Editing Star Krakens (legacy) (section)

====The Council of Ten-Flags====

When the chapter’s fleet was founded, it was the first Chapter Master Huskor the Wailer who called the ten captains of his ten companies and declared: “You are my best! You are the ones I trust with guiding the troops and guiding our ships and I do so without fear or worry! So it is only fair I trust you to speak your mind and demand the proper support for your ships, each! Thus, you ten shall be my council – Represent your ship with your flag, and carry it with you when you come together. The Chapter Master who succeeds me shall be handpicked by me from among the ten of you, and he shall heed your counsel as you all shall serve him with wisdom and reason, and this shall be the same for all Chapter Masters who follow. I shall fulfil my part of this oath in all my lifetime and I shall see that all my successors shall do the same.”

The council would later be increased, as the captains were allowed to bring a retinue of two of their choosing from their crew with them to advise them in their thoughts and discussions. The captains would take their most trusted lieutenants and sergeants, sometimes even their first mate who would otherwise overlook the ship in the captain’s absence. So it was, the Council of Ten-Flags was part of the Star Krakens since its beginning, and for decades before Achab’s madness, the battle brothers would shorten the name to the “Ten-Flag council”, as it was not their nature to speak in flowery terms. And then the madness began: Chapter Master Achab, later to be known as “Achab who stood alone” would sacrifice his proud chapter of then 1500 brothers for the single-minded, reckless pursuit of vengeance and hatred. Fearing for their existence, the Ten-Flag council conspired against him and led the rest of the chapter to abandon their Chapter Master at the peak of a great battle that would have consumed them all.

After they had abandoned Achab in his mad pursuit, the remaining captains of the fleet were in dispute: Whom of them should they appoint to the position of Chapter Master? Their rivalling nature left all of them claiming the most competence for the position. Eventually, Brother-Captain Alfonsius of the 4th company, then commandeering captain of strike cruiser “The Trident”, stepped forth, with his ship’s first mate, sergeant Njord Egilson of his veteran boarding unit and the ship’s Chaplain Lyrion backing his daring claim: “A kraken may have one head, but he has many arms. Each of our ships is but an arm, yet only our unity will form a head. Thus”, he spoke, “All of us shall be as one - when each arm grasps the same prey. In that time, one shall lead us, and he shall be not more than the first among equals: Choose one who shall take the old Chapter Master’s seat and he shall be Commodore of the fleet. And he also shall be the face of the chapter, for there will be many who will seek audience, Who will wish the Kraken to surface and hail them. The commodore shall be the chapter’s voice from out of the Deep and he shall present the outsiders’ wishes to the chapter, so that these council members, who are all part of the head as well as each arm may discuss and decide. For as it has always been tradition of the worlds from which we draft our initiates: all men must agree on a matter before it is settled.”

Inspired by his words, some rose to applaud, but then Birgir Brynjarrson, then captain of the 8th and strike cruiser “Hafgufa” intervened: “How can we be sure that this one we choose does not succumb to the same warmongering like Achab Who Stood Alone? I see wisdom in your words, brother Alfonsius, but we must make sure this one does not grow too fond of his strength – And as is tradition of the fringe worlds from whence our initiates hail, only those of proven worth shall claim leadership and they must prove their worth time and time again. I say for every century that passes in the Deep, a new Commodore shall be chosen from among this council, and if one of the council finds the commodore lacking in his abilities to lead, it shall be allowed at all times that one of the Ten Flags may challenge him for his leadership. I shall not agree until this demand is met!”

Alfonsius grew wary of his Brother-Captain, fearing for a cleverly disguised scheme to take control, but agreed nevertheless because the arguments of Birgir were still sound and wise, and so did the whole of the Ten-Flag council. Right then, they chose Argonnár of the 3rd company and captain of strike cruiser “Lantern Bearer” to be their first Commodore of the new Ten-Flag council, for he was known to be the most patient among them, striking not before necessary or before the blow would be most devastating. With this as their leader, most of the Star Krakens became very secretive, leaving all public service to their serving Commodore and estranging themselves even further from the Imperium.

That is, until the recognition of the Varangian Guard.