Page 16: Notable Presidents
Throughout the Corvus Republic's history, there have been many presidents, some of whom were more or less generic, while others became famous or controversial. This list covers notable presidents from the founding of the Corvus Republic after the Corvun Unification War, all the way to the present day. (Note: only notable presidents from different eras are included here, with the full exploration of each era to come in future chapters.)
Jorje (pronounced as George) Warkin'wing: A commander in chief during the Corvun Unification War, Jorje was renowned as the first founding father of the Corvus Republic and its first president. He established the precedents followed by future presidents. He led the federal forces to quell rebellions such as the Kelp Rebellion, where Grox farmers revolted against a controversial tax on Grox products, including Fermented Grox Whisky, an alcoholic beverage made from Grox brains and yeast. Jorje also served a ten-year term.
Cornelius Hawkson: President during the Hawksonian Era, Hawkson introduced the Corvun Economic Stabilization Act, which helped prevent economic chaos after the Unification War. He was also accused of consolidating too much power, though these claims were debunked. Known for his wild behavior, Hawkson was a drunk, a gambler, and a brawler, once described by an enemy as someone who "would fight and throw fists at the drop of a hat, and then drop the hat himself and sucker-punch the nearest Corvun right into the Warp."
Tommy Featherston: Famous for his expansionist policies, Featherston oversaw the claiming of multiple star systems and the establishment of colonies during the Age of Strife. His actions doubled the Republic's size and increased its resources. However, he was controversial for authorizing the military to exterminate native tribes, resulting in the destruction of several cultures on newly claimed worlds.
Joseph "Joe" Korlinski: Notorious for his role in the Corvun-Imperium War, Korlinski was a war hero known for his extreme vulgarity and his ability to rally the people. Korlinski was also arrested several times during his presidency for assault and battery, making him the first president to serve while in prison. Historians have drawn comparisons between him and the ancient politician "Alexus Jones," known for his meltdowns and bizarre rhetoric.
Dwayne Peckerson: Following Korlinski, Peckerson oversaw the Reconstruction Era, a time when the Republic began to recover from the devastating Corvun-Imperium War. With the Imperium embroiled in the Horus Heresy, Peckerson initiated multiple job programs and established the first Galactic Stock Market, which allowed Rogue Traders, Nobles, and companies to invest for profit. Although the Ecclesiarchy condemned it as heretical, the stock market continued to thrive, with currencies like CVDs and Throne Gelts.
Valentina Grant: The first female president of the Corvus Republic, Grant's presidency was marked by significant trade deals with the T'au Empire and the Leagues of Votann. She became known as "The Trade-Queen" due to her background as a businesswoman and CEO of Volkov Weapons INC., which produced firearms for the Corvun military.
Don Griffon: A controversial president, Griffon became famous for his slogan "MAKE CORVUNIA GREAT AGAIN" and his aggressive, often racist approach to the largest immigration crisis in Corvun history. When the Horus Heresy broke out, vast numbers of Imperial citizens fled, but Griffon passed anti-immigration laws that imposed daily limits on Imperial immigrants and authorized the use of lethal force against foreign ships attempting to cross the Republic's borders.
Paxilous Nixbeak: Nixbeak is remembered for the Wingtalon Scandal, where his men wiretapped and dug up dirt on political opponents for his re-election campaign. In an interview, he famously declared, "I am not a crook!" Nixbeak resigned before being impeached but was later pardoned by President Morrison.
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Page 17: The Corvun-Imperium War (Late Great Crusades)
The Corvun-Imperium War was one of the most devastating conflicts in the history of the Corvus Republic, nearly leading to its destruction. The war cost the Republic half of its economy, billions of lives, and shattered its infrastructure. Luckily, the war reached a stalemate when the Imperium became embroiled in the Horus Heresy, forcing them to abandon their offensive. Here are some of the major events and battles from the war:
1. The Siege of Starhaven
Location: Starhaven Station, a vital Republic outpost near the border of Imperium-controlled space.
Overview: Starhaven was a key fortress and trade hub for the Republic. The Imperium, led by the Space Wolves Legion, launched a full-scale orbital bombardment followed by a ground invasion.
