Jane Zarkan

"I, queen of the Zarkan Kingdom and Empress of the Zarkan Empire, daughter of Aersif, the Dragon Mother of the Aermen, do announce the withdrawal of the Zarkan Kingdom and Empire from the Union of Earth States with immediate effect on the grounds of Union betrayal of its founding principles and its unconstitutional acts of placing taxes and tariffs on nations without their approval."

- Jane Zarkan, future President of the Confederate States, announcing the secession of the Zarkan Kingdom and Empire from the Union of Earth States

Jane Zarkan, the "Mother of the Confederacy'", was human female from the planet Earth, she was born in 47 BBY in Zarkan City, the capital of the Zarkan Kingdom, a nation-state of Earth, which was ruled by her family. She became queen in 28 BBY, at the age of 19, following the assassination of her father, her first act as monarch was to have her father's murderer tried and executed for regicide and high treason.

Once loyal to the Union of Earth States she began to feel disillusioned with the Union, especially with the oppressively high taxes levied by the Union Senate upon member states, she began supporting the growing calls for secession.

When Separatist scouts discovered her world she hosted the CIS scouts in her castle in Zarkan City and invited them to a special session of the Confederate Parliament. After the Confederate Parliament heard of the CIS' goals of independence from the Republic, and the history and causes of Separatist feelings, they believed them to be an honourable and noble power, and gladly declared their wish for an alliance. The Confederate States of Earth then signed an alliance with the CIS.

She led the Confederacy as the President of the Confederacy against the Union and the Galactic Repulic during the Confederate War of Independence of 21 BBY - 20 BBY and in the Second Battle of Earth of 19 BBY, maintaining Earth's position in the Confederacy until the end of the war.

However the people of Earth were die-hard Separatist loyalists, and they refused to surrender, despite the fact that the Separatist Council had been massacred, the droid army shut down, and the Clone War finished. As one the last remaining Confederate planets Earth went into rebellion against the Galactic Empire, the successor to the Galactic Republic, her final fight was in the Third Battle of Earth in 18 BBY, in which she was killed.

After her death, her close friend Ahsoka Tano took over as the provisional President, the Confederate States survived further few months before falling to the Empire and the Empire's Earth puppet government, the "Earth Empire", however a Separatist holdout rebel group called the "Force for the Restoration of Separatist Earth" (FRSE) was formed, which sought to return Earth to a Separatist power, and to reform the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Despite this failure to return Earth to a Separatist world, Earth rebels would later fight under the banner of the Alliance to Restore the Republic.

The Empire would be kicked from Earth in the Second Earth Rebellion of 4 ABY, and both the Confederacy and Union of Earth States would be reformed, this time the Union accepted the Confederacy as a sovereign and independent nation state, and the tensions which the Union and Confederacy had endured over the Union's refusal to accept Confederate legitimacy prior to the Imperial conquest of Earth did not return.

Her daughter, Jane Zarkan II, would rule as president of the reformed Confederate States of Earth after the Empire left the planet and Earth joined the New Republic, Jane Zarkan II would later withdraw Earth from the increasingly-oppressive GFFA and join the Confederation, which would result in the Battle of Earth.

Pre-Separatist life
Jane Zarkan was born in Castle Zarkan, the home of her family, and seat of the Zarkan royal family, in 47 BBY. Her family ruled what was possibly the most powerful and strongest nation on Earth, the Zarkan Kingdom, for centuries the Zarkan family had been building up their strength, and ruled an empire, an empire which covered 1/7 of the whole world by 47 BBY. Jane gave birth to her daughter in 31 BBY, at the age of 16, her daughter would later become queen following the Liberation of Earth in 4 ABY, and would go on to lead the Confederacy against the Union in their second war during the Second Galactic Civil War of 40 ABY.

Jane was the eldest child of her father, King Daniel IV, and therefore would be queen when he died, Zarkan royal law and tradition stated that the first-born child would be ruled, regardless of sex. Her father was well respected, he ensured the colonies of the Zarkan Empire prospered under his rule, and that the natives wouldn't be exploited. Despite his popularity, Daniel IV was assassinated in 28 BBY by a lone, insane gunman who called himself the "Liberator of the Colonies", after his death, Daniel IV, like all Zarkan rulers, received a lavish and grand funeral.

One week after her father's death Jane Zarkan was crowned Queen Jane I at only 19, the first Zarkan queen to be named "Jane", her first act was to order the death of the man who killed her father, for regicide and high treason. Like her father she was good ruler, but unlike her father could be ruthless, especially to natives who rebelling against her rule, her father adopted a more diplomatic approach with rebellious natives, Jane preferred to have them arrested or executed for treason.

