Empire: Difference between revisions

Imperial society is based on a "client" system - much like ancient Rome - and strictly stratified, with people being able to move between strata based on money, patronage and [[influence]]. It values both status and honor very highly. Whilst it is acceptable to flaunt wealth, treating people well is a question of honor - and this includes slaves. Having an unpaid debt is seen as utterly dishonorable - an honorable Imperial citizen would sell themselves into slavery to clear a debt they couldn't otherwise afford.

What is now known as the Empire began around in the middle of the 23rd century, with the architect of peace and an anti-Federation activist [[Marlin Duval]]<ref name="GalnetBirthOfAnEmpire">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/559fe59e9657ba1b5a47e853 Galnet News: The Birth of an Empire]</ref>. She had long spoken out against the oppressive Federal administration of the time. Such was her disenchantment that she gathered her family together, along with many supporters, and left the Federation. Marlin led them to a distant star system called Achenar, many light years from Sol, in order to found a new colony based on peaceful ideals. A suitable home was found orbiting Achenar 6, a Class III gas giant, and Achenar 6d was colonized. Now named [[Achenar/Capitol|Capitol]], this moon formed the core world of what would later become the Empire.

Imperial historians record that many native species were found on Capitol during colonization, which the colonists took great care to protect as best they could. Among these species, unbeknownst to the newly-formed republic, were one of the few sapient species to have been encountered by humanity. Imperial scholars have suggested a number of factors led to the extinction of this species, not least of all imported bacteria carried along with the colonists.<ref name="GalnetBirthOfAnEmpire">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/559fe59e9657ba1b5a47e853 Galnet News: The Birth of an Empire]</ref> Within a few short years, this indigenous species had been rendered extinct.

Federal historians, citing Federal decrees of the time, paint a different tale. The official Federal version of events alleges that Capitol was in fact sterilized on the orders of [[Henson Duval]], brother of Marlin Duval, prior to terraforming some years after Marlin's death. Imperial scholars disagree on whether this was due to innocent confusion over misunderstood or misrepresented information, associating plans for the terraforming of nearby world [[Achenar/Conversion|Conversion]] (a project which would not be completed until 2696) with that of the genocide, or a deliberate political smear campaign based on Marlin Duval's antagonistic relationship with the Federation.

Assuming control of the senate as Marlin's closest living heir, Henson Duval quickly disbanded the ruling council and installed himself as leader of the Achenar system's colonies. Citing the continued threats made by the Federation and their defenselessness in the face of a military invasion, Henson began a campaign of propaganda rejecting his sister's pacifistic ideals. Such was his passion and power of persuasion that he succeeded in converting the capricious colonists to his doctrines in a remarkably short period of time.

Utilizing his popularity among the colonists and strong control over the colony's government, Henson declared that control of the colony and any associated systems would pass from father to son. With this declaration in 2314, the Empire as we know it was born.

At this time, the federation continued to invite the colony to accept Federal rule and abandon their fledgling Empire. Not only were these invitations met with outright refusal, but the Empire also began to approach nearby colonies to recruit them ''away'' from the Federation. Most historians agree that this was the catalyst for the Federation's move from diplomacy to military action.

They arrived to find a fleet of military vessels and defense platforms, designed and constructed in anticipation of just such an armed invasion. It is worth noting that while Achenar did not represent the first system that the Federation had sought to bring to heel through military dominance, the primacy of the Federation had not yet been challenged at this time and historians suggest that the Federation's military may have grown complacent. While sizeable, the Federal fleet of this time was made up of multi-purpose vessels and not the warships employed by the Empire. Outgunned and outmaneuvered by the Imperial Fleet, the Federation were forced to retreat and accept the sovereignty of the Empire for the time being.

All Senators and the Emperor can ‘sit’ in the Senate, but it is rare that all participate at the same time. The Chancellor is a Senator with additional powers, and he or she runs any debates in the Senate. They are appointed by the Emperor. It is otherwise structurally flat by law, but in practice has power blocks within it, led by the more important/powerful Senators. Not all Senators are equal. There are regular votes on issues of the day, and the Senator’s voting power is the total number of Citizens (in turn represented by Clients, and blocks of Clients by Patrons) they currently represent. They are influenced by their most powerful Patrons – who in turn are not all equal, and Patrons may move their block to another Senator at a whim, particularly if they feel their current Senator is not representing the views of their Clients. Senators can lose Patrons quickly if their actions are unpopular, but bear in mind a Senator sets tax rates and healthcare for all those that support them, so can effectively bribe Patrons to ally themselves with them. The most powerful Senators can have a hundred or more times the voting power than others, and a Senate majority can be just a few of the major Senators, but honor requires that the views of all Senators are listened to politely. Before voting against them.