Stellar Reaches #24: A Fair Use Fanzine For Traveller

Stellar Reaches Issue #24 Summer 2014 Page 2
Stellar Reaches
A Fair Use Fanzine for Traveller
1ab|e of Contents
Letter Irom 1he Ld|tor .................................................................................................................................. 3
8I1S 1ask System ........................................................................................................................................... 4
ersona||ty rof||es III ................................................................................................................................... S
et|t|on ..................................................................................................................................................... 104
C|d 8us|ness: 1he Scent of Death .............................................................................................................. 116
1he Assoc|at|on of nope ............................................................................................................................ 117
Lega| ......................................................................................................................................................... 128

Issue #24, Summer 2014. Vers|on 4.
lounder: !ason llynn" kemp. LdlLor: 2003-2010
Cur webslLe: www.sLellarreaches.com

Cred|ts:
Cover ArL: noL everyone seLLles on breaLhable worlds orblLlng healLhy, warm suns. Some 1ravellers prefer Lo
spend Lhelr flnal days ln a land of allen, hosLlle beauLy. 1hls graphlc ls LlLled 8ed uwarf" !usLlnas vlLkus. See
hls work aL hLLp://[usLv23.devlanLarL.com/arL/8ed-dwarf-348711339
Cover LayouL: Alvln W. lummer
ConLrlbuLlng ArLlsLs: 8en Andrews, LevenL 8ozkurL, Coran uellc, Zee uurranl, Cabrlel Cad[os, Luls Carlos
Cuerrelro, Maglkunlcorn, 8oberL Maschke, 8on, Malo, Maxlm, !usLlnas vlLkus, Max v. nlmos, nASA/!L/Space
Sclence lnsLlLuLe, ArLur 8osa, nell 1hacker, Ceoffroy 1hoorens, !usLlnas vlLkus, SebasLlan Wegner
ConLrlbuLlng AuLhors: Alvln W. lummer
LdlLor/LayouL ueslgn: Alvln W. lummer

1he 8I1S 1ask System, alLhough modlfled Lo lnclude 1raveller 120 dlfflculLy classes, has been provlded wlLh
permlsslon by 8r|t|sh Is|es 1rave||er Support (8I1S). lLs presence here does noL consLlLuLe any challenge Lo Lhe
rlghLs for Lhls sysLem, and we graLefully acknowledge uomlnlc Mooney and Andy Lllly for Lhelr generoslLy ln
allowlng our use of Lhls sysLem Lo allow fuLure advenLures Lo be wrlLLen ln such a manner as Lo be more useful Lo
all publlshed 1raveller rules seLs.

lor more lnformaLlon on 8l1S, check ouL Lhelr webslLe aL hLLp://www.blLs.org.uk/

1he Ste||ar keaches fanzlne ls publlshed wlLhouL charge or cosL under Lhe approprlaLe lalr use and Cnllne pollcles
publlshed by Lhe varlous holders of Lhe 1raveller llcense. lor ease of reference and as requlred by Lhese lalr use
pollcles, Lhe approprlaLe LexL of Lhese pollcles ls lncluded ln Lhe legal secLlon aL Lhe end of Lhls publlcaLlon.

CopyrlghL of Crlglnal MaLerlal:
All orlglnal maLerlal ln Lhe SLellar 8eaches fanzlne noL deslgnaLed as Cpen Came ConLenL, or noL oLherwlse
proLecLed under Lhe copyrlghLs of oLher enLlLles, ls copyrlghL 2014 by Lhe orlglnal auLhors and arLlsLs, as
ldenLlfled ln Lhe byllne wlLh each arLlcle or conLrlbuLlon.

no porLlon of Lhls fanzlne may be reproduced ln any form or by any means wlLhouL permlsslon ln wrlLlng from Lhe
auLhor or arLlsL holdlng LhaL speclflc conLenL's copyrlghL.

Letter From The Editor
CreeLlngs, lellow SophonLs:

1hls lssue ls really abouL plcLures and personallLles. 1hlrLy-four separaLe personallLles, ranglng from a dead SecLor
uuke Lo a llvlng underworld negoLlaLor, are loaded ln Lhe ersonallLy roflles lll" arLlcle. Leaders are generally
emphaslsed, as Lhey are Lhe ones who shapes games and campalgns, lnfluenclng boLh Lhe naLure of Lhe flghL and
Lhe klnd of goal belng foughL for, for good or lll. 1here are a good selecLlon of sLralghL up good guys, vlllalnous bad
guys, and mysLerlous grey guys as well. MosL are Lled Lo Lhe mlllLary or commerce, wlLh Lhe occaslonal pslon,
dlplomaL, or nun Lossed ln.

A speclal efforL was made Lo hlghllghL llnks, connecLlons, and relaLlonshlps beLween Lhe varlous lnLersLellar Lrlbes
of Lhe LmpLy CuarLer. Scl-fl Lechnology and far fuLure ldeas are whaL make sclence flcLlon sclence flcLlon, buL Lhe
sLorles worLh Lelllng are abouL personallLles, noL absLracLlons, governmenLs, or Lechnologlcal know-how. And
LhaL's how lL should be: lL ls Lhe human soul LhaL ls lmmorLal, noL emplres or Lools, however advanced or powerful.

U

Whlle personallLles (and Lhelr advenLure hooks) are Lhe prlmary focus of Lhls lssue of Ste||ar keaches, lL lsn'L Lhe
sole focus.

ln eLlLlon", l ouLllne a slmple lnLeracLlon beLween a band of Cs represenLlng a gulld of sLar Lraders and Lhe
currenL SecLor uuke, aLLempLlng Lo negoLlaLe a break for Lhelr membershlp. l ended up maklng Lhe appendlxes
blgger Lhan Lhe sLory, [usL Lo keep Lrack of all Lhe undercurrenLs Lhe slLuaLlon could Louch on, from Lhe naLure of
lmperlal Ponour Lo Lhe clLy dlsLrlcLs. Lven Lhe very membershlp of Lhe C Leam ls shaped by Lhe envlronmenL lLs ln
and Lhe membershlp lL represenLs, and can be foughL over ln Lhls scenarlo.

WlLh Cld 8uslness: 1he ScenL of ueaLh", l reach back Lo Lhe 'CounLles and Churches' alLernaLe unlverse of Ste||ar
keaches #22 Lo flnlsh up one of Lhe ma[or loose ends: Lhe desLlny of Lhe vargr. 1he wlnners wrlLe Lhe hlsLory
books: buL everyone faces defeaL aL some polnL ln Lhelr llves, and a full-orbed undersLandlng of Lhe CreaLlon we
llve ln wlll Lake Lhls lnLo accounL as well.

8ole-playlng games generally focus on Lhe lndlvldual, Lhe C group, and some governmenLs as Lhe maln acLors, buL
l llke Lo keep an eye ouL for charlLles as well. So of course l fleshed ouL Lhe AssoclaLlon of Pope ln Lhe arLlcle of Lhe
same name, Louchlng on lLs hlsLory, goals, personnel, and suchllke.

U

1o geL Lhrough Lhe hardesL [ourney we need Lake one sLep aL a Llme, buL we musL keep on sLepplng." 1hls ls one
of Lhe drlvlng LhoughLs behlnd Lhe enLlre LmpLy CuarLer. MosL of my characLers are ln Lhe mlddle of a Lough -
even a doomed - flghL, buL Lhey have no lnLeresL ln glvlng up merely because lL's Lough. 1he goal ls worLh Lhe
sLruggle, and Lhe prlces Lo be pald, however sLeep.

U

A flnal word of Lhanks Lo Lhe arLlsLs around Lhe world who so generously helped Lo brlng Ste||ar keaches allve!
May Cod's love shlne on all of your hearLs, and your klndness repald sevenfold!

8eadlng ahead,
Alvln W. lummer
LdlLor, Ste||ar keaches fanzlne

BITS Task System
lrom pg. 8, 8l1S WrlLers' Culdellnes !une 1999. CopyrlghL 1999, 8l1S. All 8lghLs 8eserved.
120 Cpen Came ConLenL from Lhe arLlcle LxLendlng Lhe 1ask 8esoluLlon SysLem Lo 120" CopyrlghL 2003, !ason kemp.

Mega1raveller (M1), 1raveller: 1he new Lra (1nL) and Marc Mlller's 1raveller (14) all use a graduaLed sysLem of Lask dlfflculLy
raLlngs - Average, ulfflculL, lormldable, eLc. 'Classlc' 1raveller (C1) and Cu8S 1raveller (C1) use modlflers Lo Lhe Lask rolls
lnsLead. 1raveller 120 (120) uses dlfflculLy classes (uCs) Lo deflne LargeL numbers for sklll checks. 1he 8l1S 1ask SysLem provldes
a slmpllfled common ground for all Lhese rule seLs, uslng dlfflculLy raLlngs wlLh correspondlng Lask modlflers for C1 and C1 and
uCs for 120 as shown ln 1able 1. 1he means by whlch specLacular (C1: crlLlcal) success or fallure are achleved are deflned by Lhe
rule seL used. Slmllarly, Lhe CM should apply Lhe rules for speclal Lasks - opposed, co-operaLlve, hasLy, cauLlous, eLc. -
accordlng Lo Lhe rule seL used. As always, Lhese are only guldellnes - Lhe CM may alLer any Lask roll as approprlaLe Lo enhance
Lhe game.

1A8LL 1: 1ASk DIIIICUL1ILS
8l1S 1ask
ulfflculLy
14
ulfflculLy
14.1
ulfflculLy
C1 1argeL
Modlfler
1nL
ulfflculLy
M1
ulfflculLy
C1 1argeL
Modlfler
120
uC
Lasy Lasy (AuLo) Lasy (1u) +6 Lasy Slmple -4 10
Average Average (2u) Average (2u) +3 Average 8ouLlne -2 13
ulfflculL ulfflculL (2.3u) ulfflculL (2.3u) 0 ulfflculL ulfflculL 0 20
lormldable lormldable (3u) lormldable (3u) -3 lormldable ulfflculL +2 23
SLaggerlng lmposslble (4u) SLaggerlng (4u) -6 lmposslble lormldable +4 30
lmposslble (3u) Popeless (3u) -9 lmposslble lmposslble +6 33
Popeless (6u) lmposslble (6u) -12 lmposslble lmposslble +8 40

Lx. Marla Charles ls forglng a complex documenL, whlch Lhe CM rules ls a SLaggerlng Lask. Marla has lorgery-4 (C1: lorgery-16,
120: lorgery +18) and Lhe relevanL aLLrlbuLe (M1, 14) ls ln1 10 (1nL: ln1 9, 120: 13).
C1: 1ask success ls normally 2u + Sklll >= 8. Marla requlres 2u + lorgery >= 12 (8 + 4 for SLaggerlng dlfflculLy). AlLernaLlvely, Lhe
CM may prefer Lo apply Lhe LargeL modlfler as a negaLlve modlfler on Lhe dlce roll, l.e. 2u + 4 - 4 >= 8.
M1: SLaggerlng dlfflculLy ls equlvalenL Lo M1's lormldable (13+), Lhus Lhe Lask ls 2u + Sklll + (SLaL / 3) >= 13. lor Marla Lhls ls: 2u
+ 4 + 2 >= 13.
1NL: SLaggerlng dlfflculLy ls equlvalenL Lo 1nL's lmposslble, Lhus Lhe Lask ls d20 <= (Sklll + SLaL) x x. lor Marla Lhls ls d20 <= 3,
l.e. (9 + 4) / 4 rounded down.
14: Marla requlres 4u <= ln1 + lorgery. (noLe LhaL 14's SLaggerlng raLlng of 3.3u ls lgnored.)
G1: Marla requlres 3u <= lorgery + 1argeL Modlfler, l.e. 3u <= 16 - 6.
120: Marla requlres d20 + 18 >= 30. (noLe LhaL Lhe ln1 modlfler ls already facLored lnLo Lhe sklll check.)

1ask deflnlLlons should always be used sparlngly - Lhe CM should be able Lo deflne Lhe dlfflculLy and requlred skllls and
equlpmenL for mosL Lasks uslng common sense. Where sLrange skllls or equlpmenL are needed, Lhese can usually be llsLed,
wlLhouL requlrlng a full Lask deflnlLlon. Where a full Lask deflnlLlon ls requlred, use Lhe followlng formaL (you don'L need Lo use
Lhe bold or lLallcs formaLLlng, plaln LexL ls flne):

1o flnd a boar:
ulfflculL 8econ (C1: 1racklng), or
ulfflculL PunLlng (120: /PunLlng), or
lormldable Survlval
+1 ulfflculLy lf rldlng aL full gallop.
+1 ulfflculLy lf losL.
-1 ulfflculLy lf movlng slowly.
!"#$%&$'(&) !'$$#++: 1hey have surprlsed a boar and have one round Lo acL before lL reacLs.
!'$$#++: 1hey have found boar Lracks and can begln followlng Lhem.
,&-(')#: no Lracks found.
!"#$%&$'(&) ,&-(')#: 1hey have become losL.

+1 ulfflculLy lndlcaLes a harder Lask (e.g. an Average Lask becomes ulfflculL) whereas -1 ulfflculLy ls an easler Lask
(e.g. ulfflculL would become Average).

NC1L: 1hls sysLem has been exLenslvely play-LesLed buL suggesLlons for reflnemenLs are always welcome.
Personality Profiles III

.//( +0-"+ /1 0/% 2/)(3+4 5 +#1-/) 6-+-%/) &))-6#+ /1 7#8)-19 ::; <="#)-&(>
1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "Crush Land|ng" Goran De||c
See h|s work at http:]]de||c.dev|antart.com]art]Crush-|and|ng-39S620460

8revet Commodore 8aron Iadeep Upadhayay, Imper|a| Navy
u 83C8CC, Age 38, LasL lndlan Solomanl
Skllls: Shlp 1acLlcs - 3, Pandgun - 2, vacc SulL - 2, Admln - 2, Lnglneerlng - 2, lleeL 1acLlcs - 1, 8rawllng - 1,
SLreeLwlse - 1, Carouslng - 1, navlgaLlon - 1, Laser Weapon - 1, CravlLlcs - 1, Shlps 8oaL - 1, Mechanlcal - 1, Medlcal
- 0, lorgery - 0, Crav vehlcle - 0, CompuLer - 0, LlngulsLlcs - 0, PunLlng - 0, ulsgulse - 0,8rlbery - 0, lnLerrogaLlon - 0

Languages: Angllc (1ransform, naLlve), Angllc (!ullan)

1ools & Alds: Commodore Lupadhayay ls usually armed wlLh a plsLol

vlsual: A falrly llghL-sklnned, solldly-bullL LasL lndlan, well-groomed, wlLh a Lhln beard and a sLrong mlllLary
bearlng. Pe only seems Lo wear elLher an lmperlal navy unlform, or Lhe sumpLuous cloLhlng of a respecLed
lmperlal 8aron. (1-shlrLs? !eans? Sneakers? WhaL manner of dress ls LhaL?")

Cpenlng 1heme: 1oLo, Afrlca" hLLps://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=l1CblnvZqa?
1

1
l'd [usL llke Lo polnL ouL here c31's recommended soundLracks for wargames,
hLLp://www.c3lopscenLer.com/currenLops/2014/02/01/soundLracks-boardgames-andy-cassaveLes/. l selecL my Lracks accordlng Lo Lhe


Summary
A hlghly decoraLed naval offlcer from lrash, Commodore 8aron upadhayay capLalns Lhe 5tello CloJlo, a 1L 13
Sabrewolf-class, 3000-Lon lleeL uesLroyer, one of Lhe mosL powerful lmperlal asseLs sLlll Lled Lo Lhe CuarLer.
Commodore upadhayay has a very exLenslve amounL of connecLlons wlLhln Lhe regular lmperlal navy, whlch he
used Lo remaln ln Lhe CuarLer wlLh a useful shlp lnsLead of headlng Lo Lhe Cld Lxpanses wlLh Lhe resL of Lhe secLor
fleeL. Pls unofflclal auLhorlLy ls a good deal larger Lhan LhaL of a slngle shlp, belng Lhe senlor regular navy offlcer ln
Pebrln subsecLor.

n|story
upadhayay sLarLed ouL as an ordlnary offlcer recrulL, wlLh hls enLry lnLo Lhe Academy greased by hls lnfluenLlal
faLher - and hls membershlp ln a powerful Plndu mlllLary casLe. Pe has done qulLe well ln Lhe servlce, conslsLenLly
surpasslng expecLaLlons even ln dlfflculL clrcumsLances, and galnlng Lralnlng ln varlous speclallzed schools. Pls
resulLs and hls naLural gregarlousness have neLLed hlm a loL of frlends ln Lhe lmperlal governmenL, and a loL of
favours he can call upon lf needed.

o||t|cs
ln Lhe Lrlbal raclal/rellglous pollLlcs wlLhln Lhe secLor, 8aron !adeep ls also Lhe unofflclal leader of Lhe LasL
lndlan/Plndu group wlLhln Lhe lmperlal navy, and ls expecLed Lo speak up for Lhelr concerns: forLunaLely for
lmperlal rule, boLh he and hls lmperlal navy counLerparLs among Musllm Arabs, Amerlcan lndlans, 8wap, Lazlsarl,
and vllanl use Lhelr lnfluence Lo resolve confllcLs and keep everyone unlLed agalnsL Lhe plraLe foe, lnsLead of
lndulglng ln secLarlan hosLlllLles.
2

As CapLaln, 8aron !adeep was one of Lhe few who remalned unLouched by Lhe Shadow CarLel corrupLlon of Lhe
senlor lmperlal offlcers of Pebrln, and hls leadershlp of Lhe Colonlal forces agalnsL Lhe Pebrln plraLe bases was
lnsLrumenLal ln Lurnlng Lhe Llde agalnsL Lhem ln Pebrln subsecLor, and [usLlfled hls breveL promoLlon Lo
Commodore. Pe ls presslng Lo have Lhe new AdmlralLy leadershlp Lo leL hlm loose agalnsL Lhe plraLe bands LhaL are
sLlll harasslng shlpplng ln Lhe subsecLor: buL Lhe AdmlralLy ls more lnLeresLed ln proLecLlng Lhe lce shlps of Pebrln -
whlch keeps allve Lhe bllllons of Lhe world - Lhan ln proLecLlng lnLersLellar commerce.

(?es, proLecLlng Lhose sLarshlps beyond Lhe 100-dlameLer world boundary ls an lmperlal responslblllLy. SLlll, Lhe
lmperlal offlcer ls focused on Lhe eotlte subsecLor, whlle Lhe subsecLor Colonlal admlralLy (pracLlcally speaklng, Lhe
Pebrln sysLem navy) - under whose auLhorlLy he now serves, unLll Lhe regular lleeL reLurns - ls prlmarlly
concerned wlLh proLecLlng Lhe bllllons on Lhelr homeworld, unsurprlslngly.)

1he uuchess of udusls subsecLor has made lL clear LhaL lf 8aron !adeep chooses Lo reLlre from lmperlal servlce,
Lhere ls an Admlral rank & posLlng walLlng for hlm ln Lhe lrashl Colonlal navy. So far, Lhe 8aron has declded Lo Lurn
lL down, and conLlnues Lo flghL for Lhe lmperlal lnLeresL ln Pebrln subsecLor.

C Connect|ons
Plndu naval Cs wlLhln Lhe Slx SubsecLors look up Lo hlm as a genulne hero, as a model Lo emulaLe, and as Lhe
defender of Lhelr culLural/Lrlbal lnLeresLs wlLhln Lhe navy. Cs from oLher eLhnos slmply see hlm as slmply a
respecLed, culLured, and able leader of sophonLs.

characLer and Lhe slLuaLlon, buL my goals dlffer from mosL wargammers. And, [usL ln case you are lnLeresLed ln wargames . have you
consldered Str|ker, Str|ker II, Snapshot, 8r||||ant Lances, 8att|e k|der, or Imper|um from CuW? Look Lhem up aL
hLLp://www.rpgnow.com/
2
Pere's Lhe Lhlng abouL Lhe Slx SubsecLors. ln Lhe WesL of Lhe 20
Lh
/21
sL
cenLury, we naLurally assume LhaL Lhe mlllLary's loyalLy Lo Lhe SLaLe
surpasses/subsumes alleglances Lo race, rellglon, locallLy, and leader. 1hls ls noL ootomotlcolly Lrue ln Lhe Slx SubsecLors: even ln Lhe
lmperlal navy, many offlcers musL cooscloosly push for unlLy under Lhe lmperlal SLarbursL. (See: Lhe assasslnaLlon of lndlra Candhl.)
nobody ossomes lmparLlallLy ln Lhe CuarLer: a repuLaLlon for ob[ecLlvlLy, falr-mlndedness and unblased [udgmenL musL be earned before
Lhe keenly waLchlng eyes of all.

ln hls lmperlal capaclLy, Lhe Commodore may well glve Cs anLl-plraLe asslgnmenLs LhroughouL Pebrln subsecLor, lf
Lhe Cs are ln lmperlal servlce. lf noL, Lhen Lhe Cs are senlor lmperlal-allled sLarmercs, hlred by a corporaLlon,
who Lap lnLo Commodore upadhayay's knowledge and lnformed advlce when plannlng operaLlons.
3

Ma[or Worry
Llke mosL lmperlal and Colonlal offlcers ln Lhe Slx SubsecLors, Commodore upadhayay's number one concern ls Lhe
comlng of Lhe hlgh-Lech lkonaz lraLes ln force Lo rob and sLeal - and perhaps, Lo sLay and rule. 1he Commodore
leads one of Lhe mosL powerful lmperlal vessels remalnlng ln Lhe CuarLer, save Lhe dlsLanL 1oklLre Squadron - buL
he would need Lo lead Lhe sysLem's mlllLary perfecLly - and ln perfecL co-ordlnaLlon wlLh Lhe ground baLLerles - Lo
geL hls chance Lo repel such a force. Accordlng Lo Lhe LradlLlons of hls famlly and casLe, deaLh ls Lhe only excuse for
falllng aL such a crlLlcal mlsslon as proLecLlng Lhe lmperlal subsecLor caplLal.

WlLh a small group of LrusLed lmperlal offlcers, Lhe Commodore ls runnlng several dry runs and models of llkely
engagemenLs agalnsL an lkonaz lncurslon. 1he mosL llkely scenarlos looks bad. bad, buL noL lmposslble. 8uL whaL
Lhe Commodore really wanLs are more proper 1L L warshlps - even [usL one more Saberwolf-class desLroyer would
expand hls LacLlcal opLlons slgnlflcanLly.

Closlng 1heme: Clobus, rellaLor" - hLLps://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=3q6skx8Lnsl

5$)/++ %0# <="#)-'=9 1'=#)/'+ 3)?9 3#+#)% 2/)(3+ (-@# 7#8)-1 )#(? /1 %0# <$# A)&3# B/) %0#-) 3&-(? #C-+%#1$# D &
8'+-1#++ %0&% $/=#+ 2-%0 -%+ /21 +0&)# /B )-+@+ &13 3&1E#)+> !/=#20#)# -1 7#8)-1F+ /'%#) +?+%#=9 ::G <="#)-&(>
1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "Crash Land|ng" Iust|nas V|tkus
See h|s work at http:]][ustv23.dev|antart.com]art]Crash-Landed-379114S03

3
1hls belng Lhe LmpLy CuarLer, 993, lL doesn'L Lake much Lo be a noLable mercenary. A sLarmerc group wlLh Lhree sLarshlps and a falrly
decenL vlcLory and 8ules of War record would flL Lhe blll, easlly. (And, Llmes belng whaL Lhey are, Lhe Commodore won'L puL Loo much on
Lhe 8ules of War buslness lf Lhe Cs weren'L Loo publlc abouL Lhelr aLroclLles, and avolded any ma[or challenge of lmperlal auLhorlLy.)


Ship: Stella Gladio Class: Saberwolf Block I
Type: Fleet Destroyer Architect: Alvin Plummer
Tech Level: 13

USP
DF-E146AF5-090000-97006-0 MCr 5,266.672 5 KTons
Bat Bear 1 11 1 Crew: 57
Bat 1 11 1 TL: 13

Cargo: 16 Crew Sections: 5 of 12 Fuel: 2,500 EP: 500 Agility: 6 Marines: 5
Craft: 1 x 50T Modular Cutter
Fuel Treatment: Fuel Scoops and On Board Fuel Purification

Architects Fee: MCr 52.667 Cost in Quantity: MCr 4,213.338

Detailed Description

HULL
5,000 tons standard, 70,000 cubic meters,
Needle/Wedge Configuration

CREW
14 Officers, 38 Ratings, 5 Marines

ENGINEERING
Jump-4, 6G Manoeuvre, Power plant-10, 500 EP, Agility 6

AVIONICS
Bridge, Model/6fib Computer

HARDPOINTS
50 Hardpoints

ARMAMENT
10x Dual Missile Turrets organised into 1 Battery (Factor-6),
10x Triple Beam Laser Turrets organised into 1 Battery (Factor-9),
20x Dual Plasma Gun Turrets organised into 1 Battery (Factor-7)

DEFENCES
10 Triple Sandcaster Turrets organised into 1 Battery (Factor-9)

CRAFT
1 50-ton Modular Cutter (Crew of 2)

FUEL
2,500 Tons Fuel (4 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance)
On Board Fuel Scoops, On Board Fuel Purification Plant

MISCELLANEOUS
32 Staterooms, 16 Tons Cargo

USER DEFINED COMPONENTS
None

COST
MCr 5,319.339 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 52.667),
MCr 4,213.338 in Quantity

CONSTRUCTION TIME
148 Weeks Singly, 118 Weeks in Quantity

COMMENTS
Based off of the "Saberwolf Fleet Destroyer, Traveller20's Traveller's Aide #7, Fighting Ships
supplement, page 36. In 993, this is an aging but serviceable class within the Imperial Navy.
Many ships have been partly upgraded to TL 14, and there are now TL 14 vessels built from the
keel up: but not the Stella Gladio. The ship like the rest in her class, named after Terran
vessels of the Interstellar War era was deemed unfit for service in the Solomani Rim
battlespace, and left behind when the mass of the Fleet left.

This vessel is supposed to be used in groups of five, and led by a light cruiser. That isnt
going to happen: but thanks to the able leadership of her captain, the Stella Gladio has done
well as a guardian of Hebrin subsector.


Cskfa'r kr'rukhghadh||shon, nead of the 1|rrradk
u 3u78CL, Age 38, Cvaghoun vargr
Skllls: Shlp 1acLlcs - 3, lleeL 1acLlcs - 2, LlngulsLlcs - 2, Llalson - 2, vacc SulL - 2, A1v - 2, LlecLronlcs - 2, 8econ - 1,
Pandgun - 1, lnflghLlng - 1, uemollLlons - 1, PlsLory - 1, SLreeLwlse - 1, 8lfleman - 1, Wheeled vehlcle - 0,

Languages: kuummommoengh (Cvaghoun/lrlllLok language, naLlve), !ullan Angllc, lkonaz (vargr)

1ools and Alds: A servlce plsLol, and a ceremonlal knlfe (push dagger, slmllar Lo a ulu)
vlsual: A premaLurely aglng, buL sLlll aglle and alerL, moLLled brown/black/grey furred vargr. now ouL of mlllLary
servlce, he dresses rlchly, as an lkonaz vargr of hls charlsma ls expecLed Lo.

Cpenlng 1heme: Shlro Saglsu, LM10A_LdlL#070703",
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=usuPqWk6gL8

H'(-1&3F+ ")#%%? %#$0#3I'" B/) & J'+0E'+- 2/)(3K &+ & +#$%/) $&"-%&(9 %0#)#F+ & E//3 &=/'1% /B /BBI2/)(3
-="/)%#3 %#$01/(/E? 8#-1E "'% %/ 2/)@> L&-1%&-1-1E -% $/'(3 8# very ('$)&%-6#4
1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "Cuts|de the Wa||ed C|ty" Ne|| 1hacker
See h|s work at http:]]www.renderos|ty.com]mod]ga||ery]|ndex.php?|mage_|d=2492220&np

n|story
Crlglnally, kr'rukhghadhllshon wanLed Lo be an admlnlsLraLor ln Lhe vllanl-sLyle bureaucracy LhaL governed hls
lkonlc underwaLer seLLlemenL (aL Lhe Llme - governmenLs come and go among Lhe vargr), buL hls sLrong culLural
llnks Lo Lhe lrlllLok and hls LalnLed Cvaghoun bloodllne puL an end Lo LhaL dream. lnsLead, he was slmply drafLed
lnLo Lhe 8oengvllnk, a self-fundlng branch of Lhe lkonlc SysLem navy LhaL hasn'L gone plraLlng ln over a cenLury.

AdapLlng Lo whaL ls baslcally an esLabllshed sLarmerc unlL (wlLh ma[or Lrade and lndusLrlal lnLeresLs on lkon),
kr'rukhghadhllshon showed remarkable sklll ln boLh space warfare and malnLalnlng good relaLlons wlLh key lrlllLok
Lraders, someLhlng LhaL Lhe rullng Cvaghoun (wlLh Lhelr lnnaLe conLempL for Lhe human-pleaslng vargr) have greaL
dlfflculLy sLomachlng. uesplLe hls assoclaLlons wlLh Lhe lrlllLok - even speaklng Lhelr language ln publlc! - Lhe
Cvaghoun offlcer was sLlll able Lo keep ouL of Lhe loaLhed 'lrlllLok-sLlnklng' caLegory, and so kepL Lhe respecL of Lhe
Cvaghoun leadershlp as well as Lhe adoraLlon of Lhe lrlllLok masses. uesplLe hls wealLh and charlsma, he found
LhaL he could noL enLer Lhe hlghesL clrcles of power and lnfluence on lkon: buL he ls counLed as a member of Lhe
8ukadur, Lhe selecL group of Cvaghoun vargr and vllanl, elecLed or noL, who domlnaLe Lhe 8epubllc as a whole.

New Work
8aLher Lhan flghL a long, dlfflculL, and dangerous baLLle for lncreased accepLance on lkon, kr'rukhghadhllshon
declded Lo work on a pro[ecL LhaL had been bubbllng ln Lhe back of hls mlnd for a long Llme. Much of Lhe vargr ln
Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer are lefL ln lmpoverlshed quarLers, gheLLos and reservaLlons where Lhey are lefL Lo sLew
ln Lhelr poverLy and klll each oLher as Lhey wlsh. kr'rukhghadhllshon knows for a facL LhaL Lhls can be changed, buL
lL wlll Lake work Lo brlng lkonaz-sLyle dlsclpllne and order Lo Lhe vargr slums.

Change musL come as a package, from Lhe hearL, Lo Lhe claw, Lo Lhe pack, Lo Lhe hunLlng range. 1he vargr of Lhe
lmperlum wlll never be able Lo claw Lhelr way up Lhe plL Lhey're ln lf Lhey remaln dlvlded: Lhey need help lf Lhey
are Lo rlse up Lo whaL Lhey were meanL Lo be, and kr'rukhghadhllshon plans Lo geL Lhem whaL Lhey wanL.

llrsL, soon afLer he reLlred from naval servlce, kr'rukhghadhllshon relocaLed Lo Cuezdhe, a wealLhy and well-
connecLed world domlnaLed by Lhe lrlllLok. Pere, free from Lhe baleful lnfluence of anLl-lrlllLok aLLlLudes, he
leveraged hls charlsma Lo push for an organlzaLlon LhaL would exLend a frlendly hand Lo Lhe downLrodden vargr on
Lhe oLher slde of Lhe Lesser 8lfL. 1hls organlzaLlon, Lhe 1lrrradk, flnally goL sLarLed up lasL year on a solld fooLlng.

A0# /BB-$-&( +#&% /B %0# <="#)-&( !#$%/) M'@# /B %0# N="%? O'&)%#) -+ %0# $-%? /B P&Q&"') R!## !%#((&) S#&$0#+ TU:9
""> U;IUGV> A0# !%&)8')+% R!"#$%&%"!"# 9 !WX)&8&)+W&V9 %0# $/="(#C /B 8'-(3-1E+ 20#)# %0# +#$%/)I+$&(# <="#)-&(
=-(-%&)? -+ =&1&E#39 -+ &$%'&((? (/$&%#3 -1 %0# H'(-1&3-&1 3#+#)% )#E-/1 /B 51%&)#%& R& +0/)%#1#3 B/)=
/B !"#$%& !"#, 51%&0Y1& )Z%&, [N13(#++ +&13+). 1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "Desert C|ty" Sebast|an Wegner.
See h|s work at http:]]sebast|anwagner.dev|antart.com]art]Desert-C|ty-366804924

Iuture |ans
WlLh Lhe backlng of several Cvaghoun, vllanl, and lrlllLok noLables, and wlLh hls re-lnducLlon lnLo Lhe ranks of Lhe
8oengvllnk, kr'rukhghadhllshon ls ready Lo puL Lhe flrsL seL of plans lnLo moLlon. 1he Otzookbmqlqbqtll wlll make
her [ourney from lkon Lo AnLares, permlLLlng kr'rukhghadhllshon Lo confer wlLh Lhe pack of Archduke kokLso,
masLer of Lhe lmperlal uomaln of AnLares. (As of Pollday-993, Lhe Archduke hlmself ls on vland, conferrlng wlLh
Lhe Archduchess of Lhe uomaln of vland.
4
) ln addlLlon Lo lobbylng for 1lrrradk operaLlons ln Lhe Slx SubsecLors,
kr'rukhghadhllshon as a mlllLary represenLaLlve of Lhe 8ukadukaz 8epubllc wlll asslsL ln Lhe !ullan roLecLoraLe's
work ln paLchlng up relaLlons afLer Lhe assasslnaLlon of Archduke Cvueneghz, kokLso's slre.
3
Whlle Lhe rlfL beLween
Lhese greaL powers was offlclally healed wlLh Lhe apologles of Lhe 8egenL of Lhe roLecLoraLe, Lhere are sLlll oLher
maLLers LhaL need Lo be aLLended Lo, ln order Lo fully rebulld LrusL and confldence.

4
See Ste||ar keaches #13, page 41
3
See Ste||ar keaches #18, page 74

AfLer Lhese meeLlngs are concluded, Lhe Otzookbmqlqbqtll wlll [ourney onwards Lo nullnad, caplLal of Lhe lmperlal
LmpLy CuarLer. kr'rukhghadhllshon wlll meeL wlLh SecLor uuke ueLhwabLakebwebwakawa, promoLlng Lhe newly
founded 1lrrradk and sLresslng how Lhe 1lrrradk could help ln ralslng up Lhe lmperlal vargr of hls demesne from a
lawless llablllLy Lo a proflLable asseL, beLLer lnLegraLed lnLo lnLersLellar socleLy and more obedlenL Lo lmperlal Law.
kr'rukhghadhllshon wlll also work Lo lessen general 8wap/vargr enmlLy and hosLlllLy, uslng Lhe example of Lhe
Cvaghoun as proof LhaL vargr can be solld members of lmperlal socleLy.

ln a secreL porLlon of Lhe meeLlng, kr'rukhghadhllshon wlll offer a subsLanLlal porLlon of Lhe 8oengvllnk mlllLary Lo
help guaranLee Lhe rule of Lhe 8wap SecLor uuke, ln case Lhe regreLLable hosLlllLy of reacLlonary Solomanl
elemenLs of Lhe populaLlon hardens lnLo an ouLrlghL rebelllon, supporLed by unrellable Colonlal forces." As Lhe
8oengvllnk are consldered an lnLegral parL of lkon's mlllLary forces, Lhere would be all sorLs of dlplomaLlc and
pollLlcal consequences lnvolved ln roLecLoraLe vargr forces kllllng lmperlal Solomanl humans ln lmperlal space, ln
supporL of a nonhuman lmperlal uuke.

noLe LhaL Lmperor Cavln slmply cannoL spare Lhe forces from Lhe fronL llnes of Lhe Solomanl 8lm War Lo reasserL
hls auLhorlLy ln Lhe nearly Lrlvlal lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer. 1he AnLares SecLor lleeL ls aL full sLrengLh, and coolJ do
so - buL Lhey have Lo balance Lhls wlLh oLher more lmporLanL ob[ecLlves: proLecLlng Llshun SecLor, keeplng Lhe
force unlLed Lo beLLer balance Lhe SLar Leglon, guardlng AnLares herself, and remalnlng ln prlme condlLlon as a
reserve force ln case Lhe SecLor lleeL ls called up Lo replace losses ln Lhe fronL llnes, or - lf Lhe Solomanl somehow
break Lhrough Lhe llnes - rapldly move Lo form a lasL barrler before Lhe lmperlal CaplLal herself.

PonesLly speaklng, lL's [usL a loL easler Lo leL Lhe roLecLoraLe uphold lmperlal auLhorlLy ln Lhe sldeshow known as
Lhe Slx SubsecLors, and leL all Lhe adulLs focus on whaL's lmporLanL on Lhe 8lm. lL helps Lo repay Lhe loss of
Archduke Cvueneghz and rebullL confldence.and lf all Lhe lmperlal worlds ln Lhe Slx SubsecLors chose Lo rebel,
whaL could Lhose lmpoverlshed Lhrowbacks do? 1hrow rocks aL Lhe sky? 1he wealLh and power of all 134 lmperlal
worlds ln Lhe CuarLer amounLs Lo less Lhan an lnhablLed conLlnenL on vland alone!"

AfLer Lhe meeLlng ln Lhe SecLor CourL, lL wlll be on Lo amushgar (wlLh a brlef sLopover aL Lazlsar, Lo pay proper
respecL Lo Lhe reglonal mlllLary powerhouse). kr'rukhghadhllshon plans Lo reforge Lhe local vargr lnLo hls own
culLural lmage, a culLural vllanl/vargr amalgam, Lo replace Lhe frulLless and aLrophled lmperlal vargr culLures of
Loday. 1o pull off Lhls mulLlgeneraLlonal Lask, Lhe supporL of Lhe leadlng vllanl of Lhe LmpLy CuarLer, Lhe Marquls
amushgar, ls lndlspensable. oo have Lhe burnlng deslre Lo brlng ConformlLy, Consensus, 1radlLlon, and
rosperlLy Lo your vargr nelghbours - and we have Lhe money Lo make lL happen."

8efore Lhe Otzookbmqlqbqtll reLurns Lo Cuezdhe, Lhere wlll be a lasL sLopover aL udusls. MosL of Lhe lmperlal
vargr ln Lhe Slx SubsecLors - numberlng over a bllllon - resldes on Lhls world. uesplLe Lhe never-endlng hard Llmes,
boLh Lhe Solomanl and Lhe vargr have generally llved ln peace on Lhls backwaLer world, Loo busy nurslng shared
grudges agalnsL CuLslders Lo really haLe each oLher.
6
kr'rukhghadhllshon would prefer Lo compleLely wrlLe off Lhe
Solomanl as a hopeless cause, buL Lhe excepLlon of udusls ls slmply Loo blg Lo lgnore, desplLe her poverLy. Pe
knows whaL Lhe vargr records and scouLs soy abouL Lhe Solomanl, buL kr'rukhghadhllshon needs Lo see wlLh hls
own eyes, smell wlLh hls own nosLrlls, and know Lhem blmself before maklng hls flnal declslon abouL Lhe Solomanl.

Closlng 1heme: Capsule, !umper"
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=vlycvSrrCxk

6
?es, Lhe locals are Abrahamlc (Sunnl Moslems, ln Lhls case), and yes, Lhey are as humanlsL as you please. 8uL Lhere's a dlfference
beLween docLrlne and behavlour.


\)F)'@0E0&30--+0/1 '13#)+%&13+ %0&% -B %0# ]&)E) -+ #6#) %/ E&-1 +'BB-$-#1% $0&)-+=& -1 %0# <="#)-&( N="%?
O'&)%#)9 %0#? 0&6# %/ ")/6# %0#=+#(6#+ %/ 8# 8'-(3#)+ &13 3#+-E1#)+9 1/% Q'+% @-((#)+ /) +#)6&1%+> A0'+9
\)F)'@0E0&30--+0/1F+ 6-E/)/'+(? "'8(-$-^#3 B'13-1E /B &((I]&)E) $/1+%)'$%-/1 ")/Q#$%+9 8'-(% 2-%0 & 0&)3 ]-(&1- #?#
20#1 -% $/=#+ %/ +&B#%? =&)E-1+9 B/) %0# '+# /B &(( +/"0/1%+> 1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "construct|on"
8en Andrews. See h|s work at http:]]ben-andrews.dev|antart.com]art]construct|on-3801S67S3

Ship: Oukfuesa Class: Moull
Type: Light Cruiser Architect: Alvin Plummer
Tech Level: 14

USP
CL-K6566HF-090000-00509-1 MCr 11,977.561 15 KTons Agility 5
Bat Bear 6 3 2 Crew: 155 Fuel 8,440 tons
Bat 6 3 2 TL: 14

Cargo: 2 Crew Sections: 15 of 11 EP: 900 Shipboard Security Detail: 15
Craft: 1 x 50T Modular Cutter, 12 x 10T Fighters
Backups: 1 x Model/6fib Computer



HULL
15,000 tons standard, 210,000 cubic meters,
Flattened Sphere Configuration

CREW
20 Officers, 123 Ratings, 12 Pilots

Book 5 Crew Breakdown

Command section: 7 officers and 4 ratings;
Engineering section: 6 officers and 47 ratings;
Gunnery section: 2 officers and 15 ratings;
Flight section: 1 officer, 12 pilots and 15 ratings;
Service section: 3 officers and 27 ratings;
Medical Section: 1 officer

ENGINEERING

AVIONICS

1 Model/6fib Backup Computer

HARDPOINTS
2 100-ton bays, 3 50-ton bays, 60 Hardpoints

ARMAMENT
2 100-ton Missile Bays (Factor-9),
3 50-ton Particle Accelerator Bays (Factor-5)

DEFENCES
60 Triple Sandcaster Turrets organised into 6 Batteries (Factor-9)

CRAFT
1 50-ton Modular Cutter (Crew of 2),
12 10-ton Fighters (Crew of 1)

FUEL
8,440 Tons Fuel (5 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance, plus 40 tons of additional fuel)

MISCELLANEOUS
81 Staterooms, 2 Tons Cargo

None

COST

CONSTRUCTION TIME

COMMENTS
The Moull class is designated as a light cruiser, but really, its designed to strike at supply
lines deep into Imperial territory.
7
Such strikes leverage Vargr strengths and skills to their
maximum, so despite its lack of armour and cramped living quarters the Moull is a highly
regarded posting. This class is quite common in the navies of the Star Legion proper, the
Asimikigir Confederation, and the Rukadukaz Republic.

In ideal operations, the fighters are packaged out in squadrons of four, and sent to either map
out the likely jump points for inbound cargo ships, or act as a sensor picket. The cruiser
herself would destroy most vessels at a distance with her missile array, switching to the PAs
only to finish the prey off or when the missiles run out. The ship bears no marines or boarding
craft, and is unsuited for the space police role: she is meant to kill, not capture, cargo ships.

The Moull class is in no way meant to fight on a proper battle line. In a sticky situation, she
depends on her agility and her sandcasters to squeeze her out of a bad spot long enough to jump
out. Should the main computer be destroyed, the backup computer will still allow three parsecs
jumps out of trouble. However: despite the fact that the Oukfuesa alone must flee/avoid a proper
Imperial Navy ship of the line, its high tech level, competent crew (treat as experienced/
veteran) and skilled captain (Ship Tactics-3, baby!) makes it able to take on the Colonial
forces of the Imperial Empty Quarter. All of them.

Thanks to her long legs, the Moull class is on occasion pressed into the courier or armed yacht
role. In the case of this particular ship, the Oukfuesa, two fighters (and two pilots) have been
left behind, to give additional space to the entourage (and baggage) of Krrukhghadhiishon, the
current captain of the ship, head of the Tirrradk, and member of the Rukadur.

