Editing Craig Steiner

{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = 
| name                = Craig Steiner
| birthdate           = 23 October [[2507]]<ref name=name=HSTLCpLOS&FT>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', foldout: "The Lyran Commonwealth's Line of Succession and Partial Steiner Family Tree"</ref><ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 87: "The Royal Court"</ref>
| died                = [[2555]]<ref name=name=HSTLCpLOS&FT/>
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[House Steiner]]
| rank                = [[Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth|Archon]]<ref name=HS:LCp28>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 28</ref>
| title               = 
| position            = 
| profession          = Noble
| parents             = [[Robert Steiner]] (father)<br>[[Lucinda Andruson]] (mother)
| siblings            = 
| spouse              = [[Rebecca Kemper]]<ref name=HS:LCp28/>
| children            = 
}}
'''Craig Steiner''' was the eighth [[Archon]] of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. 

==History==
Craig's reign as Archon began shortly after his 20th birthday, when his father stepped down.<ref name=HBHSp95>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 95: "Lyran Leadership Profile"</ref> 

Shortly after taking the throne, Archon Craig was presenting awards at the [[Commonwealth Olympiad of Human Endavors]] when a mysterious assassin threw an explosive device at him. While Craig swiftly managed to duck behind the throne, which absorbed the blast, three bystanders were killed. Though the assassin was swiftly revealed and found to be acting alone, Craig ordered extensive throne room renovations. The ceiling was raised and reinforced, while a pair of massive doors were build behind the throne. <ref name=HS:LCp28/> 

On October 23, 2529, the Archon revealed the true purpose of his renovation work during his birthday celebration. The two huge doors swung open, revealing a pair of ''[[Griffin]]'' BattleMechs painted in the colors of the defunct [[5th Royal Guards]], which took their place on each side of his throne.<ref name=HS:LCp87>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 87</ref> <ref name=SSWp86>''Second Succession War'', p. 86: "Legacy of Destruction - The Losers - War Resumed"</ref>  The tradition that ''Griffins'' from the current Archon's favorite unit stand guard on what is known as Guardian Duty continued until [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] replaced them with a ''[[Crusader]]'' and ''[[Marauder]]'' in [[3056]].<ref name=FM:LAAFp96>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 96: "1st Royal Guards"</ref>

Another assassin struck in 2538, this time against the [[Speaker of the Assembly]] for the [[Estates General]], Baroness [[Bethany Rand]].<ref name=HBHSp23>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 23</ref> The attack was another lone wolf, but the Archon offered to have the Estates General's chambers modified similarly to the throne room, though they declined, feeling that having LCAF soldiers present during all their meetings would impinge on their privacy and independence. <ref name=HS:LCp28/> Despite these two incidents, Craig's reign would later be termed "The Quiet Years" by future Commonwealth historians. Though the widespread fighting that characterized the [[Age of War]] was still ongoing, the Commonwealth as a whole enjoyed a period of overall prosperity and tranquility.<ref name=HBHSp23/>

Craig's later realized that the Lyran judiciary was developing major divergence in how the law of the Commonwealth was interpreted. In response, he established the [[Supreme Court of the Commonwealth]] on [[Donegal]] in 2543, with experienced judge (and his second cousin) [[Tracial Steiner|Tracial]] as its first Chief Justice.<ref name=HSTLCp92>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 92</ref>  In one of the court's first major cases, the Chief Justice struck down a controversial tariff law personally written by the Archon, establishing the court's precedent as a powerful and independent body.<ref name=HS:LCp28/> 

In [[2551]], ambassadors from the [[Terran Hegemony]] came to [[Tharkad]] and set the local rumor mill abuzz, believing the two realms were planning a joint military action against their mutual enemy, the [[Draconis Combine]]. The truth, however, was even more grandiose. Cameron hoped to convince the Archon to join his plan for a [[Star League|single united government]] for humanity. More than any other state, Cameron knew that bringing the Commonwealth's economic clout into his project was key to its survival. Craig, however, feared the effects that open trade and emigration could have on the Commonwealth economy, and so talks proceeded for years.<ref>''The Star League'', p. 38</ref>

By [[2554]], Craig's health was already declining despite his relative youth, and he had no children to pass the throne to. Rather than divorce his beloved wife in the hopes of producing an heir, Craig named Chief Justice Tracial Steiner as the [[Archon-Designate]]. Tracial then stepped down from her post to join the secret negotiations with the Hegemony. Craig died the following year of heart failure.<ref name=HS:LCp28/> 

==Legacy==
Craig Steiner restructured the Commonwealth judiciary through his creation of its supreme court, and added the iconic guardians to the Archon's throne, serving to protect [[Elizabeth Steiner]] from assassination centuries later in [[2867]].<ref name=SSWp86/> His reign in general became known as "The Quiet Years," a contrast to the Dark Years of [[Steven Steiner]] and [[Margaret Olsen]], the civil war that began Robert's reign or the economic crisis that came when the Commonwealth joined the Star League.

==Quotes==
{{Quote|''Craig Steiner is one of those unfortunate men whose image pales beside the flashier, more charismatic personalities of his time. Though he was responsible for many innovations in the Commonwealth government, history is fickle enough that we remember him best for altering the Throne Room.''|}}From ''[[The Quiet Years]]'', [[Yvonna DeCarls]], [[Commonwealth Historical Press]], [[2569]]<ref name=HS:LCp28/>

==Notes==
Craig's date of birth of 2507 is given in both ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]'' and ''[[Handbook: House Steiner]]''.<ref name=name=HSTLCpLOS&FT/><ref name=HBHSp95/> However, ''House Steiner'' also states that Craig's parents married in [[2511]] and that Craig was born shortly after.<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 27</ref> As Lucinda Andruson is referred to as Archon Robert's "long-time love," it is possible Craig was born before they were married, or that the date of their marriage is in error.

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Field Manual: Lyran Alliance]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Steiner]]''
* ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]''
* ''[[Second Succession War (sourcebook)]]''
* ''[[The Star League]]'' (sourcebook)

[[Category:Archons|Steiner, Craig]]
[[Category:Lyran Commonwealth Characters|Steiner, Craig]]