Shattered Empire: A Noble Warlord Quest (CKII)

The first order of business, you find, is the unenviable task of selecting a set of Ministers to govern five of the six so-called Great Pillars of State: the Ministry of State, the Ministry of War, the Exchequer, the Okhrana, and the Ministry of the Sciences. (The sixth, represented by the Bishopric of Moskva, is not up to your discretion.) Over the course of several weeks, you visit with and speak to a number of candidates for each. While many of your inner circle provide you with advice on the matter, as the new Tsarina, the final decision falls to you.
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As you might guess, voting is by plan. Choose ONE from each ministry:

DIP - Lord/Lady Minister for State

[ ] Duke Pyotr Yusopov
"Ah, your Grace. I must of course apologize for the House of Yusopov's inability to assist during the removal of the usurper. But I can guarantee our full support in the future - as well as our not-inconsiderable connections across the Empire."

Pyotr Yusopov is infamous as a broker of deals and information. While he himself is not exactly impressive, with his demesne of Dnieper being primarily an agricultural exporter and a source of raw materials, he has created a network that spans the Empire. His arsenal does not include battleships and coilguns, but rather consists of parties, backhanded compliments, and charitable donations.

[ ] Baron Vladimir Aristarkhov
"I'm no diplomat, your Grace - I'm a soldier. But given the circumstances, maybe that is just what we need in a diplomat."

Despite being wounded at the Battle of Moskva, Vladimir Aristarkhov is one of your most loyal servants and trusted confidants. Purely as a diplomat, he will likely have to grow into the role; while he is charismatic, he is used almost exclusively to the charisma required as an officer. Still, if you want a militaristic government, he might be a good choice.

[ ] Ambassador Anna Zemicheva
"The Fortuna have a saying, your Grace - force is all-conquering, but its victories are short-lived. I will give you lasting success."

Zemicheva is an actual trained ambassador, having spent years on Terra and Olympus learning the trade of diplomacy. Her problem is a certain amount of idealism; she genuinely believes that the problems of the Empire can be solved without bloodshed, and her MO reflects this. She is also notably younger and lower-born than her noble counterparts.

MAR - Lord/Lady Minister for War

[ ] Admiral Evgenia Kozlova
"War is a noble art, your Grace. I consider myself to be among the best of its practitioners."

While Evgenia Kozlova did not officially side with you during the putsch, she is still an effective and experienced military officer. She has the problem of being held back by traditional values, tactics, and ideas, but maybe you can teach this old dog new tricks… eventually.

[ ] General Ivan Polikparov
"An army marches on its stomach, your Grace, and a fleet sails on its fuel. I always find it distressing how little this is understood."

Ivan Polikparov is known as a genius of logistics among the ground forces of the Armies of Rurik. However, his utility as a space commander - which is the most predominant part of modern combat - is limited.

[ ] Lord Kiril Aristarkhov
"You have seen my skills in combat yourself, your Grace, and I can personally ensure that the House of Aristarkhov remains your most loyal servants."

Your uncle Kiril Aristarkhov, while he is a military officer of no small talent, is not quite as famous or famously talented as the other two. What he is, however, is loyal - and is only a few years older than you, meaning that he still has potential.

STE - Lord/Lady Minister for the Exchequer

[ ] Dame Svetlana Egonova
"The Fortuna and the Sundiata are soft, but they usually have the right idea regarding business, girl. I can help us learn from them."

A consummate businesswoman, Dane Egonova has made it a priority to turn the Empire's business and industry from its backwater state compared to the Deep Core to a power that can rival Terra itself.

[ ] Lord Evgeny Aristarkhov
"M-me, your Grace? I d-do have e-experience in the running of f-finances, b-but I'm not sure w-why you're considering m-me."

Despite Evgeny Aristarkhov's insistence that his anxieties and stutter make him an unsuitable Minister for the Exchequer, it was his plan that regained you his throne. He is a veritable genius with numbers and finances, and is part of the Aristarkhov family.

[ ] Lord Bashir ibn Saddam al-Mufti
"I was wasted on my homeworld, your Grace. Your late mother, may the Primus bless her, realized my potential I believe - and I hope you can as well."

The young Lord Bashir al-Mufti has been a ward of the Rurikovich for a few years, since the murder of his father and his branch of the al-Mufti dynasty. While he is young and untested, he might bring in a new perspective - and after all, he is an al-Mufti. Finances and administration are second nature to him.

INT - Head of the Okhrana

[ ] Col. Andrei Lisitsyn
"This tragedy calls for a purge."

Soft spoken and taciturn, Colonel Andrei Lisitsyn was an Okhrana bigwig who actively opposed Ivan during the attempted coup. He is known as a counterintelligence specialist, having the most involvement in the "secret police" aspects of the job. Some might say he enjoys it… too much.

[ ] Maj. Tatiana Chernova
"Nastya, no. This isn't a good idea. I'm a field agent. Running an intelligence agency is best left to someone with experience. Will I do it if asked? Yes, of course, but-"

Your good friend Tanya has proven to be effective, loyal, and intelligent - all traits necessary in a chief spymaster. However, she is young, and has herself admitted that she doesn't think she has the leadership experience to qualify. In addition, she would be lost as a Hero Unit were she to be chosen.

[ ] Lady Daria Strigoi
"I can be your invisible shield, your Grace. The games you like to play are dangerous enough that it is necessary."

Lady Daria would call herself a foreign intelligence expert, if referring to other clans and the Imperial Demesne as "foreign" was not a social faux pas in most courts the Empire over. However, while she has served the Okhrana well as a trainer, she is a Strigoi. Her motivations will always be suspect.

LEA - Lord/Lady Minister for the Sciences

[ ] Lord Josef Nasarov
"Humanity is still such a tiny, young, frail thing in a cosmic ocean too vast to count, your Grace. I wish to shrink that ocean for humanity, if only a little bit."

Nasarov served as your mother's Lord Minister for the Sciences. He was not party to the coup at all, as he was in the Periphery on your mother's orders conducting exploration missions. He came home to quite a nasty shock - but he has still promised to maintain the same level of excellence that he gave to her. While idealistic, he is an expert on exploration - and will likely strive to make that a priority.

[ ] Lady Ming Zhou
"The Zhang have made it a priority to advance our Empire's technology by any means necessary. To aid you, your Grace, would be an honor and a privilege beyond compare."

Lady Ming Zhou is one of House Zhang's "scientific pilgrims" - a scion of a minor vassal House, sent out to advance scientific knowledge. Like other Zhang lords, Lady Ming values (and is valued for) innovation and advancement - though her tendency to "follow her inspiration" will mean that she will occasionally make recommendations that seem outwardly random.

[ ] Dr. Oleg Churbanov
"Science should always have practical applications. None of Nasarov's pie in the sky dreams or the Zhang woman's mad science. We must focus on medicine."

Dr. Oleg Churbanov is a Ministry doctor and scientist who innovated many new medical procedures and technologies. Despite being undoubtedly arrogant and condescending, even to his social betters, he is undeniably effective.