7
lL's bad form for Lhe !ullan roLecLoraLe Lo menLlon ln publlc LhaL Lhey sLlll conslder Lhe 1hlrd lmperlum as Lhelr ma[or LhreaL, especlally
ln Llmes of peace and cordlallLy on Lhe borders. 8uL aL Lhe end of Lhe day, you [udge naLlons by Lhelr capablllLles, noL Lhelr lnLenLlons. no
need Lo ruffle feaLhers or raLLle swords: [usL keep Lhe mlllLary properly well-equlpped and well-Lralned.


]#)? B#2 <@/1&^ +%&)+0-" $&"%&-1+ &13 #C"(/)&%/)? %)&3#)+ 0&6# 0##3#3 \)F)'@0E0&30--+0/1F+ $&(( %/ #C"&13 %0#
S#"'8(-$&1 %)&3# 1#%2/)@ %0)/'E0 ]&)E)I0/+%-(# 7#E#=/1-$ +"&$#9 &13 -1%/ ]&)E)I0/+%-(# 7#8)-1 &13 _3'+-+
+'8+#$%/)+> `'% a6#)? B#2F +%-(( &=/'1%+ %/ & )#E'(&) R-B %0-1V B(/2 /B %)&3#)+9 =&1? 6-+-%-1E %0#-) "//) ]&)E)
$/'+-1+ /1 _3'+-+ &13 +0/2-1E 20&% %0# ]&)E) $&1 &$0-#6#9 -B %0#? +#% %0#-) =-13+ /1 -%>
1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "Dust" Goran De||c. See h|s work at http:]]de||c.dev|antart.com]art]Dust-164243184

Ianet kyan, Lega| Adv|sor
u 788696 Age 26, Anglo-CelLlc Solomanl
Skllls: Legal - 1, Carouslng - 1, SLeward - 1, PlsLory - 1, Small 8oaL - 1, Long 8lade - 0, Sub-machlnegun - 0, Crav
vehlcle - 0, CompuLer - 0, 8esearch - 0, uance - 0, vacc SulL - 0

Languages: Angllc (1ransform, naLlve)

1ools & Alds: !usL a foldable daLapad

vlsual: usually a skln-LlghL bodysulL, as ls popular ln some upper-level casLes of lrash

Cpenlng 1heme: uouble, 1he CapLaln of Per PearL"
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=?x-8u1xknZc

Crlglnally a purser of Lhe klboo - a lar 1rader of Lhe four-shlp SLarsklpper llne - Mlss 8yan was lefL behlnd on lrash
when she fell lll wlLh a local resplraLory dlsease broughL on by Lhe LalnLed aLmosphere. When she recovered, she
learned LhaL Lhe klboo never made her reLurn leg on Lhe Pebrln-Cooke-Shulku-lrash run.

Whlle Lrylng Lo arrange LransporL Lo her homeworld of Cooke, Lhe former purser learned LhaL Lhe klboo was
unexpecLedly spoLLed ln urago's 8elL, and boLh crew and shlp seemed Lo be saLlsfacLory - buL, her employer soon
afLer declded Lo booL her from SLarsklpper's rolls, glvlng her a cash paymenL lnsLead of LransporL back home.


5("0& .#1%&')- -+ &$%'&((? 0'13)#3+ /B "&)+#$+ B)/= %0# N="%? O'&)%#)9 +/ <F= )#"')"/+-1E %0-+ -=&E# B/) L-++
S?&19 )#+-3#1% /B <)&+0> J&+ =&+@+ $&1 8# +%?(-+0b 1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "A|pha Centaur|" Lu|s Car|os Guerre|ro
See h|s work at http:]]trash63.dev|antart.com]art]A|pha-Centaur|-S607S703

8yan expecLs LhaL Lhe klboo wlll soon enough reLurn Lo lrash, and she plans Lo meeL Lhe shlp (and her lover) when
lL docks. unLll Lhen, she's flnally goLLen her local employmenL permlL, and ls employed dolng lucraLlve lnLersLellar
legal work - malnly drawlng up conLracLs - for Lhe lmporL/exporL buslness. lf Lhe klboo doesn'L sLop by ln a few
monLhs, Lhough, she's golng Lo geL her money LogeLher, and go looklng for Lhe klboo.

1lll Lhen, she's golng Lo en[oy dolng some hlgh-Lech yachLlng wlLh her wealLhy new frlends. She's plcked up on lL
raLher qulckly, and loves Lhe feel of Lhe breeze. Lven Lhe LalnLed alr ls beLLer on Lhe seas of lrash! lL makes her
wonder how lL was, when oll Lhe Lrade rouLes were Lled Lo Lhe ocean wlnds and salllng shlps.

Closlng 1heme: ChrlsLopher Cross, Salllng"
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=yy?hZ9PP8cl

M-+%&1% P/')1#?+ /1 5(-#1 c/)(3+ (#&3 %/ _1#C"#$%#3 M-+$/6#)-#+>
N+"#$-&((? 20#1 %0# 2/)(3+ -1 d'#+%-/1 0&6# 8##1 -10&8-%#3 B/) %0/'+&13+ /B ?#&)+9 (-@# <)&+0>
1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "Memor|a| of the ast" Iust|nas V|tkus
See h|s work at http:]][ustv23.dev|antart.com]art]Memor|a|-of-the-past-38S213639

nu|yah 8enzerga, Sen|or keporter
u 997998, Age 22, Arab Solomanl
Skllls: 8esearch - 1, LlngulsLlcs - 1, lnLervlew - 1, ulsgulse - 1, ersuaslon - 1, PlsLory - 1, !ack-o-1rades - 1,
Pandgun - 1, ShorLhand (Cregg) - 1, Wheeled vehlcle - 0, CompuLer - 0

Languages: Arablc (Pebrln, naLlve), Angllc (1ransform)

1ools & Alds: 1he woman ls wlred, always. She also carrled a olce seL of 1L A/8 dual-use cosmeLlcs/dlsgulse alds:
(8eferee: add +1 Lo ulsgulse sklll) a professlonal spy who knows whaL he's looklng aL ls golng Lo glve a low whlsLle.

vlsual: An aLLracLlve, vlvaclous, and engaglng young Arab woman, dressed ln Lhe sllm & sLyllsh manner of upper-
class PebrlnlLe females: knowlng whaL Lo reveal, whaL Lo hlde, and whaL Lo hlnL aL". Looklng aL her, you have no
ldea how she manages Lo hlde a body plsLol on her person,
8
buL she does (and an exLra cllp of ammo, as well.)

Cpenlng 1heme: eLer Cabrlel, 8lg 1lme"
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=8Al9cchCac

ush|ng Iorward
A chlld of a plous lslamlc merchanL famlly on Pebrln, Pulyah was eager Lo rebel agalnsL her upbrlnglng as
vlgorously as posslble. Whlle unable Lo galn enLrance Lo unlverslLy, her gosslpy blog galned Lhe aLLenLlon of some
scouLs from 8 ubllshlng
9
who puL her on Lhe payroll. Leveraglng an absoluLely sptowlloq neLworks of conLacLs,
frlends, acqualnLances, and lnformers, she geLs access Lo all sorLs of [ulcy sLorles: some she publlshes under her
offlclal by-llnes, oLhers ln underground daLafeeds, and sLlll oLhers 'noL ready for prlmeLlme' are flcLlonallzed wlLh a
Lhln veneer and sold ln vlrLual and physlcal venues subsecLor-wlde.

CurrenLly, Pulyah ls busy focuslng on Lhe broad range of sexual follles en[oyed by Lhe rullng class of Pebrln.
10
1hese
klnd of lurld Lales and anLlcs have broughL her a large and devoLed readershlp, and - for Lhelr own reasons - Lhe
planeLary esLabllshmenL has lndulged her gosslp mongerlng. 8uL whlle guLLer-gosslp ls vety proflLable, Pulyah
wanLs Lo rlse from Lhe porn sLars and Lhe drunkard wasLrels, and geL Laken serlously ln Lhe hlgh-brow chaLLerlng
classes of Lhe Slx SubsecLors. She remalns qulLe hosLlle Lo auLhorlLy flgures, yeL feels ouL of her depLh ln Lhe
bespoke-sulLed, blg-money clrcles where Lhe hearL of Lhe corrupLlon lles
11
- nor can she Lhlnk of a way Lo geL her
masslve audlence lnLeresLed ln all Lhose absLracL zeros and money flows.

A new source, however, has sLarLed dropplng off encrypLed packages ln her heavlly guarded emall lnbox. Whlle
none of Lhe revelaLlons are all LhaL subsLanLlal, Lhey are all dellclously hllarlous, palnLlng all of Lhe 'elder
sLaLesmen' Lypes ln Lhe worsL posslble llghL. Pulyah has been aLLempLlng Lo weave Lhese blzarre anLlcs lnLo a sharp
polnL
12
, buL desplLe her lnLelllgence, she [usL doesn'L have Lhe way wlLh words Lo really glve her posLs Lhe klnd of
blLe Lhey need.

She deflnlLely has Lhe money needed Lo buy a good ghosLwrlLer, Lhough. referably someone who haLes all
sancLlmonlous auLhorlLy, rellglous and secular allke, lsn'L bllnded by bloodllnes or mysLlcal blaLher or ornaLe
LradlLlons or offlclal unlforms or some peer-revlewed consensus, and ls able Lo handle hlmself well ln a plnch. A
sLarshlp lsn'L needed, buL you never know.

Closlng 1heme: Mlke osL, 1he 8ockford llles",
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=-n34l[CCvk

Damondar kustag|, Superv|sor, Grav Veh|c|e Dea|ersh|p
u 746887, Age 27, LasL/Amerlcan lndlan Solomanl
Skllls: Crav vehlcle - 2, 1rader - 2, LlngulsLlcs - 2, SLreeLwlse - 1, 8roker - 1, Admln - 1, CravlLlcs - 1, sychology - 1,
Llalson - 1, CompuLer - 0, LquesLrlan (olo) - 0

8
lrrefuLable evldence LhaL hammerspace exlsLs!"
9
See Seasons Change", Ste||ar keaches #3, for more lnformaLlon on 8 ubllshlng.
10
lor lnsplraLlon, you can use hLLp://Laklmag.com/arLlcle/Lhe_man_who_almosL_became_LoronLos_crazy_mayor_kaLhy_shaldle, or Lhe
lnLellecLual decadence descrlbed ln hLLp://www.brussels[ournal.com/node/3113. As for Lhe reasons behlnd Lhe decadence (and Lhe cure
for lL), you can'L go Loo far wrong vlslLlng hLLps://www.garynorLh.com/members/logln.cfm?hpage=12031.cfm (LxecuLlve summary:
'money')
11
l wouldn'L be Loo hard on Pulyah here: cerLaln aspecLs of hlgh-level flnance ls Jellbetotely unlnLelllglble Lo ouLslders. (Lver Lrled acLually
teoJloq keynes' Ceneral 1heory? 1o learn why you can'L read lL, see hLLp://www.garynorLh.com/publlc/6193.cfm (free) lf you are an
AusLrlan economlsL unlnLeresLed ln Lenure, see hLLp://www.garynorLh.com/publlc/6217.cfm (free) for a hlgh-rlsk buL necessary mlsslon.)
12
1hls ls Lhe bar she wanLs Lo reach - buL can'L do so. yeL: hLLp://Laklmag.com/arLlcle/Lrlumph_of_Lhe_medlocre_Lheodore_dalrymple


Languages: Angllc (1ransform, naLlve), lndlan Lngllsh, Modern vllanl

vlsual: uesplLe hls lncreaslng wealLh, Mr. 8usLagl sLlll dresses, Lhlnks, and acLs llke a lower-mlddle-class man on hls
way Lo a beLLer llfe. Pls buslness dress ls clean and well puL LogeLher, buL wlLh a few years of wear-and-Lear, Lhe
daLapad ls solld and senslble, buL noL Lhe laLesL model. LoLs of earLh Lones, llLLle flash.

Cpenlng 1heme: 1he Cars, urlve" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=xuZA6ql!vfu

A amushgarl chlld, born of a world-bound dad and a sLar Lravelllng mom, uamondar dldn'L excel aL anyLhlng unLll
he hlL hls Leens: belng Solomanl on a vllanl world dldn'L help much ot oll when he was growlng up. (And you
LhoughL your Leen years were hell!) Pls break came when hls faLher broughL ln a used grav car, Lhe flrsL one ever
seen ln hls exLended famlly. Pls faLher was an elecLrlclan by Lrade, and helped sLarL off hls son ln geLLlng Lo grlps
wlLh Lhe vehlcle, buL lL was hls son who masLered Lhe fundamenLals of gravlLlcs on hls own.

[J#%%-1E 0-E0I%#$0 ")/3'$% /'% %0# 3//) &13 -1 %0# 0&13+ /B 2&-%-1E $'+%/=#)+ -+ 20&% -%F+ &(( &8/'%b H/29 %0#
!/(/=&1- (-@# %0#-) 0-E0I%#$0 +&(#+ )//=+ &(( B(&+0? &13 +(##@ &13 $//(9 8'% 2#F)# /1 amushgar, +/ %0# E&=#+F
3-BB#)#1%9 %/" %/ 8/%%/=> A)&3-%-/19 S#(-&8-(-%?9 ./1B/)=-%?9 &13 & !/(-3 !'""/)% ./1%)&$% D %0&%F+ %0# @#? 0#)#be
1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "dea|ersh|p" 8en Andrews
See h|s work at http:]]ben-andrews.dev|antart.com]art]dea|ersh|p-368449328

As uamondar grew more knowledgeable abouL Lhe wonders of gravlLlcs, he grew more lnLeresLed ln Lelllng hls
frlends abouL hls newfound love. Lgged on by hls frlends, he Lrled Lo acLually drlve Lhe vehlcle, buL goL lnLo an
accldenL Lhe flrsL Llme. lorLunaLely for an alrborne vehlcle, no harm was done Lo elLher Lhe klds or Lhe car, and
afLer a beaLlng hls faLher senL hlm Lo grav flylng school. WlLh Lhls, hls desLlny was seL.

uamondar was successful wlLh hls onllne courses, and graduaLed wlLh honours. lnsLead of Laklng a [ob as a plloL
llke everyone expecLed, he shlfLed lnLo a sales [ob, worklng dlrecLly for Llng-SLandard roducLs (yes, Lhe masslve
lmperlal megacorporaLlon). Pls Amerlcan lndlan moLher - who was now reLlred wlLh a bundle, buL never very
LalkaLlve abouL [usL how she qot LhaL bundle - was very dlsappolnLed wlLh Lhls declslon, and was never shy abouL
maklng her feellngs clear whenever posslble.

Surprlslng all, Lhls raLher nondescrlpL boy developed a sLrong characLer as a grav vehlcle salesman, able Lo move
producL and spread a good blL of hls enLhuslasm Lo hls cusLomers. lollowlng Lhe local cusLom of Lhe small
Solomanl communlLy, uamondar leL hls moLher arrange a marrlage for hlm. Culded by boLh her Plndu/AnlmlsL
bellefs and her femlnlne lnLulLlon, she plcked ouL a falrly preLLy lady wlLh chlld-bearlng hlps. Marrled now for Lwo
years, a chlld ls flnally on Lhe way, and a promoLlon Lo Lhe Cold AccounLs - handllng wealLhy spacers wlLh money
Lo burn - ls rlslng ln hls fuLure.

Llfe ls good.
13

Closlng 1heme: Mlke and Lhe Mechanlcs, 1he Llvlng ?ears"
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=uCuA0Pecw1k

Squ|re nshama Sorron, Capta|n, the I|ameSpace Group
u 98848A, Age 34 (40), Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: Pandgun - 2, 8rlbery - 2, navlgaLlon - 1, Leadershlp - 1, lloL - 1, ersuaslon - 1, 8lfleman - 1, Lnglneerlng - 1,
CompuLer - 1, naval ArchlLecL - 1, LlecLronlcs - 1, PunLlng - 1, Swlmmlng - 1, Wheeled vehlcle - 0,
alnL/SculpLure - 0, SubMC - 0, vacc SulL - 0


vlsual: Squlre Sorron looks much and acLs much llke how a herolc noble should, ln Lhe eyes of Lhe Lyplcal lmperlal
clLlzen ln 993. Pandsome, Lall, well-spoken, walklng wlLh sLrengLh and grace, a born leader of men. Squlre Sorron's
lack of lnLelllgence ls cloaked by hls exLenslve educaLlon, a neLwork of smarL frlends, and good people skllls.

Cpenlng 1heme: CllnL Mansell, Sacrlflce" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=Cyh9P6lkllg

A man of Shamokln - and noL uldshep, llke some scurrllous rufflans clalm
14
- Pshama was born lnLo Lhe Sorron
famlly, a clan long Lled Lo Lhe servlce of one of Lhe lmperlal noble Pouses LhaL domlnaLe LhaL wealLhy world's
economy. Pe was successful enough ln Lhe household Lrlals and LesLs Lo geL a shoL aL Lhe lmperlal naval Academy -
and managed Lo wln a seaL, Lo Lhe [oy of hls famlly. AfLer graduaLlon, he served well ln desLroyer and escorL
squadrons, earnlng a sLrlng of clLaLlons and honours - lncludlng one lncldenL when he knowlngly ordered hls
Marlnes Lo Lhelr deaLhs Lo buy Llme for addlLlonal merchanLmen Lo escape.

When Lhe Solomanl War sLarLed Lo Lurn bad, Ley's SecLor lleeL was dlspaLched Lo relnforce Lhe lmperlal llnes, buL
LL. Cmdr. Sorron was held back aL Lhe requesL of Lhe famlly elders. Cver hls very vocal ob[ecLlons, Sorron was
honourably dlsmlssed from Lhe servlce, formally accepLed as a squlre of Pouse n'Culll, and broughL ln Lo lead a
house-afflllaLed lnLersLellar LransporL buslness.

1he llameSpace Croup ls geared Lo LransporL people and goods ln Lhe face of lnLense opposlLlon, wlLh Lhelr cllenLs
belng Lhe lmperlal governmenL, more powerful planeLary governmenLs, and secLor-wlde corporaLlons.
13
AL 993,
Lhe Croup has susLalned some losses ln men and maLerlal, buL noL enough Lo do more Lhan denL Lhe wave of
proflLs lnLo company accounLs. MosL of Lhe vessels were orlglnally 1L 8-C sLarshlps LhaL Lhe lmperlum dldn'L care
Lo use ln Lhe 8lm War, and so were avallable for purchase, reflL and deploymenL by llameSpace. 8uL as
llameSpace's success grew and grew, Lhe company was able Lo geL lLs hands on beLLer equlpmenL - and galned
enough lnfluence ln hlgh places Lo keep lL ouL of Lhe grasp of Lhe lncreaslngly ravenous lmperlal navy.

13
AL leasL unLll some of LhaL dlrLy buslness hls moLher lefL behlnd on an alrless moon sLarLs Lo show up..
14
lL's a long sLory. ln any case, Lhe world lLself ls locaLed aL Ley/1002, named uldshep ln 1103, and Shamokln ln 993.
13
1ukera Llnes usually domlnaLes Lhls markeL wlLh speclallsL subsldlarles, buL Lhe lmperlal governmenL conLracLed all of Lhese near-
mllspec shlps aL a prlce CounL 1ukera slmply couldn'L say no Lo.


f(3 S#&3#)+ /B !%#((&) S#&$0#+ =&? )#$/E1-^# %0-+ $(&++ /B B)#-E0%#) B)/= 2&? 8&$@ -1 <++'# TUU9 +#% 3')-1E %0#
<="#)-&( .-6-( c&) %0)## $#1%')-#+ &E/> [A0# N="%? O'&)%#) 0&+ 1##3 /B '+#B'( %)&1+"/)% )#E&)3(#++ /B &E# D &13
1/ 1##3 B/) =/)# ='+#'=+9e +/ %0#+# 2/)@-1E )#(-$+ &)# @#"% B(?-1E> 1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "Spaceport 2" Max
V. N|mos. See h|s work at http:]]www.renderos|ty.com]mod]ga||ery]|ndex.php?|mage_|d=1641236&np

As a Squlre of Lhe Pouse, Sorron wlll be glven auLhorlLy over 8lazlng LlghL LransporL group. 1hese vessels wlll be
maklng alLernaLlng runs from Shamokln Lo ?ogesh (for hlgh-Lech maLerlals needed by ?ogeshl's manufacLurers),
and Shamokln Lo Pebrln (Lo supply LhaL sysLem's mlllLary wlLh needed 1L 14 parLs and supplles Lhey can'L flnd
anywhere else.
16
) Also, placlng Lhese shlps under Sorron's command ls parLlally meanL Lo make up for snaLchlng
hlm away from hls shlp and hls frlends Lhe momenL Lhey were golng Lo see some teol acLlon, agalnsL Lhe Solomanl.
WheLher Lhls wlll placaLe hls wounded feellngs remalns Lo be seen.

Should Squlre Sorron focus on hls [ob raLher Lhan Lhe pasL, he could be qulLe successful. 1here ls need for hls
servlces ln Lhe CuarLer, and even afLer Lhe war ls over, Lhe llameSpace Croup can expand lnLo Lhe !ullan
roLecLoraLe, and perhaps even lnLo Lhe 1wo 1housand Worlds. 8uL Lhe Squlre wlll need Lo keep hls eye on Lhe
ball: some lmperlal navy offlcers would sLlll llke Lhe chance Lo selze hls shlps 'for Lhe war efforL' (and lncldenLally
Lo geL Lhelr promoLlon), Lhe low-Lech Suedzuk vargr plraLes wlll be looklng for lndlrecL ways Lo cuL hlm down, and
Lhe hlgh-Lech lkonaz plraLes may mark hls shlp as a prlorlLy LargeL. 1hlngs can geL movlng fasL, leavlng no Llme Lo
mope abouL Lhe pasL.

Squlre Sorron doesn'L know abouL Lhe Shadow CarLel yeL. Pe wlll.
1he Shadow CarLel hasn'L dlscovered Squlre Sorron's expenslve anagaLhlcs hablL yeL. 1hey wlll.

Closlng Lheme: Cowan, A Crlmlnal Mlnd" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=yl[ddye2!SA

16
ushmlgad has Lhe Lechnology, buL noL Lhe populaLlon or Lhe depLh of markeL, needed Lo help ouL Pebrln. 1he slze of Lhe markeL
maLLers, noL [usL how advanced lL ls!"


A0# .(/'3 S&$#)+ /B !0&=/@-1 $/=8-1# +"##39 E)&$#9 $'%%-1EI#3E# %#$01/(/E?9 &13 @##1 1&6-E&%-/1 /B & E&+
E-&1%F+ $'))#1%+ %/ )#&$0 %0# 6-$%/)? 8#&$/1> !d'-)# !/))/1 +%-(( )#E)#%+ 0-+ B&-(')# %/ )#&$0 0-+ $0-(30//3 3)#&=9
%/ $&"%&-1 /1# /B %0#+# 8#&'%-#+4 1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "Iast Sk|es" Iust|nas V|tkus
See h|s work at http:]][ustv23.dev|antart.com]art]Iast-sk|es-307S268S9

Ship: Ignition Point Class: Flamethrower
Type: Armoured Merchantman Architect: Alvin Plummer
Tech Level: 14

USP
AM-B223682-340000-26000-0 MCr 1,598.718 2 KTons
Bat Bear 4 A3 Crew: 48 Agility: 3
Bat 4 A3 TL: 14 Fuel: 520 Tons

Cargo: 452.5 Tons Passengers: 10 Crew Sections: 2 of 24 Low: 20 Emergency Low:
15 EP: 120 Shipboard Security Detail: 2; Craft: 2 x 100T SDBs
Backups: 1 x Model/8 Computer



HULL
2,000 tons standard, 28,000 cubic meters, Cone Configuration

CREW
13 Officers, 35 Ratings


Engineering section: 1 officer and 4 ratings;
Flight section: 1 officer and 6 ratings;
Service section: 1 officer and 3 ratings;
Medical Section: 1 officer

ENGINEERING

AVIONICS
Bridge, Model/8 Computer
1 Model/8 Backup Computer

HARDPOINTS
20 Hardpoints

ARMAMENT
10 Single Beam Laser Turrets organised into 10 Batteries (Factor-2),
6 Dual Fusion Gun Turrets organised into 3 Batteries (Factor-6)

DEFENCES
4 Triple Sandcaster Turrets organised into 4 Batteries (Factor-4),
Armoured Hull (Factor-3)

CRAFT
2 100-ton SDBs (Crew of 2)

FUEL
520 Tons Fuel (2 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance)

MISCELLANEOUS
37 Staterooms, 25 Low Berths, 15 Emergency Low Berths,
10 Middle Passengers, 20 Low Passengers,
452.5 Tons Cargo

None

COST

CONSTRUCTION TIME

COMMENTS
The Flamethrower class is geared to shipping high-priority items through the teeth of substantial
opposition, primarily that of multiple pirates or mid-population, low-to-mid tech planetary
forces. It is not designed to challenge the militaries of major systems, as their meson guns and
substantial missile batteries can overwhelm the defenses of the Flamethrower. The Flamethrower
can be used as a support platform for ground forces, resupplying the men on the ground while
hosing down enemies from the skies (including enemy grav tanks).

The Ignition Point is the third ship of her class, and the first to be built at Shamokin/Ley
Sector. Her keel was laid down only a few months before the war started, and by mid-992 when it
became obvious that the war was going to take a lot longer than expected she was already the
target of numerous seizure, requisition, and eminent domain confiscation orders. How the
FlameSpace Group and House NQuili successfully defied, rendered void, nullified, and gutted
these orders from on high is worthy of an epic ballad, in and of itself. And the tale has not
been fully told yet: making an enemy of the Imperial Navy bureaucracy and Navy-allied Nobles,
even with just awesome bureaucratic legerdemain and dazzling political manoeuvres rather than a
ferocious military defeat, is bound to have a chain of consequences that will likely outlast the
Solomani Rim War itself

In the meantime, the Ignition Point is undergoing final preparations as the heart of the Blazing
Light transport group. Until she proves herself, the group will consist of just her and the two
mini-SDBs she will bear, the Fuel and the Heat; but assuming that she can bring home the bacon
(and anything else her wealthy customers need), she will become the nucleus of a tough little
convoy, able to keep the key worlds of the Empty Quarter resupplied, even in the teeth of the
toughest pirates with the best Ikonic technology around.
17

17
1he llameSpace Croup should be more cauLlous ln Lhelr gloaLlng: qulLe a loL of Lhe lkonaz - vargr & vllanl allke - would Lake Lhese
words as a charlsmaLlc challenge. 1haL's noL Lhe besL way Lo go abouL Lhlngs, lf you [usL wanL Lo geL sLuff from olnL A Lo olnL 8. Cn Lhe
oLher hand, lf you wanL Lo lnsLlgaLe a ma[or war beLween hlgh-pop/hlgh-Lech lmperlal Shamokln and hlgh-pop/hlgh-Lech roLecLoraLe
lkon, Lhls klnd of boasLlng can deflnlLely do Lhe Lrlck. And as for Lhe resL of Lhe CuarLer? When elephanLs clash, Lhe grass geLs crushed."


A0-+ +=&(( !M` 0&+ -% 8#%%#) %0&1 =&1? /B 0#) +-+%#)+ D 20#1 +0# $)&+0#+ &13 3-#+9 &% (#&+% %0#?F(( @1/2
20#)# +0# (-#+9 &13 -%F+ "/++-8(# %0&% 0#) $)#2 2-(( +')6-6# 0#)> <%F+ B&) 8#%%#) %0&1 8#$/=-1E
&1/%0#) B)/^#1 $/)"+#9 B/)E/%%#1 &13 &(/1#9 +-(#1%(? 3)-B%-1E -1 &1 #((-"%-$&( /)8-% B/) %0# 1#C% B#2 =-((#11-&4
1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "8race for Impact!" Ne|| 1hacker.
See h|s work at http:]][ustv23.dev|antart.com]art]Iast-sk|es-307S268S9

Ship: Fuel Class: Match
Type: SDB Architect: Alvin Plummer
Tech Level: 14

USP
SD-1604B81-E30000-20002-0 MCr 218.600 100 Tons
Bat 1 1 1 TL: 14

Cargo: 0 Crew Sections: 1 of 2 Fuel: 11 EP: 11 Agility: 1

Architects Fee: MCr 2.186 Cost in Quantity: MCr 174.880

HULL
100 tons standard, 1,400 cubic meters, Flattened Sphere Configuration

CREW
Pilot, Gunner

ENGINEERING

AVIONICS

HARDPOINTS
1 Hardpoint

ARMAMENT
1 Triple Mixed Turret with:
1 Beam Laser (Factor-2),
1 Missile Rack (Factor-2)

DEFENCES
1 Sandcaster in the Mixed Turret, organised into 1 Battery (Factor-3),

CRAFT
None

FUEL
No Fuel Scoops, No Fuel Purification Plant

MISCELLANEOUS
2 Staterooms, 2 Low Berths, 0 Ton Cargo

None

COST
MCr 220.786 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 2.186), MCr 174.880 in Quantity

CONSTRUCTION TIME

COMMENTS
The Match is a small, heavily armoured SDB, originally designed to bear a mixed turret of a dual-
barrel fusion gun and a laser, backed by a TL C computer. However, production problems with the
fusion gun, as well as improvements in engine size and fuelling, allowed a proper TL E computer
to be installed, at the cost of agility and a strong surge in cost. Instead of the fusion gun, a
mix of a laser, missile tube, and sandcaster was used instead.

The key to the ships role is in the missile, more than anything else. With a good mix of drones
and standard missiles, long-range fighting is possible, coupled with increased problems for the
enemy targeting systems. The Match SDB is designed to resemble the Flamethrower class on the
electronic spectrum, further distracting incoming missiles.

The strangest oddity of the ship are the two staterooms. One is enough for almost every
imaginable mission, and the space used could be freed up for cargo, additional fuel, or even to
boost agility up a notch. A strong case could even be made for just inserting two couches, or
even small staterooms, instead of actual full staterooms. Attempting to figure out what the naval
architect was on when he made that decision remains a common source of merriment and argument.

H#6#) =-13 %0# +%&)+0-"+9 E)&6I8#(%+9 /) #6#1 20##(#3 $&)+K %0# 6&+% =&Q/)-%? /B A)&6#((#)+ -1I+#$%/)
$/13'$% %0#-) Q/')1#?+ /1 B//%9 +&=# &+ &(2&?+> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "1rave||er at Lven|ng" Iust|nas V|tkus.
See h|s work at http:]][ustv23.dev|antart.com]art]1rave|er-At-Lven|ng-423903031?hf=1

(Dame) Gamaag|n k|g||s||, Imper|a| Agent
u 49C788, Age 26, Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: CombaL 8lfleman - 2, Crav vehlcle - 1, Leadershlp - 1, Peavy Weapons - 1, Mechanlcal - 1,
LlghLer Lhan Alr - 1, CompuLer - 0, LlngulsLlcs - 0, 8lology - 0
Languages: Angllc (Core, naLlve)

LqulpmenL: Pas a 1L 14 ulLrallghL on her person - packed ln a llghL backpack - as well as a rlfle.

vlsual: AL flrsL glance, a small, unassumlng woman wlLh a bland face, mlld manners, and - when exclLed or
surprlsed - a rasp Lo her volce.
18
Some decenL Llme wlLh her would uncover a Loughness and darlng LhaL ls noL
expecLed of women wlLhln Lhe paLrlarchal LmpLy CuarLer. Camaagln ls worklng Lo sofLen her Core accenL, lnLo
someLhlng more generlc and forgeLLable.

noLe: ln uame Camaagln's case, LlngulsLlcs only refers Lo Lhe sclenLlflc fleld: she has no ablllLy Lo speak ln
addlLlonal languages, only an undersLandlng of how languages funcLlon.

Cpenlng 1heme: Al SLewarL, 8oads Lo Moscow" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=8Aq33A9Cl8

8orn on ?lrsh oy - a nearly alrless Sylean deserL world a mere Lwo parsecs from Lhe lmperlal CaplLal of Sylea
herself - Camaagln long dreamL of servlng Lhe lmperlum ln some capaclLy or oLher, beaLlng back Lhe barbarlans
and proLecLlng Lhe llghL of lmperlal clvlllzaLlon. She was surprlsed when she was accepLed lnLo 8C1C whlle aL
unlverslLy, and asLonlshed when she was selecLed for Lhe Pousehold Cavalry
19
, buL was happy Lo Lake Lhe bllleL.
Per servlce record was reasonably good, and desplLe her llghL frame she was wllllng Lo sLep lnLo harm's way
regularly (shamlng her slsLers ln baLLle), buL evenLually her luck ran ouL, and she goL a nasLy maxlllofaclal ln[ury
durlng a clash. lL Look a year Lo properly rebulld her lower [aw and LhroaL, and she recelved addlLlonal medlcal
LreaLmenL afLer an honourable dlscharge.

AfLerwards, Cammagln was conLacLed by cerLaln Lreasonous elemenLs wlLhln Lhe Pousehold Cavalry, buL
Cammagln managed Lo lnform Lhe cottect lnLelllgence conLacL
20
, aL a Llme when mosL lmperlal coverL agencles
were lousy wlLh Solsec moles, asseLs and agenLs. unofflclally, she was recrulLed as one of rlncess LllzabeLh's fleld
agenLs, worklng as LrusLworLhy muscle as Lhe rlncess laboured Lo clean house. (A parLlcularly darlng explolL
earned her a knlghLhood - whlch wlll be made publlc oftet Lhe Solomanl 8lm War ls concluded.)

CurrenLly, Cammagln ls en rouLe Lo Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer on a free Lrader, under assumed cover. 1he
CuarLer has long been used as a dumplng ground of Lhe unwanLed, and Cammagln wlll be helplng loyallsL agenLs
Lrack down varlous sophonLs who don'L care Lo be found - and who won'L heslLaLe Lo use vlolence Lo stoy losL and
unaccounLed for. lf she survlves her Lour of duLy, she wlll. well, probably [usL slgn up for more of Lhe same. She's
LhaL klnd of woman.

Closlng 1heme: Al SLewarL Cn Lhe 8order", hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=z2L_CyS21lM

18
1he surgeons dld a greaL [ob reconsLrucLlng her face, buL Lhe vocal cords & LhroaL were noL perfecLly resLored. 1he Lechnology does
exlsL for perfecL reconsLrucLlon: buL LhaL cosLs money.
19
noLe LhaL Lhe Pousehold Cavalry does nC1 swear alleglance Lo Lhe lmperlum, buL only Lo Lhe petsoo of Lhe Lmperor, Cavln. 1hls ls a
dlsLlncLlon wlLh a dlfference.
20
Pad she chosen Lhe wtooq conLacL, Lhls sLory would have had a very swlfL and unexpecLed end.


L||zabeth, r|ncess of the 1h|rd Imper|um.
"So far above your pay grade, you can d|e |augh|ng about |t."
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Duygu" Levent 8ozkurt.
See h|s work at http:]]|event.cgsoc|ety.org]art]portra|t-pa|nter-duygu-2d-401873

Deren 1|rent||on, Underwor|d Negot|ator
u 497899, Age 60, Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: lloL - 3, Llalson - 2, LlngulsLlcs - 2, !ack-o-1rades - 2, Pandgun - 1, Leadershlp - 1, Commo - 1, 1acLlcs - 1,
8rawllng - 1, vacc SulL - 1, sychology (vargr) - 1, Crav vehlcle - 1, AcLlng - 1, ersuaslon - 1,
Survlval (Woodland) - 1, CombaL 8lfleman - 0, lorward Cbserver - 0, Peavy Weapons - 0, uemollLlons - 0, SLealLh -
0, loll - 0, CompuLer - 0, Survlval (ueserL) - 0

Languages: Arzula-C (naLlve), kogvl (a dlplomaLlc/Lrade/sclenLlflc Suedzuk vargr language wlLhln Lhe Pegemony),
1enlrrueL (a wldespread lrlllLok vargr Lrade language wlLhln Lhe Pegemony)

LqulpmenL: 1yplcally a handgun, and a LranslaLor (1ransform Angllc/Arzula-C, and Pebrln Arablc/Arzula-C). ?ou'd
be surprlsed how hard lL ls Lo flnd an Arzula-C language module ln Lhe 1hlrd lmperlum.

vlsual: 1lrenLllon looks llke noLhlng buL a frlendly, glad-handlng, harmless old grandfaLher from Lhe Cld CounLry,
compleLe wlLh a funny language and funny cloLhlng. 1hls ls correcL. excepL for Lhe 'harmless' parL.

Cpenlng 1heme: 1he !lLLers, 1he 8rldge ls 8urnlng" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=nvMblCgCpbg

A L|fe of 8|oodshed, Cr|me, and L|es
AnoLher refugee from Lhe Pell Worlds Pome Worlds of Lhe Pegemony of Lorean, 1lrenLllon spenL mosL of hls llfe
wlLhln Lhe ua Ponvogv, a falrly Lyplcal Lorean unlL of Lwelve 2000-Lon desLroyers, each wlLh a selecLlon of heavy
armour, llghL armour, and arLlllery. ln no way are Lhese shlps opLlmlzed for space, aLmospherlc, or ground
warfare. buL Lhey glve Lhe Pegemony Lhe flexlblllLy Lhey need when deallng wlLh Lhelr 8lood vargr enemles.

1he dead are dead, and whaL has passed ls done! l have a shlp and a flghLlng crew and a glrl wlLh llps llke wlne, and
LhaL's all l ever asked. - Conan of Crlmmerla

AfLer a long and successful career flghLlng ln space, Lhe alr, Lhe ground, and even underwaLer, 1lrenLllon was
granLed a cushy seml-reLlremenL poslLlon, worklng wlLh Lhe uomesLlcaLlon branch of Lhe Pegemony Lo beLLer
shape Lhe vargr Lo beLLer serve human ends. unforLunaLely, 1lrenLllon goL caughL up ln some nasLy bureaucraLlc
power plays, and found hlmself Lhe paLsy when cerLaln uomesLlcaLlon lnlLlaLlves fell aparL specLacularly (lnvolvlng,
yes, loLs and loLs and lots of slaughLer.)

Avoldlng Lhe pollce movlng Lo arresL hlm, 1lrenLllon fled Lhe Pome Worlds, seeklng sancLuary. Pe flrsL wenL Lo
uamlaer, buL - desplLe Lhe far lower law levels - lL was ln some ways even mote dangerous for a refugee llke hlm
Lhan Lhe Pome Worlds.
21
Cn lL was Lo 8eLa CuadranL of Lhe LmpLy CuarLer, wlLh hls dwlndllng funds. 8uL Lhere,
Lhe loyallsL Arzula haLed hlm for hls supposed sympaLhles wlL Lhe vargr, and Lhe Arzula dlssldenLs loaLhed hlm as a
leadlng oppressor - and probably acLlng as a fake defecLor Loo, Lo beLLer desLroy Lhe more LrusLlng dlssldenL cells.
Lven Lhe usually frlendly lrlllLok vargr keep Lhelr dlsLance from 1lrenLllon: Lhey know how uomesLlcaLors work, and
Lhey don'L llke lL, noL even a Llny blL.

Capsu|e Descr|pt|on: erhaps you remember LhaL blL from Lhe movle Up, when Lhe dog says "My name ls uug. l
have [usL meL you, and l love you." Well, now you know Lhe goal Lhe Pegemony uomesLlcaLlon unlLs have for Lhe
eotlte vargr race. Any resemblance beLween Lhe plans Lhe Pegemonlo have for Lhe vargr, and Lhe Pomo Servus
race of Lhe book urakon - or even CrandfaLher's orlglnal goals for Lhe vargr - are cerLalnly noL colncldenLal.

llndlng no place Lo resL, 1lrenLllon managed Lo geL hlmself hlred as a Lemporary plloL on an lmperlal/Pegemony
lnLerface llne LhaL sLreLched across Lhe Lesser 8lfL. Pe was a replacemenL plloL for Lhe orlglnal who goL badly Lorn
up ln a bar brawl where over half Lhe cllenLele had claws and fangs. 1lrenLllon's vold plloL llcense managed Lo pass

21
1he 8eferee can Lake hLLp://www.lewrockwell.com/2014/01/wllllam-norman-grlgg/worse-Lhan-norLh-korea/ as a model.

musLer, wlLh Lhe sLarshlp crew ln quesLlon helplng Lo hlde hls presence from Lhe auLhorlLles unLll Lhey were ready
Lo acLually make Lhe needed [umps. Cnce arrlvlng ln Pebrln, he pald for fake Pebrln lu from cerLaln dlscreeL
lndlvlduals aL Lhe sLarporL Lo successfully cross Lhe x1
22
llne, and Lhe lasL of hls money as a brlbe Lo enLer Lhe world
as a bona flde PebrlnlLe clLlzen - who can'L speak a llck of Pebrln Arablc, Modern vllanl, or 1ransform Angllc.

1hanks Lo a relenLless Lsunaml of lles and half-LruLhs, 1lrenLllon managed Lo geL hlmself accepLed by Lhe local
Pegemonlo communlLy - domlnaLed by fun-lovlng, deal-maklng uamlaerlLes raLher Lhan feared Arzula klllers llke
hlmself. Pls skllls wlLh deallng wlLh vargr - especlally 8lood vargr from Pegemonlc space - made hlm lnvaluable Lo
Lhose elemenLs of socleLy LhaL have a need Lo dlscuss buslness maLLers wlLh bloodLhlrsLy plraLes wlLh really shorL
Lempers. 1lrenLllon ls plannlng on a Lhree-monLh break soon, Lhough, so he can flnally sLarL learnlng Pebrln Arablc
properly. (Angllc wlll have Lo walL, especlally for a man who wanLs Lo blend ln wlLh Lhe naLlves.)

Closlng 1heme: Mlke and Lhe Mechanlcs, SllenL 8unnlng" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=ep7W89l_v_g

[509 < +## %0&% %0# `(//3 ]&)E) 0&6# +%/""#3 8? B/) & 6-+-%> A-=# B/) %0# $/=='%# %/ 2/)@be 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed
"c9" kobert Maschke. See h|s work at http:]]a|rage.dev|antart.com]#]art]c9-103284473?hf=1

Webpa-apob, Interste||ar Merchant
u 6636AA, Age 34, 8wap
Skllls: Admln - 3, Llalson - 3, Carouslng - 3, 8roker - 2, 8rlbery - 2, Song - 2, 1rader - 1, Crav vehlcle - 0, Laser
Weapon - 0, vacc SulL - 0, lloL - 0

Languages: 8wap.

LqulpmenL: A 8wap/Angllc (all dlalecLs) LranslaLor, and a smarLphone handcomp for handllng complex flnanclal
LransacLlons.

22
x1 - Lhe LxLraLerrlLorlallLy llne. 1hls marks Lhe dlfference beLween lmperlal properLy and Lhe soverelgn LerrlLory of Lhe planeLary
governmenL. Any 1raveller player can glve you aL leasL a half-dozen Lales abouL Lhls lnLeresLlng blL of real esLaLe, and how crlLlcal lL ls Lo be
on Lhe rlghL slde of Lhe llne, aL Lhe rlghL Llme.

vlsual: Webpa-apob wears Lhe Lyplcal kafLan garmenL & hood LhaL Lhe 8wap need ln less-Lhan-saLuraLlon humldlLy
envlronmenLs. 1hls cloLhlng helps 8waps remaln as humld as posslble.
23

Cpenlng 1heme: kool and Lhe Cang, CelebraLlon" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=3Cw[fuly?6M

art|es
Webpa-apob ls [usL one of Lhe many 8waps wlLh a successful career ln lnLersLellar Lrade. unllke many newLs,
Webpa-apob also greaLly en[oys Lhe parLy-hardy slde of Lhe buslness, seelng lL as parL of Lhe naLural Crder of
1hlngs. 1here lsn'L a parLy LradlLlon LhaL Webpa-apob doesn'L know abouL, a (legal) merchanL rlLual LhaL he hasn'L
observed - whlle heavlly lnLoxlcaLed, more ofLen Lhan noL - or a boozy [oke he hasn'L shared. Webpa-apob's a
naLural slnger, Loo, Lrllllng/croaklng ouL Lhe greaL sLandards ln melodles and harmonles LhaL are very sweeL Lo Lhe
8wap ear.

