Freelance
Traveller
Background: During the Imperial Civil War, cool relations between the Vilani Bureaux and Lucan the Black spilled over into a public divorce between Vland and Sylea. Led by the former Archduke of Vland, the new Ziru Sirkaa proclaimed its independence in IY 1121, denying Lucan many of his financial resources for continuing his lunatic war. The emperor reacted in a predictable fashion, prosecuting a vicious Black War campaign against his former subjects. This interfered with the new state's ability to fend off marauding Vargr corsairs coming out of Windhorn, Meshan and Lishun sectors, and by 1130 these twin pressures caused the Vilani "Safe" to retract to just Vland and Kagamira subsectors.
The release of the AI virus did not impact every portion of the sector immediately. The inflow of Vargr corsairs towards Core created a backflow that slowed its coreward progression significantly. But by 1134 most of the sector had been visited by Doomslayer fleets, and unlike some sectors, virtually nothing of its interstellar community survived beyond a few worlds around Vland itself. Vland survived by the skin of its teeth and few dilapidated fleet carriers and frigates that limped through the years on borrowed parts and good luck. By NE 12 it had recovered enough of its technical base for TL-12, and sent several scouting expeditions into surrounding space. It recontacted Denebian traders in NE 17, and by NE 22 controlled a sphere of worlds within 15 parsecs of Vland. The new empire wasn't as subtle as its predecessors, and it bullied and tyrannized the reluctant coreward worlds into toeing its line. Its ambition of becoming a new Imperium blindly drove its expansion and recovery, and by NE 30 had regained TL-13.
In the late NE 30s the RVE launched a full scale invasion of the Black Sphere to rimward. Its forces had some difficulty disposing of the defending Vampire Fleets, but it recaptured Sylea in NE 41. But the fall of the Black Imperium enraged its neighbor, a vampire fleet hive in K'kree space called the Dominate. These fleets, consisting of mixed K'kree and Imperial vessels, caught the Vilani by surprise, and their overextended fleets were forced out of Sylea after taking heavy losses. By this time the RVE had absorbed political refugees from Deneb, and these had brought additional advanced technology ships to reinforce the Vilani fleets. Other ships were sent out across the Wilds to seek further allies in the war against the Dominate. In the end Vland and most of its defenders were annihilated, and the Dominate turned towards spinward, meeting defeats at Usdiki and a cross-Rift area known as Hydaspes.
With the Scouring, the RVE collapsed in anarchy. Fleets sent from the Commonwealth of Deneb in NE 52 secured the coreward portion of the sector, and subsequently expeditions from the new "Fourth Imperium" secured the rimward portion a few years later. The 4I directly administers its portion of the sector; the Commonwealth has Dawn (formerly Voshkhod subsector) and Kagamira subsectors under military administration, while subsectors farther to trailing are dominated by pocket empires allied with Deneb. Technological recovery has been slowed by latent xenophobia and resentment of outside governments, corsair raids from the Mad Dog Pact, and infighting among various Vilani factions on both sides of the frontier.
Laaru Free State
Political Organization
Oligarchic Commonwealth ruled by a Plenipotentiary Noble Council
Capital
Laaru/Vhodan (Vland 1007)
Astrography
Comprises a handful of worlds in Vhodan Subsector (Vland B). The Free State controls the worlds of Laaru (1007), Sikilar (1107), Vakhoneri (1108), Suragginsu (1109), Liwar (1110), Kummus (1206) and Vhodan (1208).
Population
Primarily Imperial culture humans of mainly Vilani descent.
Background
The LFS is a piratical state controlled by the oppressive descendants of the old subsector nobility. These nobles ganged together to prevent the takeover of their worlds by the Vhodan Republic, headquartered on Timat, which would have displaced their age-old claims in favor of local administration more amenable to reform. The nobles staged a revolt on Vakhoneri, and massive riots on Vhodan, upsetting the plans of the Republic and frustrating the efforts of their Commonwealth sponsers at creating a unified polity abutting their trailing border.
The Laaruians have proven to be both corrupt and incompetent, with both of these vices seemingly competing against each other to see how much more they can degrade the ruling class. Their worlds have sunk into misery and poverty, and they suppress dissidence via the judicious use of irregular paramilitaries and professional rioters who deal out vicious street justice. All trade vessels are under the control of the ruling class, otherwise known as the Khamii, and access to their worlds is strictly controlled. However the Free State only boasts of one TL-9 world, and attempts to rebuild further have been stymied by their own venality and technical incompetence. Trade from the Commonwealth has been diverted around their boundaries, and many nobles seem content with the status quo, particularly the lords of Vakhoneri. Meanwhile the Vhodan Republic has continued to progress technologically and culturally, and is mounting increasing pressure on the Free State by dint of its greater technology and wealth, not to mention the strong support of the Commonwealth.
