Affiliation: Radical Cubists (nominal); suspected ties to Juno
Status: Killed in action, 433 IE
First Appearance: Checkmate
Overview
Vernis was a saboteur and hostile infiltrator who seized control of CNC (Command and Control) aboard the Queen Maria Sophia during a surprise boarding operation. Though she claimed Radical Cubist affiliation, the sophistication of her ship, the precision of her tactics, and her use of advanced prototype mechs suggest support from the shadowy and highly dangerous organization known as Juno.
Attack on the Queen Maria Sophia
Vernis did not board during the initial assault. Instead, she arrived later via a stealth-capable prototype ship—a smaller, stripped-down variant of vessels like the Queen Maria Sophia, Marcus Aurelius, and Anna Khirovsky. Her ship ran with no transponder, evading Compact sensors and using the confusion of the mech assault to slip aboard unnoticed.
Once inside, she stormed CNC, executing the bridge crew and assuming full control of the ship’s internal systems. From there, she:
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Turned the Sophie’s defenses on its own crew and shuttles
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Ordered the destruction of the Marcus Aurelius—a strike that occurred off-ship but bore her clear operational fingerprints
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Targeted and destroyed the Falcon piloted by Stephanie Mercado, nearly dooming the CJC-1967 carrying King Edward Windsor, Mitsuko Yamato, and JT Austin
Tactics and Technology
The mechs accompanying her assault were of unknown design—small, mobile, heavily armored, and tactically intelligent. These were not Cubist-standard equipment, and their performance in battle far exceeded known capabilities of either Compact or Realm units at the time. Their origin remains classified, but suspicion centers on Juno black labs.
Her ship’s architecture strongly resembled newer Compact naval vessels—hinting at either insider access or reverse engineering of captured hulls. Yet it ran completely dark, further implicating Juno, which is known to operate with high-end stealth technology and post-Compact ship schematics.
Death and Aftermath
Vernis was killed during the close-quarters retaking of CNC, led by King Edward Windsor alongside Compact and Metisian Republic troops. The strike was supported by Amargosan-built mechs under the remote control of Ellie Nardino, who coordinated with Republic forces from off-ship. The battle was brutal and cost Windsor his right hand, amputated during the melee before Vernis was fatally struck.
Despite her death, her coordinated operation inflicted heavy losses:
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The Marcus Aurelius was destroyed under her remote orders
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Lt. Cmdr. [Patty Friese](yadawiki link=”Patty Friese”) was killed covering the evac
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Lt. [Stephanie Mercado](yadawiki link=”Stephanie Mercado”) was killed in flight
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Dozens of Compact and Republic troops died during the CNC siege
Legacy and Juno Connection
While Vernis operated under the Radical Cubist banner, her equipment, ship, and precision coordination strongly suggest deeper ties to Juno, a powerful organization operating outside Compact law. Whether she was a true believer exploited by Juno, or an embedded agent using Cubism as cover, remains uncertain.
Her attack marked one of the most devastating security breaches in Compact Navy history and accelerated the push for new encryption standards, anti-mech protocols, and vetting procedures across all frontline capital ships.
Appearances: Checkmate