All of lL ln 8wap, as Webpa-apob can'L speak a word of Angllc. Cr any oLher language, excludlng only hls naLlve
Longue.

D|sorder
Whlle born on Marhaban, Webpa-apob ls currenLly resldlng on nullnad. Whlle Lhe world ls frlendly enough, Lhe
plracy scourge LhaL ls sweeplng Lhe secLor brlngs wlLh lL a loL of dlsorder and chaos, someLhlng LhaL makes Webpa-
apob qulLe nervous and unhappy. lL wlll be years aL leasL before Lhe lmperlal navy properly reasserLs lLs auLhorlLy
across Lhe Slx SubsecLors, and ln Lhe meanLlme Lhe local uukes can'L seem Lo geL Lhelr acL LogeLher.

Should Lhe Cs have Lo deal wlLh Webpa-apob, he ls sure Lo glve Lhem long, long splels on why buslness ls down,
why Lhe plraLes are creaLlng greaL dlsorder, why Lhe nobles are falllng Lo uphold Lhe lmperlal MandaLe, why 1he
Lnd ls nlgh.

Cleon's concepL of Lhe lmperlal MandaLe was orlglnally derlved from anclenL vllanl legal Lheory, especlally Lhe
concepL of kotoootqot ("emperor's merlL"). 1he kotoootqot was a quallLy held by Lhe kotoo or ruler, lncorporaLlng
boLh hls worLhlness Lo govern for Lhe beneflL of all Lhe people, and hls rlghL Lo clalm Lhe auLhorlLy Lo do so. 1he
ruler was "vesLed" wlLh kotoootqot by LradlLlon, and he could lose Lhe quallLy lf he ruled ln such a way as Lo break
LradlLlon. - GUkS 1rave||er nobles, page 39

.buL Lhls won'L sLop hlm from presslng for Lhe besL deals posslble, nlL-plcklng Lhe exacL language of a conLracL, or
en[oylng a parLy when Lhe opporLunlLy sLrlkes.

Crder
WlLh a few oLher llke-mlnded 8wap, Webpa-apob ls lnLeresLed ln esLabllshlng a new creche ln Lhe cenLre of a
nullnadlan ralnforesL, where Lhe humldlLy ls hlgh enough for Lhe 8wap Lo walk freely, wlLh Lhe asslsLance of large
mlsLers, hlgh-Lech open-alr humldlLy-bullders and fog generaLlng equlpmenL.
24
1he slLe should be close Lo a easlly
accesslble plaLeau, above Lhe LransplanLed/blogeneered ralnforesL, where oLher sophonLs can llve comforLably
wlLhouL drlpplng ln sweaL. 1o properly esLabllsh Lhe creche, Webpa-apob wlll need a lar 1rader Lo make regular
runs beLween nullnad and Marhaban, Lo LransporL Lhe proper rlLual speclallsLs Lo lnsure compleLe and perfecL
compllanL wlLh regulaLlons..

Whlch ls Lled dlrecLly Lo Lhe goal of Lhe creche: Lo Leach non-8wap how Lo flL ln wlLh Lhe roper Crder of 1hlngs,
Lhe CreaL 1ree LhaL llnks all. lnLeresLed vllanl wlll be lnvlLed flrsL, Lhen Lhe real LargeLs of Lhe creche, curlous and

23
Accordlng Lo Iourna|'s 1rave||er's A|d Soc|ety #11, page 13, Lhls kafLan ls why Lhe 8wap have a nlckname, 'Lowelheads'. And, Lhey need
a greaL deal of humldlLy. and are very bureaucraLlc. and llve ln LheocraLlc dlcLaLorshlps. and reslde ln an Arab-named world of
Marhaban (Pello"), ln a secLor named afLer a blasLed reglon of Saudl Arabla. l sense LhaL someooe had an unpleasanL sLay ln a raLher hoL
parL of Lhe globe.
24
WheLher Webpa-apod wlll have Lhe asslsLance of Lhe 8wap SecLor uuke, ls someLhlng l leave Lo Lhe 8eferee.

splrlLually lncllned Solomanl and vargr. Webpa-apob and hls 8wap assoclaLes feel LhaL wlLh a proper lndocLrlnaLlon
educaLlon and Lhe clear example of Lhe 8wap, all sophonL llfe can be properly organlzed Lo brlng saLlsfacLlon Lo all.

Closlng 1heme: Seals and CrofL, Summer 8reeze" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=CsPuv3A[1os

H'(-1&3F+ "/"'(&%-/1 -+ ")-=&)-(? !/(/=&1- 0'=&1K 8'% %0#)# &)# +%-(( 6&)-/'+ `2&" &13 ]&)E) $/=='1-%-#+
+$&%%#)#3 &$)/++ %0# 2/)(3> g-$%')#3 &8/6# -+ A&=-@0-(9 %0# $(/+#+% 0'=&1 +#%%(#=#1% %/ %0# "(&11#3
`2&" $)h$0#9 &+ /B ::G <="#)-&(> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "8abahund" Geoffroy 1hoorens.
See h|s work at http:]]d[aha|.dev|antart.com]#]art]8abahoud-67419S22?hf=1

Ikrazkar, Interste||ar Merchant
u AAlCl8, Age 23 (110), Mlxed Puman (exLenslvely modlfled)
Skllls: !ack-o-1rades - 4, 8rawllng - 3, PunLlng - 2, 1olerance (vargr) - 2, Survlval - 1, Muslc - 1, LlecLronlcs - 1,
CravlLlcs - 1, Crav vehlcle - 1, Crav 8elL - 1, Lnergy Weapons - 1, vacc SulL - 1, Axe - 1, Cambllng - 1, Swlmmlng - 1,
Peavy Weapons - 0, SLreeLwlse - 0, Admln - 0, 8roker - 0, navlgaLlon - 0, Leadershlp - 0, Laser Weapon - 0, 1rader -
0, Shlps 8oaL - 0, lloL - 0, CompuLer - 0, Llalson - 0

Languages: Arzula-A

LqulpmenL: uesplLe hls wealLh, lkrazkar only keeps a few slmple Lools and glzmos, mosL noLably an Arzula-A/!ullan
Angllc/1ransform Angllc LranslaLor. A collecLlon of axes ls malnLalned, malnly human and vargr, Lhough Lhe
occaslonal oddlLy can be found as well. llnally, a collecLlon of Lhe senlor mlllLary award of Lhe mosL promlnenL
planeLary governmenLs (equlvalenLs Lo Lhe Medal of Ponour or Lhe vlcLorla Cross) ls slowly belng accumulaLed.

vlsual: A large, herolcally bullL man, wearlng rlch 1L-14 robes and garb, and en[oys Lhe very besL of Lorean luxurles.
Pls sLance, volce and mlen naLurally commands respecL, even adulaLlon among Lhe lmpresslonable. Pe ls always ln
Lhe company of Lwo dlscreeLly armed human aldes and four unarmed Pegemonlc vargr servanLs.

noLe: 1he 1olerance sklll refers Lo lkrazkar's ablllLy Lo LoleraLe non-submlsslve vargr ln hls presence. arLlcularly
upplLy member of Lhls slave race
23
LesLs Lhe 1hlrd Chlld's endurance: make an approprlaLe LesL Lo hls 1olerance sklll
ln Lhese cases.

Cpenlng 1heme: CllnL Mansell, 1he LasL Man" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=vugC6213Cko

<@)&^@&) /1$# %0)-((#3 %/ 6-+-% 0-+ 0&((+ /1 <@/19 &13 E&^# &% =&++-6# +%&%'#+ /B 0-=+#(B9 )#6#((-1E -1 0-+ /21
E)#&%1#++> H/2i <%F+ Q'+% +/ ='$0 3#&3 +%/1#9 %/ 8# 3'="#3 /1 +/=# #E/$#1%)-$ =#)$0&1% B/) & "-%%&1$#>
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "8a||room" Max V. N|mos. See h|s work at
http:]]www.renderos|ty.com]mod]ga||ery]|ndex.php?|mage_|d=24289&np

Cr|g|ns
lkrazkar ls a 1hlrd Chlld, parL of Lhe uelfled Man's breedlng program Lo creaLe Lhe geneLlc brldge needed Lo brlng
manklnd Lo godhood (and, as a naLural and lnevlLable slde-producL, Lhe vargr Lo exLlncLlon). lkrazkar was never
expecLed Lo be Lhe LasL Man hlmself, buL only a sLepplng-sLone Lo Plm.

ln Lhe old days, Lhe Lesser Chlldren would have been kllled (pre- or posL-blrLh) afLer Lhey were no longer of use,
[usL as many Arzula famllles klll Lhelr more unlmpresslve or wayward chlldren Loday. Powever, legal rullngs from
Lhe more promlnenL LasL Man Crders - lncludlng Lhe Crder of Plgh Sclence, Lhe old sLomplng grounds of Lhe
currenL Pegemon - have decree LhaL Lhe Lesser Chlldren could be of unlque value Lo Lhe LasL Man when Pe ls
ManlfesLed ln Lhe Chosen ArLlflclal Womb. As such, Lhey should noL be puL Lo deaLh needlessly.

varlous oLher Crders, CulLs, and SocleLles boLh publlc and secreL dlsagreed wlLh Lhls declslon. ln lkrazkar's case,
Lhe besL Lhey could do was arrange a posLlng for hlm aL lkon, homeworld of Lhe Pegemonlo-loaLhlng lkonaz vargr.
Surely, Lhey wlll arrange a raLher permanenL end for Lhe 1hlrd Chlld, removlng a llvlng obscenlLy and resLorlng
proper balance Lo Lhe unlverse.

23
LasL Man Lheology lnslsL LhaL Lhe vargr were a born and bred slave race, who commlLLed Lhe greaL sln of rebelllng agalnsL Lhe AnclenLs.
who were exalLed humans, of course. lL wlll be Lhe LasL Man who wlll flnally brlng humanlLl back Lo godhood. on Lhe shaLLered bones of
oll of Lhe vargr.


1rave|s
1he plans of lkrazkar's enemles never came Lo frulLlon, as Lhe Menderes CorporaLlon lnvlLed hls esLeemed
personage Lo Lake a Lour of Lhe !ullan roLecLoraLe, vlslLlng every lasL one of her ~1000 sysLems. vlslLlng each one
of her sysLems, and spendlng a monLh en[oylng Lhe pleasures of food and flesh each world had Lo offer, Look abouL
90 years.

CLher men would have evenLually goLLen bored of such Lravels and pleasures, buL lkrazkar conLlnued Lo en[oy
every mlnuLe of lL. Lvery woman, every world, every dellcacy was a fresh new dlscovery Lo hlm, and llfe conLlnued
Lo be as vlbranL, passlonaLe, and fasclnaLlng as ever. SLarshlps and crews, regenLs and emperors, wars and
dlsasLers came and wenL. he, lkrazkar, remalned.

keturn
1hls (apparenLly) ageless man
26
cheerfully reLurned Lo lkon, flndlng LhaL almosL everyone has forgoLLen abouL hlm.
Chooslng cellbacy and poverLy for an amuslng change of pace, he wenL Lo work as a common Lrader. who soon
somehow goL very sweeL, no-bld conLracLs LhaL was slmply unheard of for a common Lrader Lo recelve. As for Lhe
women... Lhe more he refused Lhem, Lhe more Lhey chased hlm.

uesplLe openly ldenLlfylng hlmself, Lhe local vargr were mysLerlously unlnLeresLed ln kllllng hlm. erhaps Lhere was
no charlsma Lo be galned by kllllng an unlmporLanL pseudo-god - Lhe vargr are very [ealous abouL charlsma and
fame, and well know LhaL kllllng someone can acLually toke charlsma from you, and glve lL Lo Lhe dead. Cr maybe
Lhey resenLed belng manlpulaLed lnLo preformlng a garbage dlsposal role by Arzula: We aren'L golng Lo klll hlm for
you. uo lL yourself!"

ln Lhe meanLlme, lkrazkar moved on Lo an ldeallsLlc phase ln hls Lhlnklng. AfLer Laklng up fasLlng and medlLaLlng, he
declded LhaL ln Lhe end, he was oot a god. AlLhough lkrazkar was noL nearly as desLrucLlve as mosL wealLhy and
lnfluenLlal men could be - merely beddlng women and en[oylng llfe, raLher Lhan kllllng men and burnlng clLles -
sLlll, lL was fundamenLally [usL seeklng afLer en[oymenL wlLhouL meanlng, wasLlng hls power and LalenLs, chaslng
afLer wlnd. As gulded by hls LrusLed advlsors and frlends, he has spenL hls Llme and LalenLs pleaslng hlmself, and
has now seen LhaL hls god, hls llfe, was noLhlng buL a meanlngless, powerless, empLy fanLasy.

1hls fallure - and Lhe lmpllclL decelL of Lhose who he LrusLed compleLely - made hlm exLremely angry, a fury and
rage LhaL had never domlnaLed hls Lhlnklng before. Pe carefully consldered Lhe mosL palnful and lrrevocable way
Lo geL hls vengeance on hls handlers and masLers. and senL for Lhe mosL hard-core, drlven, dedlcaLed ChrlsLlan
bellever LhaL hls servanLs could flnd. 1he klnd of salnL LhaL powerful men klll."

lL was Llme for a long, long dlscusslon on Lhlngs LhaL really maLLer.
27

Closlng 1heme: !ohn uebney, 8esurrecLlon" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=2aCzs1mWvxL

26
Cnly cerLaln LasL Man geneLlc englneers teolly know lf he ls Lruly ageless, merely long llved, or wlll one day experlence 'acceleraLed
aglng Lrauma.'
27
When he's ready Lo acL, lkrazkar can sLarL wlLh norLh's arLlcle 8eaLlng Lhe SLaLe" (home churches for Lhe wln!)
hLLp://www.garynorLh.com/publlc/12131.cfm. Pe can conLlnue wlLh Lhe paywall arLlcles 1he 8eLurn of Lhe 1uLorlal SysLem"
(hLLps://www.garynorLh.com/members/logln.cfm?hpage=12129.cfm) and 1he 8esulLs of Moore's Law Are 8elng ulsLrlbuLed by areLo's
Law" whlch lncludes Lhls LldblL: anyLhlng Lhe nSA can do Loday, any brlghL young Lhlng can do ln 2043
(hLLps://www.garynorLh.com/members/logln.cfm?hpage=12127.cfm).


P'+% &1/%0#) +&B#9 ")/+"#)/'+9 $/=B/)%&8(# ]-(&1- 2/)(3i c#((9 ?#+9 8'% %0# -1%#)#+%-1E %0-1E 0#)# -+ &
0/=/E#1#/'+ ]-(&1- 2/)(3 '13#) & ]&)E) -1%#)+%#((&) E/6#)1=#1%> R]-(&1-I$'(%')# f6&E0/'1 ]&)E)9 ?#+4
8'% +%-((bV A0-+ 2/)(3 D j'+(-@- D 3/#+ #C-+% 2-%0-1 %0# S'@&3'@&^ S#"'8(-$9 8'% 1/% d'-%# -1 %0# N="%? O'&)%#)>
!0#F+ &$%'&((? (/$&%#3 %2/ "&)+#$+ B)/= %0# +#$%/) 8/'13&)-#+9 -1 +'8+#$%/) ]#$%/) /B 5=3'@&1 !#$%/)9
/) -1 A)&6#((#)#+#K j'+(-@-k]#$%/)k5=3'@&1> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Canopy harbor II" kobert Maschke. See h|s
work at http:]]a|rage.dev|antart.com]art]Canopy-harbor-II-434891018

Sh|| N|sh, ex-So|d|er
u 874A8A, Age 32 (acLual age: 34), Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: CombaL 8lfleman - 3, Peavy Weapons - 3, Crav vehlcle - 1, CompuLer - 1, vacc SulL - 1,
1racked vehlcle - 1, 1acLlcs - 1, Mechanlcal - 1, 8rawllng - 1, SLealLh - 1, lnsLrucLlon - 1, Leadershlp - 1

Languages: lkonaz (vllanl), naLlve

LqulpmenL: nlsh sLlll has hls rlfle, and some spare magazlnes.

vlsual: !usL anoLher mlddle-aged, laLLe-coloured Mlxed vllanl wlLh a small poLbelly, brown eyes, and black sllghLly
wavy halr, dressed conservaLlvely. erhaps a good 8 of all Lhe men ln CharLed Space looks a loL llke hlm. nlsh ls
very sLrong, buL ln a Lough & slnewy way, raLher Lhan ln Lhe bulky, muscular morphology.

Cpenlng 1heme: kansas, uusL ln Lhe Wlnd" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=LP2w6Cxx0kC

1he k|ght Man at the Wrong 1|me
As was chosen by hls communlLy casLe leaders, nlsh slgned up for mlllLary servlce wlLh Lhe kseokh: a mld-level
'regular army' vllanl-ranks, Cvaghoun-offlcered force LhaL has been servlng Lhose vargr packs, fleeLs and naLlons
LhaL can afford lLs servlces for almosL 80 years now. uurlng nlsh's Llme ln Lhe servlce, Lhe kseokh conslsLed of Lwo
dlvlslons of lnfanLry, one dlvlslon of armoured lnfanLry (a.k.a. baLLledress), and Lwo brlgades of armoured cavalry
(a.k.a. grav Lanks), all of lL ln pald servlce Lo 1he 8ukadur, Lhe governmenL of Lhe 8ukadukaz 8epubllc.

1hls 1L 14 force was malnly engaged ln peaceLlme garrlson and Lralnlng duLles: and as usual, when Lhere was no
flghLlng requlred, Lhe acLual warrlor-offlcers were replaced by perfumed prlnces and pure bureaucraLs focused on
expandlng Lhelr power, Lhelr deparLmenL headcounL, Lhelr Lurf, and Lhelr budgeL. lL lsn'L really Lrue LhaL Lhe vllanl
are lnsLlncLlve bureaucraLs llke Lhe 8wap are, buL Lhey are far more comforLable ln such an envlronmenL Lhan Lhe

Solomanl are, wlLh Lhelr love of conformlLy and precedenL and consensus and Lhe resL of lL. nlsh knew hls buslness
wlLh Lhe Lools of hls Lrade, lnslde and ouL, buL hls sLlff-necked naLure made hlm far less a bureaucraLlc lnflghLer
Lhan Lhe frenemy nCCs he had Lo work wlLh every day. Llke many men before and afLer hlm, he sLepped on Lhe
wrong Loes on Lhe wrong Llme, and desplLe hls lncreaslngly desperaLe efforLs, he was forced ouL of Lhe kseokh.

V|ctory at a r|ce
noL only dld nlsh falled Lo lnherlL Lhe vllanl sklll of ln-group pollLlcs, he also falled Lo lnherlL much of Lhelr
longevlLy. Pe hasn'L hlL slxLy yeL, buL Lhe years have lefL a deeper mark on hlm Lhan on many oLher Mlxed vllanl of
Lhe same age. Pe caLches varlous dlseases fasLer Lhan oLhers, and Lakes longer Lo recover, and he looks vlslbly
haggard and worn compared Lo oLher men of hls age as well. SLlll, he remalns as sLrong as a bull, and nlsh belleves
LhaL he sLlll has Llme Lo make hls mark somewhere, Lruly do someLhlng slgnlflcanL, before he dles and [olns Lhe
ancesLors ln Lhe oLher world.

(Cr ls forced Lo reLurn Lo hls Lruly safe and Lruly sLlfllng homeworld of Lusllkl, a world so predlcLable, unchanglng,
creaLlvely sLerlle, and reglmenLed LhaL nlsh occaslonally calls lL 'Lhe oLher world' as well.)

Closlng 1heme: Slmply 8ed, Poldlng 8ack Lhe ?ears" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=yC07WSu7C9w

kzadz Dha|ty|rrufgak|r, kogue
u 3988CA, Age 30, lrlllLok vargr
Skllls: SLreeLwlse - 3, LlngulsLlcs - 2, lnLruslon - 2, SLealLh - 2, Wheeled vehlcle - 1, Scrounge - 1, Llalson - 1, Sub-
Machlnegun - 1, 1acLlcs - 1, !ack-o-1rades - 1, Leadershlp - 1, CompuLer - 0, larmlng - 0, lnflghLlng - 0
Languages: 1enlrrueL (lrlllLok Lrade language, naLlve), Arzula-l, Angllc (!ullan)

LqulpmenL: kzadz has qulLe a selecLlon of odd Lools on hls person, mosL legal. Pls rlghL hand ls acLually a
replacemenL for hls orlglnal: when uslng lL for dellcaLe work, ralse hls aglllLy Lo 13 (l).

vlsual: 1he rogue dresses ln Lhe comforLable, successful sLyle of a prosperous lrlllLok merchanL wlLhln Lhe
Pegemony: never so flashy as Lo spark human envy, yeL sLlll wlLh a cerLaln plzazz and (especlally) scenL, so oLher
vargr can undersLand LhaL he's a cuL above Lhe common pack.

Cpenlng 1heme: Lurope, 1he llnal CounLdown" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=9[k-nc8mvcw

A0# ]&)E) 0&6# &(2&?+ (/6#3 +#1+&%-/1&( +/$-&( 3-+"(&?+ /B $0&)-+=&%-$ 3/=-1&1$#9 &13 D &B%#) +#6#)&( $#1%')-#+
D 8-E 20##(+ &)# $/=-1E 8&$@ -1 B&+0-/1> f1 L1- J)/6@%&@09 & (&)E# E&+ E-&1% =//1 -1 \+'#( +?+%#=9 :lm
<="#)-&(> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Moonsh|ners" Goran De||c. See h|s work at
http:]]de||c.dev|antart.com]art]Moonsh|ners-38918S1S7

GLCk!
Llke mosL lrlllLok, kzadz ls a raLher cheerful vargr, happlesL wlLh hls llLLermaLes, worklng Lo please everyone,
human and vargr allke, and brlng Lhem all lnLo one unlLed pack. unllke mosL lrlllLok, Lhough, Lhere ls a cerLaln
darlng sLreak ln hls naLure, and a wllllngness Lo flghL for hls pack when pressed Loo hard.
28
8y 30, kzadz had made
a forLune ln hands-on skulduggery, losL lL whlle avoldlng a Pegemonlc crackdown, and - afLer seLLlng Lhlngs on a
even keel wlLh 1he Man - made anoLher one as a mlddleman, maklng all sorLs of deals beLween all sorLs of parLles.
CulLe a loL of legends clrculaLe abouL kzadz, mosL focuslng on hls slxLh sense, qulck wlL, a smooLhness ln
mlsdlrecLlng hls marks whlle conducLlng a break-and-enLer. and a fondness for unusual ammunlLlon.

Maxlm 16. ?our name ls ln Lhe mouLh of oLhers: be sure lL has LeeLh.
Poward 1ayler, 1he SevenLy Maxlms of Maxlmally LffecLlve Mercenarles"
hLLps://en.wlklpedla.org/wlkl/Schlock_Mercenary

DANGLk!
unable Lo slmply relax and en[oy hls money and fame, he senL ouL feelers for an even blgger helsL. and hls mosL
lnLeresLlng nlbble came from some very forelgn vargr, wlLh Lhelr olly black coaLs llberally flecked wlLh crlmson red
sploLches. kzadz made lL clear LhaL he wasn'L lnLeresLed on sLepplng on Lhe Lall of Lhe Pegemony: buL LhaL wasn'L
whaL Lhe very allen vargr were lnLeresLed ln. Cf all Lhlngs, Lhey were lnLeresLed ln Lhe [ewellery preferences of
lmperlal noblewomen wlLhln Lhe Slx SubsecLors.

When he asked why, Lhelr Lalls sLarLed wagglng furlously, unLll Lhey Lurned around, grabbed, and held Lhem
down.
29
WlLh Lhelr Lalls sLlll LwlLchlng spasLlcally, Lhe forelgn Suedzuk explalned Lhrough Lhelr LranslaLors LhaL Lhey
were lnLeresLed ln seLLlng up a LransporL llne dlrecLly from Lhelr hazlly-ldenLlfled homeworld dlrecLly Lo each of Lhe
slx subsecLor caplLals Lhe lmperlum holds ln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer.
30
When asked how ln Lhe galaxy dld Lhey plan Lo
geL Suedzuk-crewed shlps Lhrough fanaLlcally anLl-Suedzuk Pegemonlc Space, Lhe sLrangers smlled LooLhlly, used
boLh hands Lo grlp Lhelr now franLlcally squlrmlng Lalls, and sald (ln flawless 1enlrrueL) none of your buslness!"

Cf course, kzadz had Lo Lake Lhe [ob afLer Lhls. 1he money, whlle vety good, had almosL noLhlng Lo do wlLh hls
declslon: lL's Lhe chance Lo be parL of someLhlng LhaL promlses Lo be absoluLely leqeoJoty LhaL hooked hlm. now,
all he needs ls some unsuspecLlng lmperlal merchanLman Lo LransporL Lo Lhe subsecLor caplLals hlmself and a few
female vargr from far away, wlLh a cusLom LhaL requlres Lhem Lo be always covered up head-Lo-Loe and wearlng
dark-LlnLed fllLer masks."
31

Closlng 1heme: 1he Lagles, PoLel Callfornla" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=h0C1ucw3Pug

28
When he flghLs alone, lL lsn'L because l am worLh someLhlng, and so you have no rlghL Lo harm me," buL because l am Lhe properLy of
Lhe ack, and you have no rlghL Lo harm whaL belongs Lo Lhe ack!" noL LhaL Lhe dlsLlncLlon maLLers Loo much should hls bulleLs rlp your
guLs aparL, a la hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=m!CP7culw7c, buL lL ls lmporLanL for role-playlng purposes.
29
Any resemblance Lo uogberL ls noL colncldenLal.
30
Cf course, one of Lhose subsecLor caplLals, nullnad, doubles as Lhe secLor caplLal.
31
1he coverlng ls Lo hlde Lhelr red-flecked pelLs from oLhers, and Lhe fllLers are Lo hlde from Lhelr own nosLrlls Lhe scenL of fear. (8ad
1hlngs Pappen when Lhe 8lood vargr smell fear.) lncldenLally, Lhe 1L 14 lkonlc helmeLs conLaln some solld LranslaLlon sofLware (lncludlng
all Lhe human and Lhe more common vargr languages wlLhln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer - and Lhe 8wap Longue, Loo!), a handy-dandy
encyclopedla/glossary, and a nlce sulLe of combaL supporL sofLware, wlLh a speclal emphasls on close-quarLers combaL and squad-level
LacLlcs (8eferee-speak: +1 for lnflghLlng, +1 for LacLlcs, +2 Lo LducaLlon (LmpLy CuarLer daLa only).)

Duke She|kh 2ak| b|n 1em|z, Imper|a| Lm|ssary
u 838A9L, Age 26 (30), Solomanl Puman
Skllls: Leadershlp - 4, Llalson - 3, LlngulsLlcs - 3, SLeward - 1, !ack-o-1rades - 1, ersuaslon - 1, lnLerrogaLlon - 1,
Medlcal - 1, lnsLrucLlon - 1, Admln - 1, 8rlbery - 1, Carouslng - 1, Crav vehlcle - 0, CompuLer - 0, Mechanlcal - 0,
vacc SulL - 0, Sub-Machlnegun - 0, navlgaLlon - 0, LlecLronlcs - 0, CravlLlcs - 0, Laser Weapon - 0, 8ecrulLlng - 0,
Commo - 0, SLreeLwlse - 0, PlsLory - 0, lnLervlew - 0
Languages: Arablc (Pebrln, naLlve), Arablc (Classlcal), Pebrew (AnclenL), Angllc (Core)

LqulpmenL: 1hls ls an lmperlal uuke, ln Lhe dlrecL servlce of Lhe Lmperor of Lhe 11,000 worlds: whaL he wanLs,
he qets, up Lo an lmperlal navy llghL crulser.

vlsual: normally a hearLy and llvely young man, dressed ln Lhe blazlngly whlLe classlcal Arab robes of Lhe deserL.
8esldes a ceremonlal dagger (used Lhrlce, always ln Lhe servlce of Lhe lmperlum), he carrles noLhlng else, as he
needs noLhlng else. uue Lo recenL evenLs, Lhough, Lhe uuke ls wlLhdrawn and morose, dressed llLerally ln sackcloLh
woven by Lhe wldows of Lhe Solomanl 8lm War, and Lhe ashes of a charred world.

noLe: Shelkh Zakl's uucal LlLle ls a 8ank LlLle, arlslng from hls excellenL work as an lmperlal Ambassador.
32
lf he
makes a requesL of Lhe lrldlum 1hrone, lL wlll be granLed: Lhe uuke has earned Lhe lmpllclL LrusL of Lmperor Cavln.
Powever, Lhe Lmperor ls ofLen monLhs away vla !ump-4 x-boaL. forLunaLely, Lhe Shelkh
33
has a rellable knack for
geLLlng Lhlngs done lndependenLly.

Cpenlng 1heme: SLeve !ablonsky, Arrlval Lo LarLh" hLLps://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=4P0!uomv8ac

Lnter|ng the Serv|ce
lnlLlally slxLh ln llne Lo Lhe uucal 1hrone of Pebrln,
34
Zakl was lnlLlally encouraged Lo [oln Lhe lmperlal navy as Lhe
preferred goal of any lmperlal arlsLocraL. Pe dld as hls famlly requesLed, buL falled Lo rlse above enslgn. 8uL he
managed Lo geL hls Pousehold elders Lo leL hlm Lransfer Lo Lhe lmperlal ulplomaLlc Corps, where he dld
specLacularly well. 1he Shelkh ls a qulck sLudy of people and personallLles, and whlle hls aglng braln has falled Lo
reLaln evetytbloq he has learned ln hls decades of lmperlal servlce, one Lhlng he has kepL ls a powerful recall for
names and characLerlsLlcs, human and allen allke.

1he reason Shelkh Zakl has sLeadlly rlsen Lo hls exalLed poslLlon ls because of a sklll easy Lo sLaLe, buL dlfflculL Lo
emulaLe: he can geL Lhe hardesL Solomanl Abrahamlc Lheocracles Lo Loe Lhe lmperlal llne when lL comes Lo Lhe
ma[or lssues.
33
1hls can be dlfflculL, as Lhese culLures lnslsL LhaL Lhere ls a legal code LhaL sLands above Lhe Wlll of
Lhe Lmperor. 1radlLlonally, Lhe lrldlum 1hrone preferred Lo leL Lhe lmperlal navy lllusLraLe exoctly how powerful
Lhls lnvlslble, lnsubsLanLlal klng of all Lhe Cosmos ls beyond Lhe 100-dlameLer planeLary boundary LhaL marks Lhe
legal llmlL of planeLary auLhorlLy - and, on occaslon, wltblo LhaL legal boundary as well.

8uL, as cerLaln evenLs wlLhln Lhe former Solomanl AuLonomous Sphere demonsLraLed, Lhe effecLlveness of lmperlal
pollcy was growlng. counLer-producLlve, leL us say. A pollcy revlslon was called for.

32
uon'L forgeL: planeLary governmenLs are fully soverelgn naLlons, wlLh Lhe lmperlum only conLrolllng Lhe space beLween Lhe sLars".
and Lhe sLarporL. And a raLher exLenslve mlllLary esLabllshmenL, especlally regardlng Lhe navy. And Lhe Lmperor's Share - 2 of Lhe sLock
of all lnLersLellar companles wlLhln Lhe lmperlum.
33
unofflclally, oLher nobles Lend Lo refer Lo uuke Zakl as Lhe Shelkh", and noL uuke Zakl, as 1) he has no flef, 2) he lsn'L acLually ln
command of an lmperlal secLor or subsecLor, and 3) as a marker LhaL Lhls man ls oot an ordlnary noble: cauLlon ls advlsed.
34
As more chlldren were born Lo Lhe dlrecLly rullng llne, Zakl grew farLher and farLher from lnherlLlng Pebrln SubsecLor. As of 993, Zakl ls
now 36
Lh
ln llne Lo Lhe subsecLor Lhrone.
33
1hls ls ln conLrasL wlLh Lhe ma[or vllanl Lheocracles, whlch - ever slnce Lhe power of Lhe Solomanl was broken ln Lhe lmperlal CourL -
make lL a polnL Lo aggresslvely supporL Lhe Lmperor ln all Lhlngs. 1he varlous SLellar ulvlnlLy Lheocracles are generally comforLable
supporLlng Lhe lmperlal SLarbursL as well, wlLh only Lhe occaslonal qulbble here and Lhere on mlnor slde lssues.

Ser|ous rob|ems.
1he revlsed lmperlal pollcy was promulgaLed by Lmperor SLyryx ln 970. Whlle lnslsLlng LhaL Lhe auLhorlLy of Lhe
Lmperor derlved from Lhe consenL of Lhe governed - and oot Lhe debaLable exlsLence of lnvlslble delLles, real or
lmaglned
36
- Lhe Lmperor was wllllng Lo enLerLaln Lhe hypoLheLlcal posslblllLy of laws above hls own. Powever,
such laws and such a ruler - especlally lf Lhey clalm Lo be even mote auLhorlLaLlve Lhan Lhe repeaLable and
demonsLrable Laws of hyslcs, say - wlll have Lo demonsLraLe Lhelr effecLlveness wlLhouL Lhe supporL of Lhe
lrldlum 1hrone, as Lhere ls no consensus on Lhe acLual ldenLlLy of Lhls hypoLheLlcal law-glver, or Lhe acLual conLenL
of sald laws.
37
Should Lhls hypoLheLlcal almlghLy delLy persuade a ma[orlLy of lmperlal clLlzens of lLs exlsLence,
Lhen Lhe lrldlum 1hrone moy choose Lo Lake lLs deslres lnLo accounL. noL before."
38

fB &(( /B 0-+ %)&6#(+ -1 %0# +#)6-$# /B %0# N="#)/)9 M'@# n&@- +%-(( )#=#=8#)+ 0-+ #&)(-#+% 3&?+ -1 %0# <="#)-&(
M-"(/=&%-$ ./)"+ 2-%0 %0# =/+% B/131#++> f"#1-1E '" %0# '1-6#)+# %/ &1 <="#)-&( .-%-^#1 0&+ & $#)%&-1 $0&)=
1/%0-1E #(+# 0&+ #6#) =&%$0#3> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Moonsh|ners" Ma|o. See h|s work at
http:]]donma|o.dev|antart.com]art]WAVING-GCCD-8-376443697

uecldlng LhaL Lhe lmperlum merely worshlped power qua power - and had no lnLeresL ln some culLure-speclflc,
narrow-mlnded, parLlcularlsLlc provlnclal bleaLlngs abouL 'LruLh' or '[usLlce' - Lhe Solomanl Abrahamlc rellglons
merely wlLhdrew Lhelr consenL Lo lmperlal 8ule, no longer recognlzed Lhe Lmperor as a ulvlnely-appolnLed
auLhorlLy, and ceased Lo pray for hls healLh, rule, or relgn. 1he Lmperor can klll who he wlshes, rape who he
pleases, and Lake whaL he wanLs, when he wanLs, because he wanLs lL. So leL Lhe mlghL of hls hand and Lhe power
of hls fleeL be Lhe god LhaL saves hlm."

1he Solomanl arLy prospered nlcely as Lhese evenLs unfolded.

.And a So|ut|on
1hen-Marquls Zadl convlnced Lmperor SLyryx Lo sLrongly, publlcly and deflnlLely revoke hls pollcy before Lhe end of
Lhe year. 1haL was Lhe easy parL, as lmperlal Law ls whaLever Lhe Lmperor says lL ls. 1he hard parL was golng Lo all
Lhe Abrahamlc Lheocracles, and geLLlng Lhem back ln llne. CeLLlng Lhelr co-operaLlon regardlng LaxaLlon, mlllLary
pollcy, and lmperlal Law was acLually raLher easy. buL Lhere were no prayers for Lhe Lmperor, and lncreaslng
numbers of Abrahamlc bellevers Look greaL dellghL ln sLresslng Lhe sttlctly maLerlallsLlc basls of lmperlal AuLhorlLy.

36
ulscusslons on wheLher Lhe Lmperor, Lhe lmperlal lamlly, Lhe ma[or noble Pouses, Lhe MegacorporaLlons, or Lhe lmperlal navy counL
as delLles are smooLhly sldesLepped: you never know whaL a glven world or noble chooses Lo worshlp.
37
And lf lL was puL Lo a voLe, vllanl 8lLuallsm would come ouL as Lhe largesL bellef sysLem wlLhln Lhe 1hlrd lmperlum by a plurallLy (noL a
ma[orlLy) - a rellglon wlLh buL llLLle concern regardlng a god or gods, and a powerful drlve for conformlLy, consensus, rlLual, and LradlLlon.
38
.and we wlll hereby lgnore Lhe facL LhaL only moLlvaLed mlnorlLles have ever changed hlsLory ln a slgnlflcanL fashlon. Cr domlnaLe and
dlrecL any governmenL." Lmperor SLyryx dldn'L add.

And all across Lhe Solomanl Sphere, lmperlal banners were belng broughL down, and Solomanl arLy banners were
belng hauled up.

c0#%0#) %0# j&^-+&)- g)/"0#% .&($- E&-1#3 0-+ -1#C"(-$&8(# "/2#)+ B)/= J/39 %0# ./+=/+9 %0# 51$-#1%+9
%0# 51$#+%/)+9 _(%)&I0-E0 A#$01/(/E?9 /) ,/)8-33#1 g+-/1-$ A#$01-d'#+ )#=&-1+ -1 0/% 3-+"'%# &$)/++ %0#
N="%? O'&)%#)> c0&% -+1F% -1 3-+"'%# -+ 20&% 0&""#1#3 20#1 <="#)-&( L-1-+%)? /B P'+%-$# &E#1%+
%)-#3 %/ &))#+% 0-=4 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "LANDSCAL_11102013" Ma|o. See h|s work at
http:]]donma|o.dev|antart.com]art]LANDSCAL-11102013-406S21286

Marquls Zadl swlfLly reLurned Lo CaplLal, and spoke Lo Lhe Lmperor regardlng Lhe lssue. LvenLually, a dlrecL appeal
from Lhe 1hrone was senL Lo Lhe Solomanl worlds, as Lhe Lmperor oskeJ for Lhe prayers of all loyal lmperlals -
expllclLly lncludlng Solomanl lmperlals - for Lhelr delLles and splrlLs Lo gulde hlm ln hls rule.
39
1hls saLlsfled almosL
all Lhe Solomanl-domlnaLed worlds ouLslde of Lhe Solomanl Sphere, and even a falr number of worlds wlLhln Lhe
Sphere. unLll he was recalled due Lo Lhe lmmlnenL sLarL of Lhe Solomanl 8lm War, Lhe Marquls (laLer upgraded Lo
uuke ln 973) laboured day and nlghL Lo brlng back Lhe ma[or Lheocracles back lnLo Lhe lmperlal fold, rarely even
boLherlng wlLh force
40
, and lnsLead sLresslng unlLy, relaLlonshlps, and muLual forglveness.

1oday
uuke Zadl sees Lhe ouLbreak of war as a personal fallure. ln Lhe end, hls labours, hls sLlrrlng speeches, hls
neLworklng, and even hls own prayers came Lo noLhlng.
41
ln Lhe old days, lL was common lmperlal pollcy Lo
physlcally dellver a flawless copy of !osephus' 1be Iewlsb wot
42
Lo mlsbehavlng Abrahamlc Lheocracles by Lhe hand
of uuke Zadl, personally slgned by Lhe rullng Lmperor. now, wlLh real blood - human and allen, lncludlng
Solomanl, vllanl, Mlxed, and all sorLs of mlnor human races - belng vlgorously splashed across Lhe sLars by all
concerned, such symbollc LhreaLs look llke a parLlcularly macabre form of paLheLlc chlldlsh humour.

uuke Zadl offered Lo publlcly reslgn and be sLrlpped of hls LlLle ln dlshonour before Lhe lrldlum 1hrone, buL
Lmperor Cavln wouldn'L hear of lL. lnsLead, Lhe Lmperor ordered Lhe Llred dlplomaL Lo reLurn Lo hls homeworld of

39
?es, l know LhaL Llsenhower, one of Lhe beLLer Lmperors resldenLs, declared "Cur governmenL has no sense unless lL ls founded ln a
deeply felL rellglous falLh, and l don'L care whaL lL ls." hLLp://www.garynorLh.com/publlc/12062.cfm SLlll, l prefer my leaders Lo be more.
cboosy. regardlng whlch splrlLs, guldes, and lords Lo recognlze. Cf course, dlfferenL peoples have dlfferenL lords, whlch ls a good reason
Lo prefer pockeL-slzed clvll governmenLs Lo sprawllng galacLlc emplres (and Lhe vlolence and cenLrallzed, unaccounLable auLhorlLy Lhelr
mere exlsLence demands.)
40
llrsL, dlrecL LhreaLs only lnsplred lncreased reslsLance (ln boLh sLrengLh and varleLy of forms) and second, Lhe loyalLy of local lmperlal
forces was growlng more doubLful by Lhe year.
41
1he uuke ls belng un[usLly hard on hlmself: he managed Lo salvage Lhe leglLlmacy of a raLher sLupld Lmperor (well, Lemporarlly), and
beaL back Lhe LhreaL of rellglously-drlven hosLlllLles wlLhln Lhe lmperlum proper. And Lhere ls someLhlng Lo be sald for resLrlcLlng Lhe 8lm
War Lo a prlmarlly raclal and pollLlcal maLLer, raLher Lhan leL lL grow lnLo a rellglously fuelled war as well.
42
Whlch, under Lhe LlLle 1be wots of tbe Iews, you can download here: hLLp://guLenberg.org/ebooks/2830. Apropos of noLhlng, l wlll
polnL ouL LhaL Pouse 1amlz led Lhe Pebrln 8ebelllon, descrlbed ln Ste||ar keaches #12, page 9-10.