Republic of Vhodan
Political Organization
Oligarchic Commonwealth ruled by a Plenipotentiary Council and Civil Service.
Capital
Timat/Vhodan (Vland 1406)
Astrography
Rim and trailing worlds of Vhodan subsector, plus worlds of spinward-rimward Anarsi Subsector (Vland C). These include Enpar Konal (1309), Diiron (1405), Timat, Guusimka (1407), Maran (1408), Odinaga (1505), Audhumla (1509), Dannar (1606), Riinel (1608) and Sakkuum (1609) in Vhodan; worlds in Anarsi include Zelaklaka (1708), Zigaadig (1709), Tollori (1710), and Ranilson (1807). Also claims Kema (1311) and Karka (1412) in Kagamira Subsector (Vland F)
Population
Imperial culture humans of mixed Solomani-Vilani descent. A small number of Viral and Vargr citizens live peacefully in its boundaries.
Background
New Era polity founded by Timat. The Timatians had managed to reestablish interstellar travel using salvaged starships. But several near disasters convinced them of the need to unify themselves and their neighbors into a single state capable of withstanding outside invasions or other disasters. The fear that a Vampire fleet more powerful and inimical than the benign fleet that first visited Timat created many incentives for a redoubling of research and development efforts, and a willingness to do whatever measures were necessary to secure the worlds safety. In this case making deals first with the RVE, and then the Commonwealth, to help secure funding and tech transfers. This end justifies the means philosophy has had a corrupting effect upon the Republic's government, and the state is actually a fractured oligarchy suspended between rival guilds or bureaucrats. The Republic strongly resembles Renaissance Italy on old Terra, with rival power cliques waging wars of intrigue and assassination against each other. The military has somehow managed to stay out of the fray, which is fortunate given powerful enemies like Vargr corsairs and the Laaru Free State.
The discord has not damaged the Republic, as the competition for power has allowed the business communities on Timat, Riinel and Diiron to operate rather freely, oftentimes in commercial partnerships with various Commonwealth government and private agencies. The Republic has managed to advance to TL-12, and has a number of large warships between TL 11-12 to deter piracy and invasion. The greater success of their economy and society has convinced the Republicans of their superiority over Laaru, which they consider a den of iniquity that very much deserves to be snuffed out. The oligarchs are particularly upset over the loss of Vhodan, which makes the name of their Republic a mockery. Their military adventurism has been restrained by economic considerations and not so subtle Commonwealth diplomacy.
Aegenokh Commonwealth
Political Organization
Federated republic ruled by a two-division parliamentary government (executive-legislative council and independent judiciary) overseen by an office known as the Sovereign General.
Capital
Aegenokh/Voenggaks (Windhorn 2336)
Astrography
A group of twenty worlds in trailing Voenggaks and Kishadiku subsectors (Vland Subsectors O and P) connected by a j-1 main. In Voenggaks it controls the worlds of Thangaedh (2034), Thoengoukhs (2134), Aelgaloedzuen (2232), Thoeo (2233), Orag (2234), Okueallnurr (2335), Aegenokh (2336), Soeoukae (2337), Voeong (2434), Knazoe (2435). Worlds in Kishadiku include Zorrueghiueng (2535), Oeguekhs (2536), Thoei (2537), Llungthung (2634), Rozi (2637), Ghuezoldaedz (2638), Ksuvou (2639), Feoug (2734), Gzarikhs (2735), and Kfanedzllou (2835)
Population
Mainly Vargr with some human minority populations. No minor races present.
Background
The Aegenokh Commonwealth is what remains of a Pre-Collapse Vargr state known as the 17th Disjuncture. The Disjuncture invaded portions of Vland and Lishun sector after the withdrawal of the Lishun sector fleet by Emperor Lucan the Black. It conquered a large portion of Anarsi subsector, but fell quickly to Virus during the Collapse. Only a small base on Aegenokh managed to stave off Virus' complete victory. This small fleet of jump-capable ships managed to recontact several worlds, including Newcastle/Anarsi (Vland 1801), and by the time the Ziru Sirkaa managed to reexpand after NE 20, it had become an important coreward trade center.
The Vilani did not come this far coreward during their hectic reclamation project, but their merchants did brisk trade with the world. A shortage of j-drive parts prevented the Vargr from repairing their fleet, however, and a deliberate program of delaying the sell and shipping of these parts from their empire gave the Vilani virtual control over it as a client state. Disillusioned government officials eventually enlisted their own special operation units to steal several Vilani merchant ships, under the guise of corsairs, and strip their drives for the vital components. The Dominate invasion of NE 43, and subsequent Scouring, forced many Vilani merchant and naval crews to flee for coreward, and several of these were seized and added to the Aegenokh fleet. First contact with the Commonwealth of Deneb in NE 53 brought badly needed spare parts and technical assistance.
