Species: Human
Birthplace: Etrusca
Affiliation: Cybercommand
Occupation: Director of Black Operations
Frumentarius serves as the enigmatic and authoritative head of Cybercommand’s black operations division. His Neo-Latin surname hints at his origins on Etrusca, a core world known for preserving ancient Roman and Etruscan traditions. Frumentarius maintains a cool, cultured demeanor and oversees covert missions involving espionage, sabotage, and high-level intelligence gathering. He favors old-fashioned field attire—most notably, a pith helmet—which contrasts humorously with his otherwise grim responsibilities.
In “Sphinx Rising,” Frumentarius supervises the investigation of the billion-year-old automaton discovered on Aphrodite. He ultimately authorizes leaving the artifact in place to serve as a unifying symbol for the planet’s warring factions, recognizing its greater political value. However, with the Compact on the verge of war after the silent collapses of Farigha and Gilead, he shifts Cybercommand’s priorities to the warp drive initiative, pulling Weiss off the Aphrodite operation.
Notable Traits:
- Highly strategic and politically savvy
- Known for maintaining a detached, sometimes wry sense of humor
- Micromanaged at times by his devoted assistant Naomi
- Strong advocate for pragmatism over sentiment in Cybercommand operations
Appearances: “Sphinx Rising,” Another Way to Die