Pebrln, and see lf he could calm Lhe waLers Lhere, reduclng Lhe anclenL hosLlllLles beLween Moslem and Plndu,
Solomanl and vllanl and 8wap and vargr. Lnough small vlcLorles add up Lo a greaL vlcLory, and even your llmlLed
successes has earned greaLer pralse from me Lhan all buL Lhe greaLesL mlllLary vlcLorles so far ln Lhls blLLer war."
Also, Lhe Lmperor puL Lhe uuke on noLlce, LhaL one day Lhls war wlll end, and he expecLs Lhe uuke Lo lead Lhe
lmperlal dlplomaLlc Leam when Lhe Llme comes. 1here are reasons why l never reprlmanded you for your usage of
anagaLhlcs, vassal Zadl.
43
"

Lnter the Cs
1he layer CharacLers wlll be hlred lnLo Lhe uuke's servlce: wby Lhey were hlred depends on Lhelr behavlour and
repuLaLlon beforehand. and Lhelr level of success.
naLural-born losers would be hlred for a Lhrowaway purpose LhaL Lhey probably won'L survlve, and plans
for foollsh Cs wlll facLor ln Lhelr foollshness,
Crdlnary Cs who are [usL geLLlng by wlll be hlred for Lhelr ho-hum skllls, and ln Lhe expecLaLlon of only
ho-hum resulLs,
Solld, rellable Cs wlll be preferred for beLLer work, one humble buL lmporLanL brlck ln a soarlng arch Lhe
Cs can only geL a gllmpse of,
And exLraordlnary Cs, known for pulllng off Lhe lmposslble, wlll be chosen for Lhe LoughesL and mosL
dlfflculL of mlsslons: Lhey wlll also have Lhe besL grasp of Lhe uuke's lnLenLlons.
44

1he Cs naLural preferences ln vlolence, pro- or anLl-soclal aLLlLude, sneaklness, bravery, sclenLlflc curloslLy,
flnanclal legerdemaln, and comforL level wlLh allen culLures wlll be facLored lnLo Lhelr mlsslons: noL perfecLly, buL
preLLy well, and someLlmes wlLh a deep lnslghL lnLo Lhelr personallLles.
43

c0-(# %0# 8('#I20-%# 2/)(3 /B J&#@/ (//@+ (-@# & B-1# 0/=#9 &""#&)&1$#+ &)# 3#$#"%-6# -1 %0-+ $&+#>
!/"0/1%+ 20/ $&1 +## %0# "#$'(-&) )&3-&%-/1 B)/= %0# 2/)(3 $&1 8#%%#) +#1+# %0# 3&1E#)> ,)/= & ('1&)
+#%%(#=#1% -1 /)8-% &8/'% J&#@/9 lom <="#)-&(> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "LANDSCAL_11102013" Ma|o. See h|s
work at http:]]donma|o.dev|antart.com]art]LANDSCAL-11102013-406S21286

1he Cs wlll never see Lhe uuke ln person: lnsLead, a Squlre
46
ln uucal llvery wlll dellver a hologram-pro[ecLor,
where a smlllng and happy uuke wlll provlde dlrecLlon. lL's of beLLer quallLy Lhan LhaL of SLar Wars: aL 1L 14, lL has
colour, and llmlLed arLlflclal lnLelllgence provldlng a falr lmlLaLlon of Lhe uuke's personallLy ln a good mood, able Lo

43
AnagaLhlcs lnhlblLs Lhe aglng process: a nlce perk, buL lL makes Lhe helrs walLlng for Lhe noble Lo dle vety lmpaLlenL, so lL ls LradlLlonally
frowned upon by noblllLy ln Lhe lnLeresLs of, erm, a sLable and predlcable chaln of successlon.
44
LxacLly whaL Lhese lnLenLlons are ls lefL for Lhe 8eferee Lo declde. Pere, l am assumlng LhaL uuke Zadl really does lnLend Lo bulld a
lasLlng peace Lo Lhe Slx SubsecLors - buL he needs some pleces moved around flrsL.
43
1he sharp-Lhlnklng C, connecLlng Lhe doLs, wlll reallze LhaL someooe has been keeplng raLher close Labs on Lhem durlng Lhelr earller
advenLures. Who LhaL someone ls, ls lefL for Lhe 8eferee (and perhaps a secreLlve C) Lo declde.
46
ln my use of Lhe word here, a Squlre ls noL a young obedlenL naf, belng lnducLed lnLo Lhe complex world of noble Servlce ln Lhe sLyle of
Lhe Medleval Age. My Squlres are derlved from Lhe lawyer's 'esqulre', so Lhey are professlonal, skllled, experlenced adulLs geLLlng serlous
noble work done backsLage. oot usage. ls up Lo you.

answer Lhe baslc, reasonable quesLlons and follow clear chalns of loglc (buL forgeL abouL subLle lnferences or mosL
lnducLlve reasonlng.)

lL won'L Lake long for Lhe Cs Lo dlscover Lhrough publlc sources LhaL uuke Zadl has been depressed slnce Lhe sLarL
of Lhe Solomanl 8lm War. llgurlng ouL why he's so happy ln Lhe holograms - lf lL's really hlm - ls someLhlng of a
puzzle.

keferee: 1he reason? Soon afLer hls meeLlng wlLh Lhe Lmperor, uuke Zadl had a dream where he passed hls hands
over Lhe sLars and worlds of Lhe Slx SubsecLors, and Lhe flghLlng, haLreds, and old grudges blew away, leavlng only
peace and serenlLy. Slnce Lhen, he has kepL a sorrowful face ln publlc, buL a [oyful face ln prlvaLe - and Lo cerLaln
chosen servanLs, for hls own reasons.

?es, l would be LempLed Lo mock and rldlcule such dreams myself: desplLe my fear of Cod, my mlnd ls WesLern,
and appeals Lo dreams and vlslons exasperaLe me.
47
Powever. how l feel and how Cod feels are Lwo dlfferenL
Lhlngs. Cod dld send vlslons Lo !oseph and haraoh, Solomon and uanlel, !oseph & Mary, and even Lhe wlfe of
llaLe.

uuke Zadl, a Musllm, comes from a Sunnl lslamlc background: and Arabs place value ln dreams. Lven as l speak,
many Arabs are led Lo ChrlsL noL by loglc or argumenL or wealLh, buL by dreams senL from Peaven.
48
uuke Zadl
hlmself ls a Musllm: buL who can bar Cod from speaklng Lo whomever Pe wllls?

Assumlng LhaL lL ls Cod speaklng, and noL merely Lhe uuke's own deslres. 8uL LhaL's for Lhe Cs Lo dlscover, Lhe
old-fashloned way.

Closlng 1heme: 1he 1rack 1eam, eace" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=2fLScS4fLbC

Sma||-kunt, 1otem and Warr|or of the Web|n|gan
49

u A97684, Age 21, Suedzuk vargr
Skllls: lnflghLlng - 2, Sensor Cps - 1, Laser Weapon - 1, vacc SulL - 1, Zero-C - 1, Crav vehlcle - 0, CompuLer - 0,
PlsLory - 0
Languages: Angllc (1ransform)

LqulpmenL: A reflec armoured spacesulL (slx hours of alr, 1L A), and laser rlfle (also 1L A). no grenades usually, buL
a few flash-bangs.

vlsual: !usL a larger-Lhan-usual 8lood vargr, bearlng arms, wearlng Lhe llvery of a Solomanl Amerlcan warrlor band.

Cpenlng 1heme: 1revor !ones and 8andy Ldelman, romenLory"
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=k1ry!uvuZ6k

Introduct|on
1wenLy-one years ago, Lhere was an Amerlcan lndlan flghLer, leadlng hls Leam ln a counLer-assaulL agalnsL a
Suedzuk corsalr. 1aklng Lhe shlp was as ugly as you'd suspecL, buL lL JlJ geL done. Whlle looklng for any survlvors -
Lhe buslness end of hls gauss rlfle leadlng Lhe way - Lhls flghLer was surprlsed by a sLlck'em, grlpplng hlm Lo Lhe
wall. Pe began Lo yell for help when a bag was shoved lnLo hls hand: he focused, and a Suedzuk female swlfLly
backed away from hlm, Lhen sLood, walLlng for hlm Lo accepL Lhe unspoken deal.

47
Much dreamlng and many words are meanlngless. 1herefore fear Cod." Lccl 3:7
48
See hLLp://www.chrlsLlanlLyLoday.com/cL/2014/aprll-web-only/why-musllms-are-becomlng-besL-evangellsLs.hLml?paglng=off
49
Abandoned" ln C[lbwe.


!/=#%-=#+9 20#1 0# 2&+ ?/'1E9 !=&((IS'1% 2&+ %/(3 /B %0# B-)+% 0/=#2/)(3 /B %0# c#8-1-E&19 B&) &2&? -1
J'+0#=#E# !#$%/)> H/1# /B %0# 8&13 #6#) =&3# %0# $/==-%=#1% %/ =&@# %0# =/1%0+I(/1E )#%')1 Q/')1#?K 8'% -B
&1? 3-39 !=&((IS'1% Q'+% =-E0% Q/-1 %0#=> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "1ranqu|||ty" Gabr|e| Gad[os. See h|s work at
http:]]p|pper-svk.dev|antart.com]art]1ranqu|||ty-1S1S64S28

As usual ln Lhese clrcumsLances, he prompLly shoL her dead. 1he surprlslng parL ls, he dldn'L lmmedlaLely open Lhe
bag lnLo vacuum, nor dld he smash lL agalnsL Lhe wall or sLomp on lL unLll lL sLopped movlng. 8y sheer force of
personallLy, Lhe flghLer made hls Leam. Lhen hls crew. and flnally hls Lrlbe accepL hls declslon.

uphood
1he four 8lood vargr cubs could noL be allowed Lo play wlLh Lhe human chlldren, buL Lhey heard Lhelr volces, and
smelL Lhelr scenL. 1hey dld bond sLrongly wlLh Lhe flghLer who saved Lhem, fed Lhem, gelded Lhem, laborlously
LaughL Lhem Angllc, bore Lhelr blLes and slashes, and lnLroduced Lhem Lo Lhe ways of Lhe Lrlbe. Cne by one, as Lhey
qulckly grew sLronger and smarLer, he lnLroduced Lhem Lo Lhe oLher men of Lhe Lrlbe, Lhen Lhe women.

1hey weren'L really accepLed unLll Lhey proved LhaL Lhey could be LrusLed noL Lo harm Lhe lnfanLs and Lhe chlldren,
even lf Lhe llLLle ones yelled and screamed and sLomped on Lhelr Lalls unexpecLedly. Cf Lhe four, only one proved
unable Lo make Lhe ad[usLmenL - who was Lhen beaLen Lo deaLh by Lhe men of Lhe Weblnlgan. 1he Lwo survlvlng
llLLermaLes, 8ed urops and Crooked 1ooLh, proved Lo be beLLer flghLers Lhan Small-8unL, and earned Lhe respecL of
Lhe men more fasLer Lhan he dld. 8uL was Lhe blgger and more learned Small-8unL - wlLh hls lnLeresL ln Amerlcan
lndlan rellglon
30
- who became Lhe unofflclal mascoL and LoLem of Lhe Lrlbe.

1he survlvlng vargr were never made members of Lhe Lrlbe: however, Lhey were accepLed as LoLem-bearers. 1hey
were always free Lo leave - and never reLurn - buL so long as Lhey supporLed Lhe Lrlbe and obeyed Lhe chlefs, Lhey
could remaln as proLecLed resldenL allens. Cn an lsolaLed, alrless moon of Lhelr home sysLem of Wapeka, a small,
black-sLoned monumenL was placed near - buL sLlll separaLe from - Lhe many large whlLe blocks. Llke Lhe human

30
1he local form of space-based Anlmlsm ls more Luned Lo orblLs and asLerolds and baLLerles and sLarshlps Lhan Lo eagles and foresLs and
wlnds and buffalo. A few baslcs of orlglnal Amerlcan lndlan bellef sLlll remaln, buL Lhey are [usL a handful of anclenL fragmenLs among
Lhousands of years of change, hope, and loss.

faces on Lhe whlLe blocks, a laser eLchlng of Lhe vargr faces were engraved, and a small vlal of blood of each vargr
was flash-frozen and ceremonlously placed wlLhln Lhe block. upon Lhelr deaLh, Lhelr names wlll also be engraved,
and a Lhree-senLence descrlpLlon of Lhelr llfe as well.

1he Dest|ny of 8rothers
Cne day, Lhe flghLer who adopLed Lhe cubs falled Lo reLurn. AlLhough noL human, Lhey were permlLLed Lo cry ouL
for Lhelr dead AdvocaLe/MasLer as hls name was eLched ln among Lhe monumenLs. AfLer golng Lhrough greaL grlef,
Small-8unL found solace ln Lhe hard, cold, yeL graceful bellefs of Lhe Weblnlgan - reflecLlng Lhe hard, cold, yeL
graceful envlronmenL Lhey llved, foughL, and dled ln.

Crooked 1ooLh chose a dlfferenL paLh: as he reslsLed hls naLural fear/haLred of anyone ouLslde of Lhe Lrlbe (pack),
hls LhoughLs resLed on hls long-dead moLher who Lraded her llfe for hls. Pe grew more dlsLanL and paranold of Lhe
humans, LrusLlng only hls llLLermaLes, and worshlpplng Lhe splrlL of Lhe nameless Cne, hls dead moLher. Pe
pressed for her remalns, and Lold LhaL her blomass was used for Lhe hydroponlcs sysLems
31
. [usL as dead Amerlcan
Lrlbesmen were. 1hls sooLhed hls mlnd, and remalned loyal Lo Lhe Lrlbe, buL he never agaln worshlpped ln Lhe
Weblnlgan fashlon as Small-8unL dld. lnsLead, when home from Lhe hunL, Crooked 1ooLh would spend hls spare
Llme among Lhe hydroponlc equlpmenL, learnlng from Lhe Lrlbeswomen how Lo garden well and grow Lhe food Lhe
10,000-sLrong Weblnlgan band needed as Lhey wandered ln Wapeka sysLem, movlng among Lhe moons, worlds,
and asLerold every few years.

8ed urops was lncreaslngly Lroubled as he dwelL on hls murdered moLher and on how he was forever dlfferenL
from Lhe humans. Pe wanLed Lo be one wlLh Lhe Lrlbe, buL LhaL was lmposslble, so long as he exlsLed as a vargr. So,
8ed urops LhoughL abouL Lhe essenLlal naLure of humanlLl, Lhe essenLlal naLure of Lhe vargr, and lefL Lhe
Weblnlgan Lo brlng hls vlslon Lo pass. Pe falled, and dled, and Small-8unL lnscrlbed hls name ln Lhe memorlal block
on an alrless world.

And 1oday
Small-8unL conLlnues Lo serve Lhe Weblnlgan: someLlmes as a warrlor ln Lhe fleld, and someLlmes as a 1oLem ln
local rellglous ceremonles. lncreaslngly, Lhough, Small-8unL ls belng coached Lo blend ln wlLh oLher vargr: noL Lo
Lruly lnfllLraLe Lhe enemy - LhaL ls pracLlcally lmposslble for blood-bonded Suedzuk packs - buL Lo gaLher common
rumours and general knowledge, shared among Lhe vargr. and noL wlLh Lhe humans. Small-8unL ls Lo pose as an
ouL-of-reglon vargr, an escapee from Lhe clearly anLl-vargr Pegemony of Lorean. As Lhe Suedzuk are so
xenophoblc, paranold, and deadly, no one ls golng Lo pry too closely abouL whlch pack and whlch world he came
from: buL lL wlll sLlll pay Lo bulld a proper cover sLory.
32

Cs who acLually know someLhlng abouL coverL operaLlons would be welcomed Lo glve a hand. especlally lf Lhey
are Amerlcan lndlan. 1hose who follow Lhe old bellefs would be a shoe-ln.

Closlng 1heme: !ohn SLanford, 1lmescapes"
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=6!fbv-w!L2c

31
?es, we all know LhaL ln 1he luLure - sLarLlng from 30 years form now, lf noL earller - mosL people wlll be prlnLlng Lhelr food. 8uL l'm
sLlll fond of Lhe old-school scl-fl cllches.
32
lor example, Lake Wolfgang LoLz, an lsraell spy who worked ouL of Calro. Pe posed qulLe successfully as a former member of Lhe Afrlka
korps unLll a teol ex-member of Lhe korps had a conversaLlon wlLh hlm.


Wolves know LhaL lL ls easler Lo slaughLer Lhe flock
lrom lnslde Lhe CaLes.

.and so Lhe Wolf came amongsL Lhe Clrcle of Lhe eople
leadlng LhaL Lhe ChrlsL came Lo dle Lo redeem Lhe Wlcked
8uL Lhe SalnL, wlser Lhan Lhe loe, demanded 8epenLance,
noL [usL Words.

8uL wlLh Lhe sheepskln gone, Lhe Wolf sLood [usL as he was, a Wolf,
Pe could no longer draw close for a cerLaln slaughLer
8uL he could sLlll klll Lhe shepherd!

8uL unllke Lhe new Adam,
1hls lesser man dld noL come Lo dle and save Lhe world
8uL only Lo proLecL Lhe flock,
And sLrlke down Lhe Wolf,
Whlch he dld.

lL ls noL rlghL Lo Lake Lhe bread of chlldren,
1o casL lL Lo Lhe uogs,
nor should Lhey be granLed anyLhlng holy.
- A Solomanl parable, from Lhe LmpLy CuarLer
33

f(3 +$0//(9 (/2I%#$0 +$/'%-1E -+ +%-(( d'-%# $/==/1 -1 %0# N="%? O'&)%#)> !/=#8/3? 1##3+ %/ 8# %0# B-)+% %/ E/ -1
&13 %&@# & (//@9 &13 %0# J'+0E'+- &)# 3-+-1$(-1#3 %/ 2&-% B/) %0# <="#)-&( E/6#)1=#1% %/ &$%K [<B ?/' 2&1%
+/=#%0-1E 3/1#9 ?/' E/ &13 3/ -% ?/')+#(B>e 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "SCCU1ING" ma|o. See h|s work at
http:]]donma|o.dev|antart.com]art]SCCU1ING-36S834867

33
varlaLlons on a 1heme: no 8edempLlon for Lhe Wolves" hLLp://www.newcrlLerlon.com/arLlcles.cfm/no-8edempLlon-for-Lhe-Wolf-7823

rofessor Lrn Arnets, Ansara 1emp|e
u A3u9lA, Age 34, !onkeereen
Skllls: PlsLory - 2, LlngulsLlcs - 2, Legal - 2, lnsLrucLlon - 2, Lconomlc - 2, Survlval (ueserL) - 1, 8esearch - 1,
Lnclosure - 1, SophonLology - 1, Soclology - 1, Admln - 1, sychology - 1, 8oboL Cps - 1, ersuaslon - 1, Llalson - 1,
8rawllng - 1, Wheeled vehlcle - 0, Pandgun - 0, Laser Weapon - 0

Languages: Llorls (naLlve)
34
, Angllc (1ransform)

ldenLlLy: 1o summarlse Lhe !onkeereen
33
: 1hey an arLlflclal human specles, creaLed by Lhe lmperlal MlnlsLry of
ColonlzaLlon Lo llve as nomads on deserL worlds. Whlle Lhe ma[orlLy of Lhls race llves ln !onkeer/ueneb - and mosL
of Lhe remalnder wlLhln Lhe uomaln of ueneb - a small plloL program was sLarLed ln Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer.
Whlle lL ended up a fallure due Lo Lhe profound hosLlllLy of local Solomanl culLures vls--vls arLlflclally creaLed
humans, a remnanL populaLlon survlves on Casadlm (10,000) and Lukaau (40,000) ln lsolaLed 'moblle vlllages'.

Lnclosure sklll: Lhe ablllLy Lo LoleraLe enclosed spaces, also, LoleraLlng oLher sophonLs wlLhln a meLer's dlsLance.
noLe LhaL Lhe !onkeereen, speaklng Lo people wlLhln a meLer from Lhelr person (preferably Lwo). Comlng closer
Lhan a meLer ls a challenge: vlolence may resulL. 1he race ls sLruck wlLh a mlld case of clausLrophobla: mosL wlll
avold enLerlng enclosed areas llke sLarshlps.

ln !onkeer's one ma[or permanenL seLLlemenL, Lhe archlLecLure clearly lllusLraLes Lhe race's need for space.
8ulldlngs are bullL ouLwards raLher Lhan upwards and have many large wlndows. lndlvldual dwelllngs cover much
more surface area Lhan Lhe homes of almosL any oLher specles. MosL bulldlngs have only one floor. Pavlng more
would mean LhaL Lhe lower floors would be denled Lhe open sky. 1hose wlLh mulLlple levels have Lall celllngs and
as much of Lhe ouLer wall as posslble ls wlndowed."
Mega1rave||er Iourna| 3, 8aces of Lhe uomaln: !onkeereen" page 93

LqulpmenL: noL much, besldes Lhe sLandard daLapad. 8uL, when meeLlng lmperlals, Lhe rofessor wlll sLrap on a
slug plsLol, for whlch he has an 'open carry' permlL from Lhe 1hesh MaLrl, Lhe soverelgn ?ashodhanl naLlon where
he currenLly resldes.

vlsual: rofessor ArneLs ls Lall & dark-sklnned llke Lhe resL of hls race, buL unllke Lhe ma[orlLy of !onkeereen he has
a blL of meaL on hls bones. 1here are proLecLlve membranes for hls eyes and ears, Lo shleld Lhem from sun and
sand: hls cloLhlng are long, colourful gowns wlLh broad verLlcal sLrlpes and lengLhy cloLh headgear.

Cpenlng 1heme: eLer 8uffeL, LosL lronLler" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=uCkxoeso3ow

At nome
WlLhln Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer, Lhere are Lwo survlvlng populaLlons of !onkeereen: Lhe populaLlon on Casadlm
ls qulLe conservaLlve, buL Lhe larger populaLlon on Lukaau ls slmply reacLlonary. 8oLh work well wlLh each oLher,
buL Lhey depend on vllanl and 8wap Lraders Lo malnLaln a Lrlckle of news and vlslLors beLween each oLher.
36
1here
has been several peLlLlons Lo prevlous SecLor uukes Lo relocaLe Lhelr people ouL of Lhe hosLlle secLor before Lhe

34
1hls ls only dlsLanLly relaLed Lo Lhe ma[or !onkeereen language on Lhe homeworld, back ln ueneb SecLor.
33
See 1rave||er's D|gest #19, pages 26-27, or 1rave||er: 1he New Lra's kegency Sourcebook page 60-61 (whlch you can buy aL
hLLp://www.rpgnow.com/producL/243/1nL-0314-8egency-Sourcebook-keepers-of-Lhe-llame?Lerm=8egency+Sourceboo&lL=1), or Lhe
Mega1rave||er Iourna| 3 arLlcle 8aces of Lhe uomaln: !onkeereen", or buy Mongoose 1raveller's Deneb Sector aL
hLLp://www.rpgnow.com/producL/103866/ueneb-SecLor. or go Lo Lhe webpage,
hLLp://www.freelanceLraveller.com/feaLures/columns/L3l/[onkeereen.hLml for a good summary
36
AdvenLure nuggeL: roleplay a !onkeereen group, experlenced spacers, who have a mlsslon: geL a sLarshlp, and forge a petmooeot,
telloble connecLlon beLween Lhe Lwo reglonal branches of Lhe !onkeereen.

lnevlLable LasL 8ombardmenL sLrlkes: Llme wlll Lell lf Lhe 8wap now on Lhe Lhrone wlll llsLen and acL before lL's Loo
laLe.
37

ArneLs hlmself was born ln Lhe Lukaau group (ln 993: 8430837-9): someLhlng of a prodlgy, he was groomed for a
leadershlp poslLlon for hls Lrlbe. All of Lhe !onkeer Lrlbes wlLhln Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer are deserL nomads, buL
ArneLs recelved hls educaLlon vla elecLronlc devlces, daLa neLworks and Lhe occaslonal LuLor. Pe won a corporaLe
scholarshlp and sLudled lnLersLellar macroeconomlcs, evenLually earnlng a docLoraLe.

f1# /B %0# B#2 '13&=&E#3 P/1@##)##1 +&$)#3k=#3-%&%-/1 +-%#+ (#B% -1%&$%9 %0# `&1 7&)&+%-1 +%-(( 0&+ & )#E'(&)
%)-$@(# /B 6-+-%/)+9 &13 #6#1 & B#2 "-(E)-=&E# E)/'"+ -1 %0# 0-E0 0/(? 3&?+ /B %0# ?#&)> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed
"komu|an Senat" Mag|kUn|corn. See h|s work at
http:]]www.renderos|ty.com]mod]ga||ery]|ndex.php?|mage_|d=2491S99&np

Cha||eng|ng the Sun
Whlle worklng as a freelancer economlc consulLanL for Lhose fearless lmperlal corporaLlons darlng Lo exLend Lhelr
reach lnLo Lhe Slx SubsecLors, he lnvesLlgaLed Lhe rooLs of Lhe Lhen-bulldlng Solomanl 8lm War, and declded LhaL lL
has noLhlng Lo do wlLh Lhe morallsLlc veneer of Solomanl mlsLreaLmenL of nonhumans, and everyLhlng Lo do wlLh
lmperlal Core megacorporaLe lnLeresLs longlng Lo expand lnLo Lhe closed, yeL fabulously wealLhy Solomanl 8lm
markeLs. leellng LhaL broadcasLlng Lhls message would help reduce hosLlllLles beLween hls people and Lhe hard-
edged Solomanl populaLlon LhaL sLrongly shapes Lhe Slx SubsecLors, Lhe rofessor made hls aLLlLude and feellngs
very clear.

37
l sald lL before, and l'll say lL agaln: Lhe LmpLy CuarLer ls no place for weak Lrlbes. lf Lhe !onkeereen had a decenL hlgh-pop - perhaps
even mld-pop/hlgh-Lech - sysLem ln Lhe reglon, Lhey could hold ouL: buL as lL ls.


1hls message resonaLed well wlLh Lhe Solomanl populaLlon of Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer
38
. lL resonaLed so well,
LhaL Lhe lmperlum arresLed rofessor ArneLs on charges of subverslon and Lreason. uue Lo Lhe lncompeLence of
Lhe guards
39
, Lhough, ArneLs was able Lo escape and was nexL spoLLed ln ?ashodhan, Leachlng aL Ansara 1emple,
Lhe premlere educaLlonal lnsLlLuLlon of Lhe planeL. 1he lmperlum placed dlplomaLlc pressure on Lhe naLlon of
1hesh MaLrl Lo Lurn hlm over, whlch was re[ecLed. lnsLead of orderlng an lnLervenLlon, Lhe lmperlum lnsLead had
lnLersLellar news agencles slmply drop rofessor Arnes and everyLhlng he sald down Lhe memory hole.
60

A|one
1he rofessor ls happy wlLh Lhe hosplLallLy of Lhe 1hesh MaLrl, and mosL of Lhe ?ashodhanl are happy Lo supporL a
gesLure of lndependence agalnsL Lhe exceedlngly powerful 1hlrd lmperlum. Powever, Lhe rofessor feels LhaL he ls
fasL becomlng yesLerday's news, and dlsllkes belng assoclaLed wlLh Lhe Solomanl arLy (whlch would be more Lhan
happy Lo puL Lhe !onkeereen mlnor humans 'ln Lhelr proper place'
61
). More lmporLanLly, he ls very homeslck, and ls
acuLely aware of hls responslblllLles Lo hls people: ArneLs ls Lhe only professor among Lhe !onkeereen ln Lhe LmpLy
CuarLer, and hls deep knowledge and wlsdom ls greaLly mlssed ln Lrlbal clrcles.
62
erhaps he should noL have
'meddled ln maLLers above hls sLaLlon', as Lhe lmperlal ArlsLocracy would puL lL, and sLuck wlLh carlng for hls
people.

1he 1roub|ed koad Ahead
erhaps Lhe Cs are able Lo sneak Lhls wanLed man back Lo hls homeworld. Cr maybe Lhe Solomanl arLy wlll make
a concesslon for Lhls allen lrlend of Lhe 8ace, and lnsure LhaL hls people are shelLered and favoured so long as
rofessor ArneLs conLlnues Lo sLlr Lhe poL agalnsL Lhe lmperlum. Cr a Leam from one of Lhe local, muLually-hosLlle
lmperlal secreL servlces - desperaLe Lo wln Lhe favour of Lhe very powerful, very demandlng and very leLhal
rlncess LllzabeLh - ls on lLs way, Lo pull off a kldnap and rendlLlon of Lhe LralLor back Lo lmperlal Space.

Whlle mosL ?ashodhanl are Plndu, Lhey lack any greaL enmlLy Lo Lhe !onkeer, seelng Lhem as an exoLlc prlesLhood,
raLher Lhan a corrupLlon of Lhe human person, and Lhus a defllemenL of Lhe casLe sysLem.
63
8uL Lhere are varlous
raclally- and rellglously-moLlvaLed lndlvlduals wlLhln Lhe Slx SubsecLors who would llke Lo make an example of Lhe
rofessor glven Lhe opporLunlLy, be Lhey uarwlnlan aLhelsLs, pure anlmlsLs, monoLhelsLlc bellevers, or polyLhelsLlc
devoLees.

1lme wlll Lell whaL acLually happens.

Closlng 1heme: 1he korgles, Lverybody's CoL Lo Learn SomeLlmes",
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=uCqxy64-h1w

38
uamn Lhem as LmpLyheads as you please, buL Lhe Solomanl locals always were hosLlle Lo any ma[or corporaLlon, especlally Lhose LhaL
orlglnaLe ouLslde of Lhe Slx SubsecLors. 1hls goes double for corporaLlons comlng from haLed AnLares. Lhe secLor, and mosL cerLalnly Lhe
world herself. See hLLp://sLellarreaches.nwgamers.org/2014/01/06/mounLalns-of-money/ for more.
39
Cr, perhaps, sympaLheLlc guards. or maybe Lhe rlghL brlbes, plus a new ldenLlLy. lL's hard Lo Lell - a loL of Lhe records regardlng Lhls
lncldenL were oddly corrupLed.
60
lor an analogous slLuaLlon, see hLLp://LeaparLyeconomlsL.com/2014/02/07/vldeo-edward-snowden-lnLervlew-memory-holed-medla/
underground pro-Solomanl medla, prlmarlly LasL lndlan, sLlll drop a llne or a paragraph from Lhe rofessor on samlzdaL weblogs,
clrculaLed memory sLlcks, and mlmeographed pamphleLs.
61
Plerarchlcally-mlnded Lhe arLy may be, buL lL's frlendller (cough) Lhan Lhe local Solomanl rellglous auLhorlLles, who conslder Lhe
!onkeereen Lo be walklng abomlnaLlons, flL only for desLrucLlon. 1he lrony of a hlghly conservaLlve race belng desplsed by hlghly
conservaLlve rellglons may be worLh reflecLlng on.
62
Cf Lhe 30,000 !onkeereen wlLhln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer, perhaps Lhree dozens have lefL Lhelr homeworlds.
63
AcLually, belng descendanLs of Lhe low-casLe uallLs who dld oot converL Lo ChrlsLlanlLy - Ste||ar keaches #19, page 31 - Lhey do noL
LoleraLe Lhe concepL of casLe ln Lhelr verslon of Plndulsm.


51+&)& A#="(#9 8'-(% -1 %0# &1$-#1% N&)(? <1%#)+%#((&) N&+% <13-&1 +%?(# /B /6#) %2/ %0/'+&13 ?#&)+ &E/9 -1 %0#
#&)(? S'(# /B L&1 #)&> [N6#1 %0# 2-13/2+ &)# )#&( =#(%#3 E(&++9 &13 1/% +/=# &)%-B-$-&((? E)/21 $/="/+-%#be
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "As Darkness Ia||s" Ne|| 1hacker. See h|s work at

Sadef k|ssanem, S|nger
u 489878, Age 18 (22), Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: Song - 2, Carouslng - 1, LlngulsLlcs - 1, Muslc - 1, LquesLrlan - 1, Pandgun - 0, Wheeled vehlcle - 0,
CompuLer - 0, larmlng - 0
Languages: Modern vllanl (naLlve), Cld Plgh vllanl
LqulpmenL: Llke many vllanl, Mlss 8lssanem carrles a 1L 9 general-purpose experL sysLem
64
: someLhlng llke a very
pracLlcally-orlenLed encyclopaedla & advlser. noL much on absLracLlons, Lheorles, or loglc, buL loLs of solld,
senslble recommendaLlons for a vasL range of clrcumsLances and problems.

vlsual: A good volce and - desplLe her mlxed herlLage - a greaL represenLaLlve of classlcal vllanl sLandards of
beauLy: 162 cm, llghLly muscled, sllghLly LlnLed skln, black halr, and Lhose famous deep-seL golden eyes. Per face ls
flnely feaLured, wlLh Lhln llps, small-yeL-cuLe ears, and an eleganL aqulllne nose.

Cpenlng 1heme: Aklko ShlkaLa & WaLaru Pano, Sands of 1lme",
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=xcgrxsMw1xk
63

Ioyfu| Work
lrom a young age, Mlss 8lssanem showed LalenL ln boLh composlng Lhe LradlLlonal melodles ln Lhe LradlLlonal
manners, and acLually slnglng ln even Lhe mosL complex and sophlsLlcaLed of Lhe prescrlbed vllanl forms. As she
grew more accompllshed ln her arL, she relled ever more on her supporLlng casLe, worklng LogeLher Lo bulld a
raLher sLrlklng reperLolre uslng melodles and hymns LhaL haven'L been performed slnce Lhe Long nlghL. 1he arLlsLlc
focus of her Clmushl subcasLe - shaped by her vllanl kln ln AnLares and Llshun secLors - has been ln provldlng

64
vllanl culLure dlscourages acLually ooJetstooJloq Lhlngs, as Lhls leads Lo Lhe LwlsLed evlls of experlmenLaLlon and lnnovaLlon. Lven
docLors and professlonals are expecLed Lo rely heavlly on Lhelr (admlLLedly very rellable) experL sysLems and low-level Als, and llmlL
(preferably ellmlnaLe) creaLlve Lhlnklng.
63
A song abouL a llLLle scared demon-glrl who [usL wanLs Lo help people?" A caLegory mlsLake: Lhe !apanese call people demons, when
Lhey are only slnners. eople can repenL: demons [usL generaLe beLLer lles."

muslcal arL Lo accompany Lhe Lmperor on hls sacred mlsslon Lo enforce 1rue ConformlLy and a rofound
Consensus across all of CharLed Space.

A0# %0/'+&13+ /B ?#&)+ /B ")#I./1d'#+% ]-(&1- 0-+%/)? D a20#1 %0# +%&)+ 2#)# ?/'1E9 &13 %0# 2/)(3+ B'(( /B
2/13#)F D +%-(( )#=&-1 &+ &1 -1#C0&'+%-8(# %)#&+')# %)/6# /B +%/)-#+ &13 0#)/-$ %&(#+> 5 6&+% )&1E# /B 3-+$/6#)-#+
&13 )#6#(&%-/1+9 &(( (-1@#3 %/ #C&$%(? /1# $'(%')&( 6-#2"/-1%9 +%)#%$0-1E &$)/++ %-=# &13 +"&$#>
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "WA_1CC_8IG" Ma|o. See h|s work at
http:]]donma|o.dev|antart.com]art]WA-1CC-8IG-433421173

1he long, long, looq delay of lmperlal armles on Lhelr greaL march Lo 1erra has flnally been made good, and Lhere
are numerous vllanl muslcal gullds, casLes, and schools who are cheerlng on Lhe lmperlal SLarbursL ln Lhe Solomanl
8lm War. 8uL Lhe focus of Mlss 8lssanem subcasLe lsn'L so much on exalLlng Lhe lmperlal forces, as much as
underscorlng Lhe Lraglc hlsLory of Lhe Solomanl, beflL of Lhe wlsdom LhaL only Lhe mlllennla-deep culLure of Lhe
vllanl can provlde.
66

ln Lhe currenL eplc cycle belng composed, Lhe amazlngly desLrucLlve wars of Lhe 1erran 8evoluLlonary Lra - from
napoleon Lo ol oL, roughly, wlLh a speclal focus on Lhe raclally-drlven PlLler - are descrlbed. As Lhe Solomanl
leadershlp
67
focus on naLlonal Clory and Lhe MasLer 8ace, Lhe vllanl chorus warn LhaL Lhese ulsgusLlng 8evlslonlsLs
and 8evoluLlonarles wlll brlng noLhlng buL dlsasLer and dlsgrace for Lhelr naLlons: Lhe slaughLer of lrench youLh
permanenLly glvlng Luropean domlnance Lo Cermany, Lhe Cerman Wars leadlng only Lo Lhe guLLlng of all Lurope
as a world power, and Lhe 8usslan and Chlnese 8evoluLlons dolng llLLle more Lhan seLLlng back Lhelr naLlons by
decades.
68

As of 993 lmperlal, Lhe flnlshlng Louches of Lhe eplc cycle are currenLly belng made. WlLh an eye on Lhe Amerlcan
lndlans ln Lhe secLor, speclal menLlon ls belng made of noL only Lhe Solomanl penchanL for raclal aggresslon, buL of
Lhe fundamenLal dlsLlncLlon beLween Lhe unsLable and unLrusLworLh Solomanl culLure an Lhe solld and predlcLable
vllanl culLure: broken treat|es.
69

66
?es, Lhe vllanl have masLered Lhe Solomanl morallzlng canL of Lhe need Lo klll your people, ln order Lo sove your people". l can see a
Lear gllsLenlng down Lhe cheek of Lhe lasL Shadow-Lmperor all Lhe way from here.
67
1hese leaders bear a sLrlklng resemblance Lo Lhe cotteot leadershlp of Lhe Solomanl arLy.
68
1he vllanl see soclallsm as naughL buL a demonsLraLlon of Solomanl lncompeLence and shorL-slghLedness: ?ou oeeJ corporaLlons Lo
bulld wealLh, and Lhe oocbot of LradlLlon Lo keep all unlfled. An ever-expandlng conformlsL culLure of prosperlLy and sLablllLy ls Lhe way Lo
reduce and resLraln Lhe dlsLorLlons of ulfference unLll, flnally, All Are Cne! Cne eople, Cne Soclal Crder, Cne 1houghL - lC8LvL8!"
69
See Cary norLh, 1he War-uebL ConnecLlon", hLLps://www.garynorLh.com/members/logln.cfm?hpage=12103.cfm (paywall)

Unt|| A|| Are Cne
As an lnLense follower of Lhe vllanl Way, Mlss 8lssanem could have been found across Lhe Slx SubsecLors, uslng her
sweeL, alry volce Lo grace noL only vllanl meeLlngs and ceremonles, buL vllanl-8wap conferences, vllanl-Lazlsarl
concerLs, and varlous lmperlal occaslons as well. She was always polte lnLeresLed ln sharlng Lhe sLage wlLh
performers of Solomanl exLracLlon as well, buL Lhey always Lurned her down.
70

lor Lhe lasL year, Mlss 8lssanem has been concenLraLlng on her performance, happy Lo be a LalenLed yeL seamless
parL of Lhe whole. 8uL desplLe her perfecLly vllanl appearance, she has enough Solomanl ln her Lo have a (broadly
subsumed) deslre Lo sLand ouL llke a sLar, Lo be Lhe Speclal Cne LhaL brlngs Lhe enLlre secLor LogeLher ln perfecL
culLural unlLy, followlng LradlLlons LhaL have sLood Lhe LesL of Llme for Lhousands of years.

1he slnger ls especlally lnLeresLed ln Lhe vllanl/Plndl syncreLlc culLure of lrash, and wlll use even unorLhodox
means (sbock!) Lo learn more abouL LhaL sysLem.

Interact|on
lf Lhe Cs have a [ump2 lar 1rader, Lhey may well be charLered Lo brlng Mlss 8lssanem's 20-man group Lo varlous
lmperlal sysLems for performances. 1he shlp's cargo space wlll have Lo be modlfled, Lo carry Lhe addlLlonal
passengers. Aslde from plraLes, Lhe performances are llkely Lo be peaceful: Lhe prlmary goal ls Lo brlng Lhe secLor
LogeLher under Lhe lmperlal 8anner, noL Lo shock or enrage. 1he secondary goal ls Lo puL vllanl culLure ln a
flaLLerlng llghL, whlle lndlrecLly buL lnescapably hlghllghLlng Lhe flaws of Lhe Solomanl culLures - flaws LhaL can be
genLly remedled, as vllanl culLure ls more deeply accepLed.

1he cruclal facLor for a C charLer ls a hlsLory of rellablllLy, LrusLworLhlness, and lmperlal paLrloLlsm over varlous
Lrlbal, eLhnlc, and secLarlan alleglances. vllanl-culLure crews are preferred, buL Solomanl crews LhaL respecL vllanl
culLure wlll be chosen before 8wap or Lazlsarl crews. Solomanl crews LhaL devouLly follow a Solomanl rellglon wlll
never be selecLed, for any reason: We prefer Lo avold unforeseeable AccldenLs whenever posslble."

Also, 1bls ls Lhe LmpLy CuarLer. Who you are, where you come from, and whaL you belleve ln, mottets."

Closlng 1heme: kCklA, LxLC_8L8l81PlA=8C1CCCL/." hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=zvoncs3Lueg

70
1haL mlghL have someLhlng Lo do wlLh all performances musL meeL lnLersLellar LradlLlons and sLandards of proprleLy". sLandards
largely preseL by Lhe vllool, as always. ueLermlne Lhe leglLlmaLe boundarles of dlscusslon, and you wln Lhe dlscusslon. Always and
forever." uld l neglecL Lo menLlon Lhe vllanl love of 1lmeless, LLernal, unchanglng SLablllLy?

[.)/++-1E %0# =?)-&3 2/)(3+ /B .0&)%#3 !"&$# D E)&$#B'(9 8#&'%-B'(9 3#&3 D -% $0&1E#+ & =&1>e
[513 & $'(%')#>e 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "1r|ton" Iust|nas V|tkus.
See h|s work at http:]][ustv23.dev|antart.com]art]1r|ton-296012020

Arama| Sahar|an, Nun of the Green
u 7333A6, Age 27, Solomanl
Skllls: Cardenlng - 2, 8lology - 2, uance - 1, MeLeorology - 1, Legal - 1, 1heology (8rlghL) - 1, Crav vehlcle - 0,
CompuLer - 0, Muslc - 0, Song - 0, Pandgun - 0, PlsLory - 0
Languages: 1hlmal (naLlve)

vlsual: Creen-8obed Saharlan dresses ln Lhlck cloLh robes of green (wlLh some brown and purple Lrlm) and
hlghllghLs and sLandard leaLher sandals (fur-Lrlmmed booLs ln wlnLer). She ls generally sllenL unless dlrecLly spoken
Lo, buL ls almosL always Lyplng lnLo her 1L 8/9 Scrlvener porLa-puLer: someLlmes LenLaLlvely and sporadlcally,
someLlmes furlously. Per dark halr ls kepL under a green lrench hood, her faclal feaLures and phenoLype ls broadly
LasL lndlan Solomanl, wlLh a few hlnLs of dlfferenL mlnor races here and Lhere. She bears no weapons, and -
besldes Lrlmmlng shears, a Lrowel, or a spade - avolds Lhem whenever posslble.

(And no, her order does oot keep a well-worn woodchlpper ln Lhe back. LhaL's whaL Lhe hand axes are for!)

Cpenlng 1heme: uream Academy, Llfe ln a norLhern 1own" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=C17MA38-C?

ln conLrasL Lo Lhe broadly unlfled lslamlc sysLems are Lhe worlds of llange, !usLlnce, 8eshkhuda, Lakuusa, uakamll,
and ulageml. 1hey are unlque as Lhey reLaln a hold on varlous unlque bellefs, rellglons, and phllosophles LhaL
flourlshed durlng Lhe 8rlghL Age (430- 629 lmperlal). Cver Lhe cenLurles, Lhey have aggregaLed lnLo varlous dlsLlncL
rellglons LhaL share a famlly resemblance: a sLrong duallLy (?ln/?ang sLyle) wlLh each realm ruled by an absLracL
and lmpersonal god/force, an emoLlonally drlven eLhlc, raLher Lhan a sLrlcL legal code, acLlve obedlence ln youLh,
and passlve, conLemplaLlve worshlp ln old age, a sLrong communal eLhlc, and arL as a form of worshlp.
Ste||ar keaches #19, page 20

Adopt|on
LlLLle Aramal always loved Lhe woods, Lhe growlng planLs bloomlng and shrlnklng every day, and Lhe buzzlng bees
wlLh Lhelr blur of shlnlng eyes on Lhelr cuLe llLLle sLalks. She always felL a close connecLlon Lo Lhe splrlLs of her
world as well, welcomlng boLh humans and vargr on her rlch and ferLlle lands. Per senslble, pragmaLlc mama
always LhoughL LhaL she should focus on whaL you can see and Louch, llke Lhe farmlng flelds of her vlllage, and
especlally Lhe famlly ploL, buL papa encouraged her ln growlng her lmaglnaLlon, Lhlnklng abouL Lhe naLure of Lhe
world, and wrlLlng everyLhlng down ln paper noLebooks. (When she goL her flrsL elecLronlc Scrlvener as a blrLhday
glfL from papa, mama hlL Lhe roof abouL Lhe expense, buL Aramal was pracLlcally walklng on alr for weeks.)

