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Durand
| Durand | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Race | Kuati |
| Homeworld | Kuat |
| Mother | Unknown |
| Father | Unknown |
| Spouse | None |
| Siblings | None |
| Children | None |
| Born | Unknown |
| Imperial Service | |
| Branch |  Imperial Army |
| Positions | Deceased |
| Prior Service | Commander of Imperial Army Commander of the New Imperial Army |
| Awards | Unknown |
Brigadier General Durand was Commander of the Imperial Army during the reign of Emperor Uebles.
Born on Kuat, he joined the Imperial Army and rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant, serving under Major General David Terrio. One of the few officers remaining in service after the Emperor Charon was overthrown, Durand came to prominence when he proposed the creation of a new Army Staff, made up of junior officers and subordinate to Army Command. Colonel Magnus Locke accepted the suggestion and Durand was appointed to the Staff as Intelligence Officer, with responsibility for liaison with the Empire's security agencies.
When Colonel Locke subsequently resigned with Executive Officer on leave, the Imperial Army was left in a state of confusion. Although still only a Second Lieutenant, Durand took charge, declaring that with Army Command absent, the Army Staff would take charge, with himself at its head. Despite the move being technically illegal, the Army rallied around Durand and his actions were subsequently endorsed by Grand Admiral Black Lodge, who promoted Durand to Brigadier General and gave him permanent command of the Imperial Army.
Almost immediately, Durand conducted a reorganisation of the Army and persuaded a number of veteran officers to return to duty (notably Tyr DeMeer). He also did much to create an esprit de corps, particularly amongst the junior officers; no less than three of his proteges would lead the Imperial Army. However, Durand would also aggressively promoted the rivalry with the Imperial Navy, fuelled by his own feud with Commodore Zerk. The estrangement between the two branches of the Imperial military would ease under his successor, but Army and Navy Commands remained suspicious of one another for a long time to come.
During the Battle of Beta, he was part of the Army-Sith strike force that destroyed the Shield Projectors, allowing the three battalion groups waiting in orbit to land, and directed the remainding ground operations. The battle marked both the highpoint and the beginning of the end of Durand's Imperial career. His ongoing dispute with Zerk worsened after the latter was promoted to Commander of the Navy, and he came into conflict with Vodo Bonias, by now Imperial Executor. Shortly after Vodo took the throne, Durand announced his resignation and was moved to leadership of Infinite Innovations Inc, an Imperial nationalized company.
Life in the business world did not suit him and Durand soon went into retirement. For a period he worked with his former protege Owen von Ismay in the New Anzat Order, but left after hearing of the formation of the New Imperial Order. He resumed his old rank of Brigadier General and became the first Commander of the New Imperial Army. Whilst still serving, he was killed in action.
| Commander of the Imperial Army | ||
| Preceded By: Magnus Locke |
Durand Year 4 - Year 5 |
Succeeded By: Ragnar Drakken |
