ComStar Historical Archives

Fifth Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation, reigning from 2425-2450. Stephen was Duke of St. Lorient prior to his ascension. As nephew of Aleisha Liao, he succeded Arden Baxter, first of the non-Liao Chancellors, who was widely disliked, not least because of his anti-military policies. Stephen resolved to fix this by instituting a wide-ranging series of military reforms, for which he was known as "The Great Organizer" and "Sir Stephen". These programs were generally successful in revitalizing the flagging Capellan military and assuring adequate training and supply.

Among his specific reforms, Stephen is credited with ordering the designs that would eventually become the Union and Overlord class 'Mech carriers. He also substantially increased the funding for the Maskirovka. While he succeeded in undoing much of the damage of his predecessor, Stephen was not without his detractors; the cost of his reforms caused financial harm to individuals at all levels of society. In addition, the bolstering of the military Stephen oversaw was a direct cause of the Time of Tribulations the Confederation suffered after his death. Ironically, despite his military obsession, Stephen fought no major conflicts during his lifetime. He died of pneumonia in 2450 and was succeeded by his son Duncan.

• Sources Used:
• BattleTech Field Manual: Capellan Confederation;
• House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)