Maya Tau

Maya Tau (15 April 1906 - 8 February 1991) was the eldest child and only daughter of Emperor Aran and Empress Consort Anna.

Early Life[]

Maya was born in Ananteria at her family’s manor. As then-Crown Prince Aran’s firstborn child, her birth was met with celebration. Her father showed no disfavor towards the fact that she was a daughter, doting on her. Per the Antares Imperium’s agno-cognatic primogeniture, Maya was sixth in line to the throne before Aran’s ascension, following her brothers Kaden, Ezra, and Julian, as well as her uncle Andrew.

Like her siblings, Maya spent much of her childhood raised by their governess, Lady Valeria Bonham. However, her parents were keenly interested in her development. During her youth, she learned of the tale of Princess Ophelia, a talented royal who lived centuries ago and was chosen by her father to succeed him as Empress when her brothers, lazy and inept, were cast aside in the succession. The idea that she could become Empress through her own efforts became a core ambition for her. She maintained these beliefs throughout the early half of her adulthood, especially as she saw her father grow disappointed with Kaden’s potential for leadership, as well as the death of her brother Ezra and Julian’s utter disinterest in ruling leaving almost no suitable candidates beside her.

Maya had an interest in sailing from a young age. She often said that her favorite childhood memories were taking a rowboat out onto Lake Spekulum whenever her family visited their summer residence near Aeminiva, her father rowing the boat while she and her siblings fed the waterfowl. When ships docked in Ananteria, Prince Aran was happy to indulge his daughter’s request to see them. In her teenage years, she often joined the city’s sailing club races. She also had a small boat of her own, the Eurypterid, that she would cherish for the rest of her life. Although many nobles criticized sailing as a hobby unbecoming of a princess, her father defended her choices.

Around the time she finished her schooling in 1924, the Antarean populace was beginning to show signs of discontent with the difficulty and length of the Columban Campaign. Wanting to demonstrate the royal family’s commitment to the war effort, Maya joined the Armada, expecting that with war plans having changed to avoid Centauri’s naval defenses, it would be a safe gesture her father and grandfather would approve. Maya was subsequently nominated and easily accepted by the Kharon Naval University.

The young princess was considered an exceptional student at the University, earning the admiration of her instructors and the fear of her peers. She quickly developed and maintained a rivalry with fellow midshipman Morgan Sloan, narrowly graduating first in her class in 1928 after outscoring Sloan in evaluations for categories such as “flexibility in battle” and “understanding new technologies”.

Marriage[]

In July of 1927, during her third year at the academy, Maya was chosen from a group of distinguished midshipmen to attend the launch ceremony of a brand new warship at the Port of Kharon. This ship, the heavy cruiser AIS Falko, was the lead vessel of its class and considered the herald of newfound Antarean dominance over the Inanis. During the festivities, Maya met Vincent Carter, a Corvun noble representing the corps of cadets from the Confederation Military Academy.

As common practice with ceremonial events, a reception dinner was scheduled at the mayor’s palace for the night. Alongside representatives of the military and government, noble families across the region of Skorpius and Corvus were invited to attend. The Carter family was among this number. Vincent’s stellar reputation as a cadet and his exploits in sailing impressed Maya. Shortly thereafter, Vincent asked for Aran Tau’s blessing to court his daughter, something the Crown Prince was willing to grant.

After a year, Maya and Vincent were married in a lavish ceremony in Ananteria. Out of deference for the Tau family and their prestige, the Carters ceded the names of any future children from the marriage. The couple was given a country home outside of Ananteria, which they were seldom able to visit during wartime. However, they managed to find time for each other during leaves of absence. The marriage produced two children, Hannah, born July 23rd, 1934, and Kassian, born June 2nd, 1935. Per the families’ agreement, both bore the surname of Tau.

Naval Career[]

Following her graduation from the Naval University in 1928, Maya was commissioned as an Ensign in the Armada. Her first post was aboard a destroyer, AIS Flavus, the lead ship of its class, as part of its navigation division. Her time aboard the Flavus was largely quiet, conducting empty patrols with no major engagements to speak of. However, she was highly regarded in her role as a navigation officer, having once directed the vessel back to its flotilla after getting lost during heavy fog.

Maya subsequently served onboard another Flavus-class destroyer, AIS Lividus, during which she was promoted to Lieutenant-II in 1930. The Lividus would participate in screening operations against NCA vessels during Operation Kataklysm in 1931 as Antarean forces advanced along the northern coastline of Columba. Maya would experience proper combat for the first time during these operations as the fleet was targeted by coastal artillery and daring torpedo vessels. Her efforts would see her promoted to the ship’s chief navigation officer, alongside a promotion to Lieutenant-I in 1932.