Since then, the newly proclaimed Aegenokh Commonwealth has rapidly absorbed a number of former Wilds worlds to coreward and trailing. Many of these were already important trading partners, and these used their commercial importance to leverage their liberators into creating an equal partnership under the new interstellar government. The member worlds have proportional representation in the Commonwealth Parliament, and three or four different political parties jostle for majority control of the government. The Sovereign General is a semi-hereditary, mostly symbolic post reserved for prominent families instrumental for founding the Commonwealth; usually the post goes to retired politicians who pass the office down to their relatives. The military is heavily represented in Parliament, and military victory is often an easy way to garner enough popular support to obtain a seat. Its military is well equipped to TL-12 standards, and has thus far deterred major damage from raiders operating under the Mad Dog Pact.
Of all the new states to trailing of Deneb, Aegenokh has a large enough population, good technological infrastructure and enough resources to survive among all of them. Its strength is reflected in its very liberal constitution, which is many times more progressive than its neighbors, and permits some liberties not present in Deneb's own Covenant. The government hopes to eventually absorb all of Kishadiku subsector in the next decade, and its long term goals include absorbing most of the 17th Disjuncture's former territory. Its ambition has become evident to the Mad Dog Pact, and the latter has stepped up its own political organisation in hopes of creating its own unified state to deter or defeat it.
Newcastle Reach
Political Organization
Republic ruled by Newcastle planetary government, a feudal technocracy divided between different commercial bodies.
Capital
Newcastle/Anarsi (Vland 1801)
Astrography
Coreward-spinward worlds of Anarsi subsector (Vland C) and some worlds in Voenggaks subsector (Windhorn O). In Vland Sector, the Newcastle Reach possesses the worlds of Taksaargh (1701), Dathsuts (1703), Rronateuts (1704), Ugarun (1705), Newcastle (1801), Zannokh (1802), Ronni (1803), Kashiin (1804), Ghurrllekh (1901), Gemid (1903) and Daama (1904). Windhorn worlds are Roetingaz (1840), Suthgzu (2040) and Sueighz (2140)
Population
Heavily mixed Human and Vargr population. The Vargr are mainly refugees from the Ngath Confederation, a Pre-Collapse state to coreward. Much of the human population includes adventurous Commoner colonists from Corridor sector and trailing parts of Sabinar Federation.
Background
Nexus state founded by the planetary government of Newcastle (1801) in NE 51 to provide security and prosperity. The Reach has worlds in both Vland and Meshan sectors, and its population is a mix of humans and Vargr. The state started out mostly at the behest of Newcastle, who spent considerable energy and time in persuading its neighbors to join or support their efforts. Among the most notable of its joint efforts has been the reclamation of Gemid (1903) and the resettlement of Ugarun (1705). But generally it has been less expansionistic than the neighboring Vhodan Republic, seeking only to gain enough military and political power to simultaneously attract trade and deter attacks by Vargr corsairs operating under the flag of the notorious "Mad Dog Pact".
The Reach government is a highly efficient feudal technocracy. More inclusive than the Newcastle planetary government, it has equal parts Vargr and human governors and officials. The executive council is divided into several different bodies to prevent one faction from seizing too much power, and the body is presided over by a Chancellor elected on a rotating basis from the senior planetary leadership. Government policies are mostly bent towards economic development and keeping the peace among the member worlds. To implement the latter, the Reach military is organized as a small but well equipped force with brand new TL-14 material and weaponry. Most of its navy is equipped with small ships of less than 5000 tons displacement, but these have proven more suitable for defending against the smaller, slashing raiders favored by the Mad Dogs' forces. Larger naval units, including a squadron of light cruisers and several heavy monitors, are maintained for deterring larger aggressors and projecting strength in the direction of the later Renewed Vilani Empire and its surviving allies. More commonly the Reach sends out small converted bulk carriers equipped with its ubiquitous 70 ton fighters and attack pinnaces to deal with most threats. Many of these forces are accompanied by starmercs operating in Reach livery paid for by a mixture of local and Commonwealth subsidy.
With its small population and industrial base, the Reach government is unwilling to add too much territory out of the fear of overextension. It currently has more than enough territory, straining its existing defenses. Future plans call for renewed expansion to trailing with the goal of closing the gap with the Aegenokh Commonwealth. For the interim it is content with attracting as many colonists as possible from the Commonwealth. Much of the population has immigrated from the Commonwealth or war devastated regions along its borders in the last thirty years or so, and the coreward and trailing emphasis on its trade and military policies often compete with cultural issues that lead back to spinward.