 494 IC / 3603 CE), a match encouraged by Hildegard von Mariendorf.
His early military service involved legal advocacy within the Imperial Fleet. Transferred to the Military Police for commander training by 793 UC (484 IC / 3593 CE), he demonstrated pragmatic justice. He protected a woman who destroyed imperial portraits by declaring her insane, averting execution, and argued for punishing her neighbor who witnessed but failed to intervene. This approach caught Reinhard von Lohengramm's attention during Reinhard's temporary Military Police service. By June 794 UC (485 IC / 3594 CE), as a captain, he maintained order at Viscount Grimmelshausen's promotion celebration, preventing a clash between Reinhard and Hermann von Lüneburg. That December, he delivered Grimmelshausen's compiled nobility secrets to Reinhard at Iserlohn Fortress and reported Count Erich von Hartenburg's murder. Disliked by high officials, he was reassigned to a frontier post, though Reinhard promised to recall him.
Promoted to commodore by 796 UC (487 IC / 3596 CE), he served under Reinhard during the Free Planets Alliance invasion. He implemented the strategy of removing food supplies from border regions, including Kleingelt, to starve enemy troops, reassuring subordinates about Reinhard's intentions. During the 797 UC (488 IC / 3597 CE) Imperial Civil War, he commanded the fleet from his flagship Forseti against the Lippstadt League, marking his last frontline fleet command.
Following Admiral Oppenheimer's arrest for corruption in early 798 UC (489 IC / 3598 CE), Reinhard appointed Kesler as the new Military Police commander. His early actions included arresting Admiral Anton Hilmer von Schaft for corruption, signaling reforms. That summer, he reported on former Lippstadt officers arriving on Odin, unaware of their involvement in a Fezzani plot to kidnap Kaiser Erwin Josef II. Reinhard permitted the kidnapping without informing Kesler, resulting in a salary reduction and reprimand for Kesler afterward.
Under the new Goldenlöwe Dynasty (established 799 UC (1 NIC / 490 IC / 3599 CE)), he continued as Military Police chief, reforming the organization by removing corrupt officers. During Operation Ragnarök, he served as Capital Defense Commander for Odin. After the capital moved to Fezzan, he remained on Odin with Ernst Mecklinger.
In 800 UC (2 NIC / 491 IC / 3600 CE), he investigated Internal Security Chief Heydrich Lang at Cornelius Lutz's request, uncovering Lang's conspiracy to murder Nikolas Boltik. Though he provided evidence to Hildegard von Mariendorf, it arrived too late to save Lutz or prevent Oskar von Reuenthal's revolt. He upheld legal procedures by stopping Wolfgang Mittermeyer from killing Lang prematurely. During the 801 UC (3 NIC / 492 IC / 3601 CE) Terraist attack on the Imperial Residence, he entered through a window under fire, armed only with a pistol, and protected Hildegard and Annerose von Grünewald until evacuation. He later defended the provisional residence during Reinhard's final hours against another Terraist attack. Reinhard's deathbed recommendation led to his promotion to Fleet Admiral.
He married Marika von Feuerbach in 803 UC (5 NIC / 494 IC / 3603 CE), a match encouraged by Hildegard von Mariendorf.