In 21 BBY Jane Zarkan announced the secession of the Zarkan Kingdom and Zarkan Empire from the Union of Earth States, the first Union member to do so, she was quickly following by 58 other nations, the Zarkan Kingdom and the first 9 other nations to secede formed the Confederate States of Earth, the Confederacy's size quickly grew to 59 members.

For being a driving force behind the birth of the Confederacy, the first President of the Confederacy, being "Mother Zarkan"/"Zarkania", the Confederate National personification and her caring and loving attitude towards the Confederacy and her peoples Jane Zarkan received the nickname "Mother of the Confederacy", in reference to Jane Zarkan being the prime advocate and activist for the birth of the Confederacy. The Confederates viewed their nation as the "daughter" of Jane Zarkan, which was part of the reason for their complete devotion to her.

"Jane Zarkan is the mother of our nation, you could say that she gave birth to the Confederacy, she was the main reason why the Confederacy was born, we view our young nation as the daughter of President Zarkan, President Zarkan loves us as if we were her own children, and we are devoted to her as our mother."

- A Confederate on the Confederate devotion to Jane Zarkan

After 7 years of rule, aliens would discover her planet, and she would graciously welcome them.

Encountering the Separatists
"Greetings, I welcome you to the Confederate Parliament. These are the representatives of each Confederate nation."

- Jane Zarkan introducing the Separatist scouts to the Confederate Parliament. After 7 years of being queen, Jane encountered the CIS in 21 BBY, when they discovered her world and landed near the largest city, which was Zarkan City, her capital, the greatest city on Earth. After an initial confrontation, Jane I decided to have the CIS scouts brought to her castle as her guests, where she would ask them about what they were doing there, and the backstory of alien history.

After learning the backstory of the Separatist Alliance she asked the Separatist scouts to accompany her to a session of the Confederate Parliament in order to discuss the possibility of an alliance.

After the Confederate Parliament learnt about the CIS, Galactic Republic, the Clone Wars and the events that set the war in motion, though with a heavy CIS slant, the Confederate Parliament believed the Republic to be a dishonourable, greedy and corrupt government that needed replacement, the representatives of the Confederate Parliament requested the scouts to report to their leader that they were willing and wishing to enter into an alliance with the CIS.

Allying with the Separatists
The scouts informed their commander, who then passed the information upwards, it then reached Count Dooku himself, Dooku was initially startled by Jane I's eagerness for an alliance and to enter the war and fight the Republic, but he saw a worthy and loyal ally, he decided to agree to her request of an alliance and admit Earth into the CIS.

He then had Jane and the other Confederate leaders brought to the Separatist capital, Raxus Secundus, to sign the Confederate-Earth Treaty of Alliance, in which the CIS garaunteed her support, in the form of weapons, droids, ships, technical missions, defence building, training, they also agreed to supply her with support for her plan to conquer the whole Earth, which would make her Separatist Earth a nearly unstoppable superpower in the galaxy.

Arrival of the Republic
"Republic dogs! You may have turned our Union neighbours against us, and got them to invade us without a declaration of war or warning, but you will *never* conquer us! You oppressors cannot defeat us Separatists who are fighting for our freedom! God is on our side!"

- Queen Jane I's message to the Republic at the start of the First Battle of Earth Upon hearing of Confederate Earth's alliance with the Confederacy, the Republic was greatly worried, they saw Earth's potential as a stronghold and manufacturing planet of the Separatists. The Republic put a plan into place to undermine Jane and topple her government, they would ally with anti-Separatist, anti-Jane parties of Union Earth to fight a proxy war against her.

In the end the proxy war didn't produce satisfactory results, so the Republic decided to resort to an invasion to conquer Earth.

As Republic ships launched their attack on the CIS/CSEN fleet defending Earth, Jane was informed, she immediately took her personal Sheathipede-class transport shuttle from her castle to her flagship, Velociraptor, in orbit above Earth, there she and TX-29 took command of the naval forces.

Personality
"At least I will die for what I believe in, I will die for freedom! I go to the Hall of the Virtuous, to be with my honoured ancestors, GOD SAVE THE CONFEDERACY!"

- Queen Jane I during the Third Battle of Earth in 18 BBY, calmly accepting her death upon realising her ship is lost, but not before shouting one last patriotic slogan Extremely loyal to the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and to the Confederate States of Earth, of which she was the elected President, Jane was a fiercely patriotic Separatist, viewing the Republic as evil, corrupt and greedy, she despised it, and vowed not to let her world become a colony of the "Republic dogs". She was so loyal a Separatist, she was ready to die for her Separatist beliefs, she personally led the CIS/C.S.E naval forces during all three battles of Earth, whilst most other heads of state would be as far from the battle as possible, Jane believed a head of state should be at the front of the battle, to improve the morale of those who were fighting for them.