J)##1IS/8#3 !&0&)-&1 0&+ &(2&?+ (/6#3 %&(#+ /B 0#) J)##1 )#(-E-/'+ /)3#)9 &13 )#=&-1+ -1%#)#+%#3 -1 &1
#13')-1E =?+%#)?K %0# #C&$% (/$&%-/1 /B %0# [N&)%0(-@# )-1E 2/)(3e 20#)# %0# ,/'13#) /B %0# J)##1 3-#3>
A0#)# $&1F% 8# that =&1? (-6-1E %#))#+%)-&( )-1E#3 2/)(3+ 2-%0 %2/ =//1+4
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Lven|ng at Saturn Ver. 2" Iust|nas V|tkus. See h|s work at
http:]][ustv23.dev|antart.com]art]Lven|ng-at-Saturn-Ver-2-326472303

When she reached 10, mama wanLed Lo seL up an arrange marrlage for a good dowry, buL Lhere were no wealLhy
sulLors for a glrl who was only good for farmlng and maklng casLles ln Lhe alr. apa managed Lo geL ln Louch wlLh a
group of passlng vargr nuns, and persuaded Lhem Lo Lake her on as an apprenLlce. AL flrsL, LlLLle Aramal was
Lerrlfled LhaL Lhey were golng Lo klll her and eaL her Lhe mlnuLe Lhey goL ouL of slghL of her vlllage. and aL an
earller Llme, Lhey mlghL have. 8uL noL here, and noL now: for Lhe Suedzuk of uharo, humans have noL been on Lhe
menu for ceototles (excepLlng punlshmenL for ma[or crlmes), and Lhe chlld was allowed Lo peacefully crlnge ln a
corner, someLlmes peeklng from Lhe arms LhaL covered her face.

When a human nun of Lhe Creen came Lo plck her up, LlLLle Aramal was over[oyed. 1he Lravel Lo Lhe sLarporL,
meeLlng all Lhe oLher young lnlLlaLes of her own age (and younger!), geLLlng lnLo Lhe low berLhs, and [usL waklng up
on a dlfferenL world was an amazlng advenLure. 1he pale, grey-clad Pegemonlo soldlers aL Lhe sLarporL were very
scary and shouLed a loL, buL were noL as Lerrlfylng as Lhe vargr nuns as Lhey blL lnLo a squlrmlng snack, Lhen
carefully llcked up Lhe blood. SLlll, LlLLle Aramal was relleved when her group was allowed Lo leave Lhe sLarporL ln
peace.

8etter ru|ed by dogs than by men - Lyplcal vlsltots Lo 8eLa CuadranL, comparlng Lhe vllanl-shaped 8ukadukaz
8epubllc and Lhe Lyrannlcal Pegemony of Lorean.
8etter ru|ed by men than by wo|ves - Lyplcal teslJeots of 8eLa CuadranL, comparlng Lhe bruLal-yeL-predlcLable
Pegemony of Lorean and Lhe lnhumanly vlclous, psychoLlcally chaoLlc 8lood vargr packs of yore.

Growth
Cn ulageml, LlLLle Aramal grew lnLo Lhe Creen-8obed Saharlan, Laklng her vows aL 18. ulageml ls far dlfferenL from
her naLlve world of uharo: wealLhler, wlLh a sLronger gravlLy and far fewer people. 1he few vargr nuns of her
convenL looked sofLer, and Lhelr splrlL was far sofLer Lhan Lhe vargr of her homeworld. More lmporLanLly, almosL
all of Lhe nuns of Cled ConvenL were from uharo, and spoke her language: Lhree even came from her vlllage!

Creen-8obed Saharlan grew qulLe knowledgeable ln her sLudles, and loved noL only blology, buL farmlng as well.
She learned of her order's work wlLh oLher old bellevers Lo brlng forLh a new falLh, Lhe 8rlghL falLh Lhelr faLhers
shared before Lhe Pegemony, and why her order followed Lhe rlesLly school raLher Lhan Lhe ropheLlc school.

1he young sLudenL has a good-enough grasp of 8rlghL Lheology
71
, buL she ls more famous for Lhe purlLy of her
falLh. She ls always conLemplaLlng Lhe lanes of Lhe 8eal, conslderlng how n-space and !-space
72
lnLeracL wlLh each
oLher. MysLlcally-mlnded, she belleves LhaL all reallLy ls lnLlmaLely lnLerconnecLed, and noLes her speculaLlons even
as she brlngs dylng planLs Lo llfe, and llvlng planLs Lo blossom.

D|scovery
Some of her wrlLlngs have been publlshed ln a llLLle bookleL by her convenL, wlLh a well-malnLalned doL-maLrlx
prlnLer (whlch dlsLlncLly resembles Lhe Lpson Mx-80 of mlllennla ago). lL was lnlLlally dlsLrlbuLed ln small rellglous
booksLores on ulageml a few years ago, and proved Lo be a regular besLseller: [usL lasL year, 10,000 coples - all ln
1hlmal, and none ln local verslons of Angllc, Arablc, Arzula, or Plndl - were prlnLed up for her homeworld. no
elecLronlc coples were made, as spacers were felL Lo be unlnLeresLed ln such Lhlnklng. So Cled ConvenL was very
surprlsed when a sLeady flow of pllgrlms began Lo drop by, for Lhe sole purpose of Lalklng Lo Creen-8obed
Saharlan!

71
A Lheology LhaL's sLlll a work ln progress, by Lhe way.
72
1haL's normal Space and !ump Space


f1# /B %0# 1'=#)/'+9 "&)%(?I'13#)E)/'13 0/=#+ %0# J)##1IS/8#3 0&6# 8'-(% B/) %0#=+#(6#+>
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "nab|tat|on_3" 8en Andrews. See h|s work at
http:]]ben-andrews.dev|antart.com]art]hab|tat|on-3-3S2796601

ulageml ls a green LourlsL world, so lL wasn'L compleLely lmposslble, buL lL was deflnlLely unexpecLed. Lven more
surprlses were ln sLore, as some spacers - and ln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer, oll spacers are wealLhy, compared Lo Lhe
dlrLslders - began Lo sell everyLhlng Lo [oln Lhe nuns of Lhe Creen.

Creen-8obed Saharlan now has a loL on her plaLe: how Lo handle Lhe greaL flows of money comlng ln, wlLhouL
corrupLlng Lhe convenL, how Lo expand on her Leachlngs Lo beLLer gulde her growlng number of followers, how Lo
deal wlLh narrow-eyed LasL Man observers, wlLh Lhelr close connecLlons wlLh Lhe lnLersLellar governmenL, and how
Lo arrange her flrsL Lour across Lhe sLars, when she can'L even speak Lhe language of mosL of her enchanLed
readers. And ln Lhe world of church pollLlcs, Lhe rlesLly secLs are already holdlng marches wlLh her lmage on Lhelr
flags, whlle Lhe ropheLlc groups are lncreaslng Lhelr aLLacks on her name and characLer: belng used as a proxy for
hosLlle facLlons dlsLresses her greaLly.

So Lhe Creen-8obe medlLaLes, and gardens, and Lypes. She feels Lhe wheels begln Lo Lurn around her, and reaches
ouL Lo Lhe lorces LhaL govern her LhoughL. WheLher Lhey wlll empower her, Lear her aparL, or prove Lo be [usL
decelvlng shadows Lhemselves remalns Lo be seen.


Carnlvorous urlver. uo nC1 CuL Me Cff."
- Suedzuk 8umper SLlcker, ZueLhun, 993 lmperlal

Closlng 1heme: eLer Cabrlel, CurLalns"
hLLps://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=dpxCpmk3xdo

Lkatan korpa|, Megacorporate Cff|cer
u 3AC88, Age 23, Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: Llalson - 4, 8roker - 3, LlngulsLlcs - 2, Admln - 1, 1rader - 1, 8rawllng - 1, Crav vehlcle - 0, Wheeled vehlcle - 0,
CompuLer - 0, Sub-Machlnegun - 0, vacc SulL - 0
Languages: Angllc (1ransform, naLlve), Modern vllanl, Pebrln Arablc

vlsual: A well-Lallored, sharp-looklng Company Man, from hls regulaLlon halr cuL Lo Lhe shlne of hls dress shoes.
Mr. korpal ls one of Lhe few denlzens of Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer who wouldn'L look ouL of place ln corporaLe-
domlnaLed uelphl SecLor, or ln Lhe hearL of Lhe flnanclal dlsLrlcL ln any glven lmperlal Core world.

Cpenlng 1heme: vangells, Abraham's 1heme" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=clw312Afw9u

A Man on the Make
8orn on nullnad ln an upper-class famlly (wlLh rumours of Plgh noblllLy blood), Mr. korpal was always meanL for
greaLness. Lven before formally graduaLlng from Lhe Lop unlverslLy of Lhe planeL, he had already been hlred by
1ukera Llnes as a [unlor asslsLanL, worklng ouL deLalled shlpplng schedules wlLh lmperlal and planeLary governmenL
represenLaLlves from across Lhe Slx SubsecLors. 1ransferred Lo Sales, Mr. korpal - already wlLh a perfecLly groomed
wlfe and a flne home ln a very good nelghbourhood - wenL where Lhe oLher megacorps couldn'L ln Lhls unforglvlng
secLor
73
, leveraglng relaLlonshlps Lo geL buslness done, wlLh Lhe rlghL klnd of fees (read: blg faL ones) for 1ukera
asslsLance.

5 A'@#)& j-1#+ =&-1%#1&1$# B&$-(-%?9 3#+-E1#3 %/ 0&13(# %0# ?#&)(? /6#)0&'( B)#-E0%#)+ &13 (-1#)+ 1##3
%/ @##" )'11-1E -1 E//3 $/13-%-/1> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "LANDSCAL_100S2013" ma|o. See h|s work at
http:]]donma|o.dev|antart.com]art]LANDSCAL-100S2013-37077S14S

73
See LhaL sub-machlnegun sklll? 1haL acLually proved useful a Llme or Lwo. lL's tbot klnd of secLor. uld yoot M8A cover llghL assaulL
weapons and hand-Lo-hand combaL?"


now, Mr. korpal has a very dlfflculL asslgnmenL ln hls dockeL, all relaLed Lo Lhe Crand 1our pro[ecL.
74
Several hard-
foughL negoLlaLlons and brokered deals were needed before Lhe greaLesL log[ams were broken, and real asseLs
sLarLed Lo be released for deploymenL ln CaplLal and vland. 8uL Lhe [ewel of Lhe Crand 1our - a 10,000-Lon, hlgh-
Lech showcase sLarshlp runnlng a permanenL clrculL Lo connecL nullnad wlLh Lhe mosL wealLhlesL worlds ln Lhe
nearby lmperlal secLors - ls currenLly shelved, as all Lhe besL sLarporLs are Lled up ln conLracLs wlLh Lhe lmperlal
navy for warshlps. LoLs and loLs of warshlps.

Mr. korpal's mandaLe ls Lo alLer Lhls slLuaLlon, so 1ukera Llnes can geL Lhe cuLLlng-edge sLarshlp she wanLs, Lo bulld
up Lhe Lrade she wanLs, Lo make Lhe long-Lerm reLurns Lhe shareholders has come Lo expecL. Mr. korpal's plans
have places for boLh rellable, Lop-Ller asseLs and expendable cuL-ouLs: leL's see whlch group Lhe Cs end up ln..

Closlng 1heme: Pans Zlmmer, Cne Slmple ldea", hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=16?8Ln1znvk

Ab "1he Newt" Dendeo, eacemaker
u A97688, Age 31, Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: CompuLer - 2, Llalson - 2, vacc SulL - 2, 8oboL Cps - 1, Mechanlcal - 1, 8oboLlcs - 1, CravlLlcs - 1,
navlgaLlon - 1, Shlps 8oaL - 1, LlngulsLlcs - 1, LlecLronlcs - 1, 8lfleman - 1, Admln - 1, Cambllng - 1, Crav vehlcle - 0,
Pandgun - 0
Languages: Angllc (lper'mar, naLlve), 1ankll

vlsual: lollowlng Lhe unofflclal unlform of Lhe Lech-orlenLed lper'mar, uendo wears a long seL of dark grey
overalls, someLhlng llke a low-Lech bodysLocklng, under a shorL baggy seL of brlghL orange overalls (L-shlrL/longs
shorLs). 1he bulky LranslaLor he used Lo Lalk Lo non-lmper'mar occuples one of hls many pockeLs.

Language noLes: lper'mar Angllc ls noL Loo dlsLanL from 1ransform Angllc - a blL closer Lhan Loday's Lngllsh and
uuLch, say - buL, whlle Lhe grammar ls falrly comparable, Lhe vocabulary ls usually a bad maLch. noL good, when
you are deallng wlLh hlghly Lechnlcal lssues.

1ankll ls a form of Modern vllanl LhaL wandered off Lhe reservaLlon. Cnly spoken ln cerLaln reglons of Mllgakl, off-
world vllanl culLural guardlans have been presslng local vllanl leaders Lo geL Lhelr language back Lo proper
speclflcaLlons. AfLer endless meeLlngs and conferences, Lhe vllanl Mllgakl agreed Lo do so - lf Lhelr off-world
couslns would pay for lL. 1hls was easlly agreed Lo (one Lhlng vllanl culLural proLecLlon socleLles don'L lack ls
money) buL Lhe problems of Lhe Solomanl 8lm War have puL Lhe klbosh Lo Lhese plans, for a decade aL leasL.

Cpenlng 1heme: ken[l kawal, Llyuu 1aLsu (Pero, SLand up")
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=10uLCnC8?e?

8u||d|ng the eace
uendeo was always [usL anoLher grease monkey, handllng roboL malnLenance for Lhe lmperlal sLarporL of Mllgakl,
when Lhe Solomanl naLlons - belng squeezed off Lhelr conLlnenL by rapldly expandlng glacler sheeLs - declded Lo
move lnLo unlnhablLed vllanl lands closer Lo Lhe equaLor. Cr ttleJ Lo: Lhe vllanl, seelng Lhe vlolaLlon of varlous
LreaLles and hearlng Lhelr proLesLs lgnored, began shooLlng refugees. 1hls led raLher dlrecLly Lo Lhe SlxLh Mllgakl
World War (983-984 lmperlal) wlLh Lhe acLual wlpe-ouL of Lhe Solomanl only prevenLed by Lwo brlgades of Lhe
uuke of Pebrln's household Lroops, and Lhelr accompanylng alr supporL.

74
See Ste||ar keaches #12, page 22-23. 1o summarlze: several of Lhe beLLer worlds of Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer are aLLempLlng Lo drum
up buslness beLween Lhemselves and Lhe resL of Lhe lmperlum, flnally breaklng Lhe sLagnanL economy and allowlng Lhls backward secLor
Lo rlse Lo an equal fooLlng wlLh AnLares Lhe ma[orlLy of lmperlal worlds.

8oLh Lhe uuke of Pebrln and Lhe ma[orlLy of hls men-aL-arms were Solomanl Arab Musllms, whlch lmmedlaLely led
Lo accusaLlons of blas by Lhe vllanl 8lLuallsL populaLlon. (1be olJes of) SecLor uuke Marclal, (looq-expetleoceJ lo
tolloq tbls Jlfflcolt pott of tbe lmpetlom) anoLher parachuLed-ln noble from Lhe lmperlal Core, managed Lo Lake
Lhe slLuaLlon ouL of uuke Pebrln's hands and lnLo (tbelt) hls Crace's own before yeL anoLher agonlzlng spasm of
eLhno-rellglous warfare wracked Lhe Slx SubsecLors.

L/)# 6-+-%/)+ %/ %0# <="#)-&( !%&)"/)%> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Dropsh|ps Away" Ne|| 1hacker. See h|s work at

Whlle all Lhls Lurmoll was golng on, uendeo - Lhen a young man of 21 - used hls poslLlon ln Lhe sLarporL Lo bulld a
makeshlfL, lnformal lmperlal ConLacL Croup, geLLlng ln as many Solomanl refugees as posslble. 8oplng ln several
free Lraders, he manages Lo save Lhe llves of Lhousands of Solomanl, uslng brlbes and LhreaLs of LesLlfylng before
Lhe lnevlLable lmperlal War Crlmes Lrlbunals Lo geL hosLlle vllanl offlcers Lo drlve Lhelr prlsoners lnLo sLarshlp holds
lnsLead of mass graves.

AfLer Lhe war was over, uendeo's herolsm and passlonaLe LesLlmony made hlm a local sLar ln lnLersLellar socleLy
for a few years. Pe knelL before Lhe SecLor uuke as he recelved a clvlllan medal for Lhe unlLy of gallanLry &
compasslon - 1he lmperlal PearL - from hls hand, and was one of Lhe beLLer-regarded lmperlal negoLlaLors,
handllng Lhe uuke of Pebrln's purchase of Lhe sLlll-green ealndll lsland from Lhe vllanl provlnce-naLlon of
lragasflshgar, for seLLlemenL by Lhe survlvlng Solomanl (buL remalnlng under lragasflshgar soverelgnLy, and so
paylng Laxes Lo Lhe lragasflshgar).

V|ctory and Defeat
1hls year - 993 lmperlal - marks Lhe 10
Lh
annlversary of Lhe SlxLh Mllgakl World War. 1he 100,000 Solomanl
remalnlng on Lhe world celebraLe Lhelr survlval and Lhelr culLural lndependence, and Lry Lo forgeL Lhe lll-
consldered war and how much lL cosLs Lhem. 1he relenLless expanslon of Lhe lce sheeLs has slowed and slowed:
perhaps Lhe glaclers wlll be pushed back and Lhe LosL Lands wlll be regalned. someday.

1he vllanl naLlon - a.k.a. all Lhe provlnce-naLlons of Lhe very LheoreLlcal vllanl naLlonal World-CovernmenL LhaL
rules Lhe world - openly celebraLe Lhelr vlcLory over Lhe lawless and LradlLlon-smashlng Solomanl, and Lhe
genocldal vllanl leadershlp are spoken of warmly on Lhe black & whlLe Lelevlslons, nobly sacrlflclng Lhelr llves
before a Solomanl-domlnaLed lmperlal CourL, for Lhe eLernal securlLy of Cur eople." 1hls ls qulckly followed by
crles for a crushlng lmperlal vlcLory over Lhe dlsgusLlngly lnnovaLlve Solomanl rebels of Lhe dlsLanL 8lm worlds.

Lverywhere Lhere ls Lalk of Lhe vlcLory of Lhe vllanl naLlon: buL uendeo can sense LhaL Lhls 10
Lh
annlversary of Lhe
war wlll be Lhe lasL Llme Lhe naLlon wlll even preLend Lo be a slngle, unlfled world governmenL. 1he ScouLs
classlfled Mllgakl as balkanlzed over Lhe howls of Lhe world's leadershlp: buL Lhls classlflcaLlon has proven Lo be
more and more obvlously Lrue, as all of Lhe governors of Lhe 'provlnces' go Lhelr separaLe ways: keeplng Lhelr Lax
monles, maklng Lhelr own laws, and bulldlng up Lhelr own armed forces. 1he vllanl here have devlaLed more and
more from 8ecognlzed vllanl norms, even as Lhelr domlnance over Lhe local Solomanl grew more absoluLe. 1he
Solomanl are broken now. and so ls Lhe old unlfled vllanl culLure.

1he 8eferee may wonder, SLarshlps deflnlLely ouLwelgh soldlers armed Lo korean War Lechnologlcal levels - why
noL puL LhaL muscle Lo use?"

1haL's a greaL quesLlon. 1he answer, as any Lrue lnLersLellar Lrlbesman of Lhe CuarLer could Lell you, ls LhaL 1L 6
vllanl soldler doesn'L sLand alone: on cerLaln lssues, he has bllllons of vllanl - and even more bllllons of vllanl-
culLure sophonLs - sLandlng behlnd hlm. lL's cerLalnly posslble LhaL sald sLarshlp could [usL use Lhe shlpboard lasers
Lo (llLerally) smoke Lhe vllanl Lroops, and plck up Lhe Solomanl refugees. And lL's a cerLalnLy LhaL elLher Lhe
refugees, or Lhe crewmen Lhemselves wlll Lalk. Word wlll reach cerLaln ears, who wlll crosscheck Lhe daLa (publlc
records, buL someLlmes oLher ones Loo, legally or noL) Lo verlfy sald sLarshlp was aL sald sLarporL aL sald Llme.

And vllanl vengeance wlll Lhen be Laken.

Cr, dependlng on Lhe wronged parLy, lslamlc vengeance. Plndl vengeance. Amerlcan vengeance. even 8wap
vengeance.

Any local resldenL can reel off Lhe local proverbs:
1rlbes LhaL wlll noL flghL back, and wlll noL flee, wlll be desLroyed",
?ou only geL Lo keep whaL oLhers can'L Lake",
romlses, prayers and lmperlal laws are one Lhlng:
money, guns and Lralned men are someLhlng else",
8epuLaLlon, respecL, and Lhe rlghL Lo be leL alone musL be eotoeJ",
8lood calls ouL for blood",
1radlLlon ls forged from flre and sLeel",
Always look ouL for your own, flrsL and foremosL",
LveryLhlng for Lhose of La 8aza, noLhlng for Lhose noL of La 8aza",
1he lalLhful musL flghL for whaL's Lhelrs",
and on. and on. and on.

1he Lraders and clvlllan capLalns of Lhe Slx SubsecLors koow Lhls, and more: vllanl Lraders musL work wlLh Arab
suppllers, LasL lndlan manufacLurers rely on 8wap accounLanLs, and Lazlsarl space sLaLlons are proLecLed by
Amerlcan lndlan mercenarles.

Cn Lhe oLher hand: as culLures develop economlcally, Lhe expense of war [usL keeps on cllmblng fasLer and fasLer,
overwhelmlng any posslble proflL. 1hls ls Lrue even for backwards reglons of space: noL even Lhe mosL sLlff-necked
men of Lhe LmpLy CuarLer can pay Lhose klnd of escalaLlng prlces forever, as Lhe Pebrln 8ebelllon demonsLraLed.
73

keep|ng the eace by Un|t|ng the |eces
lorLunaLely, Lhe rovlnce of lragasflshgar - wlLh a populaLlon of 40,000 vllanl clLlzens and 100,000 Solomanl
resldenLs - ls unllkely Lo rock Lhe boaL, and Lry Lo pound Lhe Solomanl lnLo conformlLy. And Lhe Solomanl are
unllkely Lo rebel, less Lhey provoke Lhe vllanl Lo anoLher war, and face compleLe annlhllaLlon - aL a Llme when Lhe
lmperlal navy ls far, far away, and Lhe uuke of Pebrln, Lhelr noble aLron and roLecLor, has Lo spend hls Llme and
manpower flghLlng forces on Lhe plraLes Lo keep Lhe Lrade lanes open.

uendeo spends hls weekdays malnLalnlng Lhe lmperlal sLarporL as a respecLed malnLenance man, and hls
weekends communlcaLlng wlLh boLh Solomanl and vllanl leaders wlLhln lragasflshgar, on 1L 9 lapLops on loan from
uuke Saqr, Lhe new uuke of Pebrln. uendeo has grown adapL aL uslng Lhe deLalls of Lhe LreaLles LhaL granL Lhe
Solomanl ealndll lsland as leverage Lo force Lhe Lwo sldes lnLo agreemenL, earnlng hlm Lhe nlckname of 1he newL.

73
1oo bad Lhe endlessly sophlsLlcaLed, urbane, and cosmopollLan lmperlal CovernmenL dldn'L geL Lhe message, as Lhe laLer War of Lhe
8ebelllon proved.


5 B#2 L--E&@- !/(/=&1- +')6#? %0#-) 0/=#(&139 1/2 (/+% '13#) %0# -$#>
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Lxped|t|on Sketch" 2ee Durran|. See h|s work at
http:]]zeedurran|.dev|antart.com]art]Lxped|t|on-Sketch-4236S9207

Pe has Laken Lhe Llme Lo learn 1ankll, Lhe common language LhaL ls replaclng Modern vllanl on lragasflshgar, and
ls hoplng Lo persuade Lhe local vllanl Lo renounce Lhelr Lles Lo an lncreaslngly forelgn culLure, and become a new
people wlLh Lhe Solomanl resldenLs, a new naLlon, wlLh a new language, and a new culLure. Why should we klll
and haLe each oLher because of whaL powerful leaders hundreds of parsecs away dld Lhousands of years ago? LeL's
make someLhlng brlghL, someLhlng new - LogeLher!"

Closlng 1heme: Cary Chang, ClLyscape"
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=2SP8x4-CMeo

Daerk Ushda
u 98AA81, Age 29, Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: 8lfleman - 3, CompuLer - 2, 1acLlcs - 2, Mechanlcal - 1, Swlmmlng - 1, Admln - 1, Peavy Weapons - 1,
8rawllng - 1, lnLruslon - 1, Survlval - 1, loll - 1, ulsgulse - 1, Crav vehlcle - 1, Wheeled vehlcle - 0
slonlc: sl - 3, Awareness - 1, Clalrvoyance - 1, Speclal sl - 1
Languages: Angllc (ulanl, naLlve)

vlsual: A loud, vulgar, and lmposlng man from Lhe oLher slde of Lhe lmperlum, Mr. ushda wears Lhe unlform of a
MarqulsaLe Pousehold Lrooper. WlLh a premaLurely baldlng shock of red halr, hard beady eyes, and blunL faclal
feaLures, hls dull and bruLal alr Lends Lo lead hls opponenLs Lo underesLlmaLe hlm.

Speclal sl: LefL for Lhe 8eferee Lo deLermlne.

LqulpmenL: Pe always carrles a sldearm, as well as several noLepads and penclls, buL dlsllkes mosL elecLronlc
devlces. CommunlcaLlon ls handled by shouLlng slmple Angllc words very loudly: spoken ulanl Angllc can be
baslcally undersLood by Lhe 1ransform Angllc speakers LhaL domlnaLe Lhe LmpLy CuarLer, buL a loL of Lhe subLleLles
are losL. wtltteo Angllc ls far more conslsLenL across Lhe lmperlum and beyond: Lhus, Lhe low-Lech penclls & paper.

Cpenlng 1heme: Pans Zlmmer, Shlver My 1lmbers" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=8lsL9l8PzmM


N6#1 #C$('3-1E %0# =&++-6# !/(/=&1- S-= c&)9 0&)+0 8&%%(#+ /1 &(-#1 2/)(3+ &)# $/==/1 #1/'E0
2-%0-1 %0# A0-)3 <="#)-'=> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Cyc|ops" Goran De||c. See h|s work at
http:]]de||c.dev|antart.com]art]Cyc|ops-422603388

Wa|k|ng on the Daerk S|de of L|fe
1hls soldler was aL one Llme aLLached Lo a vlslLlng company from dlsLanL llellsh, ln Lhe Akkula Worlds. Powever, he
was lefL behlnd when hls unlL shlpped ouL, and bureaucraLlc bungllng led Lhe Army Lo deny LhaL he had even been
enllsLed. uesplLe ushda's vlgorous sLream of curses, Lhe nullnadlan clerks ln charge aL Lhe secLor caplLal slmply
refused Lo even admlnlsLer a slmple unA LesL LhaL would have cleared up Lhe slLuaLlon ln flve mlnuLes.

now wlLhouL a home, or even a seL of proper lmperlal ldenLlLy papers, ushda fell ln wlLh varlous Leams of
advenLurers, geLLlng lnvolved ln all sorLs of exLremely lllegal and lmmoral acLlvlLles, from Lhe slave Lrade Lo pslonlcs
Lo plracy. 1he lasL run-ln wlLh lmperlal forces has lefL hlm wlLh an lmperlal bounLy of 300,000 credlLs on hls head
dead, 300,000 credlLs lf capLured allve.

uurlng a brlef sLay on nullnad uslng a murdered man's ldenLlLy as cover, ushda goL ln Louch wlLh a few allles who
pald up on some favours, and even an offlcer from hls old company. CurrenLly, he's laylng low on Sashar, unLll he
obLalns enough cash for a new cover ldenLlLy, someLhlng LhaL wlll survlve lnspecLlon by Lhe lmperlal mlllLary. 1hls
klnd of Lhlng ls nC1 cheap ln Lhe low-Lech lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer.

Long used as muscle on oLher Leams, ushda ls puLLlng LogeLher a Leam of hls own. Pls people may work ugly when
Lhey're noL monsLrous, buL Lhey are deflnlLely compeLenL. WhaL he's up Lo ls unknown, buL Lhose who know hlm
besL Lhlnk he's golng Lo need a sLarshlp soon enough - regardless of whaL Lhe currenL owners Lhlnk abouL lL. 8uL
flrsL, some qulck [obs for Lhe new lu....

Closlng 1heme: Pans Zlmmer & !ames newLon Poward, AgenL of Chaos"
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=PZ1sgf[CPnL

Squ|re Ner'Satden Arc
u A888lA, Age 26 (28), Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: Legal - 3, Admln - 2, Leadershlp - 2, LlngulsLlcs - 2, PlsLory (8evoluLlonary ollLlcal) - 1, Lnglneerlng - 1,
ersuaslon - 1, ercepLlon - 1, 8rlbery - 1, CombaL 8lfleman - 1, Cambllng - 0, Crav vehlcle - 0, CompuLer - 0
Languages: Angllc (ulanl, naLlve), Angllc (1ransform), Plndl (nullnadlan)

vlsual: A sLrong, solldly bullL man, of greaL lnLelllgence and handsome feaLures. Squlre ner'SaLden ls always careful
Lo poslLlon hlmself as a naLural leader of men - and, admlLLedly, he ls usually successful aL Lhls.

LqulpmenL: 1he Squlre always carrles a sldearm, buL dlsllkes mosL elecLronlc devlces. excepL for hls 1L 8 daLapad,
sLuffed wlLh lnLerllnked lmperlal Case Laws and CourL 8ullngs. ossesslon and masLery of Lhls devlce granLs Lhe
lawyer, llcensed for all lmperlal CourLs (boLh clvll and mlllLary) , a +1 modlfler ln cases lnvolvlng lmperlal Law.

Cpenlng 1heme: 1he Wo[ahn 8roLhers, Ch no, ?ou uldn'L" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=dLbL3fCfl-o

Gett|ng 8y
Llke uaerk ushda, Squlre ner'SaLden was orlglnally from Lhe Akkula Worlds: lndeed, Lhey were parL of Lhe same
company from llellsh SecLor, over half a year away by !ump-4 sLarshlp. unllke ushda, Lhe Squlre arranged for hls
dlsappearance from Lhe company, Lo avold cerLaln gambllng debLs he raked up wlLh Lhe company offlcers. Some
compllcaLed schemlng had hls lmperlal enllsLmenL Lransferred Lo a pro-lmperlal mercenary group (wlLh Llme
served counLlng Lowards reLlremenL and a proper mlllLary penslon). unforLunaLely, hls unlL was shaLLered durlng
an Abadanl lnsurgenL offenslve, forLunaLely, he was able Lo geL hlmself capLured raLher Lhan kllled, a dlfflculL sLunL
Lo pull durlng an all-ln enemy assaulL.

LvenLually, he grew aLLracLed Lo Abadanl soclallsL/popullsL docLrlnes - lL seemed Lo be a fanLasLlc way Lo puL
lncredlble amounLs of power lnLo Lhe hands of Lhe selecL few. 1hanks Lo Lhe revoluLlonary drlve of Abadanl, even
more conLrol can be selzed by fasL-movlng ldeologues Lhan could be galned by appeals Lo 1radlLlon or Crder. 1he
Squlre found Lhls profoundly appeallng. buL kepL hls LhoughLs Lo hlmself, as he sLruggled Lo grasp how Lo harness
all LhaL poLenLlal power ln Lhe hands of Lhe rlghL sorL. noL Lhe ordlnary noble, buL a Lrue messlanlc flgure, a Man of
Lhe eople and a Man of Lhe Pouses.

AfLer saLlsfacLorlly clearlng up varlous bureaucraLlc & legal messes, Lhe Squlre ls now uslng hls legal llcense Lo do
sLandard lmperlal conLracL work for corporaLlons and mlnor nobles. 1hls klnd of legal work ls resLrlcLed Lo
sophonLs who have Lhe rlghL Legal Llcense from Lhe Sylean 8ar, llke he does. 8elng one of Lhe Lhree lawyers ln Lhe
secLor llcensed Lo draw up Lhe proper conLracLs needed by Lhe local noblllLy, hls money problems have been
resolved qulLe flrmly.

8uL - now wlLh Lhe proper Army dlscharge papers - Squlre ner'SaLden really wanLs Lo reLurn home Lo hls llege,
8owor of Pouse lleLhlan, uuke of ulan. 1he Squlre has already sLarLed on an ouLllne Lo resLrucLure Lhe lmperlum,
Lo allow greaLer beneflLs Lo flow Lo poor clLlzens - even Lo lmpoverlshed clLlzens ln backward secLors llke Lhe
LmpLy CuarLer.


c&%$0-1E %0# Aj UmkUp )&3-&%/)+ ")/6-3# %0# $&%&(?+%+ 1##3#3 %/ -10-8-% %0# 1&%-6# =-$)//)E&1-+=+ /B 0-+ 1&%-6#
2/)(3 0&+ &(2&?+ B&+$-1&%#3 !d'-)# H#)F!&%3#1> <="/)%#3 &(( %0# 2&? B)/= %0# 7-6# ,#3#)&%-/19 %0#? 2#)# 2/)%0
%0#-) 2#-E0% -1 E/(34 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Co|ony 22S7" 2ee Durran|. See h|s work at
http:]]zeedurran|.dev|antart.com]art]Co|ony-22S7-4078286SS
Iuture |ans
AddlLlonal research ln revoluLlonary movemenLs conLlnues Lo occupy Squlre ner'SaLden's spare Llme. Pe was
absoluLely dellghLed Lo dlscover how Pouse CasLro and Pouse klm and Lhe 8ed rlnces of Chlna bullL Lhelr forLunes
and unLrammelled power whlle proclalmlng Lhelr love of Lhe Worklng Man - and how Lhe smarLesL lnLellecLuals of
Lhelr naLlons backed Lhem Lo Lhe hllL. ulscoverlng Lhls dellghLful ellxlr of 1rue ower - unLrammelled by Lhe fllmsy
dlsLracLlons of 1radlLlon or Lhe fanLasLlc deluslons of 8ellglon - Squlre ner'SaLden ls now focused ln how Lo seL up
Lhe opLlcs, Lo lnsure broad vllanl accepLance of Lhe 8esLoraLlon.
76
lorLunaLely, Lhe 8evoluLlon (whlch, dependlng
on Lhe markeL, may beLLer be sold as a 8esLoraLlon) wlll requlre 8lgorously Lnforced, Comprehenslve ConformlLy,
someLhlng LhaL wlll be sure Lo brlng a smlle Lo Lhe face of any vllanl face, dreamlng of a Changeless Consensus...

wltb eoooqb tow Joto. eoooqb ceottollzeJ coottol, sotvelllooce ooJ Jltectloo. eoooqb tecbooloqy. tbe tlqbt
motbemotlcol fotmolos. ooJ tbe best, wlsest mloJs of tbe lmpetlom... uolvetsol ltospetlty wlll sotely spteoJ ftom
tbe few to tbe mooy!

ltom tbe commooJloq nelqbts, tbe xpettlse of o commooets Metltoctocy, o uemoctocy of tbe leople, lofoseJ
wltb tbe best elemeots of tbe Noblllty ooJ tbe Mllltoty, wlll qlve blttb to o uolfleJ MloJ, btloqloq All 5opboots ooJet
tbe 8oooet of tbe 5oo!

NO to wostefol, cbootlc feoJollsm!

NO to feoJloq closses, tellqloos, toces, plooetoty qovetomeots JlvlJloq tbe people of tbe lmpetlom, weokeoloq os,
sootcbloq oot qlotloos Jestloy ftom oot follloq booJs!

5 to o sloqle, oolfleJ lmpetlol 5tote, JltecteJ by tbe Mlqbtlest of MloJs, btloqloq All 5opboots ooJet ON sloqle
low, ON sloqle coltote, ON sloqle Jestloy!

All wbo stooJ oqolost tbe leople wlll be qtoooJ to powJet - bot oll wbo stooJ wltb tbe leople sboll klse wltb tbe
8oooet of tbe 5oo!

?es. 1bls ls Lhe klnd of glorlous absLracLlon LhaL bllllons of men would dle for ln Lhe fuLure, afLer Lhe Solomanl race-
drlven fanLasles have been seL Lo rlghLs. A very nlce mlx of envy, power fanLasy, novelLy, and sancLlmonlous,
egallLarlan canL, wlLh [usL Lhe rlghL Louch of messlanlc fervour Lo add flavour Lo Lhe blaLher. My llege should be
lnformed of Lhe poLenLlal for Lhls flavour of aglLprop.
- from 1he SecreL !ournals of Slr ner'SaLden, CreaLesL of Lhe lleLhlan Counsellors. ulan: 1098
(Pousehold ubllcaLlon: Archducal ermlsslon Lo Access 8equlred)

76
Cf course, Lhls pollLlcal shlfL wlll have Lo be presenLed as a 8esLoraLlon Lo Lhe vllanl, and a 8evoluLlon Lo Lhe Solomanl. lorLunaLely, a
man wlLh Squlre ner'SaLden's sllver Longue [usL mlghL be able Lo pull lL off.


]-+-%-1E 0'=-3 g#)"#%02# 2&+ &(2&?+ & "(#&+')# B/) %0# !d'-)#K %0# `2&" &)# &(2&?+ 2-((-1E D &13 &8(# D %/ "&?
%/" 3/((&) %/ 8# $/="(#%#(? $/="(-&1% 2-%0 <="#)-&( )#d'-)#=#1%+> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Iog" Goran De||c. See
h|s work at http:]]de||c.dev|antart.com]art]Iog-263739484

1he Squlre ls confldenL of hls ablllLy Lo galn 8eady Cash from noble urses, and ls ln Lhe markeL for a cheap,
rellable lree 1rader Lo brlng hlm home.
77
8uL Lhere are Lhree requlremenLs LhaL musL be meL.

llrsL: Lhere ls an old war buddy from hls company, also from ulan who needs Lo be found and broughL Lo hlm, by
Lhe name of ushda. Pe wlll be very handy ln Lhe fuLure, and Lhe Squlre ls wllllng Lo pay handsomely for a C Leam
Lo reLrleve ushda.
78

Secondly, Lhe Squlre really needs a rellable crew and shlp, hopefully someone oot born & ralsed ln Lhe LmpLy
CuarLer SecLor, Lo brlng hlm back home Lo ulan, llellsh. Squlre ner'SaLden wlll be wary of hlrlng locals, buL wlll
conslder lL lf Lhey have a flawless plloLlng record. 1he Squlre ls noL easlly raLLled, buL whaL really spooks hlm ls Lhe
plloLlng ablllLles of Lhe locals. Pe's been on Lhe world for seven monLhs, and Lwlce he wlLnessed an orblLlng lree
1rader colllslon wlLh hls own eyes, wlLh a Llny sun ln Lhe skles brlefly burnlng ln Lhe nlghL.
79

77
As an ald Lo Lhe 8eferee: lmaglne nguyn Slnh Cn walLlng Lables for powerful Luropeans ln 1918, and pleadlng on Lhe pllghL of hls
people under colonlal rule. before swlLchlng Lo AcLlve Measures, and changlng hls name Lo Po Chl Mlnh. As an analogy, Lhls vaguely
resembles Squlre ner'SaLden's poslLlon (no pleadlng, beLLer pay, beLLer soclal sLaLus, and loLs more wrlLlng. acLually, more llke karl Marx
hlmself) buL hls ldeas dldn'L reshape Lhe galaxy unLll LhaL faLeful day, on 132-1116 lmperlal (SaLurday, May 12, Au 3633) when Archduke
uullnor assasslnaLed Lmperor SLrephon.
78
8eferee: 1hls should be doable, lf a sufflclenL amounL of money ls flashed before ushda's nose. 1he promlse of a free - no, mooey-
eotoloq - rlde home can'L hurL, elLher!
79
1he reader ls assumed Lo have seen hls share of dlsasLrous 8usslan car accldenLs on ?ou1ube. Cn Lhe oLher hand, Lhe cheerful
lncompeLence of Lhe plloLs have led Lo very well-experlenced clean-up crews who are fanLasLlc aL clearlng orblLs ln less Lhan a day, down
Lo Lhe sLray screws Lravelllng aL 20,000 kph.


L/+% <="#)-&( 6-+-%/)+ %/ %0# !-C !'8+#$%/)+ %#13 %/ d'-$@(? %-)# /B %0# +%)-B#9 %0# ")/6-1$-&(-+=9 &13 %0# "#%%?
d'&))#(+ /B %0# -10&8-%&1%+> `'% !d'-)# H#)F!&%3#1 -+ =/)# (-@#(? %/ (&'E0 &% %0# %)-&(+ /B (-B# -1 %0# O'&)%#)9
-1+%#&3 /B +$)#&=-1E -1 B)'+%)&%#3 -="/%#1$# (-@# =/+% /'%+-3#)+ 3/> 513 +/=#%-=#+9 ?/' $&1 '1$/6#) "(&$#+ /B
)#&( 8#&'%?9 (-@# %0# 7-E0(&13+ /B .0-)-1E c#> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Lven|ng" Iust|nas V|tkus.
See h|s work at http:]][ustv23.dev|antart.com]art]Lven|ng-317S71816

1hlrd, Lhe Squlre has grown comforLable wlLh Lhe use of anagaLhlcs for healLh, well-belng, and llfe-exLenslon.
80
Pe
wanLs Lhe Cs Lo elLher secure obLaln a large supply 'somehow', Lo carry wlLh hlm on hls long [ourney, or Lo be
able Lo qulckly hook up wlLh dlscreeL suppllers on Lhe ma[or worlds Lhey wlll vlslL on Lhelr [ourney. ln Lhe
meanLlme, he conLlnues Lo hone hls wrlLlng sLyle Lo bulld on hls greaLesL rheLorlcal sLrengLhs: 1) change Lhe
sub[ecL, 2) personal aLLacks.

Closlng 1heme: Lugene oLLler ,L'lnLernaLlonale" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=aZ731a8_S8?

kuezangar
u u988894, Age 24, urzaeng vargr
Skllls: Mechanlcal - 2, LlngulsLlcs - 2, lnflghLlng - 2, Crav vehlcle - 1, vacc SulL - 1, CombaL 8lfleman - 1, Wheeled
vehlcle - 1, uemollLlons - 1, LlecLronlcs - 1, 1acLlcs - 1, CompuLer - 0, Swlmmlng - 0

Languages: kfukakh (A urzaeng language, naLlve), lkonaz (vargr), Angllc (1ransform).
1rylng Lo learn re-SLellar Lngllsh for fun, and falllng mlserably: only a few words and phrases have been masLered.

vlsual: Masslvely bullL, wlLh a Lhlck coal-black coaL LhaL hlnLs aL hls ancesLors' orlglns ln a polar mounLaln range:
somewhere ln Czaefueg SecLor, a good 130 parsecs from here." Pls hands LhaL have a more powerful grlp Lhan
any vargr Lhe Cs have ever meL, and can crumple Lhlck meLal cans. As of 001-993 lmperlal, kuezangar llkes Lo
wear well-Lallored sllk & fur robes, hemmed ln yellowlng anlmal fangs.

LqulpmenL: When local law levels permlL, kuezangar always carrles a llghL slug carblne. kuezangar also has a
dlsorganlzed, eclecLlc collecLlon of bulld-for-vargr Lools, compuLers, cloLhlng, Loys, books, and oLher random lLems

Cpenlng 1heme: neal PefLl, 1he Cdd Couple" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=SyL8qCubzvc

kuezangar ls a frenemy of one of Lhe Cs. (8eferee's cholce.) Pls muscle, decenL mlllLary sklll seL, and mechanlcal
apLlLude can come ln very handy ln a plnch, and has a raLher good conLacL neLwork among ruff'n'ready vargr
mercenarles and ex-plraLes (uon'L sLress Lhe 'ex' Loo hard."). lor a pup of Lhe mlghL-ls-rlghL, klll-Lhe-weak
urzaeng culLure, kuezangar ls remarkably well-mannered, and doesn'L go ouL of Lhe way Lo bully weak and
scrawny sophonLs around as much as he used Lo. excepL for Lhe C he's Lled Lo.
81
klnd of llke your besL frlend,
whose sole purpose ls Lo Lroll you and revel ln your mlsforLunes."