Following her promotion, she was assigned as the executive officer for the newly-constructed Venetus-class light cruiser, AIS Atrum, serving for a year before taking a leave of absence during which her children were born and her brother Ezra was killed in action. In 1936, she was called back to duty and promoted to Kommander as a result of mounting losses against Riaa. She was subsequently transferred from the Annulus Sea onto the West Coast. She then served aboard the Kanus-class light cruiser AIS Kinereus as its commanding officer, followed by a stint as the executive officer of the Sol-class battleship AIS Luna. While serving aboard the Kinereus, a young officer named Ronald Enright impressed her. She subsequently introduced Lieutenant-II Enright to her cousin Kaitlyn, with the two marrying shortly after.

In 1940, she was given an exceptionally early promotion to Kaptain, almost unheard of for someone with only 12 years of service, and was given command of the Rubrum-class heavy cruiser AIS Vermikulus. This decision was taken in anticipation of her being guided towards commanding capital ships. However, during an engagement off the Riaan coast, a daring strike by Riaan warplanes resulted in the sinking of the Vermikulus and several of its escorts. A bomb strike near the bridge resulted in the killing or wounding of several officers. However, Maya was comparatively unharmed, albeit rendered unconscious. It would be noted in the after-action report that a pair of sailors braved the flames to rescue her and several others from the bridge. Aran would personally decorate the two for their valor.

Return to Antares[]

When Maya recovered several days later, she was horrified to learn that the overpressure from the explosion had irreparably ruptured her eardrum in one ear and severely damaged the other. With such a debilitating injury, her career at sea came to an inglorious and abrupt halt. She was sent home and retained her rank of Kaptain as a “reservist” for the Armada. Subsequently, Maya, Vincent, and their young children took up residence in their home outside Ananteria.

Maya’s newfound partial deafness made it difficult for her to carry out her other duties. To aid with this, Aran Tau procured a tutor for her. Alina Popova, an Ursan who ranked among the most renowned instructors for the deaf in all of Forma, arrived shortly after and quickly became one of Maya’s most trusted confidantes. Popova was also known for teaching the Tau children Ursan, which brought wariness from some at court.

Alongside lifestyle adjustments, another part of Maya’s recovery was regaining her balance, which her traumatic eardrum injuries greatly affected. Popova encouraged her to find an activity she could enjoy while practicing. After exhausting her options, Maya remembered sailing. Her beloved Eurypterid, which she sailed along the coast accompanied by her husband, brought much joy to her life again.

While living in Ananteria, she remained on close terms with her cousin Kaitlyn, who, being an architect by trade, helped renovate her home with deaf-friendly design elements. Maya also befriended her sister-in-law Vanessa, the two being able to relate to each other as combat veterans. Speaking to Vanessa also helped Maya understand the gravity of shock syndrome and its effects on soldiers.

Forman War[]

The death of her uncle Andrew in the Libratum Incident was a shock to Maya and the rest of the Tau family. She stood by her father’s decision to wage war against Orion, believing that a nation with the audacity to murder diplomats was one that had to be vanquished. In a gesture of kindness, Maya also took on the responsibility of explaining to her cousin Kaitlyn’s children that their grandfather had passed away, as neither Prince Andrew’s widow or daughter were in any state to do so.

As the first Antarean casualties from naval battles and the Libran Campaign found themselves in hospitals along the east coast, Maya took it upon herself to be a patron for the wounded and disabled. She participated in efforts to ready the Antarean homefront for a long war, using her own status as a crippled veteran to demonstrate her commitment. These efforts included organizing blood drives, as well as sponsoring a movement for victory gardens by replacing the flowers in the imperial residence with vegetables. With Popova’s assistance, she was able to give speeches as well, her addresses encouraging a new generation of young women to serve their country.

Concerningly, Maya learned from Vanessa that her letters to Kaden, who was stationed in the north at the Emperor’s request, were being censored. A friend from Vanessa’s time in the Imperial Army had covertly disclosed this to her as a courtesy. Maya and Vincent, using their own connections, decided to help Vanessa send letters to Kaden, thinking it a simple courtesy. Although the letters Vanessa and Kaden exchanged seemed to be the source of considerable anxiety for the former, they did not pry into it.

As the Forman War progressed, Maya’s daughter Hannah took an interest in the military. She wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps into the Armada. However, when she grew old enough to apply to the Kharon Naval University in 1952, her nomination was withdrawn on her mother’s orders. Hannah then attempted to covertly enlist, once again being denied when the recruiting officer realized who she was. Although Hannah complained to her mother that it was unfair for her to deny her a chance to serve, especially when she was giving speeches to encourage others to do so, Maya refused to allow her daughter to join, believing it was too dangerous against an enemy like Orion. A year later, Kaitlyn Tau, who was like an aunt to Hannah, emphasized how wretched war was to their families, citing her own husband, who had just perished in battle at sea. Hannah reluctantly settled into royal life thereafter.