Outcome: Despite being heavily outnumbered, Corvun forces, commanded by Admiral Magnus Feathermoor, held out for months, employing guerilla tactics and exploiting their knowledge of the station's layout. When Starhaven fell, the Corvun defenders inflicted crippling losses on the Space Wolves, delaying the Imperial advance. The phrase "We fought for every feather" became a rallying cry for the Republic.
2. The Battle of Featherreach Fields
Location: Featherreach Fields, a fertile agricultural planet supplying the Republic's war effort.
Overview: The White Scars Legion attempted a blitz of the planet to sever the Republic's supply lines. Corvun Army forces, under General Livia Talonshade, ambushed the White Scars, exploiting the planet's dense forests and narrow mountain passes.
Outcome: While the White Scars ultimately claimed the planet, the Republic’s scorched-earth tactics rendered it barren and unusable, severely weakening the White Scars' efforts in future campaigns.
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3. The Defense of the Talon Straits
Location: The Talon Straits, a vital hyperspace corridor connecting Corvun territory.
Overview: The Imperial Navy, led by the Phalanx, sought to cut off Corvun supply routes. Admiral Elara Duskwing led the Corvun Navy, deploying mines, ambush fleets, and warp-scrambling technology to stall the Imperial advance.
Outcome: Though the Corvun Navy suffered heavy losses, they managed to delay the Imperium long enough for critical reinforcements to arrive from allied xeno factions. The stalemate became a propaganda victory, showcasing the Republic’s naval ingenuity.
4. The Massacre at Brightspire
Location: Brightspire, a mining colony rich in Dark Age technology.
Overview: The Iron Hands Legion launched an assault to seize valuable relics and artifacts. Corvun miners and engineers fought to protect their heritage.
Outcome: The colony was obliterated, but the surviving Corvun forces managed to destroy key artifacts to prevent them from falling into Imperial hands. The loss deepened the Republic's resolve, and survivors vowed revenge.
5. The Burning of New Dawn Station
Location: New Dawn Station, a massive orbital shipyard producing advanced Corvun warships.
Overview: The Imperial Fists besieged the station in a prolonged campaign. The Corvun defenders employed experimental starships and sabotage tactics, including detonating reactors to destroy entire sections of the station with Imperial forces aboard.
Outcome: The station was destroyed, but not before the Corvun forces inflicted significant losses on the Imperial Fists. The battle became a symbol of Corvun defiance, known as "The Shattered Wings of Dawn."
6. The Burning of Corvunia
Location: Corvunia, the Republic's capital world.
Overview: The Imperium launched a planetary invasion, razing large sections of the capital city, Aerithspire. The Corvun Senate fled to a hidden sanctuary deep in the mountains.
Outcome: The Imperium declared victory, but the Republic’s leadership escaped, and insurgents continued to sabotage Imperial operations, proving the Republic’s refusal to surrender.
7. The Reclamation of Corvunia: In the final days of the war, with the Imperium's forces stretched thin by rebellion, the Republic reclaimed its capital, Aerithspire, from the Ultramarines during a daring counteroffensive. Using cloaked ships and sabotage, the Corvun Navy broke through the Imperial blockade. On the ground, General Livia Talonshade led a successful ambush, aided by war machines and precision strikes. The victory marked the Republic’s resilience, and the outbreak of the Horus Heresy forced the Imperium to abandon their efforts. The victory was immortalized in the patriotic song "Battle Cry of Freedom."
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Page 18: The Reconstruction Era
After the Corvun-Imperium War, the Corvus Republic was in ruins, with much of its military destroyed. The Republic began rebuilding its economy, initiating the first government-sponsored Colonization Program called the "Soar the Void Program," which aimed to resettle displaced Corvun refugees on unclaimed planets. During this time, human refugees faced extreme prejudice due to the Featherless Joe Laws, which segregated them from the Corvun population. The Feathered Vigil, a Corvun extremist group reminiscent to the ancient Ku Klux Klan, became active, committing acts of violence against humans. The colonization program succeeded in creating jobs and boosting the economy, but the Republic's military also had to be rebuilt from scratch. The Corvun Army offered significant benefits, such as the Combat Feather Program, which promised pensions and paid college expenses for enlisted personnel. In addition, the Corvun Foreign Legion provided citizenship and stipends for those who completed their service. The Military also recognized the need for intelligence gathering and a secretive organization to do the more morally bankrupt work, which leads into...