1he vargr ls acLually preLLy good aL lrrlLaLlng Lhe C, and loves lL when Lhe C Lrles Lo physlcally hlL hlm. lL's so
cote when you Lry Lo flghL!" 1here's a dlsLlncL posslblllLy LhaL Lhe C wlll acLually Lry Lo klll hlm: Lhe 8eferee wlll
have Lo deLermlne whaL resulL ls besL for Lhe sLory he's Lelllng.
82
kuezangar ls supremely confldenL ln hls flghLlng

80
AnagaLhlcs does help wlLh llfe exLenslon, buL lL lsn'L very useful for healLh and well-belng per se... and waLch ouL for Lhe slde effecLs!
See Lhe Mega1rave||er |ayer's Manua|, page 16 for deLalls, whlch you can buy here: hLLp://www.rpgnow.com/producL/432/M1--
Mega1raveller-layers-Manual?lL=1 noLe LhaL lL's a 1L 13 drug, whlch makes you wonder how Squlre ner'SaLden managed Lo geL a
regular supply ln a backward reglon of a 1L 14 lmperlum.
81
And Lhe 8wap: buL LhaL's more on general prlnclples. ParassmenL of Lhe C ln quesLlon ls someLhlng LhaL kuezangar flnds pottlcolotly
en[oyable, and deflnlLely worLh golng ouL of hls way for.
82
noLe LhaL kllllng a vargr wlLhouL cause Joes oot cooot os motJet on cerLaln Solomanl-domlnaLed worlds ln Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer,
even Lhough (dependlng on Lhe 8eferee's vlslon of Lhe lmperlum) lL moy be an lmperlal crlme. lf Lhe 8eferee decldes LhaL Lhe lmperlum
eofotces Lhe law agalnsL murder - as, canonlcally, lL does agalnsL chaLLel slavery - Lhen Lhere ls Lhe posslblllLy of undersLaffed &
underequlpped lmperlal MlnlsLry of !usLlce agenLs flghLlng a solld wall of raclal hosLlllLy... otmeJ raclal hosLlllLy... Lo crack Lhe case and geL
Lhe klller. lf Lhe 8eferee decldes LhaL Lhe lmperlum Joes oot eofotce Lhe law agalnsL murder (as Lhe ulLrahlgh law levels of numerous
lmperlal worlds lmply) Lhen vargr Cs are golng Lo have some very Lense role-playlng slLuaLlons ln cerLaln clLles, naLlons, even worlds
wlLhln Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer, Lhe mlnuLe Lhey sLep ouL of Lhe lmperlal SLarporL's LxLraLerrlLorlallLy Zone - never mlnd ln Lhe
Pegemony of Lorean, where Lhe vargr are legally unpersons. 1he acLual slLuaLlon ln Lhe Pegemony ls beLLer Lhan lL looks on paper, and an
lmperlal vargr ls glven more leeway Lhan naLlve lrlllLok vargr (who are more LrusLed Lhan local '8eLa humanlLl', glvlng Lhe lle Lo offlclal
humanlsL dogma), buL Lhlngs can sLlll geL dlcey. 'CauLlon ls advlsed.'

skllls, so he wlll noL sLrlke Lo klll lnlLlally, preferrlng Lo play and humlllaLe Lhe C (and mllk Lhe resulLlng Charlsma
bonanza for all lL's worLh). 8uL lf he feels LhaL hls llfe ls teolly ln danger, kuezangar ls fasL, sLrong, experlenced, and
deflnlLely wllllng Lo klll.

(8uL lf vlcLorlous, kuezangar wlll be ln a wotlJ of Lrouble - powerfully-bullL vargr kllllng men klcks off all sorLs of
lnsLlncLual knee-[erk reacLlons locally. ln some worlds - llke nullnad, amushgar, even udusls - kuezangar has a
good chance aL a falr Lrlal, and could well be seL free on a plea of self-defence. Cn oLher worlds. noL so much.)

[509 +/ 2# =##% &E&-1b J//3 %/ 0&6# ?/' 0#)# %/ /8+#)6# =? (&%#+% 6-$%/)?4e f1 &1 /BBI%0#I$0&)%+ /)8-%&(
$/="(#C9 +/=#20#)# -1 %0# N="%? O'&)%#)> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Northern Conveyor" Geoffory 1hoorens.
See h|s work at http:]]d[aha|.dev|antart.com]art]Northern-Conveyor-147491689

kuezangar does sLay on Lhe rlghL slde of Lhe law (so far as Lhe law knows.) ln hls work ln Lhe 'asseL proLecLlon
buslness', buL ls glven Lo such gems as ?ou can geL more wlLh a klnd word and a gun, Lhen [usL a gun," lf you
have Lo klll a man, lL cosLs noLhlng Lo be pollLe," and A crlmlnal ls someone wlLh predaLory lnsLlncLs who has noL
sufflclenL caplLal Lo form a ma[or corporaLlon. yeL." (8eferee: reword Lo sulL your campalgn as needed.)

Pe sLlll has a cerLaln weakness, ln Lhe dellghL he has ln smelllng Lhe fear of oLhers, and can be LempLed Lo use hls
bulk Lo push, bully and lnLlmldaLe oLhers, especlally Lhe weak. 1hls lsn'L [usL show, elLher: kuezangar knows how Lo
use hls muscles, sLrengLh, and Lyplcal vargr llghLlng-fasL aglllLy ln a flghL agalnsL sophonLs hls own slze: buL he's
older now, and ls wllllng Lo back ouL of a flghL lf he Lhlnks he's ouLmaLched.

Pe sLlll has a klnd of mocklng-proLecLlve, Leaslng-Leachlng relaLlonshlp wlLh Lhe C Lhe 8eferee has declded Lo
LargeL, Lhough. Pe's qulLe llkely Lo slgn up wlLh Lhe C group lf Lhe advenLure ls exclLlng, has Lhe posslblllLy of
charlsma and renown, and ls wllllng Lo even lose a blL ln pay and prlzes Lo geL Lhe chance Lo needle Lhe C LargeL
one more Llme.

Closlng 1heme: Maurlce !arre, 1he Man Who Would 8e klng" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=bgaC??_C_vk


Ma[or 16-A|pha-M Autora-Green
u C886AA Age 30, Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: CombaL 8lfleman - 3, 8econ - 2, lnLruslon - 2, vacc SulL - 2, PlsLory (MlllLary) - 1, 8rawllng - 1, SLealLh - 1,
Small 8lade - 1, 8ecrulLlng - 1, lnsLrucLlon - 1, uemollLlons - 1, Crav vehlcle - 0, CompuLer - 0, Larly llrearms - 0,
1acLlcs - 0, Swlmmlng - 0, Zero-C - 0

Languages: Angllc (Core)

vlsual: A powerfully bullL man, Ma[or AuLora-Creen ls a mlllLary bloenglneered soldler, parL of a produced seL of
10,000 relaLed near-clones from a mld-pop/hlgh-Lech lmperlal Core world, bred as parL of Mllr/uagudashaag's
mlllLary LrlbuLe Lo Lhe Lmperor Lo supporL lmperlal 8ule across Lhe sLars ln lleu of moneLary Laxes. Whlle hls
physlcal aLLrlbuLes are prlme, Lhls man - hls name ldenLlLy-code changes as he develops and galns more skllls -
was bred for only average lnLelllgence. 1he Ma[or wears lmperlal Army Commando gear, and acLually has no
clvlllan cloLhlng aL Lhe presenL Llme.

LqulpmenL: 8ears a plsLol, a smarLphone handheld Army mlnl-llnk, and a daLapad.

Cpenlng 1heme: 1he SeaLbelLs, Space Llon" hLLps://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=Wknvauwug3s

Cr|g|ns
ueslgned and creaLed ln Lhe hlgh-Lech waLerworld of Mllr (Argl/uagudashaag 1334: ln 993 lmperlal, A63A397-u)
SophonL unlL u790!u938nlvACP3-Au1C8A-8/16 spenL Lhe flrsL 14 years of hls llfe ln sLrenuous physlcal Lralnlng
reglmes and llmlLed lnLellecLual Lralnlng: readlng & wrlLlng up Lo a compleLe prlmary educaLlon, wlLh a focus on
mlllLary appllcaLlons, and arlLhmeLlc (up Lo algebra) wlLh a sLress on mlllLary loglsLlcs. 8eclLaLlon, memorlzaLlon,
dlsclpllne, and unreflecLlve obedlence was Lhe prlmary focus of menLal educaLlon, splrlLual and culLural Lralnlng
was grounded solely ln loyalLy Lo Lhe lmperlal 1hrone, and Lhe requlremenLs of Lhe lmperlal Army as an arm of Lhe
Lmperor. A decenL survey of ground-based mlllLary hlsLory was provlded, wlLh a focus on noLable posL-lmperlal
Clvll War operaLlons across CharLed Space.

As per deslgn specs aL Lhe Llme, u790!u938nlvACP3-Au1C8A-8/16's
83
aggresslveness ls ooly Lled Lo vlolence, noL
Lo sex: lnborn sexual preferences were resLrucLured Lo boLh Lle hls enLlre focus Lo brlng paln and deaLh Lo Lhe
enemy, and Lo proLecL comrades-ln-arms from unexpecLed vlolence
84
. naLurally, Lhe Ma[or only feels Lruly allve
and lnvlgoraLed on Lhe baLLlefleld, and longs Lo be aL Lhe Solomanl warzones, noL ln Lhe backwaLer of all lmperlal
backwaLers.

re-Contact Group
ln Lhe 990-993 perlod, Lhen-CapLaln 3-Alpha-M AuLora-?ellow lnlLlally led Commando Croup 10 Lo neuLrallze hlgh-
prlorlLy Solomanl paramlllLary cells wlLhln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer, wlLh greaL success. 1hen, hls work as shlfLed Lo
cadre work, Lralnlng up Lhe noble household forces LhaL make up Lhe bulk of remalnlng hlgh-Lech ground forces
wlLhln Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer. 1he capLaln's solld success here lead Lo Lhe proudesL momenL of hls shorL llfe -
noL Lhe lmperlal awards & commendaLlons (Lhough Lhey are appreclaLed) buL Lhe shlfL of hls reproducLlve sLaLus
from ?ellow Lo Creen, permlLLlng hls genes Lo be used as source maLerlal for fuLure Mllr-bred soldlers.

83
1he man memorlzed hls unlque alphanum code as hls formal name, buL would only use lL ln hls Lralnlng cadre back on Mllr. 1he lmperlal
Army uses a dlfferenL alphanum code for a unlque, unA-Lled ldenLlfler, buL Lhe man was encouraged Lo choose a more human-readable
name as a spoken ldenLlfler for sLandard use.
84
Pow mlllLary bloenglneers of Lhe fuLure balance sexuallLy, vlolence, and aggresslon ls an lnLeresLlng quesLlon. l suspecL LhaL sald soldlers
would be used as Lerror weapons, wlLh everyLhlng Lhey do geared Lo brlng paln, fear, deaLh, and dlsease Lo Lhe enemy. vlcLory [usLlfles
all Lhlngs", as any raLlonal pragmaLlsL would Lell you, and mysLlcal-maglcal canL abouL motollty and wot ctlmes wlll shlfL wlLh Lhe Llmes,
[usL llke always." lorLunaLely, l also suspecL LhaL Lhe days of Lhe mass soldler ls numbered: Lechnology conLlnues Lo brlng more and more
Lools lnLo Lhe hand of more and more people, whlle Lhe mlllLary bureaucracles remaln as hldebound, Lurf-proLecLlng and flxaLed on
numbers, procedures and budgeLs as ever. lf we can'L counL lL, lL doesn'L exlsL!"


As SophonL unlL u790!u938nlvACP3-Au1C8A-8/16 was bred sLerlle, reproducLlon by arLlflclal means ls Lhe ooly
way he can hope Lo breed. 1he man has no sex drlve (ln conLrasL Lo a fetocloos appeLlLe for vlolence), so women
are noLhlng buL whlny, weak, somewhaL lneffecLlve near-allens Lo hls mlnd
83
, buL hls ego ls sLroked by knowlng
LhaL hls genes are valued by Lhe sclenLlflc guardlans of hls race, and wlll be used lnLo Lhe lndeflnlLe fuLure for new
soldlers LhaL wlll brlng even greaLer glory Lo Lhe lmperlum.

L&++-6# =#$0& &)# 1/% $/==/1(? +##1 -1 %0# A0-)3 <="#)-'=K $#)%&-1 "0?+-$&( (&2+ =&@# %0#= -="/++-8(#
/1 UIJ 2/)(3+> R!/))?9 L#$02&))-/)+bV f1 %0# /%0#) 0&139 %0#)# &)# 1'=#)/'+ (/2IJ 2/)(3+ /'% %0#)#9 &+ 2#(( &+
=?+%#)-/'+ 51$-#1% R/) /%0#) ")#I<="#)-&( 0-E0I%#$0V )#(-$+ %0&% +0/'(3 1/% 8# 3-+%')8#3>
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "NC1_A_SAIL_SC1" ma|o.
See h|s work at http:]]donma|o.dev|antart.com]#]art]NC1-A-SAIL-SC1-37S8SS2S6?hf=1

uue Lo hls naLure, CapLaln AuLora-Creen has no sympaLhy for Lhose ouLslde of hls unlL, buL he does have. well, a
naLural undersLandlng of how Lhe locals Lhlnk and acL.
86
Pls observaLlonal ablllLles and a here-and-now
engagemenL wlLh Lhe sophonLs around hlm allow hlm Lo lmprove hls lnLeracLlon wlLh hls sLudenLs, desplLe Lhe
general rellance on local, flesh-and-blood LranslaLors.

(AuLora-Creen knows LhaL hls auLhorlLarlan Core accenL ls repulslve Lo many wlLhln Lhe CuarLer, buL doesn'L wanL
Lo be seen Lo be dependenL on a machlne Lo communlcaLe Lo Lhe Lroops. lorLunaLely, uslng a llvlng sophonL as a
LranslaLor oJJs Lo a forelgner's presLlge ln Lhe Slx SubsecLors.)

romot|on to the Contact Group
WlLh hls new duLles, Lhe new Ma[or 16-Alpha-M AuLora-Creen now musL work wlLh mlllLla leaders, householder
Lroops, and planeLary armles LhroughouL Clmushl subsecLor. 1here are varlous goals lnvolved here, prlmarlly Lo
proLecL sLarporLs and ma[or clLles from plraLe ralders, buL Lo also lmprove lnLeroperablllLy and lnformaLlon
exchanges on LhreaL paLLerns across Lhe subsecLor. erhaps half Lhe Llme, Lhe ma[or geLs Lo be near or aL Lhe
acLlon, someLlmes Laklng command hlmself, buL usually leLLlng Lhe more experlenced offlcers make Lhe plans,
resLrlcLlng hlmself Lo chooslng Lhe mosL sulLable plan.

83
noLe LhaL Lhls bred soldler has no naLural proLecLlve lnsLlncLs regardlng women or chlldren: A LhreaL's a LhreaL, perlod. And lf
someLhlng doesn'L concern my unlL or my mlsslon, Lhen lL's someone else's problem, perlod." Pe Joes have a LlghL blood-broLher bond
wlLh Lhe oLher men of hls unlL, Lhough, and has had respecL for hlgher auLhorlLy drllled lnLo hls skull for a very long Llme now.
86
undersLandlng someone deeply does noL auLomaLlcally lead Lo even a gram of empaLhy. woe Lo Lhe C group LhaL learns Lhls Lhe hard
way.


Aj .q 2&)8/%+ &)# & )&)# +-E0% -1 %0# N="%? O'&)%#) D #6#1 -1 %0# '(%)&I2#&(%0? S'@&3'@&^ S#"'8(-$
R%0# ]&)E) 3-+(-@# )/8/%+9 20-$0 3/1F% E)&1% $0&)-+=& %/ %0#-) ]&)E) =&+%#)+V> !/ 20#1 %0#? 3/ &""#&)9
-% $&1 8# & 8-E +')")-+# %/ %0# g.+ D "#)0&"+ & B&%&( /1#> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Guard|ans" Goran De||c.
See h|s work at http:]]de||c.dev|antart.com]#]art]Guard|ans-302S039S?hf=1

(lf you look aL hls skllls, you wlll flnd LhaL Lhe ma[or only has 1acLlcs-0. 1he only reason he goL Lhls much ls because
of Lhe ma[or slowly learnlng Lo lmlLaLe Lhe beLLer-clued-ln local fleld offlcers.
87
?ou wlll also noLe useful lnsLrucLlon
and recrulLlng skllls, and a superb level of weapon handllng and marksmanshlp, buL oo leadershlp sklll.)

Pavlng Lo deal wlLh Lhe demands and requesLs of Lhe colonlal forces ls sLlll dlfflculL for Ma[or AuLora-Creen.
Powever, he has declded LhaL he would raLher work wlLh Lhe llons of Clmushl Lhan Lhe slaves of Argl." Cver Lhe
monLhs, he has slowly pulled back on acLually organlzlng and llnklng LogeLher Lhese very dlsparaLe soldlery, and
pushlng forward Lo whaL he loves besL: leadlng companles lnLo flreflghLs and assaulLs, seLLlng up ambushes,
planLlng shlp-busLlng exploslves durlng boardlng acLlons, and leadlng recon Leams ln Lhe deserL. 1he varlous
colonlal offlcers, who dlsllke lmperlal supervlslon, are lndlrecLly encouraglng hlm Lo geL more hands-on. and so
necessarlly spend less Llme ln force observaLlon, supervlslon, and monlLorlng.

1he Cs
1he hlgh-level offlcers observlng Lhe acLlvlLy have declded agalnsL revoklng Lhe promoLlon, even Lhough Lhey have
solld grounds for dolng so, Lhey would raLher have Lhe ma[or conLlnue on hls presenL course, and galn more

87
?es, he Look a Lon of LacLlcal classes aL home. 8ooks, drllls and vlrLual reallLy flghLlng are no subsLlLuLe for Lhe real Lhlng!" Cr, more
charlLably, even Lhe besL schoollng musL be adapLed for Lhe slLuaLlon aL hand. and Lhe Ma[or ls slow Lo adapL when lL comes Lo LacLlcs.

LacLlcal and hands-on experlence and learn from Lhe masLers. 1haL way, aL leasL someone rellable, noL Lled Lo a
local world, wlll be able Lo lead lmperlal forces lnLo local operaLlons wlLh a degree of hands-on experLlse and a real
feel for plraLe LacLlcs and behavlour.

8uL LhaL sLlll leaves Lhe orlglnal [ob, llnklng up Lhe local mlllLarles, undone. 1hls ls where Lhe Cs - servlng offlcers
and men of Lhe lmperlal Army, aL leasL one havlng Lhe rank of capLaln - come ln. 1he C capLaln wlll be Lhe
ad[uLanL Lo Lhe ma[or, buL lnsLead of handllng company maLLers, Lhey wlll be handllng neLwork, communlcaLlon,
and varlous back-offlce Lechnlcal maLLers for Lhe varlous Clmushl mlllLarles.
88
As such, Lhe Cs wlll be granLed Lhe
use of a small sLarshlp for qulck LransporL, probably a [ump2 scouL/courler. Lvery Lhree monLhs, Lhey wlll reporL
back Lo Ma[or AuLora-Creen (or hls successor, should Lhe combaL-lovlng ma[or geL kllled ln one of hls many
aggresslvely-sLrucLured deploymenLs). 1he ma[or wlll make Lhe flnal declslons, requesL clarlflcaLlon, eLc.

And off Lhe Cs go agaln, meeLlng mlllLary offlcers from dozens of mlllLarles, speaklng a good varleLy of languages
(usually lncludlng 1ransform Angllc), followlng varlous rellglons and culLural mores, and uslng a cross-secLlon of
Lechnologles. CeLLlng everyone Lo work LogeLher - and knowlng LhaL Lhe ma[or wlll geL Lhe credlL for good resulLs,
whlle Lhe Cs wlll suffer for any gaffe - wlll be Lhe [oy and Lhe bane of Lhelr llves for Lhe foreseeable fuLure.
89

5(=/+% &(( /B %0# =&Q/)F+ (-6# $/=8&% #C"#)-#1$# 0&+ 8##1 -1 +"&)+#(?I /) '1"/"'(&%#3 &)#&+4 &13 0#F+ E(&3 /B -%>
_)8&1 2&)B&)# -1 %0# N="%? O'&)%#) +-="(? +%-1@+> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "1kALD" Ma|o. See h|s work at
http:]]donma|o.dev|antart.com]art]1kALD-376047897

1houghts on the S|de
Whlle ln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer, Lhe offlcer has sLruggled Lo undersLand why Lhe eLhnorellglous confllcLs of Lhe LmpLy
CuarLer are so much harsher, blLLer, and nasLler Lhan Lhe cool and clean corporaLe wars of Lhe lmperlal Core.
90

Pe's plgeonholed all sorLs of experLs, harassed old LmpLyhands, and argued wlLh an lmpresslve number of ouL-of-
secLor mercenarles, noble householders, and corporaLe warrlors, Lrylng Lo make sense of lL all. AL Lhe sLarL of 993,
Ma[or AuLora-Creen has flnally gaLhered all of hls varlous scrlbbled noLepads, Lape-recorded LhoughLs, mp3 ranLs,
bllndlng powerpolnLs, and sLack of aborLed drafLs, and ls golng Lo dump Lhem all on a C Lo organlze and
ghosLwrlLe.

88
keep an eye on Lhe dlfference beLween peaceLlme and warLlme mlllLarles. A qulck lnLro can be found ln 8ules of LngagemenL: Pow Lo
8ecome a 1hree-SLar Ceneral" from norLh: hLLps://www.garynorLh.com/members/logln.cfm?hpage=12437.cfm
89
8efer Lo Ste||ar keaches #18 & #19 for demographlc and background lnformaLlon for Lhe LmpLy CuarLer. Cr, [usL make your own!
90
Cne of Lhe many beloved local Lrlcks: splked ammunlLlon. hLLps://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=628l38z_2L


A0# j&^-+&) M-)#$%/)&%# H&6? D & (/$&( =-(-%&)? "/2#)0/'+# D 3#"(/?+ 0#) B/)$#+ /1 8#0&(B /B %0# N="#)/)>
M&E#=-9 ::G <="#)-&(> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Scouts Dep|oyed" Ne|| 1hacker.
See h|s work at http:]]www.renderos|ty.com]mod]ga||ery]|ndex.php?|mage_|d=2424844

AfLer Lhe C ls done wlLh Lhe ghosLwrlLlng, Lhe ma[or wlll go over Lhe drafL, puLLlng Lhe lessons he learned ln Lhe
Co-operaLlve vlolence classes back home Lo work ln 'fleshlng ouL' Lhe C's work, Lhen slap a LlLle on lL - nasLy,
8ruLal, and Pollow: Warfare ln Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer - and have lL prlnLed ouL ln a clvlllzed world ln Lhe
lmperlal Core - wlLh only hls name as auLhor. (WhaL? uld you expecL someLhlng dlfferenL?)

Any orlglnal Lhlnklng ln Lhe book wlll have Lo come from Lhe C (Lhe ma[or's lnLelllgence ls only 6, a.k.a. 'average').
lf Lhe C ls boLh hlghly lnLelllgenL and can wrlLe well, Lhe book ls mlldly successful, and Lhe ma[or wlll have a few
remuneraLlve speaklng engagemenLs Lo aLLend Lo. Pe'll need Lhe C Lo Leach hlm Lhe 'plerclng new lnslghLs' he's
supposed Lo have galned, whlch ls where Lhe C can elLher exLracL some money, useful favours, or have a blL of fun
aL Lhe Ma[or AuLora-Creen's expense.

Closlng 1heme: Andreas vollenwelder, uanclng WlLh 1he Llon" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=onp_u8[6lnL

I|kush khaas|ra, M|stress of ur|ty Cargo L|nes
u 8394A7 Age 34 (84), ure vllanl
Skllls: !ack-o-1rades - 3, LlngulsLlcs - 2, CompuLer - 2, LlecLronlcs - 2, Crav vehlcle - 1, ersuaslon - 1, SLreeLwlse - 1,
8ecrulLlng - 1, Soclology - 1, Wheeled vehlcle - 0, Pandgun - 0, 1heology (vllanl) - 0
Languages: Modern vllanl (naLlve), Cld Plgh vllanl, Angllc (1ransform)

vlsual: A well-kepL pure vllanl woman, only her slowness - as bad as a Solomanl! - beLrays her greaL age. Looklng
aL her, you would see a respecLable woman, buL noL a hlgh-sLaLus one: her laLe husband made Loo many enemles
Lo allow her Lo keep her hlgh soclal sLaLus afLer he dled.

LqulpmenL: A small, 1L 14 porLable experL sysLem, whlch advlses her of Lhe lengLhy Lraln of hlsLory, precedenL, and
advlse for boLh her personal llfe and her buslness.

Cpenlng 1heme: Aklko ShlkaLa & WaLau Pano, Sands of 1lme"
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=xcgrxsMw1xk

1he Unrecogn|zed Nob|e
A Lrue daughLer of amushgar, Mrs. khaaslra has had many llves: sclenLlsL, mlsLress, Lhen wlfe Lo khugl khaaslra,
who for one momenL ln Llme was Lhe mosL wealLhy man of Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer, moLher Lo four chlldren -
all of whom Look Lhelr share of khugl's wealLh afLer hls deaLh, and lefL Lhe LmpLy CuarLer for beLLer worlds,
wldow, sLarfarer, merchanLman, and now mlsLress of a speclallsL Lradlng llne.

M#$#1% +0-"+9 3/-1E E//3 2/)@ -1 %0# !-C !'8+#$%/)+ D 8'% /1(? & +0&3/2
/B %0#-) L-+%)#++F B/)=#) 2#&(%0 &13 E(/)?> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "nunters of the Dunes" Ne|| 1hacker.
See h|s work at http:]]www.renderos|ty.com]mod]ga||ery]|ndex.php?|mage_|d=2460912

1he MlsLress has done numerous good works, boLh as a buslness leader and as a devouL follower of vllanl bellefs
of LradlLlon, prosperlLy and consensus. 1he only Lhlng she really wanLs ls Lhe LlLle of 8especLed before she [olns Lhe
ancesLors: someLhlng denled her due Lo old grudges many hold agalnsL her long-dead husband, noL leasL on
amushgar herself.

8u||d|ng 1he L|ne
lollowlng Lhe ways of her husband, Mrs. khaaslra has always looked for ways Lo comblne maklng money wlLh Lhe
hlgher goal of bulldlng up an lnLersLellar consensus across Lhe sLars. 1he CuarLer has always been hard, barren soll
for such ldeas: buL a spasm of eLhnlc sLrlfe ln Lhe 930s lmperlal opened up an opporLunlLy. AL Lhe Llme, lnLersLellar
Lrade beLween Lhe combaLanL culLures led Lo Lhe use of dangerous cargo as a vecLor for aLLacks: noL [usL
exploslves, buL bloweapons, vlrulenL pesLs (even raLs, flles and cockroaches), hosLlle chemlcals, and compuLer
vlruses hldden ln a vasL array of elecLronlcs.

Mrs. khaaslra was never Lhe markeLlng genlus her husband was: buL she plcked up a few Lrlcks, and, supporLed by
a few famlly frlends and some Shugllll casLemen, she seL up Lwo landlng berLhs owned by her new company, urlLy
Cargo Llnes. CharLerlng an old shlp, she lnsLalled elecLronlc labs aL each berLh - one aL Pebrln, and one aL lrash - Lo
guaranLee Lhe purlLy of all elecLronlcs on her shlp. 8lgorous aLLenLlon Lo deLall and proLocol lnsured LhaL
everyLhlng shlpped on bet shlps was safe Lo eaL, use, and lnsLall. As her repuLaLlon for 'sound, safe goods' spread,
she was able Lo spread Lo every subsecLor caplLal, as well as a few addlLlonal worlds llke 8elumar, ka-aswa,
Marhaban, Lnlnslsh, and of course amushgar.
91

1he crlsls evenLually spuLLered ouL, buL her cargo llne conLlnued Lo Lurn a nlce proflL, even Lhough Lhe greaL years
of growLh faded away. 1radlLlonally her shlps are unarmed, and manned by only LrusLworLhy vllanl and 8wap -
and no Solomanl, wlLh Lhelr endless and never-endlng Langle of culLural, raclal, naLlonallsLlc, and rellglous grudges.

91
8uL noL ushmlgad. no self-respecLlng vllanl culLural adherenL wlll Louch LhaL hereLlcal world lf Lhey can posslbly avold lL - regardless of
lLs wealLh.

8uL wlLh Lhe lmperlal lleeL absenL and plraLes whlpsawlng across Lhe secLor, mosL of her vessels had Lo be
moLhballed and Lhe berLhs & labs closed down.

n|bernat|on
lorLunaLely, her connecLlons wlLh Shugllll casLes and sympaLheLlc vllanl nobles and magnaLes (and oLher vllanl-
culLure Lypes) across Lhe secLor has allowed her people Lo galn useful employmenL unLll Lhe lmperlal navy agaln
reLurns Lo clean ouL Lhe rufflans. 8uL Lhere ls sLlll Lhe occaslonal, very hlgh-paylng charLer LhaL makes lL worLh her
whlle Lo haul ouL a shlp from moLhballs, power up Lhe labs once agaln, and Lhoroughly check ouL a shlpmenL.

8uL where she can flnd Lhe crew needed Lo Lake an unarmed sLarshlp across such a dangerous vold? (Cr, for
sLarmerc Cs, Where can she flnd a rellable sLar-mercenary crew Lo proLecL her preclous shlp and cargo?")

Closlng 1heme: Lnya, Crlnoco llow"
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=L1rk4x9ACLw

Capta|n nu||e Sharram-mg
u 464CAA Age 42, Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: Llalson - 3, Leadershlp - 2, Shlps 8oaL - 2, Cambllng - 2, Legal - 2, 8rawllng - 2, vacc SulL - 1, navlgaLlon - 1,
lloL - 1, Admln - 1, 1rader - 1, 8roker - 1, SLreeLwlse - 1, Carouslng - 1, Pandgun - 1, Lnergy Weapon - 0,
CravlLlcs - 0, Mechanlcal - 0, Crav vehlcle - 0, CompuLer - 0

vlsual: An unprepossesslng, wlry man wlLh a shock of greylng red halr LhaL clashes wlLh boLh hls swarLhy skln and
hls pasLel-coloured company robes and overcoaL (whlch look Lwo slzes Loo blg for hlm). 1he number of gadgeLs
LhaL can be found ln Lhe folds of hls robes conLlnually surprlses Lhe casual observer.

LqulpmenL: A vasL range of mlnor gadgeLs and doo-dads, whlch may or may noL be exacLly Lhe Lool he needs aL a
glven momenL. 1hls lncludes a proper handgun and a laser plsLol, as well as varlous handheld LranslaLlon devlces.

Cpenlng 1heme: enguln Cafe CrchesLra, vega" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=M1zllPu1Lyl

eak, Ia|| and k|se
CapLaln Sharram-mg has spenL hls enLlre merchanL career on one shlp, Lhe ColJeo Clft. Whlle beglnnlng hls career
as a drlve hand, he moved on Lo AdmlnlsLraLlon, Sales, and Lhe ueck crew before galnlng Lhe exalLed poslLlon of
CapLaln [usL a year ago. Whlle hls masslve shlp ls currenLly golng Lhrough an overhaul aL her homeporL aL
Cardanlna/AnLares/AnLares (ln 993 and 1103: 8797210-8, hex 2324) Lhe CapLaln ls golng Lhrough Lhe Lradlng rouLe
hls offlcers have ploLLed for hlm wlLh a worrled eye.

lor decades, Lhe ColJeo Clft, a converLed warshlp, has done well worklng Lhe rouLes beLween lmperlal AnLares
and Lhe !ullan lederaLlon, especlally Lhe 8ukadukaz 8epubllc, wlLh Lhe very besL proflLs on Lhe AnLares/lkon run.
Powever, as Lhe SLar Leglon and Lhe vllanl-lnfluenced 8epubllc conLlnued Lo Lame and regularlze lnLernal plracy -
effecLlvely Lurnlng lL lnLo a fragmenLed, regulaLed cusLoms, lnspecLlon, and llghL space pollce force - Lhere ls less
and less need for Lhe armed and ready ColJeo Clft, compared Lo more fraglle buL more proflLable frelghLers.

lorLunaLely, ln Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer, Lhe owners of Lhe ColJeo Clft can flnd Lhe chaoLlc, vlolenL slLuaLlon
LhaL Lhelr ex-warshlp can properly prosper ln. WlLhouL Lhe lmperlal lleeL Lo enforce order, all sorLs of freelancers -
naLlve and across Lhe Lesser 8lfL - has dlved ln Lo sLeal whaLever Lhey can. (Cr, ln Lhe case of Lhe Suedzuk vargr,
klll, klll, and - lf Lhey remember Lo do so - do some sLeallng as well.) 1he well-armoured and well-armed ColJeo
Clft can shrug off all buL Lhe mosL masslve, dedlcaLed and well-organlzed of plraLe aLLacks, so allowlng her Lo proflL
were oLhers can'L.

Worr|es
8uL lsn'L Lhe plraLes LhaL CapLaln Sharram-mg ls worrled abouL - lL's Lhe locals. 8elng from AnLares, more Lhan a
quarLer of hls crew are vargr: and whlle AnLares ls comforLable wlLh Lhe vargr - compleLe wlLh a vargr Archduke -
Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer ls oot. Pavlng a human capLaln helps: buL many of Lhe naLlves wlll sLlll remaln
susplclous, perhaps clalmlng LhaL he's a fronL for well-organlzed lkonaz corsalr or Shadow CarLel lnLeresLs. 1hey
dld Lhe exacL same Lhlng aL Mlklk - a bunch of humans and vargr, clalmlng Lo brlng Lrade and enllghLenmenL Lo us
backward LmpLyheads - and you saw whaL Lhey dld Lo LhaL world! Aln'L no way l'm golng Lo leL Lhem do a number
on M? homeworld!"

Moreover, Lhe Cushgusl never llked AnLares SecLor: 'Loo wealLhy, Loo superlor, Loo sophlsLlcaLed.' 1hls hosLlllLy ls
quleLly presenL among Lhe local nobles, and openly expressed among Lhe lower classes, buL lL can'L be escaped. lL
has Lo be faced head-on - wlLhouL sparklng a rloL or a duel. or a war.
92

ne|p Needed
lL makes Lhe CapLaln wonder lf he can hlre one of Lhe less hosLlle local Lraders, Lo acL as a klnd of Lrader-scouL for
Lhe ColJeo Clft. Someone who can run lnLerference for hlm, dull Lhe edge of Lhe hosLlllLy, and remlnd Lhe locals
how wonderful and useful hlgh-Lech goods can really be!

A secondary, buL pracLlcal goal: ln Lhese dlfflculL Llmes ln a dlfflculL secLor, some of Lhe lesser worlds don'L have Lhe
lmperlal CredlLs Lo purchase Lhe expenslve hlgh-Lech goods - from Loys Lo lndusLrlal equlpmenL - LhaL Lhe Colden
ClfL ls selllng. So some klnd of barLer ls needed: maybe land, or unusual llfeforms, or labour. someLhlng LhaL he
can sell for lmperlal CredlLs on a ma[or world. 1he rlghL klnd of lar 1rader crew, acLlng as a gulde Lo new worlds
and new markeLs, could make Lhe expedlLlon. or break lL.

Closlng 1heme: uavld Lanz & aul Speer, WhlLe Sands" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=h38p[fqrc7g

c0#1#6#) .&"%&-1 !0&))&=I=E )#=#=8#)+ 51%&)#+9 0# )#=#=8#)+ %0# g-((&)+ /B A-=#9 8&$@ /1 0-+ 0/=#"/)% /B
J&)3&1-1&> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "|||ars of 1|me" Iust|nas V|tkus.
See h|s work at http:]][ustv23.dev|antart.com]art]|||ars-of-t|me-378717746

92
CapLaln CapLaln Sharram-mg has heard stotles abouL Lhe xenophoblc governmenLs of Lhe Slx SubsecLors.

Ship: Golden Gift Class: Golden Gift
Type: Armoured Merchantman Architect: Alvin Plummer
Tech Level: 13

USP
MA-L3235GL-793307-00008-0 MCr 15,132.344 20 KTons
Bat 4 2 2 TL: 13

Cargo: 5,110 Passengers: 32 Crew Sections: 20 of 12 Fuel: 5,300 EP: 1,000 Agility: 3
Shipboard Security Detail: 20
Craft: 2 x 50T Modular Cutters, 25 x 5T G-Carriers
Backups: 2 x Model/7 Computers 1 x Bridge



HULL
20,000 tons standard, 280,000 cubic meters, Cylinder Configuration

CREW

Book 5 Crew Breakdown:
Medical Section: 1 officer and 1 rating

ENGINEERING
Jump-2, 3G Manoeuvre, Power plant-5, 1,000 EP, Agility 3

AVIONICS
1 Backup Bridge, 2 Model/7 Backup Computers

HARDPOINTS
2 100-ton bays, 2 50-ton bays, 120 Hardpoints

ARMAMENT
2 50-ton Missile Bays (Factor-8)

DEFENCES
2 100-ton Repulsor Bays (Factor-7),
120 Single Sandcaster Turrets organised into 4 Batteries (Factor-9),
Nuclear Damper (Factor-3),
Meson Screen (Factor-3),

CRAFT
2 50-ton Modular Cutters (Crew of 2),
25 5-ton G-Carriers (Crew of 3)

FUEL
5,300 Tons Fuel
(2 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance, plus 300 tons of additional fuel)

MISCELLANEOUS
150 Staterooms, 2 High Passengers, 30 Middle Passengers, 5,110 Tons Cargo

None

COST

CONSTRUCTION TIME

COMMENTS
The Golden Gift is covered with a thin layer of gold leaf on top of the superdense
hull. The vessel is ornately decorated, inside and out: it isnt too bad on the eyes,
but the garish, flashy patterns made out of cheap-yet-durable shiny synthetic crystals
gets on the casual Imperial humans nerves after a while.

A one-of-a-kind refit of a sub-optimal colonial cruiser class, the Golden Gift is
basically a heavily protected box with two good punches. When she was first refitted
decades ago, there was a great debate on whether the ship is better served with laser
turrets rather than sandcasters: sandcasters was chosen, to present less of a
charismatic challenge to Vargr pirates and lower the hostility Vargr worlds would have
for a heavily armed Imperial Trade Ship orbiting their high-population cities.

This decision has served the Golden Gift well, when she was plying the Antares/Ikon
trade route (with occasional excursions elsewhere in the Rukadukaz Republic); whether
it will continue to hold true as she shifts to the Empty Quarter is unknown. If pirate
attacks prove that the ship needs better armament, then it will be provided: but the
ship will have to survive such attacks first, before her cost-conscious owners will
spring for the refit. This could be a problem.

As even Vilani-influenced Ovaghoun Vargr transportation networks are somewhat
disorganized, the Golden Gift has her own distribution network, in the form of 25
armed G-carriers. Up to last year, 20 small fighters were also carried by the vessel
to provide protection against a flash fleet of minor Vargr pirates, but these were
removed in the latest refit in favour of more cargo space. Whether this was a wise or
unwise decision is again up to the Referee to decide.

Ship: Ogets Class: Kinema Ashic
Type: Cruiser Architect: Alvin Plummer
Tech Level: 13

USP
CR-L3347GL-793307-008E9-0 MCr 19,535.880 20 KTons
Bat 4 2 212 TL: 13

Cargo: 106 Crew Sections: 20 of 9 Frozen Watch (x10) Fuel: 7,700 EP: 1,400 Agility: 2
Shipboard Security Detail: 20 Craft: 2 x 50T Modular Cutters
Backups: 2 x Model/7fib Computers 1 x Bridge



HULL
20,000 tons standard, 280,000 cubic meters, Cylinder Configuration


P'+% /1# /B %0# &=&^-1E +-E0%+ .&"%&-1 !0&))&=I=E 2&+ ")-6-(#E#3 %/ +## 2&+ %0# (&'1$0-1E /B %0# !0&@'
<)E-E(-E'+0--9 &1 #1/)=/'+ $0#=-$&( )/$@#% 8'-(3 8? %0# ]-(&1- /B n'@0-+& -1 $/==#=/)&%-/1 /B %0#-) 6#)? B-)+%
(/$&((?I8'-(% +"&$#+0-"9 +/ =&1? %0/'+&13+ /B ?#&)+ &E/> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "1 m|nus 4 hours" Max V. N|mos.

CREW


Medical Section: 1 officer and 1 rating

ENGINEERING
Jump-3, 4G Manoeuvre, Power plant-7, 1,400 EP, Agility 2

AVIONICS
1 Backup Bridge, 2 Model/7fib Backup Computers

HARDPOINTS
Spinal Mount, 6 100-ton bays, 120 Hardpoints

ARMAMENT
Meson Gun Spinal Mount (Factor-E),
2 100-ton Particle Accelerator Bays (Factor-8),
2 100-ton Missile Bays (Factor-9)

DEFENCES
2 100-ton Repulsor Bays (Factor-7),
120 Single Sandcaster Turrets organised into 4 Batteries (Factor-9),
Nuclear Damper (Factor-3),
Meson Screen (Factor-3),

CRAFT
2 50-ton Modular Cutters (Crew of 2)

FUEL
7,700 Tons Fuel
(3 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance, plus 300 tons of additional fuel)

MISCELLANEOUS
90 Staterooms, 90 Low Berths, 106 Tons Cargo

None

COST

CONSTRUCTION TIME

COMMENTS
The six members of the Kinema Ashic cruiser class was laid down on Squire/Uradnim/
Antares, 913-920 Imperial. United as a cruiser squadron, they were to support the
planetary governments drive to better dominate Uradnim subsector, and protect Squire
planetary interests faster and more effectively than the Imperium could. This activity

quite annoyed the subsector Duchess who resided at Ishiishala, not Squire leading
to various power-plays, standoffs, and shows of force. In the end, the situation was
resolved by the Emperor replacing the ruling ducal family with a senior Squire
dynasty; in return, much of Squires expeditionary (read: jump capable) forces were
brought under direct colonial navy rule under a Squire-born Imperial captain who was
promptly transferred to the Squire navy.

The Squire Fleet was used for various second-echelon duties in Uradnim and Urunishu
subsectors generally anti-pirate and anti-insurgency work until the fleet was
dissolved in 950 Imperial. Two of the Kinema Ashic-class ships were returned to
Squire, two sold to various planetary navies, and two were slated to be scrapped. Of
the set to be scrapped, one, the Ogets, was permitted to be purchased by a trading
consortium, on the condition of the removal of her spinal mount.

As a warship, the Ogets met her operational specifications, handily destroying various
lesser combatants while suffering at most superficial damage herself. She never saw a
major interstellar war, but given her design she would have done well enough
assuming that her opponents were similarly low-agility, average tech level starships.

Capta|n Waya
u 888AC3, Age 28, Solomanl
Skllls: CompuLer - 4, CombaL 8lfleman - 3, Plgh Lnergy Weapon - 3, Mass urlvers - 1, Peavy Weapon - 1,
1acLlcs - 1, Medlcal - 1, vacc SulL - 1, Zero-C - 1, ulsgulse - 1, LlecLronlcs - 1,
unarmed CombaL (Speclal) - 1 (2 vs. vargr), Wheeled vehlcle - 0


vlsual: A sLrong and aglle Solomanl man, wlLh a hard face and hard, lnLelllgenL eyes. Pe ls generally found wearlng
Lhe casual dress of Lhe 1sasahll, one of Lhe very far-flung descendanLs of Lhe Cherokee Lrlbe.

LqulpmenL: A rlfle and a 1L 14 LableL, wlLh all sorLs of hacklng, programmlng, and lnLerface Lools, especlally
Lallored Lo handle Lhe (humanly) unpredlcLable chaos LhaL ls known as Lhe vargr programmlng world. A nlce Lool
for deallng wlLh vargr, and able Lo provlde a greaL range of surprlses when Lhe local vargr plraLe opens hls commo
llnk (and hls 1L 11 compuLer) Lo Lell you Lo surrender.

noLe: unarmed CombaL (Speclal) refers Lo Lhe Sagwu-1a'll-nvgl Amerlcan lndlan marLlal arL. lL was developed
speclflcally Lo counLer superlor vargr aglllLy by leveraglng human sLrengLh agalnsL vargr weak polnLs, wlLh
powerful moves LhaL make lL dlfflculL for Lhe vargr physlque Lo counLer. So, whlle CapLaln Waya's unarmed
CombaL Sklll ls aL 1 (one) agalnsL humans, lL ls aL 2 (Lwo) agalnsL vargr.

