Species: Human
Birthplace: Etrusca
Affiliation: Cybercommand
Occupation: Director of Black Operations (formerly)
Frumentarius was the long-serving and enigmatic director of Cybercommand’s Black Operations division, formally designated G-4. A native of Etrusca, he maintained a stylized persona rooted in antique aesthetics and classical discipline—smoking from a clay pipe, stocking his office with physical books, and dressing with the stately flair of an old-world intelligence officer. His polished demeanor, however, masked a ruthless pragmatism and sharp political mind, making him one of the most feared and respected figures within Cybercommand.
On Aphrodite, 428 IE
Frumentarius appears early in the Suicide Arc during the aftermath of the Aphrodite mech incident. He redirects Cybercommand’s resources away from Aphrodite toward the emerging warp drive initiative, and authorizes leaving the billion-year-old automaton in place as a political symbol. His decision-making reveals both strategic depth and cynicism.
Operation Against JunoCorp
Frumentarius sends Eric Yuwono to Bromdar to locate and recover a mysterious pathogen, later identified as HSAR-429—the agent believed responsible for President ibn-Aziz’s neurological collapse. He confirms that the virus is a dual-strain bioweapon, combining a neurodegenerative carrier with a dormant variant of HIV modified to become airborne.
Later, at Cybercommand’s Bunker on Tian, he debriefs Yuwono in person and pairs him with veteran agent Ian Forrest to discuss the persistent Juno threat and its tendrils reaching into unaligned worlds such as Hosh. While Forrest is tasked with hunting Jez Salamacis, Frumentarius sends Yuwono to investigate a mysterious figure named Mr. Gray.
Death
Frumentarius is killed offscreen during the events of Another Way to Die. After Yuwono’s mission on Hosh escalates—exposing a deeper Juno plot involving corrupted Cybercommand assets and a widespread resurrection-tech conspiracy—Yuwono learns that Frumentarius was assassinated at the Bunker. The method and exact perpetrators remain unclear, but it is heavily implied that Juno operatives or sympathizers within Cybercommand facilitated the hit. His death sends shockwaves through the intelligence community, leaving a power vacuum in Cybercommand and forcing Naomi Maxwell and other surviving agents to scramble for stability.
Frumentarius’s murder marks a critical turning point in the Suicide Arc, suggesting that Juno’s reach is far deeper—and far more dangerous—than anyone realized.
Notable Traits
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Strategic Visionary: Known for anticipating geopolitical shifts and preparing subtle, long-term responses.
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Classical Affectations: Maintained a collection of antique Earth relics, including real books, Earth-grown liquor, and traditional tobacco pipes.
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Controlled Temperament: Rarely raised his voice; preferred ice-cold analysis over emotional reactions.
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Manipulative Mentor: Guided agents like Yuwono with a mix of approval and subtle intimidation.
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Politically Aware: Played internal Compact politics as deftly as he managed field ops.
Appearances: “Sphinx Rising,” Another Way to Die