As the driving force behind the creation of the Confederacy, the Confederacy's national personification, the first President of the Confederacy and having the respectful nickname of "Mother of the Confederacy" Jane Zarkan was deeply devoted to the Confederacy, her people and her well being, for her caring attitude of her nation Confederate propaganda posters often depicted Jane Zarkan as a loving mother of her "daughter", the Confederate States of Earth.

Jane always maintained a "ready to die for what I believe in" attitude, meaning she had no fear during Republic attacks, she viewed death in battle as glorious, believing it would make her a martyr to the Separatist cause, she wasn't wrong in that regard, after her death in the Third Battle of Earth, she was a martyr to the Force for the Restoration of Separatist Earth rebel group, and gave them the courage and strength to take on the Imperial forces in their attempt to liberate Earth and return Earth to a Separatist power.

According to Confederate legend she headed to the Hall of the Virtuous upon her death, the afterlife of all true Earthling warriors, to be with her ancestors and with the mythical Aermen figures Aersif, the "Dragon Mother", the goddess of the Aerman continent and the direct ancestor of all Aermen monarchs, according to legend, the Hall of the Virtuous was itself a holdover of the N'Akkiarlian warriors' afterlife, the "Hall of the Glorious", from the time when Earthlings following N'Akkiarlian culture and religion, according to legend Jane was later joined by her good friend, Ahsoka Tano, within the hall when Ahsoka sacrificed herself in the name of Confederate liberty several months after Jane's death, stories from Earthling soldiers who had survived mortal wounds suggested that the legends were in fact true, the Hall of the Virtuous did in fact exist, and that Jane and Ahsoka were there to greet their kin arriving to the hall, along with the brave warrior ancestors of the Earthlings, in all of these near-death experiences Jane and Ahsoka tell the survivor to turn back and return to the land of the living, promising that one day they will meet again.

Jane was highly religious and believed in Aersif and God, the Hall of the Virtuous and other aspects of the Aermen religion followed by her ancestors dating all the way back to the Northern Coast Culture of 50,000 BBY, she also believed in the legend that as an Aerman monarch, she had was the direct descendant of Aersif, and had her blood in her veins, and, by extension. As an Aerman queen she was part of a group known as the "Daughters of Aersif", which was reserved for female monarchs of Aermen blood, and was the female equivalent to the "Sons of Aersif" group. Jane also believed in God, but did not believed herself to be descended from him.

"I am a Zarkan, an Aerman sovereign, and as such I have the blood of great Aersif in my veins, I am a Daughter of Aersif, the child of a goddess, I have the blood of the Dragon Mother in my veins! I worship and love her as my mother, and I pray that one day I may embrace her, as a daughter to her ancestor, within Aersif's beautiful hall."

- Jane Zarkan on her believed holy ancestry

Aside from her well-known hatred of the Republic, she was also well-known for her hatred of the Jedi, this hatred only grew as the Republic invaded her world, under command of the Jedi, and killed many of her subjects, she publically (and personally, which she relished) executed Maksi Hikar, the Jedi General who had commanded Republic forces during the First Battle of Earth, on charges of "Mass murder" and "Trying to conquer Confederate Earth", she timed his execution so that it would coincide with one of Count Dooku's visits to Earth, so she could invite him to the execution and impress him with her loathing of the Jedi.

"Jedi slime, you are found guilty of mass murder, in reference to the many Confederates who died under your invasion, and for attempting to conquer, and deny the independence and liberty of, the Confederate States of Earth, my nation, and the free people which owe their allegiance to her, therefore on behalf of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and the Confederate States of Earth, I hereby pass sentence that you will be taken to Parliament Square in Zarkan City, there you will be put to death by the separating of your head from your body, by my hand. Guards, get this scum out of my sight!"

- Queen Jane I passing sentence on Maksi Hikar

.

She had the execution of Maksi Hikar transmitted to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, so they could see what happened when the Republic tried to conquer her planet. She warned the Jedi that the people of Earth would kill every single Jedi and Republic soldier who set foot on her world, and that she would personally kill every Jedi and "Republic fool" taken captive.

"Listen to me, Jedi and Republic scum, THIS is what happens when you try and conquer us! We have been fighting wars for the past 10,000 years, we are excellent warriors, and we will NEVER submit to your oppressive "Republic", I warn you this once, STAY AWAY! or else I will personally kill every Jedi and Republic fool we take captive, if any of you Republic animals dare set foot on my world again we will kill every single one of you Republic dogs! Now I will show you what happens when you try and take our freedom away from us! Pay close attention, Republic slime!"