Cpenlng 1heme: eLer 8uffeL, llre uance" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=7Lb0MmhAq2A

nead|ng Up
As soon as he was weaned aL Lhe age of Lwo, Waya has been followlng Lhe way of Lhe warrlor. Shlp raldlng, small
unlL LacLlcs, and punlshlng Lralnlng were Lhe order of Lhe day for Lhe flrsL few years. unLll hls LalenL wlLh
compuLers was dlscovered. 1hls slmply lncreased Lhe workload, wlLh Lough Lralnlng ln Lhe day, and heavy sLudylng
aL nlghL. Amazlngly, Waya dld noL break under Lhe sLraln: hls knew LhaL hls Lrlbe needed hlm, and he wlll oot fall
hls people.

Pls sheer deLermlnaLlon evenLually pald off ln Lhe baLLlefleld, and wlLh Lhe respecL of Lhe oLher braves. More Lhan
once, Lhe edge hls Lechnlcal sklll provlded Lurn a defeaL Lo a vlcLory, and a ordlnary vlcLory lnLo a proflLable capLure
of an enLlre vargr corsalr, brlnglng ln all sorL of cash. unforLunaLely, due Lo Lrlbal pollLlcs CapLaln Waya has noL
been glven Lhe respecL he deserves by Lhe Lrlbal leaders: buL hls bralns and hls flghLlng sklll has cerLalnly earned
hlm Lhe respecL of hls peers ln Lhe vold.


<1+%#&3 /B & +"/%%#) &13 & +1-"#)9 %0# A+&+&0(- ")#B#) 3/'8(#I+1-"#) %#&=+ D %0#? B-13 -% 0#("B'( B/) 3#(-6#)-1E
#C%)& -1%-=-3&%-/1 %/ %0# #1#=?> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "terr|tory" 8en Andrews.
See h|s work at http:]]ben-andrews.dev|antart.com]art]terr|tory-382834204

An Cpportun|ty
1here ls a chance Lo geL pasL Lhe soclal barrlers LhaL ls holdlng Lhe CapLaln back. 1he Lrlbal elders are saLlsfled wlLh
Lhe CapLaln's work ln Lhe fleld agalnsL Lhe vargr, buL Lhey remaln flxaLed on Lhe Musllm LhreaL Lo lnfldels llke
Lhemselves. 1hls ls someLhlng LhaL Waya has long argued agalnsL: 1hey are yestetJoys enemles! Why are we
wasLlng preclous oxygen abouL an enemy LhaL was hammed down by Lhe lmperlum decades ago?"

CapLaln Waya ls confldenL LhaL lf fewer resources were held ln reserve for an enemy LhaL wlll never sLrlke agaln,
and more was puL Lo work agalnsL Lhe enemy LhaL seeks Lo rlp open Lhe LhroaLs of Lhe Lrlbe toJoy, Lhe safeLy of Lhe
1sasahll would be far more assured. 8uL Lhe Lrlbal councll remalns adamanL: 1he !lhad ls Lhe !lhad: lL does noL
change, and lL does noL resL. Lver."

Pow he can persuade Lhe councll Lo change Lhelr mlnds ls someLhlng he's always sLewlng over wlLh hls frlends
(llke, perhaps, Lhe Cs). lf lL can be done, hls soclal sLaLus and respecL before Lhe clvlllans wlll rlse as hlgh as lL does
among Lhe braves, and hls leadershlp of Lhe enLlre Lrlbe becomes lnevlLable. erhaps lf he can convlnce Lhe
Musllm 8roLherhood Lo defend someLhlng LhaL belongs Lo hls lnfldel Lrlbe: LhaL mlghL do lL.

And whaL lf Lhe elders don'L budge? Waya wlll remaln loyal Lo Lhe Lrlbe, conLlnue Lo flghL her enemles, and blde hls
Llme. MlllLary success counLs for a loL, when you're pushlng ouL Lhe margln of survlval for your small naLlon a llLLle
blL more every day. 8uL even Lhough he has a loL of flghLlng Lo do ln Lhe vold, Waya sLlll makes Lhe Llme Lo Leach
Lhe more LalenLed chlldren ln Lhe Lrlbe abouL compuLlng, even more Lhan Lhe weapons. Warfare ls needed for
survlval, buL masLerlng Lechnology ls whaL wlll Lurn survlval lnLo prosperlLy.

Closlng 1heme: Allce Comez, lluLe ureams" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=3??71wSw3bo

l wouldn'L hold my breaLh myself, walLlng for Lhe lalLhful Lo dle for Lhe sake of Lhe LoaLhsome lnfldel.
93
Cn Lhe
oLher hand, Lhe capLaln ls fundamenLally correcL: Lhe !lhad ls a spenL force ln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer. ower-rellglons
wlll always fall before Lhose wlLh greaLer power: and lf Lhere's one Lhlng Lhe lmperlum has, lL's ower.

lf you aren'L golng Lo go for Lhe ower, Lhen you are lefL wlLh Lwo opLlons: Lscape (ln Lhe sLyle of Lhe LasL) or
Lth|cs (ln Lhe sLyle of Moses). l'm wlLh Moses, myself. And you?

N6#1 =&++-6# &1-=&(+ D #(#"0&1%+9 3-1/+&')+9 &13 +%)&1E#) 8#&+%+ D $&1 8# %&@#1 3/21 8? & =&1 2-%0 & )-B(#>
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Sand Deamon" Goran De||c.
See h|s work at http:]]de||c.dev|antart.com]art]Sand-Deamon-126960862?hf=1

CapLaln Waya ls nC1 a sLarshlp capLaln, buL Lhe leader of Lhe SLeelLoe ueaLhsLlck, a mlllLary unlL of 30-40 men
used for small-scale mlllLary operaLlons. 8roadly equlpped Lo 1L A, Lhe SLeelLoe conducLs assaulLs agalnsL vargr
spaceborne sLrongholds, usually space sLaLlons or bases on hosLlle worlds, moons or asLerolds. As of 001-993, mosL
of Lhe SLeelLoe are equlpped as llghL rockeL, morLar, and plasma arLlllerymen, wlLh a few men provldlng slLe
securlLy. 1he SLeelLoe are cross-Lralned ln Marlne shlp securlLy and forced-enLry lnLo hosLlle sLarshlps, llke
pracLlcally every oLher Amerlcan lndlan brave ln Lhe secLor.

93
Cf course, ChrlsLlanlLy ls enLlrely grounded ln Lhe sacrlflce of Lhe 8lghLeous Cne for Lhe sake of Lhe lllLhy Slnner. l remaln amazed by
Lhose who clalm LhaL boLh rellglons serve Lhe same Cod, when lL's sLrlklngly obvlous LhaL Lhls slmply lsn'L Lhe case.

Sector Duke Marc|a| k|os
94
(deceased)
u 441A8l, Age 83 (dled 990 lmperlal), Solomanl
Skllls: LquesLrlan - 4, Llalson - 3, Lconomlcs (lnLersLellar) - 2, lloL - 2, loll - 1, 8rawllng - 1, AlrcrafL (ulLrallghL) - 1,
8aLLle uress - 1, PunLlng - 1, Cambllng - 1, vacc SulL - 1, Crav 8elL - 1, Muslc - 1, Crav vehlcle - 0, CompuLer - 0,
LlecLronlcs - 0, Lnergy Weapon - 0, Screens - 0, Mechanlcal - 0, lleeL 1acLlcs - 0, Splnal Weapon - 0, Plgh Lnergy
Weapon - 0, CombaL Lnglneer - 0, CombaL 8lfleman - 0, Sllng - 0, CravlLlcs - 0

Languages: Angllc (Core, naLlve)

Cpenlng 1heme: Slr Wllllam WalLon, AglncourL Song" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=nvl?93W8?
AlLernaLe 1heme: 8alph SLanley, Cn ueaLh", hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=6C-CP1xlCCw

vlsual: A well-Lended Lomb ln Lhe SLellar CemeLery, Lhe LradlLlonal burlal place for lmperlal heroes, locaLed on
nullnad. 1he Lomb ls of an expenslve local marble, bordered wlLh enLwlned gold and lrldlum hlghllghLs. uellcaLe
eLchlngs of Lhe uuke's loves - sLarshlps, sLarflghLers, horses, women, and gambllng - are engraved ln Lhe sLone.

?ou mean, ln hls flnal years? An aged spacer-Lurned-noble, who forgoL more abouL naval operaLlons Lhan mosL
men wlll ever know. Pe radlaLed auLhorlLy and dlsclpllne. as well as charm and gallanLry before Lhe ladles. SLlll, hls
noble robes (and occaslonal naval unlform) hung loosely from hls frame, and all Lhe wounds he has borne ln
servlce Lo Lhe lrldlum 1hrone ached more and more, Lhe closer he drew Lo hls deaLh. Pe ls remembered for hls
feroclous bravery and razor-sharp lnLelllgence ln Corrldor as a SubsecLor, Lhen SecLor Admlral, as well as hls
famous conquesLs as a LoLharlo. and mosL choose Lo forgeL Lhe dlsLasLeful end of hls servlce as SecLor uuke of Lhe
LmpLy CuarLer.

When Lhe famous naval hero was appolnLed SecLor uuke by Lmperor SLyryx ln 972, many expecLed hlm Lo Lurn
around Lhe ever-lmpoverlsh, ever-fraLrlcldal Slx SubsecLors. And Lo hls credlL, he dld dampen down anLl-lmperlal
senLlmenL on Pebrln, lnsLlgaLed sLronger economlc bonds wlLh Lhe Pegemony of Lorean (lncludlng Lhe ueep Space
SLaLlons LhaL now llnk Lhe Pegemony wlLh Lhe lmperlum dlrecLly), and sLrove mlghLlly (and ln Lhe end, largely
successfully) Lo dlsperse Lhe lnLensely Lrlbal 'mlnl-fleeLs'
93
LhaL Lhen harassed Lrade and commerce wlLhln Lhe Slx
SubsecLors. MosL noLably, he successfully solldlfled and anchored Lhe work of prevlous SecLor uukes ln reformlng
Lhe secLor's lmperlal mlllLary esLabllshmenL as a Lruly professlonal organlzaLlon, free of secLarlan dlvlslons and
alleglances, and a dependable, rellable Lool of Lhe Lmperor.

Cn Lhe oLher hand, SecLor uuke Marclal teolly en[oyed hls gambllng, hls whorlng, and hls advenLuresome holldays.
Pls favourlLe courLesan, an lper'mar woman by Lhe name of Mal, noL only goL a knlghLhood buL a barony as well,
ouLraglng boLh Lhe plous commoners and Lhe convenLlon-mlnded chaLLerlng classes. A punlshlng polo accldenL
LhaL kllled Lhe daughLer of a subsecLor uuke from lornasL caused all sorLs of bad feellngs, all around: emlssarles
from CaplLal had Lo be senL Lo sooLhe hard feellngs and head off a dynasLlc feud. When hls gambllng debLs goL Loo
blg Lo hlde wlLh flnanclal shell games, varlous Plndl flnanclers conLacLed hlm ln prlvaLe, offerlng Lo ease Lhe paln.
ln reLurn for cerLaln low-proflle rullngs and declslons LhaL would elevaLe Lhe ttoly loyal sub[ecLs of Lhe lmperlum
over Lhe vlolenL, fanaLlcal, and unLrusLworLhy barbarlans."

lnevlLably, word leaked ouL, and Lhe roar of Lhe scandal ln 983 came close Lo undolng everyLhlng Lhe SecLor uuke
sLrove for. As lL was, Lhe SecLor uuke had Lo make amends by converLlng Lo Sunnl lslam
96
, bulldlng varlous
mosques and lslamlc llbrarles on Pebrln and oLher lslamlc-domlnaLed worlds, and by Lrylng Lo learn Classlcal
Arablc. SLlll, desplLe all Lhls, Lhe rellglous neuLrallLy of Lhe lmperlal bureaucracy and mlllLary was preserved, much

94
So l flnally declded Lo flesh ouL Lhe old paramour of Lhe 8aroness of CharlLy, as descrlbed ln LmpLy CuarLer Lcho, Ste||ar keaches #3.
93
Lxcludlng Lhe 8wap 1ap-a-wewaka-aLapas (Cuardlans of Crder) - and noL jost because LrusLed 8wap bureaucraLs geL Lo lnLerpreL Lhe
rules and regulaLlons, have conLacLs all Lhe way up Lo Lhe lmperlal alace, or are ln charge of faL poLs of money Lhey can lnvesL 'aL Lhelr
lnformed dlscreLlon'. 1hey have always malnLalned a pro-lmperlal pollcy Lhey enforce wlLh Lhelr usual lnflexlblllLy and deLalled focus, and
Lhe Lop-fllghL Cuardlan legal advocaLes are proud of Lhe 0 convlcLlon raLe for any lmperlal 8ules of War vlolaLlon.
96
Pe ls a Musllm, who ls one ouLwardly."

Lo Lhe dlsappolnLmenL of Lhe lslamlc rellglous leaders. and Lhe quleL saLlsfacLlon of Lhe Plndus (and Lhe resL of Lhe
lnfldels), lncludlng Lhe flnanclal backers who stlll reLalned conLrol of Lhe SecLor uuke's purse sLrlngs. Moreover,
only Lhe uuke (offlclally) converLed: Lhe resL of hls clan remalned as dlsmlsslve of supernaLural rellglons as ever.

A0# !#$%/) M'@#F+ "#)+/1&( +%&)B-E0%#)9 (&+% B(/21 Q'+% & B#2 =/1%0+ 8#B/)# 0-+ 3#&%0 -1 ::r> 5$d'-)#3 3')-1E 0-+
%/') /B 3'%? -1 ./))-3/) +#$%/) &+ & E-B% B)/= & E)&%#B'( 2/)(39 %0-+ -+ %0# /1(? @1/21 M-&)1/'I$(&++ B-E0%#) -1 %0#
#1%-)# N="%? O'&)%#)> .0)-+%#1#3 [511&8#((#e 8? !#$%/) M'@# L&)$-&(9 -% -+ $'))#1%(? 8#-1E ")#"&)#3 B/) 3-+"(&?
-1 & ='+#'= )&-+#3 -1 0-+ =#=/)?9 %/ 8# "'8(-$&((? 3#3-$&%#3 &13 /"#1#3 -1 :rI::G <="#)-&(> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed
"1he r|de" Goran De||c. See h|s work at http:]]de||c.dev|antart.com]art]1he-r|de-392922631

1he SecLor uuke never goL Lo dle ln Lhe company of beauLlful women, as he wanLed. lnsLead, he dled on Lhe polo
grounds, raclng agalnsL men less Lhan half hls age, when hls horse Lhrew hlm off. ueaLh was lnsLanLaneous. buL
lnsLead of a slmple lslamlc funeral, a huge, ornaLe lmperlal SLaLe luneral was held, free of any and all rellglous
lmagery or rlLual, and only Lhe lmperlal SunbursL hanglng over hls coffln.

Closlng 1heme: Slr Wllllam WalLon, Crown lmperlal" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=2AkllkwSSoL
AlLernaLe 1heme:
97
eggy Lee, ls 1haL All 1here ls?" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=4ny3z8gkM18

97
8oLh alLernaLe Lhemes were plcked up from Cary norLh's arLlcles, 1he rlce of ?our 8uckeL LlsL" and Cn 1he Second Palf of ?our Llfe".
lL's serendlplLy, l say!


c0-(# %0# L&)$-&( L'+#'= 0&+ 1/% 8##1 B/)=&((? /"#1#39 %0#)# 0&6# 8##1 +1#&@ "##@+ /"#1#3 %/ +#(#$%#3
=#=8#)+ /B %0# "'8(-$> 7#)#9 &1 /(3I+$0//( =/3#( 3-+"(&? /B /(3I+$0//(9 <="#)-&( M&21I#)& +%&)+0-"+ -+ +##1K
/1(? & B#2 /B %0# 6-+-%/)+ E#% %0# =#%&IQ/@#9 -1+%#&3 $/="(&-1-1E /B & (&$@ /B #1%#)%&-1-1E %/'$0+$)##1+
&13 0/(/I3-+"(&?+> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Space Museum" Max V. N|mos.

Unknown (former|y "Iara Suncaster")
u 688897, Age 34 (42), Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: SLreeLwlse - 3, AcLlng - 2, Crav vehlcle - 1, CompuLer - 1, 1acLlcs - 1, 8rlbery - 1, Sensor Cps - 1, Pandgun - 1,
ersuaslon - 1, !ack-o-1rades - 1, Small 8lade - 1, ArLlsan - 1, lorgery - 1, hyslcs - 0, Cambllng - 0, vacc SulL - 0,
8lology - 0, CravlLlcs - 0

slonlcs: sl - 3, 1elepaLhy - 1, Clalrvoyance - 1, 1eleporLaLlon - 1


vlsual: An aLLracLlve Mlxed vllanl woman, ln Lhe sense of 'a Lruly eleganL lady' raLher Lhan 'hoL-hoL-hoL!' She Lakes
good care of her looks, whlch ls Lhe reason behlnd Lhe dlfference beLween Lhe apparenL and real age here, noL her
llmlLed vllanl lnherlLance.

LqulpmenL: Cood makeup, flne cloLhes, and a body plsLol. A greaL memory doesn'L hurL, elLher, ln her llne of work.

Cpenlng 1heme: uavld Polmes, 1ess" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=SAox1k3f1CM


5 (&)E# "&)% /B L+> !'1$&+%#)F+ 0#&)% -+ +%-(( %-#3 %/ 0#) B-)+% (/6#9 '1$/6#)-1E &13 +%'3?-1E %0# =/)# 8-^&))#
(-B#B/)=+ /B %0# A0-)3 <="#)-'=> `'% ?/' $&1F% E/ 0/=# &E&-14 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Dead|y |anet" Ne||
1hacker. See h|s work at http:]]www.renderos|ty.com]mod]ga||ery]|ndex.php?|mage_|d=2483113&np

1he Cur|ous Sc|ent|st
Ms. SuncasLer" was born under a dlfferenL name, survlved a dlfflculL chlldhood, and llved as a sclenLlsL,
lnvesLlgaLlng how cerLaln blologlcal llfeforms lnLeracLed wlLh arLlflclal gravlLy flelds. She grew lnLeresLed ln Lhe
more challenglng, dlfflculL-Lo solve puzzles, and - drawlng on her less-Lhan-leglL conLacLs - began Lo gaLher
lnformaLlon Lylng LogeLher pslonlcs, blology, physlcs, and arLlflclal gravlLy.
98

LvenLually, her secreL querles and dlscreeL lnvesLlgaLlon led her Lo Lhe unlLed Wlll, a coverL pslonlc rellglous order
and - slnce Lhe fetocloos desLrucLlon of Lhe Plndu-based pslonlc groups by Lhe Lhen-Arab Musllm domlnaLed
lmperlal forces wlLhln Lhe CuarLer - Lhe maln source of forbldden pslonlc knowledge wlLhln Lhe lmperlal LmpLy
CuarLer.
99
She managed Lo compleLe her Lralnlng, buL her sLudy cell was beLrayed, and escape from lmperlal
auLhorlLles was very dlfflculL - even wlLh LeleporLaLlon. Whlle ln fllghL from one safe house Lo anoLher, she
suffered serlous concusslon damage by a snlper's bulleL LhaL grazed her skull, resulLlng ln Lhe loss of mosL of her
old sclenLlflc skllls.

1he Iemme Iata|e
ln Lhe end, allles of Lhe unlLed Wlll were able Lo glve her a new ldenLlLy: her old name and her old famlly wasn'L
losL ln Lhe snlper's sLrlke lnlLlally, buL evenLually ln forgeLfulness and dlsuse.
100
1o help fund Lhe unlLed Wlll - her
only frlend and help ln Lhe unlverse now - she learned Lo befrlend buslnessmen, geL Lhem drunk, and geL Lhelr
secreLs. (1he alcohol was cover for her real meLhod, a form of LelepaLhy/mlnd-readlng. lL was dlfflculL aL flrsL Lo
learn Lo plck ouL whaL you wanLed from an alcohollc haze, buL she managed.)

She grew beLLer aL her [ob, and galned a blgger cuL of Lhe Lake. and grew more noLorlous, so she sharpened her
acLlng skllls, sLreeL smarLs, and sLayed on Lhe move.

Cn ner Cwn
1he crlmlnal elemenLs of Lhe secLor clued her ln on a comlng lmperlal urge, as Lhe repercusslons of cerLaln pslonlc
acLlvlLles ln Clmushl's flnanclal neLwork begln Lo bulld and bollJ and `_<jM.
101
Ms. SuncasLer" lmplored her Leam
leadershlp Lo geL ouL of Lhe secLor - or aL leasL bug ouL of Lhelr home base - buL Lhey lgnored here, lnslsLlng LhaL
Lhelr precogs
102
would glve early warnlng of any lmperlal sLrlke.
103

Ms. SuncasLer", geLLlng nowhere wlLh Lhe Leam, LeleporLed ouL. very qulckly, she dlLched her ldenLlLy, puL on a
slmple 'cheap & dlsposable' cover one, and LeleporLed ouL agaln Lo parLs unknown. lL's llkely LhaL she has prepared
aL leasL one 'sLrong cover' ldenLlLy LhaL can sLand lmperlal scruLlny: beyond Lhls, only Lhe 8eferee knows.

Closlng 1heme: Craeme 8evell - l'm Alone on 1hls" hLLps://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=u?ynh4xC8AM

M|mg||m Garerp|rsaguka, a.k.a. "Atropa Iv|rne"
u 7AA898, Age 26 (30), Mlxed vllanl (heavy on Lhe vllanl)
Skllls: AcLlng - 3, CompuLer - 2, sychology - 2, vacc SulL - 1, Commo - 1, 1rader - 1, Sensor Cps - 1, LlngulsLlcs - 1,
Small 8lade - 1, ersuaslon - 1, SLeward - 1, Leadershlp - 1, Pandgun - 0, Crav vehlcle - 0, lloL - 0, SLreeLwlse - 0

Languages: lkonaz vllanl (naLlve), Angllc (1ransform)

98
1hls was before Lhe rlse of Lmperor Cavln, when pslonlcs - whlle sLlll haLed and very lllegal across Lhe lmperlum - had a blL more
leeway and wlggle room. 1rylng Lo pull off Lhls sLunL ln Loday's lmperlum (993 lmperlal) ls a elaboraLe form of sulclde wlLhouL a lot of
careful prep work.
99
lor a llttle more on Lhe Wlll, see Ste||ar keaches #18, page 67.
100
See 8ecomlng Lhe Mask", hLLp://LvLropes.org/pmwlkl/pmwlkl.php/Maln/8ecomlng1heMask
101
See slonlc Scandal", Ste||ar keaches #12, page 21-22.
102
re-cognlLlve pslons, who can see lnLo Lhe fuLure perfecLly. cough
103
?es, lL's llver and Lhe lleld of 8lood - excepL Lhls Llme, Lhe precogs were decelved, buL Lhe sLreeL was noL.

noLe: Mlss lvlrne never speaks lkonaz vllanl whlle 'aL work' ln lmperlal Space. Cnly when back ln Lhe 8ukadukaz
8epubllc, or wlLh her genulne compaLrloLs, wlll she leL her guard down and use her naLlve Longue.

vlsual: A sllm young woman wlLh a wholesome, LrusLworLhy face. She dresses and speaks Lo emphaslse her youLh,
lnnocence and supposed lngenue naLure, obvlously needlng a sLrong, mascullne hand Lo gulde and proLecL her.

LqulpmenL: She has a few 1L 14 gadgeLs, a change of cloLhes, and a few hundred credlLs Lo her name. She has a
medlcal condlLlon (or a sofL drug addlLlon, dependlng on her mark) whlch requlres regular doses of a drug LhaL she
keeps ln a small locked sulLcase.

Cpenlng 1heme: lleeLwood Mac, LlLLle Lles" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=ulC[xxyLLy8

8eferee Warnlng: 1hls nC ls deflnlLely capable of a 1oLal arLy klll. use wlLh cauLlon.

1o the |ayers
Mlss lvlrne ls a freshly mlnLed Lrader from Shamokln/Ley, a very hlgh-Lech lnfluenLlal world borderlng Lhe lmperlal
LmpLy CuarLer. She was hlred by a vlslLlng Pegemonlo far Lrader, Lhe 600-Lon 5oomooov, on her long run beLween
Shamokln and ZueLhun. buL her capLaln refused Lo pay her, and she qulL. (lf she Lhlnks LhaL lL wlll bulld sympaLhy,
she wlll also suggesL some form of sexual harassmenL and onboard danger, as well.) She ls eager for a paylng
poslLlon on a sLarshlp, lsn'L afrald of hard work, and wlll work cheap ln order Lo geL Lo Lhe sLars she longs Lo see.

1o 1he keferee
Lvery word Lold Lo Lhe players ls a lle. lncludlng 'and' and 'Lhe'.

Mlss lvlrne - acLually Mlmgllm Carerplrsaguka, of lkon - ls worklng wlLh a hlghly leLhal one-shlp lkonaz corsalr, Lhe
koomo, and ls uslng Lhe sLolen ldenLlLy of a slmllar-looklng woman who was capLured, lnLerrogaLed, and
murdered. She has every lnLenLlon of kllllng off Lhe Cs and sLeallng boLh shlp and cargo, and lL's golng Lo be
dlfflculL Lo sLop her.

A0# ]&)E) %#&= L-++ <6-)1# 2/)@+ 2-%0 3/#+ -13'(E# -1 & B#2 %)&-1 )/88#)-#+9 B)/= %-=# %/ %-=#> 1he graph|c |s
t|t|ed "3:10 to uma" Goran De||c. See h|s work at http:]]de||c.dev|antart.com]art]3-10-to-uma-419026S73

Assumlng LhaL she ls hlred, she wlll lndeed work hard and well as Lhe newesL hand. ComforLable ln playlng a role,
she wlll be cauLlous ln showlng her lnLelllgence, skllls, and leadershlp ablllLy, and careful Lo keep on Lhe mask of a
LrusLworLhy-yeL-LrusLlng follower Lo Lhe lead C. Mlss lvlrlne wlll work hard Lo become LhaL man's lover, warm-
hearLed, generous, and eager Lo please.

AfLer a few monLhs, Mlss lvlrne wlll 'develop' addlLlonal skllls raLher qulckly: especlally wlLh compuLers and
communlcaLlons, buL also her Lrader and sensor ops skllls. She wlll conLlnue Lo be a combaL-shy homebody Lhough,
avoldlng combaL and danger whenever posslble. Cn-board, she wlll push Lo be as much a useful hand as posslble,
growlng Lo flL ln well wlLh Lhe crew.

1k
LvenLually, ln 3 + 1u monLhs, Lhe Cs wlll be ready Lo [ump Lo Lhelr homeporL. 8eforehand, Mlss lvlrne would have
loaded a new, 1L 14 program lnLo Lhe shlp's compuLer. MosL Cs ln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer wlll be flylng a 1L 9-12
sLarshlp, so Lhe onboard compuLer wlll be helpless before Lhe sophlsLlcaLed program. 8uL noLhlng wlll happen unLll
Lhe [ump ls made.

.and Lhere wlll be a sllghL mls[ump. 1he shlp wlll be flne, buL Lhey wlll exlL [ump 300 dlameLers from Lhelr
homeporL, noL 100 dlameLers. An annoyance, buL noLhlng serlous.

ln Lhe sleep-cycle before exlLlng [ump, she wlll say a codeword, and Lhe shlp's compuLer wlll lock down Lhe vessel
and freeze all conLrols. Mlss lvlrne wlll klll Lhe lead C ln hls (Lyplcally drugged) sleep wlLh whaLever weapon ls
avallable: blunL or sharp, lL won'L maLLer ln Lhe end. 1he enLlre shlp, excepLlng her cabln, wlll be depressurlzed
and opened Lo [umpspace, kllllng Lhe crew and any passengers. AfLer Lhe compuLer deLecLs no llfe slgns oLher Lhan
her own, Lhe hull wlll be resealed and repressurlzed.

When Lhe shlp exlLs [umpspace, a large, 1L 14 lkonaz corsalr - Lhe koomo - wlll be walLlng, bearlng Lhe llamlng Lye
of a vllanl plraLe. 1he shlp wlll be carefully lnspecLed by armed and well-Lralned plraLes for any unwanLed
survlvors, Lhen loaded lnLo Lhe docklng bay, and LransporLed Lo lkon for clean-up and reselllng. Mlss lvlrlne wlll be
professlonally debrlefed by her lkonaz vllanl and vargr compaLrloLs: her share ln Lhe Lake, amounLlng Lo 13 of Lhe
Cs shlp's worLh, wlll be provlded Lo her ln cash - mlnus lncome Lax (Lhese are lkoooz plraLes, afLer all).

S|destepp|ng 1roub|e
1hls advenLure ls deslgned Lo be qulLe dlfflculL Lo foll. buL, lL coo be sLopped ln progress.

1he fasLesL way Lo sLop Lhe ploL ls Lo slmply Lry Lo read Mlss lvlrne's mlnd. 1he woman has a 1L-14 elecLronlc
blocker ln her skull, whlch dlsplays cycllng lmages of smlllng chlldren, unlcorns, flowers, and ralnbows Lo anyone
who Lrles Lo do so. 1hls devlce ls powered by long-run baLLerles, noL human menLal sLrengLh, so Lhere ls no way a
pslon can break pasL lL. Cf course, no pslon sLlll allve ln Lhe 1hlrd lmperlum ls such a fool as Lo demand why he
can'L read her mlnd - and geL a one-way LlckeL Lo Lhe loboLomy Lable or a flrlng squad. 8uL a C pslon can easlly
lnLulL LhaL her mlnd ls belng blocked fot o teosoo - and quleLly decllne Lo hlre her.

AnoLher way ls Lo Lry Lo verlfy her sLory of Lhe 5oomooov. 1he Cs wlll flnd LhaL she remembers Lhe shlp and crew
clearly, buL daLes are always uncerLaln. A Pegemonlo sLarshlp on such a [ourney should sLand ouL llke a sore
Lhumb, and yeL Lhere are no sLarporL records. lf quesLloned abouL lL, Mlss lvlrne wlll play Lhe cuLe, dlLzy, scaLLered-
bralned woman, and wlll have no ldea why Lhe shlp lsn'L ln Lhe records Maybe Lhey work wlLh plraLes, and Lhe
name l was Lold lsn'L Lhe name Lhey Lold Lhe porL!" Maybe Lhe Shadow CarLel flxed all Lhe records, Lo remove any
Lrace of her!" 1he wlse Lhlng ls Lo go by Lhe book, and plck someone else Lo hlre: buL could you really say no Lo
Lhose huge, pleadlng eyes?


A0# B&$% %0&% N&)(? M&21I#)& ]-(&1- %)&1+"/)%+ R(&+% +##1 -1 %0# !"&$# L'+#'=9 "&E# lr /B %0-+ -++'#9 &13 "&E#
GG /B Ste||ar keaches TU:V &)# +%-(( -1 '+# -1 %0# <="#)-&( N="%? O'&)%#) %#13 %/ "'% /BB & (/% /B "#/"(#> `'% (//@ &%
-% B)/= %0# "/-1% /B 6-#2 /B %0# (/$&(+K -%F+ 6#)? )#(-&8(#9 %0# "(&1+ &13 +"#$+ &)# #&+-(? B/'13 R&13 B&) $0#&"#)
%0&1 %0/+# a<="#)-&( M&%& g&$@+F .&"-%&( @##"+ "'+0-1EV9 %0# %#$01/(/E? )#d'-)#3 -+ & "#)B#$%(? )#&+/1&8(# Aj UU9
&13 '"@##" -+ & +1&"> 513 $#)%&-1 ]-(&1- E/6#)1=#1%+ D <F= (//@-1E &% ?/'9 g&='+0E&)b D +2#&) 8? ,-)+%
<="#)-'= %#$01/(/E?9 %')1-1E %/ -% &% #6#)? /""/)%'1-%?> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Lxp|orer 2" Max V. N|mos.
See h|s work at www.renderos|ty.com]mod]ga||ery]|ndex.php?|mage_|d=1627S20

I|ush|ng Cut the Wo|f
lL's more llkely LhaL Lhe Cs would geL lnvolved ln Lhls advenLure because Lhelr earller group was 1k'ed, and Lhelr
new characLers and shlp ls Lasked wlLh geLLlng some vengeance. 1hls could because of Lrlbal afflllaLlons, buslness
loss prevenLlon/deLerrence work, or an overworked subsecLor uuke puLLlng lL on Lhe place of a famlly-allled

mercenary group or household sLaff. lL ls even posslble LhaL Lhe lnvesLlgaLors are lmperlal MlnlsLry of !usLlce sLaff,
Lrylng Lo crack a chaln of cold cases, as one more slnlsLer 'mysLerlous dlsappearance' ls added Lo Lhe plle.

Powever, mosL Mo! men are Lled up wlLh drlvlng pro-Solomanl groups underground, hunLlng pslons, or Lackllng
Lhe ma[or plraLe groups LhaL are lnfesLlng Lhe Slx SubsecLors. A comparaLlvely small maLLer llke a chaln of
unaccounLable dlsappearances are more llkely Lo be handled by a 8eLrlbuLlon Croup - a falrly common posse of
vengeance-seekers ln Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer.
104
lL could be a slngle shlp, [usL a worrled frlend or a member of
Lhe same clan, buL ls more llkely Lo be a shlp's crew managlng some hlred lnvesLlgaLors, and agenLs, wlLh a small 4-
man Leam of mercenarles and/or bounLy hunLers for Lhe acLual capLure/execuLlon.
103

lnlLlally, Lhere ls very, very llLLle Lo go on. 1here ls no shlp, and Lhere ls no crew. 1here ls evldence from Lhe
sLarporL of Lhe dlsappeared shlp [umplng ln a good deal farLher from Lhe sLarporL Lhan usual. Lhen a blgger shlp
closlng Lo lL's poslLlon. Lhen boLh shlps merglng lnLo one (posslbly a capLure, or a docklng). Lhen Lhe blgger shlp
vanlshlng lnLo [umpspace. no dlsLress slgnals, no weapons flred, no noLhlng.

lor 1u6 monLhs, Lhere wlll be noLhlng else Lo dlscover, no oLher evldence, no noLhlng. lf Lhe Cs qulL, LhaL's Ck -
Lhere are oLher advenLures.

8uL lf Lhe Cs keep Lhelr ear Lo Lhe ground, Lhey wlll evenLually hear of odd rumours. 8umours of:
A dreaded Slren: an aLLracLlve woman - perhaps a crewwoman, perhaps a passenger - who boards a
sLarshlp: and Lhen Lhe sLarshlp ls never seen agaln. (1he usual LmpLyheaded chauvlnlsm. now mlxed
wlLh supersLlLlon!")
SLronger, harsher preachlng agalnsL dallylng wlLh sLrange women who are very wllllng Lo geL ln Lhe sack.
(WhaL a bunch of sexual represslves!")
A decreased llkellhood of hlrlng people ouLslde of Lhe clan, Lhe Lrlbe, Lhe Pouse - no maLLer whaL Lhe
sLranger's credenLlals. (1he place ls so sLuffed wlLh frlghLened, fearful xenophobes, lL's unbellevable!")
lf you see a passenger or crewman foollng wlLh ouLlandlsh, hlgh-Lech Loys, geL rld of Lhe Loys or geL rld of
Lhe man! (LmpLyheads revelllng ln Lhelr backwardness, same as always!")

lf Lhe Cs are from ouL-of-secLor, Lhey wlll cerLalnly laugh as well. 1he local Lraders aren'L laughlng, Lhough - and
Lhose who follow Lhe LradlLlonal advlse are more llkely Lo be seen agaln afLer maklng Lhe [ump, compared Lo Lhose
who lgnore LradlLlonal Lhlnklng.

lf Lhe Cs are from ln-secLor, Lhey wlll sLarL looklng for a Slren - lgnorlng Lhe snlckerlng of Lhe ouL-of-secLor co-
workers. 1he sLarporL grapevlne wlll spread Lhe news (Lhe lmperlal SLarporL AuLhorlLy wlLhln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer ls
a fundamenLally dlfferenL beasL Lhan ln Lhe resL of Lhe lmperlum), and Lhe sLarporL guards and Lhe closed-clrculL
vldeo lnspecLors wlll Lake speclal noLe of aLLracLlve female sLarfarers (for more Lhan Lhe usual reasons).

1here wlll be plenLy of false alarms, and false accusaLlons. 1he Cs wlll have Lo flnd a way Lo shlfL Lhru Lhe chaff,
and home on Lo Lhe slngle, LwlsLed needle ln Lhe haysLack.

".beho|d, you have s|nned aga|nst the Lord, and be sure your s|n w||| f|nd you out."
lf Lhe Cs are clvlllans, Lhey are more llkely Lo Lry Lo geL Lhe Slren, and Lhen (lf she survlves Lhe capLure) Lo Lry Lo
use her
106
Lo lure Lhe koomo lnLo a Lrap. (1here's no way mosL Colonlal wotsblps can sLand up Lo a Loe-Lo-Loe flghL
wlLh a 1L-14 corsalr, never mlnd anyLhlng Lhe Cs are llkely Lo have!) 1he crew of Lhe koomo are Lralned and

104
See MonsLers ln Lhe uark", Ste||ar keaches #9, for a brlef varlaLlon of Lhe Lheme. ulfferenL culLures have dlfferenL names for Lhls klnd
of force, buL everyone - even Lhe 8wap - have Lhelr own seL of ln-house lnvesLlgaLors for Lhese klnd of lssues.
103
1he lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer has always had a harsh undercurrenL, and now, wlLh Lhe lmperlal navy gone.
106
lf Lhe sweeL and vulnerable Mlss lvlrne (PA!) doesn'L survlve Lhe capLure, perhaps [usL her synLheslzed volce and lmage wlll do. 8uL wlll
Lhe Cs geL Lhe personallLy and [argon rlghL? And wlll Lhey know LhaL she speaks Lo her assoclaLes ln lkonaz vllanl, nC1 1ransform Angllc?

experlenced professlonals. buL Lhey have grown faL and a blL lazy on Lhe easy kllls Lhelr Slren
107
have been
brlnglng Lo Lhem on a plaLLer, so Lhe Cs have a real chance here. 8uL Lhey had beLLer geL lL rlghL Lhe flrsL Llme!

5 +0-"F+ 8/&% +%)#&@+ &$)/++ /1# /B %0# =&1?9 =&1?9 =&1? 3#+#)%+ /B %0# N="%? O'&)%#)>
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "I||ght Across the Sands" Ne|| 1hacker. See h|s work at
http:]]www.renderos|ty.com]mod]ga||ery]|ndex.php?|mage_|d=24S3001&np

lf Lhe Cs are mlllLary men, Lhey may be more eager Lo have a head-Lo-head flghL agalnsL Lhe koomo, and 'cuL off
Lhe snake's fangs, lnsLead of [usL cuLLlng off lL's lylng Longue. and glvlng lL a chance Lo grow a new one'. 1here are
few hlgh-Lech lmperlal warshlps ln Lhe secLor capable of puLLlng Lhe koomo ln lLs place: and Lhe owners of Lhese
warshlps are noL llkely Lo leL Lhem go wlLhouL a serlous payoff aL Lhe very leasL. 1he solld ma[orlLy of Lhese groups,
knowlng LhaL Lhese shlps are Lhelr ooly real proLecLlon agalnsL Lhe dreaded comlng wave of hlgh-Lech lkonaz
plraLes, wlll noL leL Lhem go for any reason - noL even a dlrecL order from Lmperor Cavln hlmself!

8ull-headed Cs who don'L somehow geL access Lo a hlgh-Lech warshlp are welcome Lo dle, rldlng a low-Lech
warshlp or clvlllan vessel ln a dlrecL aLLack agalnsL Lhe koomo. lf Lhe shlps aren'L Loo far behlnd ln Lech - say, 1L 12
- Lhere could be power ln numbers and slze: so a floLllla of 13 200-Lon, 1L 12 free Lraders
108
agalnsL Lhe koomo [usL
mlghL be able Lo pull off a vlcLory. 1he operaLlve word here ls mlqbt.

Closlng 1heme: Pyperuuck SLudlos, uelLles" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=wvS9wuvALlg

1here are a dozen vlews abouL everyLhlng unLll you know Lhe answer. 1hen Lhere's never more Lhan one."
C.S. Lewls, 1haL Pldeous SLrengLh

Ship: Kaama Class: Da Sheg Baa
Type: Corsair Architect: Alvin Plummer
Tech Level: 14

USP
PP-6122381-000000-30003-0 MCr 413.268 600 Tons
Bat Bear 4 2 Crew: 26
Bat 4 2 TL: 14

Cargo: 3 Crew Sections: 1 of 26 Fuel: 138 EP: 18 Agility: 0 Marines: 10
Craft: 1 x 220T Docking Bay, 2 x 2T Air/Rafts

107
Cr Slrens..
108
And how would such a floLllla be gaLhered? Mercenarles are Loo expenslve for mosL everyone buL Lhe blg boys: buL Lhere are beneflLs
for havlng Lles wlLh a heavlly armed Lrlbe, be lL Lhe Musllm 8roLherhood, Lhe vllanl CorporaLe lorces, Lhe Plndu MlllLary CasLes, Lhe
Amerlcan 8rave SocleLles, even Lhe 8wap Cuardlans of Crder. 1he lmperlal navy ls gone, buL Lhe locals have every lnLenLlon of Laklng care
of buslness Lhemselves.



HULL
600 tons standard, 8,400 cubic meters, Needle/Wedge Configuration

CREW
Pilot, Navigator, 3 Engineers, Medic, 6 Gunners, 10 Marines, 4 Other Crew (Bureaucrats)

ENGINEERING
Jump-2, 2G Maneuver, Power plant-3, 18 EP, Agility 0

AVIONICS

HARDPOINTS
6 Hardpoints

ARMAMENT
2 Triple Missile Turrets organized into 2 Batteries (Factor-3),
4 Dual Beam Laser Turrets organized into 4 Batteries (Factor-3)

DEFENCES
None

CRAFT
1 220-ton Docking Bay,
2 2-ton Air/Rafts

FUEL

MISCELLANEOUS
27 Staterooms, 4 Low Berths, 3 Tons Cargo

None

COST
MCr 417.401 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 4.133),
MCr 330.614 in Quantity

CONSTRUCTION TIME

COMMENTS
A large corsair, the Da Sheg Baa is a fairly common class within the Rukadukaz Republic, capable
of nabbing the typical small starship whole, and bringing it home for the feast. Unlike many
Ikonaz corsairs within the Republic, the Da Sheg Baa places a stronger emphasis on financial
efficiency, rather than on military efficiency. Thus, the lower-rated jump drives, the limited
weapon systems, and the lack of armour, sandcasters, and agility. The typical Imperial crew is
still going to shudder upon seeing a Da Sheg Baa corsair, though: the typical Ikonaz corsair just
wants to rob you of your cargo, but these big boys want the entire ship. As for what happens to
the crew

Like a few other common Ikonaz starship designs, there is additional space on the corsair for the
bureaucrats that is demanded by the Vilani-shaped culture of the Republic. Tax and revenue forms
must be filled out, incident reports filed, regulations enforced, appeals documented, import
duties paid. Note that when these ships operate outside of Julian Space, these regulations do not
protect the lives or property of the victims in any way, shape or form.