Meanwhile, Maya’s son Kassian took after his father and developed a passion for writing. He spent time during the Forman War documenting testimonies from soldiers returning from the frontlines. He also wrote various creative stories and novellas, but saw very little success until historians discovered his writings well after the war’s end.

When the Ursan deception was revealed in 1954, Maya was stunned by the betrayal. She was equally mortified when her dear tutor Popova was detained on suspicion of espionage. There is no conclusive evidence that Alina Popova was ever involved in espionage, although many have theorized it.

To further add to the tragedy, after Kaden’s defection to the Compact in 1956, the Emperor discovered Maya and Vincent had discreetly helped Vanessa and Kaden communicate by bypassing the censors. To their shock, the Emperor had them and their children imprisoned in a residence in Kharon, claiming they held partial responsibility for the Prince’s defection. Maya and Vincent survived the ordeal, but were both exhausted by its end.

Maya and her husband were liberated from prison in 1960. Due to their positions in the Imperium, they were detained under the hospitality of an Orionite colonel who was a self-admitted fan of Vincent’s novels. Said colonel also promised to let them know if Popova was found in any of the liberated prison camps. He kept his end of the deal, scouring the camps looking for Popova. Unfortunately, he found no sign of her.

Post War[]

After the surrender and occupation of Antares, Maya Tau was arrested, despite the protests of her brother, due to her technically still holding a naval rank. At the Kharon Trials, she was unable to be charged with most of the crimes applicable to other senior Antarean personnel. Her participation in the war effort against Orion had also been entirely ceremonial. The fact that she had spent the latter half of the war in captivity by her own father also encouraged the prosecution to take a lenient stance.

Once the division of Antares and restoration of civilian rule were finalized, the Compact offered her a deal: a permanent ban on her and any of her children from holding political office in any of the successor states. Maya accepted this, jaded by the years of war and unwilling to pursue any power for herself anymore.

Maya and her family sold off their country estate and settled in Kharon. They chose to give away most of their remaining wealth to the reconstruction effort, earning them a begrudging acceptance from the city’s denizens. The Taus rejected publicity, seeking a quiet life. Maya and her children subsequently devoted time to looking for Popova, although they ultimately failed to find evidence of her. The publication of Antarean prison records provided a brief hope, but her tutor was nowhere to be found.

Maya and Kaden, despite living in the same city due to the former prince now serving as the transitional head of state for Scorpius, avoided contact. Though she knew it wasn’t his fault per se, she blamed his defection for her and Vincent’s imprisonment and the troubles it put their family through. Their respective children tried several times to encourage them to meet and mend their estranged relationship, but both refused. After Kaden’s suicide in 1962, Maya received a personal letter from him that she took to heart. She was present at her brother’s funeral as one of the last to pay respects to his coffin.

One surviving family member that Maya tried to see regularly was her cousin Kaitlyn. Although she technically lived abroad due to her residence being in Aeminiva, now located in Ara, customs officials were sympathetic to the former princesses and allowed them to visit each other regularly. Maya and her family would spend weeks every summer on the shores of Lake Spekulum, a reminder of a lost childhood.

Trivia[]

Maya Tau was present in the original lore of Centaura and Dead Ahead, and is in fact one of the oldest named characters in the lore. While still sharing a love for ships, the old and new Maya Tau are drastically different in many ways, almost being entirely different characters.
- The old Maya Tau's personality was essentially that of a snob, insecure and narcissistic princess, being a noticeable bully to Kaden Tau and frequently mocking him for his disinterest in the throne, while also being an elitist, believing she was superior to others due to her better education. The new Maya Tau is the complete opposite, being kind and considerate, and treating everyone well. Though she still had a strained relationship with Kaden after the Forman War, she forgave him and paid respects to his coffin, while Kaden forgave Maya for any grudges she had and urged her to do the same in his suicide letter, and it is assumed she had a positive relationship with Kaden in their youth.
- Their fates are also different; the old Maya Tau was killed in action in Riaa, first written as friendly fire from Antarean ships and then written again to be killed directly by Riaan planes attacking her ship, before having her cause of death being unknown. The new Maya Tau lives for a very long time and does not die in Riaa, though the event where her ship is attacked by Riaan planes lampshades her second death.
Maya Tau was a very controversial character within and even outside the Centaura/Dead Ahead community, due in part by her poor writing and origins of being a representation of the AIS Tau, even being featured in a poster. After deliberation, ClassicMasternoob decided to retcon her directly out of the lore until the Tau family was updated.
- In the wiki, mentioning her was forbidden until the Tau family's update, in part due to the controversy surrounding her.