OVA
Description
Born in 726 UC, Alexander Bucock enlisted in the Free Planets Alliance military as a simple soldier, bypassing the officer academy and rising through the ranks by merit alone. This path drew occasional disdain from academy‑educated officers but earned him widespread respect. At nineteen during the Second Battle of Tiamat in 745 UC, he served as a gunner aboard the battleship Shah Abbas. He remained composed after his turret ran out of ammunition and urged a panicking crewmate to focus on controllable duties.
By 788 UC, Bucock had attained the rank of commodore, commanded the Marovia Starzone, and published his memoirs. Over the next six years he advanced to rear admiral and then vice admiral, and by 794 UC he led one of the Alliance’s twelve combat fleets, ultimately taking command of the 5th Fleet. As senior admiral during the Third Battle of Tiamat in 795 UC, he coordinated the 5th, 10th, and 11th Fleets against an Imperial incursion. He clashed with Vice Admiral Willem Holland’s insubordinate tactics, which nearly destroyed the 11th Fleet, then covered Holland’s retreat with Admiral Ulanhu and blocked further Imperial pursuit.
In 796 UC, Bucock joined the Alliance’s invasion of Imperial territory. Heeding Yang Wen‑li’s warnings about supply lines, he withdrew the 5th Fleet from the Bilrost starzone when engaged by Oskar von Reuenthal’s forces, disengaging successfully despite nearly thirty percent losses. When Reinhard von Lohengramm invaded through the Fezzan Corridor in 799 UC, Bucock was appointed Fleet Admiral of the hastily assembled Alliance fleet. At the Battle of Rantemario, outnumbered, he used a star’s strong gravity well to inflict heavy damage on Imperial forces—notably Wolfgang Mittermeyer’s and Fritz Josef Bittenfeld’s squadrons—but suffered catastrophic casualties. Defeated, he attempted suicide to atone for his men’s deaths; his aide, Chung Wu‑Cheng, intervened and convinced him that his death would leave his subordinates to face Imperial war crimes trials.
After the Alliance surrendered unconditionally on 5 May 799 UC, Bucock advocated continued resistance during negotiations on Heinessen. He argued that a symbolic last stand could buy time for Yang Wen‑li to defeat Reinhard, declaring that the Alliance should die as a democracy rather than survive as a dictatorship. When Chairman Job Trunicht dismissed this, Bucock threatened assassination to prevent surrender but was arrested by Terraist Church soldiers loyal to Trunicht. Following Yang’s intervention with Reinhard, Bucock was permitted to retire, though he remained under Imperial surveillance as a potential anti‑Imperial figure.
Forced out of retirement during the Empire’s final invasion, Bucock led the last defense at the Battle of Marr‑Adetta Starzone. Inflicting twenty‑five thousand Imperial casualties, he died in combat after sharing a toast to democracy with Reinhard via communication. Reinhard later ordered a full imperial salute and poured a libation in Bucock’s honor upon reaching Heinessen.
Bucock held firm beliefs in democracy and leadership, arguing that the collapse of a democracy is the sin of every citizen—criticizing politicians who abuse power, soldiers who pursue adventurism, and citizens who neglect their duties. He maintained a respectful, mentoring relationship with Yang Wen‑li, defending him against other admirals and comparing him to a redwood sapling with the potential to grow giant. Though he respected Reinhard’s intelligence, Bucock could not serve the Galactic Empire because of its master‑servant political structure; he preferred the Alliance system, where he could befriend superiors and build strong interpersonal bonds.
By 788 UC, Bucock had attained the rank of commodore, commanded the Marovia Starzone, and published his memoirs. Over the next six years he advanced to rear admiral and then vice admiral, and by 794 UC he led one of the Alliance’s twelve combat fleets, ultimately taking command of the 5th Fleet. As senior admiral during the Third Battle of Tiamat in 795 UC, he coordinated the 5th, 10th, and 11th Fleets against an Imperial incursion. He clashed with Vice Admiral Willem Holland’s insubordinate tactics, which nearly destroyed the 11th Fleet, then covered Holland’s retreat with Admiral Ulanhu and blocked further Imperial pursuit.
In 796 UC, Bucock joined the Alliance’s invasion of Imperial territory. Heeding Yang Wen‑li’s warnings about supply lines, he withdrew the 5th Fleet from the Bilrost starzone when engaged by Oskar von Reuenthal’s forces, disengaging successfully despite nearly thirty percent losses. When Reinhard von Lohengramm invaded through the Fezzan Corridor in 799 UC, Bucock was appointed Fleet Admiral of the hastily assembled Alliance fleet. At the Battle of Rantemario, outnumbered, he used a star’s strong gravity well to inflict heavy damage on Imperial forces—notably Wolfgang Mittermeyer’s and Fritz Josef Bittenfeld’s squadrons—but suffered catastrophic casualties. Defeated, he attempted suicide to atone for his men’s deaths; his aide, Chung Wu‑Cheng, intervened and convinced him that his death would leave his subordinates to face Imperial war crimes trials.
After the Alliance surrendered unconditionally on 5 May 799 UC, Bucock advocated continued resistance during negotiations on Heinessen. He argued that a symbolic last stand could buy time for Yang Wen‑li to defeat Reinhard, declaring that the Alliance should die as a democracy rather than survive as a dictatorship. When Chairman Job Trunicht dismissed this, Bucock threatened assassination to prevent surrender but was arrested by Terraist Church soldiers loyal to Trunicht. Following Yang’s intervention with Reinhard, Bucock was permitted to retire, though he remained under Imperial surveillance as a potential anti‑Imperial figure.
Forced out of retirement during the Empire’s final invasion, Bucock led the last defense at the Battle of Marr‑Adetta Starzone. Inflicting twenty‑five thousand Imperial casualties, he died in combat after sharing a toast to democracy with Reinhard via communication. Reinhard later ordered a full imperial salute and poured a libation in Bucock’s honor upon reaching Heinessen.
Bucock held firm beliefs in democracy and leadership, arguing that the collapse of a democracy is the sin of every citizen—criticizing politicians who abuse power, soldiers who pursue adventurism, and citizens who neglect their duties. He maintained a respectful, mentoring relationship with Yang Wen‑li, defending him against other admirals and comparing him to a redwood sapling with the potential to grow giant. Though he respected Reinhard’s intelligence, Bucock could not serve the Galactic Empire because of its master‑servant political structure; he preferred the Alliance system, where he could befriend superiors and build strong interpersonal bonds.