- Jane Zarkan to the Jedi and Republic observing her broadcast to the Jedi Temple and Republic Senate of Maksi Hikar's execution

Despite her loathing of the Jedi, she was not hostile towards ex-Jedi who had defected to the Confederacy, such as Ahsoka Tano, Jane considered these former Jedi to have opened their eyes to the fact that the corrupt Republic was using the Jedi to enforce their will on the galaxy, despite formerly being a Jedi, Ahsoka managed to become one of Jane's closest friends and trusted advisors, Ahsoka even managed to become a Field Marshal of the Confederate States of Earth Army, and was also personally proclaimed provisional president by Jane shortly before the latter's death in the Third Battle of Earth, to act as president until a new president could be elected following the passing of the emergency.

Jane resented being called a "traitor", as well as the Union having the gall to refer to her as such for leading the defence of her nation.

Jane Zarkan held a personal and bitter hatred of Wiliam Crest, Governor of the Earth Empire puppet state, William Crest had committed atrocities against the Confederacy, the most infamous of which being the Burning of Valley City, for the destruction of vast swathes of the Confederate border regions and the mass murder of Confederate citizens, many of which were killed in cruel and horrific ways, including burning them to ashes in the building fires his army started, and crushing them to death under the feet of his walkers, Jane Zarkan often expressed her wish to have personally executed Crest at the very mention of his name.

"William Crest? Governor? Bah! That tyrant is nothing but a coward and a war criminal! He naturally abandoned his own army and fled to save his own hide at Feldin's Field, he ran and hid to escape our justice for reducing our people to ashes from his fires and to bloody pulp from the feet of his walkers! I should've separated his head from his body myself three years ago! He can be an appointed "Governor" of some tin-pot dictatorship, and pretend that's some crowning accomplishment, but he can never crush our freedom! He relies on his Imperial puppet masters to win his battles for him, his puppet state wouldn't stand a chance against us without the Imperials saving them, he is a fool, a liability, a weakling, who flees from his own army with his tail between his legs at the first whiff of danger! He is not fit to even kneel at my feet! I would be ashamed and dishonoured to even recognise him as my servant, he is not even fit to lick my shoes clean!"

- Jane Zarkan in a rant about Governor William Crest, appointed head of state of the Earth Empire

Jane Zarkan was well known for her kindheartedness and deeply caring personality towards her people, she liked to compare her position as being like that of a mother caring for her children, and she often used this analogy when discussing her relationship between herself and her subjects, due to her loving personality she was one of the most popular sovereigns in the history of the Zarkan Kingdom, and she inspired the loyalty of the Confederate people with her kindness. Jane believed that every master and mistress should treat their servants with kindness and respect.

The people of the Confederacy had such a love for Jane Zarkan that when she gave her life during the space battle above Earth in the early part of the Third Battle of Earth they were deeply saddened and the Confederacy had a month of mourning.

"I have but one request for you should you take over the crown and the presidential chair from me, that you treat my subjects well, and with the respect they deserve, you see myself and my servants have an understanding and rapport, they do not work solely for my benefit, they serve me out of loyalty and love. You could say our relationship is like that of mother and child, they're like my children, and I am their mother, hence my nickname of "Mother of the Confederacy", they hold a genuine love for me, which is why they are only too happy to bow before me. A lot of tyrants and cruel rulers make the mistake of seeking loyalty through cruelty and fear, the whip can only earn so much loyalty, your servants are far more loyal to you if you treat them with the respect and kindness than if you beat them. Besides, my love goes far beyond inspiring loyalty and willing servitude, I genuinely do care greatly about those who kneel before me, for they are as much children of Aersif as I am, my heart bleeds for every one of my children who gives their life for me and our nation on the battlefield, far too many condolence letters have been sent out, which is why I hope for a quick end to this war, but at least they gave their lives so my folks can be free, I will personally shake every one of their hands for their sacrifice when I meet them in the Hall of the Virtuous, should Dragon Mother Aersif allow me to go there upon the end of my final hour. Oh, and should I die, please take care of my kitty."

- Jane Zarkan to Ahsoka Tano, her designated successor, discussing how to be a good and just ruler, and therefore inspire loyalty in the people, demonstrating Jane's loving personality towards her people

Jane Zarkan enjoyed drinking tea, as well as ale. She was also a starship buff, and was proud of her navy, she often viewed her nations' ships as female, she was very proud and fiercely defensive of her flagship, the Subjugator-class heavy cruiser called the Velociraptor, she viewed her flagship as being like a "daughter" to her.