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Page 19: The Corvun Intelligence Service (CIS)
The need for intelligence became evident after the Corvun-Imperium War, leading to the creation of the Corvun Intelligence Service (CIS) through the signing of the Republican Intelligence Gathering Act. Led by its first director, Sylvia Cloudveil, the CIS began its work by deploying spies into the Imperium during the Horus Heresy, providing information to Warmaster Horus in exchange for materials to rebuild the Republic. The CIS also worked to dismantle the Feathered Vigil, reducing it from a major terrorist organization to a minor hate group. The organization’s morally ambiguous tactics—ranging from espionage to manipulating rebellions—have earned it the ire of the Imperium and the Inquisition, which frequently hunts CIS agents.
The CIS is considered a heretical threat by the Inquisition, with some even likening it to Chaos due to its use of manipulation. We have interviewed Inquisitor Malachai Varn of Ordo Hereticus. During his interview, he said this about the CIS. Ontop of that, we also had the very rare chance of interviewing the Emperor of Mankind prior to the Siege of Terra
"The Corvun Intelligence Service does not tempt you with the sweet whispers of Slaanesh, nor unleash the fiery wrath of Khorne upon you, nor infect you with the rot of Nurgle, nor deceive you with the schemes of Tzeentch. No. They are far worse. They hunt you. They stalk you in the shadows, exploiting every vulnerability, every secret. They will turn everything personal against you—your deepest fears, your closest bonds. They will use your allies, your friends, even your own flesh and blood as weapons against you. Your wife, your lover—they will twist them into instruments of your ruin. And when they are done, they will not simply dismantle you. They will unmake you from history itself. Piece by piece, they will break you until you are nothing but a forgotten shadow. They will tear your children apart for the faintest shred of information, forge alliances with your worst enemies, all in the name of preserving the Republic’s freedom and corporate interests. They are the bloody right hand of the Republic—the architects of your undoing. To the Inquisition, they are the embodiment of fear. The mere rumor of a CIS agent on a Hiveworld sends the Deathwatch scrambling, and Exterminatus is never far behind. If you are their prey, they are the apex predators. And you—are already lost." - Inquisitor Malachai Varn of Ordo Hereticus
"The Corvun Intelligence Service... I have heard the whispers. I have seen their work, and I know the fear that it breeds. It is not the kind of fear that is born from brute strength or the power of a boltgun. No, theirs is the fear of the unseen hand, the serpent in the grass, the silent predator that strikes only when you least expect it. The Raven Guard are masters of stealth and subterfuge, yes. Their ways are honed through the arts of silent war, perfected over millennia. But I tell you this, their cunning, though impressive, pales in comparison to the art of the CIS. The Raven Guard may slip through shadows, but the CIS... they are the shadows. They do not just observe from the darkness—they weave the darkness itself, using it as a weapon, manipulating reality with an ease that even the Emperor's sight cannot always pierce.
If a Raven Guard squad and a CIS cell were to face one another, it would not be a battle, but a game—a game of hide and seek where no one ever truly wins. The Raven Guard might be able to track their prey, might be able to slip through the cracks undetected—but the CIS are already one step ahead. They have already seen the paths you take before you walk them. They will not simply hide from you; they will make you the one who is hunted. They will twist your senses, disorient you, and lead you to your own undoing with a smile you will never see. It is a humbling thought, one that even I, the Emperor of Mankind, cannot ignore. I respect them, yes. I fear them, yes. They are not like the mindless hordes of the Xenos or the heretic who wields power in the open. No, the CIS work in the shadows where the eye cannot see, and it is in those shadows that they reign supreme. They are the masters of espionage, the true architects of the unseen war. And I, for all my power, can only watch with equal parts fear and respect as they silently shape the fate of nations." - The Emperor of Mankind, prior to the siege of Terra