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Key Information:

• Role: Senior Fleet Admiral
• Status: Alive
• Species: Human
• Gender: Male

Appearances:

1. List of the Dead
2. The Ravening Deep
3. ​From Shattered Stars
4. Whom Gods Shall Fear
5. Perseus Aflame
   

Overview

Tabius Bel-Messari is a senior Fleet Admiral who serves in a desk role at the Imperial Navy's Fleet Command. He is one of a number of admirals with a standing responsibility to conduct hearings and inquests under the aegis of the Disciplinary Branch.

In March 3745 ELC he travelled to Fort Laeara in order to preside over a preliminary hearing into the actions of Admiral Groath Betombe during Operation Seawall. Bel-Messari was highly critical of Betombe's behaviour and decisions and — seeming to relish the opportunity — relieved him of his command status at the climax of the meeting (→LOTD).

Around the same time, Bel-Messari was also dealing with the navy's case against Captain Aker Santani, who had survived the destruction of the ICS Hammer only to be accused of incompetence. By the time Bel-Messari finally got around to sitting Santani in front of him she had not only thought long and hard about the way she would present her case, but she also had Admiral Brea Kalabi giving her subtle cues across the desk. Needless to say, Santani was cleared of any wrongdoing (→TRD).

Admiral Betombe was instructed to face a triumvirate panel, which comprised Bel-Messari, Admiral Kalabi, and Admiral Hong. During the inquiry Betombe repeatedly wrong-footed and frustrated Bel-Messari, before drawing attention to the wall displays in which he could see suggestions of an imminent Shaeld Hrathan offensive. Both Kalabi and Hong agreed with Betombe, and together they overruled Bel-Messari. It was no secret that he had a vendetta against Betombe, and they both found this distasteful (→TRD).

Bel-Messari had two run-ins with Elm Caden a few weeks later. The first was an argument over what assets would be deployed to protect Forge Ruinous. The second was during a face-to-face confrontation between Caden and the Admiralty. Like the other admirals present at the time, Bel-Messari was obligated to have his blood tested for traces of antibodies which might indicate he was a Rasa, with a negative result. His objections to Caden's intrusion were dismissed by High Admiral Audrene Bel-Taulon, his direct superior (→FSS).