`'+-1#++ %)-"+ -1 -1%#)+%#((&) +/$-#%-#+ &)# =/)# #1(-E0%#1-1E9 #6#1 &2#I-1+"-)-1E9 %0&1 %0/+# /B 2/)(38/'13
+/$-#%-#+> `'% &B%#) & B#2 ?#&)+9 #6#1 & )-1E#3 E&+ E-&1% -1 %0# +@? 8#$/=#+ 8(&+s %/ %0# Q&3#3 A)&6#((#)9
%-E0%(? B/$'+#3 /1 %0/+# $)-%-$&( $/)"/)&%# +")#&3+0##%+>>> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "DLSLk1 MCCN"
Iust|nas V|tkus. See h|s work at http:]][ustv23.dev|antart.com]art]Desert-moon-3S6196S17

N|mukashsh U
u 46C7C9, Age 27, Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: Admln - 2, Pandgun - 2, Legal - 1, CombaL 8lfleman - 1, PlsLory - 1, LlngulsLlcs - 1, SculpLure - 1, MaLh - 0,
Wheeled vehlcle - 0, Crav vehlcle - 0, unarmed CombaL - 0, CompuLer - 0
Languages: Modern vllanl (naLlve), Angllc (1ransform)

vlsual: Mr. u looks, acLs, and dresses [usL llke bllllons of oLher conformlLy-mlnded vllanl buslnessmen, and
wouldn'L raLe a second glance on Lhe sLreeL. A falrly observanL waLcher can plck up Lhe sllghL LasL lndlan lnfluences
- geneLlc and behavloural - LhaL pull hlm off Lhe preclse medlan of vllanl norms. Mr. u doesn'L mlnd hls geneLlcs: a
real vllanl ls Lhe enfleshed expresslon of hls ancesLors, and welcomes oll of hls ancesLors lnLo hls llfe, body and
soul. 1he behavloural dlscrepancles annoy hlm, Lhough.

LqulpmenL: usually a daLapad, lL's lnformaLlon properly backed up on a larger lapLop kepL ln hls offlce, resldence,
or hoLel room.

Cpenlng 1heme: 8ombay uub CrchesLra, Compasslon", hLLps://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=1pdy7onCmuM

8orn and ralsed on amushgar, Mr. u lnlLlally [olned Lhe mlllLary casLe, servlng ln Lhe planeLary armed forces for a
Lerm. Pe dld well here, buL he was evenLually dlscharged for reasons LhaL were never made clear. Among Lhe
vllanl, you remaln ln your casLe for llfe, buL hls skllls ln audlLlng and accounLlng were sLlll able Lo wln hlm a second
career as an armed charLered accounLanL - a useful speclallLy ln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer.

As of 993, Mr. u ls on hls way Lo nullnad, Lo conducL an audlL of a local subsldlary for lL's vllanl parenL corporaLlon
on amushgar. 1he local buslness, a vldeo sLreamlng servlce speclallzlng ln buslness presenLaLlons, has proven Lo
be a bad culLural flL for lLs vllanl masLer. 1he local LasL lndlans have drlven off a 8wap accounLanL (lL was Lhe salL
waLer pranks LhaL flnally dld Lhe Lrlck) and a woman vllanl accounLanL (egallLarlan, Lhe Solomanl aren'L - and LhaL
goes Lrlple ln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer.)

?ou know Lhe Plgh Law of Lhe LmpLy CuarLer?"
llrsL, klll Lhe communlcaLlon grld!"
noL Lhe mlllLary one. Lhe culLural one."
lear Cod, Love ?our Cwn, and PaLe ?our Lnemles."
?eah. !usL be sure Lo keep lL ln mlnd when ln Lhe secLor: lL wlll save you a lot of Lrouble."
Pold on. doesn'L one of Lhe local rellglons Leach Lhelr followers Lo love Lhelr enemles?"
?eah, Lhe ChrlsLlans. 8uL 1rlbe comes fot before words ln an old book Lo mosL of Lhem."
So. exacLly when wlll Lhe kllllng sLop?"
Cnly Lhe sLars and Lhe sands can answer LhaL quesLlon."
from Love ls a 1wo-Ldged Sword: 8eflecLlons on Lhe Slx SubsecLors
(nullnad:723 lmperlal)

8ack aL headquarLers, Lhe corporaLe consensus ls LhaL Lhe Solomanl are [usL acLlng llke Lhe blgoLed basLards Lhey
have always been, and Mr. u wlLh hls mlllLary Lralnlng ls Lhe one Lo puL Lhem ln Lhelr place. Mr. u ls noL so sure:
he's been off-world a few Llmes ln Lhe servlce of hls world and hls uuke, and knows LhaL bulldlng a roper
Consensus requlres LhaL Lhe sLronger parLy llsLens, lnsLead of merely shouL louder and pound Lhe rulebook harder.
And lL's raLher hard Lo see Lhe real slLuaLlon from 12 parsecs away. SomeLlmes, you [usL have Lo geL ouL Lhere and
see for yourself."

lL's posslble LhaL Lhe slLuaLlon on nullnad has grown Loo polsonous and Loxlc for Lhe vllanl corporaLlon Lo hold on
Lo Lhe LasL lndlan subsldlary: Lhe numbers and Lhe offlce aLmosphere wlll Lell Lhe sLory. Mr. u doesn'L Lhlnk LhaL
overL vlolence wlll really sLrlke, buL local corporaLe lawyers are arranglng a concealed-carry llcense for hlm
anyways. 8uL selllng off Lhe nullnadlan subsldlary ls golng Lo hlL Lhe corporaLe boLLom llne.

Somehow, Lhe audlL has Lo be done: LhaL's prlorlLy number one. Mr. u ls lnLeresLed ln geLLlng more Lhan Lhe baslcs
done, Lhough: Lhe fallure of local leadershlp Lo proLecL Lhe off-world sLaff also resLs on hls mlnd. When he heads
back Lo corporaLe headquarLers, hls fellows are golng Lo press for hls vlews on wheLher Lo dlsband Lhe subsldlary,
sell lL off, or compleLely overhaul lL. Mr. u wanLs Lo make Lhe rlghL call here, as lL's Lhe key Lo geLLlng a posslble
promoLlon and more dlfflculL asslgnmenLs.

Closlng 1heme: 8ombay uub CrchesLra, 1o 1he Shore", hLLps://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=98AP[uLqCso

Dr. Saddam Lssa
u 8A83lC, Age 40, Mlxed vllanl
Skllls:
(1L L) CompuLer - 4, Medlcal - 3, Commo - 1, 1urreL Weapon - 1, vacc SulL - 0, Crav vehlcle - 0, Pandgun - 0
(1L 2) Medlclne (Perbal, 1sal boLany) - 0, LquesLrlan - 0
(no 1ech LlmlLaLlons) Admln - 3, Llalson - 2

Languages:
LeLLa (naLlve human Longue, from a dlsLanL roLecLoraLe world you never heard of)
Angllc (!ullan, Lhe language he acLually speaks)

ur. Lssa ls now reslgned Lo Lhe facL LhaL he'll have Lo remaln on 1sal for a long Llme, and spends hls spare Llme
Lrylng Lo masLer Lhe ma[or local vargr and human language, wrlLLen and spoken. lL's a long, long process: only Lhe
mosL common words, phrases and scrlpL forms has been Lruly masLered by 001-993 lmperlal.

vlsual: Whlle Mlxed vllanl, he's on Lhe pale-sklnned/dark-halred slde of Lhlngs, wlLh a very sllghL, easlly mlssed
blue Llnge LhaL reveals a blL of ?llean parenLage as well. uue Lo some pasL Lroubles, he has galned some low-Lech
(1L 9-8) buL well-flLLed cyberneLlc modlflcaLlons, lncludlng an arLlflclal leg, hand, and low-grade eyes - no zoom,
heads-up dlsplay, or fancy glmmlcks, buL aL leasL he can see ln a LruncaLed manner. ur. Lssa's llmlLed slghL lncludes
elghL levels of brlghLness, slx baslc hues (black, whlLe, red, yellow, green, blue), and flve Lones. no arLlsLlc career
for me - buL sLlll beLLer Lhan bllndness, even Lhe colour-bllndness of Lhe vargr!"


A0# E//3 3/$%/)9 /1 & Q/')1#? 6#)? B&) B)/= 0/=#>
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "1rave|er" Max|m.
See h|s work at http:]]ak|rawrong.dev|antart.com]art]1rave|er-262876247

unllke Lhe unpowered fooL and Lhe easlly powered-up hand (Amazlng whaL a properly-englneered wlnch can
do!") Lhe eyes requlre dlfflculL-Lo-source hlgh-Lech baLLerles from dlsLanL lkon. (Lven ln Lhe vllanl-culLure
8ukadukaz 8epubllc, vargr Lechnlcal sLandards lean Lo Lhe cheerfully chaoLlc.) 1o save on baLLery power, ur. Lssa's
eyes are ofLen powered down, leavlng hlm bllnd: 'cheap' sunglasses are worn as a maLLer of hablL.

cnAl?!? ?ou musL be a spolled spacer! uo you have any ldea how hard lL ls Lo geL fllmsy, dlsposable plasLlc
sunglasses bullL for Lhe bomoo face ouL here?"

CloLhlng lncludes dark panLaloons, llghL shlrLs, and sweaLers, all under a rlch-buL-worn overcoaL, Lopped by a red-
rlmmed whlLe cap LhaL marks Lhe medlcal professlon for cerLaln reglonal human culLures on 1sal/1sahrroek/LmpLy
CuarLer.

LqulpmenL:
Whlle mosL of Lhe hlgh-Lech drugs are gone, Lhe elecLronlc know-how Lo creaLe slmple pharmaceuLlcals from raw,
1L 0-3 remalns ln hls beloved (and locally lrreplaceable) solar-powered hand-comp. A plsLol wlLh four bulleLs
remalns as hls hold-ouL weapon, buL Lhe publlc respecL for medlcal docLors ls hls maln shleld.

1he uocLor also has a LranslaLor, whlch can handle Lhe mosL common !ullan roLecLoraLe languages, as well as
lmperlal Angllc. noLhlng on Lhe local human (or vargr) languages of 1sal, Lhough.

Cpenlng 1heme: Markus SchmldL, 1he Cld World Crder", hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=r2_bv[gL86g

An Inauspicious Start
uesplLe Lhe Arab name, ur. Lssa's acLual parenLage ls obscure, and hls bellefs can be bolled down Lo care for Lhe
famlly, care for your paLlenLs, proLecL your properLy, and always geL pald". noL a sophlsLlcaLed code, perhaps, buL
lL's workable.

uurlng hls chlldhood and youLh, Lssa was slmply handed off beLween random groups of 1ravellers, Lled LogeLher
only by Lhelr shared homeworld of 1axgo (ulvlde/Amdulan 1233: ln 993 lmperlal, u241973-9) and Lhelr LeLLa
language. 8uL, desplLe Lhls ramshackle youLh, Lssa was able Lo grasp Lhe value of educaLlon, and read absoluLely
everyLhlng. Pavlng Lo navlgaLe a kaleldoscope of lnLerpersonal dlfflculLles, envlronmenLs, and chancy
clrcumsLances on dozens of worlds and shlps, Lssa grew skllled ln movlng Lhrough a maze of challenges wlLh only a
few scrapes and bad scares.

A look aL hls u wlll show a llmlLed level of naLlve lnLelllgence, buL a good school career ls based on followlng
lnsLrucLlons and passlng LesLs (regurglLaLlng lnformaLlon), and tbot, Lssa could do qulLe well: he was even able Lo
masLer Lhe vasL body of knowledge needed Lo be a physlclan, graduaLlng ln 978 lmperlal on lkon and pald for by a
mlx of governmenL subsldles, scholarshlps, and hlgh-rlsk/hlgh-reward asslgnmenLs. Pe fell ln wlLh Lhe roLecLoraLe
1raveller communlLy he was born lnLo, wlLh a range lovers, frlends, enemles, and allles drlfLlng ln and ouL of hls
llfe. Lasy come, easy go.

.unLll one of hls paLlenLs dled on hlm, leavlng a young Loddler ln hls care, and no nexL of kln. nobody else cared
much lf Lhe kld llved or dled: 'lL's slmply noL my problem.' lf ur. Lssa had declded Lo slmply puL Lhe chlld ln a
foundlng home, or keep her ln cloLhes and food (and ouL of danger) unLll passlng her on Lo a good-enough couple,
he would have done well enough, so far as Lhe roLecLoraLe 1raveller communlLy was concerned. 8uL lnsLead, Lhe
small chlld capLured hls hearL, and he always found a flaw ln Lhe people who asked Lo care for her. a reason Lo
dlsLrusL Lhe generous or hearL-felL offers, and care for Lhe glrl hlmself.

!/1E+-1E#) N++&9 "#1+-6#(? $/1%#="(&%-1E (/1EIE/1# %-=#+> 5+ B/) 0#) =/'1%4 %0# 8#((? )'=8(#+>
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "I'm hungry" Iust|nas V|tkus. See h|s work at
http:]][ustv23.dev|antart.com]art]I-m-hungry-302498691

Problems
namlng Lhe chlld Songslnger - afLer Lhe chlld's relenLless crylng - he Look on more darlng asslgnmenLs, ofLen
worklng for mercenarles ln Lhe small-unlL medlc poslLlon. uesplLe hls range of ln[urles - loslng hls eyes Lo a laser,
hls leg Lo a land mlne, and hls rlghL hand Lo a large and very sharp plece of shrapnel - he managed Lo geL Lhe klnd
of money he need Lo properly care for hls baby. 8uL Lhe damage of war lsn'L only physlcal: hls personallLy grew
harder, more vlolenL, and more shorL-Lempered.
109

1hlngs came Lo a head when ln an argumenL, when he reLurned Lo Lhe clvlllan Lrader's llfe, and hls shlp was docked
on 1sal, one of Lhe more backward worlds of Lhe 8epubllc. ur. Lssa sLruck hls daughLer, hard. 8uL LhaL lsn'L whaL

109
See 1he 1ruLh AbouL War Peroes", hLLp://www.freemansperspecLlve.com/LruLh-abouL-war-heroes/
Cn why ChrlsLlans musL avold mlllLary servlce ln Loday's world, l recommend Lawrence M. vance's work: elLher hls blog posLs -
hLLp://www.lewrockwell.com/auLhor/laurence-m-vance/?posL_Lype=lrc-blog - or hls arLlcles -
hLLp://www.lewrockwell.com/auLhor/laurence-m-vance/ - wlll do.

rulned Lhe relaLlonshlp: lL was a sLrlng of cruel curses and polsonous words, aLLacklng all she loved and all she was,
whlch drove Songslnger away from hlm.

lL Look a few days before Lhe gullL broke hls prlde, and he began Lo search for hls adopLed daughLer: Lo no avall.
1he uocLor reallzed LhaL he had nobody, nobody ln Lhe enLlre galaxy, excepL Songslnger, and LhaL Lhrowlng her
away meanL Lhrowlng away hls own hearL as well - all ln Lhe name of how smarL he was, how rlghL he was, how
sLrong he was.

Searching
Lver slnce LhaL day, ur. Lssa has been searchlng for hls daughLer. Pe has long lefL behlnd hls lasL shlp's crew, who
merely shrugged and hlred on someone else Lo Lake hls place on Lhe rosLer. Pls medlcal skllls keep hlm fed ln hls
Lravels, and Lhe physlclan has galned a new respecL for local home remedles and low-Lech medlclne as well. When
he can, he hlred local lnvesLlgaLors, armed wlLh a few phoLos and scraps of lnformaLlon of an off-worlder woman,
wanderlng Lhe lands on Lhe back of a local beasL.

1he hard [ourney, ofLen on fooL, has Lempered hls characLer, and Lhe mlles of sollLude and LhoughL has glven hlm a
beLLer handle on hls Lemper and hls anger. 1he need Lo care for hls llmlLed supply of hlgh-Lech equlpmenL - and
Lhe knowledge LhaL, once lL's gone, lLs gone for good - has LaughL hlm paLlence and respecL. And, as an easlly
ldenLlfled man on an allen world, dependenL on Lhe locals for food and safeLy, he has had Lo rebulld old people
skllls, bulldlng up hls buslness and hls repuLaLlon as a healer desplLe slgnlflcanL language and culLural barrlers.

Pls lmmedlaLe plan ls Lo earn enough Lo purchase a rldlng anlmal (whlch means learnlng Lo rlde one, a sklll he's
worklng on wlLh lncreaslng success). Pls flnal goal ls Lo brlng back hls Songslnger back lnLo hls llfe, and be Lhe
faLher she needs hlm Lo be. ur. Lssa ls noL Loo far from reachlng boLh desLlnaLlons, buL Lhere's sLlll some way Lo do
- ln dlsLance and ln splrlL - before he geLs Lhere.

Closlng 1heme: 1llman Slllescu, Walklng 8arefooL", hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=6Suv_xS_ddL

A0# &)%-+% &+ & ?/'1E A)&6#((#)9 =&@-1E 0#) /21 B'%')#9 +%#" 8? +%#">
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Iourney" Iust|nas V|tkus. See h|s work at
http:]][ustv23.dev|antart.com]art]Iourney-300411910

kr'ravgr|dzadz
u 9l9884, Age 22, Cvaghoun/Suedzuk vargr
Skllls: AcLlng - 2, lnflghLlng - 1, LlngulsLlcs - 1, SLreeLwlse - 1, SLealLh - 1, Pandgun - 0, Wheeled vehlcle - 0,
CompuLer - 0, vacc SulL - 0, Zero-C - 0
Languages: lkonaz vargr (naLlve), Angllc (1ransform)

vlsual: kr'ravgrldzadz looks and behaves llke many clvlllan lmperlal vargr ln Lhe Slx SubsecLors when Lhey leave
vargr-ma[orlLy reglons: dressed ln Lhe Lhreadbare Cushgusl manner (wlLhouL Lhe usual vargr flash), careful,
humble, and wary when ln Lhe presence of humans.


LqulpmenL: A plsLol, a knlfe, and flve seLs of 1L 13 Chameleon cloaks, cuL for vargr wear. kr'ravgrldzadz' favourlLe
seL of sLeel claws was shaLLered durlng a recenL flghL wlLh some sLubborn prey.

Cpenlng 1heme: aul Cakenfold, 8urns ALLack" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=1u-38f1b[Ck

1he Sk|ppab|e reamb|e
1he vargr are predaLory carnlvores, and Lhey llke Lo hunL. A loL.

unllke Lhelr canlne ancesLors, Lhough, Lhe vargr are senLlenL, and are able Lo alLer and channel Lhelr aggresslon
lnLo a varleLy of ways, noL [usL Lhe Lndless PunL. Moreover, Lhe vargr - even Lhe 8lood vargr - are soclal anlmals,
and olmost always value Lhe survlval of Lhe group over saLlsfylng Lhelr lnsLlncLs. 8uL on Lhe oLher hand, Lhe hlgher
Lhe Charlsma sLaLus, Lhe greaLer Lhe ablllLy you have Lo sLrlke and Lo klll, [usL as your naLural lnsLlncLs dlcLaLe. 1he
rlghL Lo lead" and Lhe ablllLy Lo organlze a successful hunL" are qulLe closely llnked ln vargr socleLy: only Lhe
deflnlLlon of a successful hunL has changed. lew vargr packs acLually need Lo brlng down a large herblvore, buL
qulLe a loL need Lo meeL Lhelr sales quoLa for Lhe monLh.

(Well, yes, Lhere ote Lhe corsalr packs: buL even Lhey are usually qulLe flush for a year or even longer lf Lhey make a
slngle, solld klll, and are able Lo elLher properly sLrlp lL and/or haul Lhe caLch home.)

!/=# <="#)-&( 7-E0"/)%+ &)# =/)# '1'+'&( %0&1 /%0#)+> <13&)&9 ::r <="#)-&(>
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Astero|d C|ty" Iust|nas V|tkus.
See h|s work at http:]][ustv23.dev|antart.com]art]Astero|d-c|ty-29334214S

Whlle lL ls Lhe Logaksu (Lhe Lalr vargr) who are Lhe Lrue helrs of Lhe orlglnal vargr, ls lL Lhe Suedzuk of Lhe old vargr
Lnclaves (now generally called Lhe 8ed vargr, or Lhe 8lood vargr) who mosL revere acLual, flesh and blood hunLlng,
preferably of oLher sophonLs. ln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer, Lhe Suedzuk have been declmaLed by Lhe onslaughL of
humanlLl, and few sLlll cllng Lo Lhe old ways. 8uL Lhe presLlge and charlsma Lo be galned ln bloodlng Lhelr offsprlng
ln Lhe LradlLlonal manner means LhaL a few Suedzuk packs - usually Lhose Lled Lo Lhe oldesL corsalr bands of
SsllnLhls - are sLlll wllllng Lo rlsk a loL, Lo galn a dlsLlncLlon LhaL Lhey wlll have Lo hlde from all buL a few.

8y 993, even mosL of Lhe Suedzuk vargr of SsllnLhls are agalnsL Lhe pracLlce. 1he survlvlng humans of Lhe world of
SsllnLhls are all under Lhe proLecLlon of some vargr pack or oLher, and Lhe humans of Lhe 8ukadukaz 8epubllc are
guarded by Lhe Cvaghoun vargr. 1he Pegemonlo have noLhlng buL haLe for Lhe Suedzuk who have slaln so many of
Lhelr own, and wlll lnfllcL nasLy consequences on Lhe survlvlng Suedzuk populaLlons Lhey now rule, as a reprlsal Lo
ooy aLLack. 1he SsllnLhls Cap ls becomlng an overworked hunLlng fleld, wlLh few easy plcklng lefL - excepLlng Lhe
occaslonal careless lmperlal Lrader. 1haL leaves Lhe lmperlal sysLems, on Lhe oLher slde of Lhe Lesser 8lfL.

Now, the Character
kr'ravgrldzadz aLLempLs Lo llve up Lo hls Cvaghoun/lrlllLok name as much as posslble. and hlde hls 8lood vargr
herlLage, as well. Long-lasLlng dyes work Lo camouflage Lhe Lell-Lale red sploLches on hls fur - belng as colourbllnd
as oLher vargr, kr'ravgrldzadz has had Lo commlL all of Lhese locaLlons Lo hls memory. More dlfflculL ls flghLlng Lhe
'poor lmpulse conLrol' of hls always-hosLlle Suedzuk herlLage, buL years of Lralnlng and pracLlce has made lL
second-naLure now. 1he hardesL Lhlng Lo fake, Lhough, ls lrlllLok humlllLy and co-operaLlon. Pumans can'L Lell Lhe
dlfference, buL oLher vargr can Lell acLually smell Lhe sLraln kr'ravgrldzadz has when faklng submlsslve behavlour,
when hls teol lnsLlncLs range beLween auLhorlLarlan command, raw deflance, and dlsembowelllng Lhe LargeL. lL
makes hls fellow vargr uneasy.

CurrenLly, kr'ravgrldzadz poses as a Leacher/gulde for a group of Lhree Lo elghL young vargr, nearlng Lhe age of
adulLhood. 1hanks Lo hls acLlng sklll - and asslsLed by Lhe usual dlsmlsslve aLLlLude humans have Lo submlsslve
vargr - mosL humans [usL wave hlm pass, lncurlous of exacLly wbot kr'ravgrldzadz ls Leachlng hls charges.

A u|ck 8|te
1he maln goal of Lhe hunLs kr'ravgrldzadz organlzes ls Lo have hls large vargr pups handle Lhelr flrsL face-Lo-face
human klll. lf posslble, kr'ravgrldzadz would prefer Lo do Lhls aboveboard, as soldlers or execuLloners of a lord or
governmenL. lf necessary, kr'ravgrldzadz wlll make oLher arrangemenLs, preferrlng Lo plck off someone on Lhe
ouLsklrLs of socleLy, who few wlll mlss: perhaps on a llghLly populaLed world, or ln a gheLLo where no one cares
abouL anoLher corpse Lurnlng up unexpecLedly. Wherever llfe ls cheap, Lhere you wlll flnd hlm and hls sLudenLs.
110

Lven kr'ravgrldzadz ls unwllllng Lo openly challenge human auLhorlLles ln lmperlal Space, or klll ln Lhe broad
dayllghL: LhaL klnd of Lhlng, he leaves Lo Lhe plraLes, Lhe corsalrs, and Lhe ralders. Pe [usL wanLs Lo geL some blood
on hls sLudenL's hands, geL Lhem Lo smell Lhe fear from Lhe vlcLlm, and Lhen geL Lhem Lo Lhelr home pack safely.

1ransport
Lacklng a shlp hlmself, kr'ravgrldzadz works wlLh a loL of shady merchanLmen and plraLes wlLh Lhe LhlnnesL cover
sLorles ever heard, Lo geL from one sysLem Lo anoLher. CfLen, he as Lo dlscreeLly muzzle and/or handcuff hls more
feral, paranold sLudenLs when Lravelllng by sLarshlp: ln hls llne of work, lL would noL do Lo polson relaLlons wlLh Lhe
1raveller sLarfarlng communlLy by havlng a sLarshlp crew flnd one of hls sLudenLs over Lhe half-eaLen corpse of Lhe
shlp's englneer. 1haL klnd of Lhlng ls bad for buslness.

Closlng 1heme: Pyperuuck Soundworks no 8esL for Lhe Wlcked"
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=l3k[nkLw3ys

Lance Corpora| Ca|eb C|rromon, Iathwaas r|me Guard|an
u 89786A, Age 28, Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: CombaL 8lfleman - 2, vacc SulL - 2, 8ow - 1, LlngulsLlcs - 1, SLealLh - 1, Long 8lade - 1, Lnergy Weapons - 1,
8aLLle uress - 1, Peavy Weapons - 1, 8rawllng - 1, 8econ - 1, PlsLory - 1, Crav vehlcle - 0, Wheeled vehlcle - 0,
CompuLer - 0, 8esearch - 0
Languages: Angllc (1ransform, naLlve), 8wap

vlsual: An lnLeresLlng Amerlcan lndlan/LasL lndlan/!ewlsh mlx, Lhe vllanl parL of hls herlLage ls dlsLanL enough Lo
be lnvlslble Lo anyLhlng buL blood LesLlng and Lhe sLandard Solomanl arLy sallva LesL. Pe's bulld sLrong and aglle,
and has a Lyplcal mlllLary bearlng.

LqulpmenL: noLe: cross-Lralned Lo work wlLh 1L u equlpmenL, as well as Lhe 1L 8 equlpmenL of hls homeworld.

110
8uL noL on Lhe baLLlefleld, where Lhe prey can klll Lhe hunLer. kr'ravgrldzadz ls unlnLeresLed ln a falr flghL, even lf lL does glve loLs more
Charlsma Lhan a mere sLealLhy murder ln Lhe dark does. 1here are Loo few Suedzuk as lL ls, and Lhe moLher wlll reacL very vlolenLly lf one
of her preclous pups don'L come back."

1L u equlpmenL lncludes 8aLLle uress, lCM-13, Laser 8lfle, Laser lsLol, and a Crav 8elL: Lhe resL of ls equlpmenL
ls aL 1L 8.

Cpenlng 1heme: 1aro lwaslro, Cnlmusha 2: ChapLer v: 1ruLh of LoyalLy"
hLLps://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=!cxsnpCbsl0

Clrromon was born and bred on laLhwaas, a 8wap world wlLh no noLable human presence. Pls parenLs Lralned hlm
ln Lhe ChrlsLlan rellglon and Lrled Lo gulde hlm lnLo a merchanL career, llke Lhemselves: Lhe rellglon Look, more or
less, buL he loved flghLlng more Lhan Lradlng.

As soon as he could he slgned on wlLh Lhe Cuardlan sLarmerc
111
group. SLrongly Lled Lo Lhe 8wap Cuardlans of
Crder, Lhls 8wap/vllanl unlL (conslsLlng of Lhree sLarshlps - all 8roadswords - ln 993) supporLs 8wap operaLlons
across nullnad and Clmushl subsecLors, malnly ln escorL and asseL proLecLlon duLles. Among Lhe Cuardlans, 8wap
command and crew Lhe sLarshlps, buL mosL of Lhe acLual Lroopers are humans,
112
usually Mlxed vllanl resldlng on
ma[orlLy 8wap worlds. 1he Lroopers are well-equlpped, and heavlly Lralned for boardlng acLlons, small ground
operaLlons, and cadre Lralnlng and supporL of 8wap mlllLary unlLs. (8elng a rlme Cuardlan, Lance Corporal
Clrromon would be Lhe equlvalenL of a commando ln Lhe lmperlal forces.)

As of 001-993, Lhe Lance Corporal ls belng Lralned up for an exLended operaLlon lnLo Lhe 8ukadukaz 8epubllc,
along wlLh Lhe resL of hls maLes on Lhe 1efe kefo, Lhe 8roadsword he serves on. Somewhere ln 1sahrroek
subsecLor, Lhe homeworld of Lhe SlarelLhen
113
awalLs dlscovery, and L/Cpl Clrromon wlll be provldlng securlLy for
Lhe 8wap/vllanl expedlLlon LhaL wlll be looklng for lL. lL ls known LhaL SlarelLhen rellcs were uncovered on several
worlds ln 1sahrroek (Lhree or more worlds, Lo be deLermlned by Lhe 8eferee), buL local dlslnLeresL means LhaL Lhe
acLual homeworld of Lhls specles was never deLermlned.

111
1he Cuardlans are oot Lrue mercenarles: for all lnLenLs and purposes, Lhey are sworn human auxlllarles of Lhe 8wap 1ap-a-wewaka-
aLapas. lf you follow Lhe paperwork Lo Lhe leLLer (as well as Lhe money), Lhey are mercenarles: buL lf you follow Lhe oaLhs, Lhey are parL of
Lhe unofflclal (buL very real) 8wap-vllanl alllance, one of varlous (para)mlllLary asseLs kepL ln play ln case Lhe local Solomanl declde Lo
aLLack Lhelr worlds, populaLlons, and properLy.
112
Pumans can survlve ln a broader range of cllmaLes Lhan Lhe 8wap can, and are generally more durable, sLronger, and Lougher as well.
1he 8wap coo flghL, buL are noL as good aL lL as humanlLl: Lhe chaos of Lhe baLLlefleld ls Loo much for Lhem. (8uL when lL comes Lo 16
Lh

cenLury drllls and squares. or 19
Lh
cenLury/1raveller-sLyle mass naval clashes. Lhe 8wap geL a loL more compeLlLlve!)
113
lor more on Lhe SlarelLhen, see Ste||ar keaches #1, page 13. Summary: a mlnor non-human race, who never obLalned [ump drlve, buL
dld reach 1L 17 ln many oLher areas of Lechnology, lncludlng medlcal Lechnology.

L&)-1# +0-""-1E -+ E/-1E %/ 8# %0# =/+% $/+%I#BB-$-#1% =/3# /B (/1EI3-+%&1% %)&1+"/)% R/1 /$#&1-$ 2/)(3+V
B/) & 6#)? (/1E %-=#> !/9 $/=8-1-1E %0# +%&)"/)% &13 %0# +#&"/)% -+ Q'+% E//3 B-1&1$-&( +#1+#>
1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "A1_1nL_8LACn_III" Ma|o
See h|s work at http:]]donma|o.dev|antart.com]art]A1-1nL-8LACn-III-379111264

lor her own reasons (Lo be revealed by Lhe 8eferee), Lhe laLhwaas governmenL has declded Lo back Lhe SlarelLhen
LxpedlLlon by permlLLlng Lhe 1efe keto Lo provlde LransporLaLlon and securlLy. 1he shlp has been compleLely
overhauled, buL her new loadouL has yeL Lo be deLermlned. 1he shlp carrled 17 passengers, usually soldlers: buL
how many are Lo be replaced by sclenLlsLs and explorers ls belng heavlly debaLed rlghL now. 1he sclenLlsLs are also
pushlng for aL leasL one module Lo be a moblle lab, and Lhe oLher Lo be a fleld base. 1he 8eferee deLermlnes whaL
acLually happens: Lhe Cs may lnfluence Lhls, lf Lhe 8eferee permlLs lL.

Closlng 1heme: Pyperuuck SLudlos, 1he 8lackmoor MounLalns" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=882xmll3n8l

Ship: Tefe Kefa Class: Broadsword
Type: Mercenary Cruiser Architect: Standard
Tech Level: 12

USP
C-8533351-000000-00000-0 MCr 494.620 800 Tons
Bat Bear Crew: 8
Bat TL: 12

Cargo: 24 Passengers: 17 Crew Sections: 1 of 8 Fuel: 312 EP: 24 Agility: 2
Craft: 2 x 50T Modular Cutters, 2 x 30T Modules, 1 x 3T Air/Raft
Fuel Treatment: Fuel Scoops



HULL
800 tons standard, 11,200 cubic meters, Sphere Configuration

CREW
Pilot, Navigator, 5 Engineers, Medic

ENGINEERING

AVIONICS

HARDPOINTS
8 Hardpoints

ARMAMENT
8 None Empty Turret

DEFENCES
None

CRAFT
2x 50-ton Modular Cutters (Crew of 0),
2x 30-ton Modules (Crew of 0),
1x 3-ton Air/Raft (Crew of 0)

FUEL
312 Tons Fuel (3 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance, plus 48 tons of additional fuel)
On Board Fuel Scoops, No Fuel Purification Plant

MISCELLANEOUS
25 Staterooms, 17 Middle Passengers, 24 Tons Cargo

None

COST

CONSTRUCTION TIME

COMMENTS
This is a stripped-to-the-hull Broadsword. Its up to the PCs (or the Referee, or a combination)
to determine what the loadout of the ship is. Note that the type of turrets added can reduce
agility.

Note also that this ship will be designed for a primary Bwap crew. The human part of the ship
Human Country wont have the suffocating humidity, overwhelming heat, and dripping moisture
that most of the ship will be set to: but thats just the crew cabins and the human mess.
Everywhere else, from the bridge to the engine rooms, will be as oppressively humid as any sauna.

Umarah A| Sat|, Sen|or 8roker
u A96789, Age 38, Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: Llalson - 3, Admln - 2, Medlcal - 2, CompuLer - 2, Legal - 2, 1rader - 2, 8oboLlcs - 1, Cambllng - 1, Zero-C - 1,
8roker - 1, Pandgun - 0, vacc SulL - 0, Crav vehlcle - 0, CompuLer - 0, 8esearch - 0, Lcology - 0, AcLlng - 0


vlsual: uesplLe hls Mlxed vllanl herlLage, Mr. Al SaLl ldenLlfles wlLh Lhe Pebrln Arablc culLure, and dresses as such.
Pe sLlll reLalns Lhe good looks of boLh Arab Solomanl and Lhe vllanl bloodllnes, Lhough, and has a lengLhy llsL of
lovers and ex-wlves Lo hls name.

LqulpmenL: !usL a 1L 14 buslness brlefcase, whlch acLs as a moblle offlce. ln addlLlon Lo Lhe mandaLory compuLer
and communlcaLlon equlpmenL, lL also acLs as a moblle prlnLer, and a nlce supply of paper and pens and synLheLlc
qullls (useful when worklng on Lhe low-Lech worlds). 1he communlcaLlon gear ls especlally bullL Lo work wlLh
landllnes, faxes, and Lelegraph llnes as well, allowlng lL Lo work from 1L 4 up Lo 1L 9. uaLa lnpuLs allows everyLhlng
from scannlng parchmenL Lo readlng punch cards and floppy dlsks, Lo worklng wlLh wlreless neLworked sLorage
(a.k.a. 'Lhe cloud'). llnally, lL comes wlLh exLenslve securlLy bullL-ln, keeplng lndusLrlal esplonage aL bay.

Cpenlng 1heme: CysLeln Sevg, 1he uoor ls Cpen" hLLps://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=6nbhhmMxnps

5(2&?+ +#&)$0-1E B/) %0# 1#C% /""/)%'1-%?9 %0# 1#C% 3#&(4 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "8eaut|fu| Deso|at|on"
Ne|| 1hacker. See h|s work at at http:]]www.renderos|ty.com]mod]ga||ery]|ndex.php?|mage_|d=24S71S9&np

Prelude
umarah was born ln a corporaLe power couple, from an Arab faLher wlLh an lnLersLellar megacorporaLe career and
a vllanl moLher who balanced runnlng a pharmaceuLlcal buslness wlLh a famous deserL/urban gardenlng medla
emplre. Pe only sporadlcally saw boLh parenLs aL home aL Lhe same Llme, and was essenLlally ralsed by Lhe Musllm
Arab servanLs. Whlle he never converLed Lo lslam, he has a far more sympaLheLlc vlew of Lhe rellglon Lhan mosL of
Lhe vllanl on Pebrln. or even hls faLher, who long ago abandoned any falLh ln Allah, preferrlng Lo worshlp hls
ancesLors ln Lhe vllanl fashlon.

Pls elder slbllngs chose Lo follow ln Lhelr parenLs fooLsLeps, lnLo varlous megacorporaLlons or as admlnlsLraLors of
Lhelr moLher's varlous buslness, buL umarah chose Lo sLrlke ouL ln a dlfferenL dlrecLlon, aL flrsL sLudylng Ceo-
ecology (whlch he dropped), Lhen sLudylng MechaLronlc Lnglneerlng (successfully geLLlng hls degree here). Pls
sclence career goL sldeLracked, Lhough, when hls supervlsors reallsed LhaL he had far beLLer sales LalenL Lhan mosL
of Lhe nerdy englneers dld.

Profits
umarah had a way Lo galn LalenL, hlrlng people from hls cllenLs (raLher Lhan poachlng hls compeLlLor's sLaff) who
value Lhe lncreased sLaLus and pay he can offer Lhem. Always looklng for a way up, umarah worked for varlous
Solomanl corporaLlons. (1he vllanl ones all lnslsLed on llfeLlme conLracLs - wlLh hefLy penalLles for qulLLlng - LhaL
umarah [usL couldn'L sLomach.) 8lslng Lo a senlor sales manager wlLh hls currenL employer, lnLa[ LlecLronlcs,
umarah began Lo crlss-cross Pebrln subsecLor, worklng wlLh local agenLs: he plcked up cusLomers porLfollos Lhey
losL, bullL up hls buslness lnLelllgence on Lhe lssue, snlffed ouL whaL wenL wrong, and was able Lo wln back Lhe old
cusLomer Lhree Llmes ouL of four.

Problems
nowadays, Lhough, umarah has an lncreaslng problem on hls hands. lnLa[ LleLronlcs ls lncreaslngly havlng Lo deal
wlLh well-made fakes: lndusLrlal equlpmenL LhaL looks exacLly llke Lhe real Lhlng on Lhe ouLslde, buL wlLh
subsLandard componenLs on Lhe lnslde. 1he cheaLs can undercuL umarah, sLlll make a proflL, and leave lnLa[ wlLh
Lhe rulned repuLaLlon.
114

now, lf lnLa[ LleLronlcs was a vllanl corporaLlon, lL would have access Lo asseLs - ln-house or conLracL - whlch
would be enforclng corporaLe copyrlghLs ln a raLher forceful manner. 8uL lL's a broadly Solomanl corporaLlon, so lL
never seL aslde Lhe budgeL for such acLlvlLy.
113
umarah ls undeLerred Lhough, and has promlsed LhaL he'll flnd a
way Lo flx Lhe problem, whlch ls where Lhe Cs come ln.

114
no, Lhere ls no hlgh-pop lndusLrlal world named 'Chlna', 'CaLhay', or even 'Zhongguo' ln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer. MosL of Lhe lndusLrlal
sysLems ln Lhe CuarLer are domlnaLed by a vllanl buslness culLure, whlch ls flercely proLecLlve of copyrlghL and l rlghLs. Powever,
kakhasaek ls a vargr lndusLrlal world, whlch couldn'L glve a hooL abouL copyrlghL.
113
Solomanl corporaLlons wall Lo Lhelr governmenLs Lo proLecL Lhelr l rlghLs, allowlng bureaucraLs Lo lunch wlLh each oLher for a decade
whlle Lhe compeLlLlon devours Lhelr markeL. 8uL for Lhe vllanl, Lhe corporaLlons ote Lhe governmenL, leadlng Lo raLher dlfferenL
ouLcomes. lL ls beLLer Lo assume LhaL Lhe l rlghLs of any lone lnvenLor (or lnvenLlve C) wlll be sLolen by baLLerles of corporaLe lawyers:
so, release Lhe rlghLs lnLo Lhe publlc domaln, and make your money as Lhe Lop masLer and advlsor ln Lhe fleld.

l remember when l used Lo work wlLh ulrgaa lnvesLmenL, an old-llne vllanl brokerage flrm. Cne Llme, l noLlced LhaL
one of Lhe lnLerns was suddenly mlsslng Lhe flrsL bone of hls rlng flnger. l asked hlm dlrecLly abouL lL, buL he was
raLher evaslve ln hls replles. Powever l managed Lo geL an old hand Lo Lalk abouL lL. lL seems LhaL he was caughL
dlpplng lnLo cerLaln accounLs wlLhouL permlsslon, and, afLer a llLLle dlscusslon, Lhe lnLern, hls manager, and Lhe P8
offlcer agreed LhaL a llLLle ampuLaLlon was ln order. 1he company even pald for Lhe Lrlp Lo Lhe hosplLal and Lhe
medlcal care, so lL wasn'L really so bad ln Lhe end.

Ch, don'L glve me LhaL sLunned look: you know how Lhe vllanl are. nobody leaves Lhe company, and all problems
are handled ln-house." Company unlform, company urban dlsLrlcLs, company pollce, company laws, company
Lemples, company hosplLals, company schools, company prlesLs, company graveyards. When a slngle company ls
Loo small Lo organlze Lhlngs properly, syndlcaLes, gullds, conglomeraLlons, carLels, and co-operaLlve bureaux geL
seL up. CompleLe verLlcal lnLegraLlon, all Lhe way!

Cr maybe you have never vlslLed Lhe 1hlrd lmperlum before? LeL me guess: Lhls ls Lhe flrsL Llme you have ever lefL
your Solomanl homeworld, and you are shocked - sbockeJ! - Lo see dlrecL corporaLe rule wlLhouL Lhe usual crowd-
pleaslng fanLasy fluff Lo obscure Lhe obvlous.
Slr Lang Larle, llrsL Manager of naLey lnLerplaneLary LlC, ln
lrom urban 8eggar Lo SLar 1ycoon: 1he SLory of Lang Larle
(nullnad: 991)

5 8(//3I)#3 2/)(3 )-+#+ /6#) &1 #C$#"%-/1&((? 3#&3 (&13+$&"#> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "Charon" Iust|nas V|tkus.
See h|s work at http:]][ustv23.dev|antart.com]art]Charon-4197SS777

Petition

A0# f6&( 7&(( -+ 1/% & B/)=&(9 B'((? #d'-""#3 $/1B#)#1$# 0&(( 2-%0-1 %0# g&(&$# /B P#2#(+ D 8'% -% |s 20#)# %0#
!#$%/) M'@# ")#B#)+ %/ =##% 0-+ B)-#13+9 %/ )#(&C9 %/ $/1+-3#) %0# g)/"#) f)3#) /B A0-1E+9 &13 %/ "(&1 /'%
0-+ 1#C% =/6#> 1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "1he I|am|ng C|rc|e of our Days" Artur kosa. See h|s work at
http:]]arthurb|ue.dev|antart.com]art]1he-f|am|ng-c|rc|e-of-our-days-3S8S8463S

Preface
1hls ls a soclal/culLural/pollLlcal advenLure, whlch
lnvolved qulLe a blL of wheellng and deallng, buL llLLle
vlolence lf all goes well. lf Lhe 8eferee (and Lhe player
group) llke hls vlolence. well, he's ouL of luck here.
unless he LreaLs Lhe enLlre advenLure as a preamble for
a 1rader vs. SecLor uuke scuffle, where Lhe navy's
noLlceably absenL.

ln Lhe advenLure proper, Lhe Cs wlll have Lo negoLlaLe
Lhe pollLlcal shoals of confllcLlng nobles, corporaLe
concerns, and a resLless membershlp Lo geL Lhe besL
deal. 1he reward of success ls proLecLlng your gulld,
and so lnsurlng Lhe re-elecLlon of Lhe Cs aL Lhe nexL
convenLlon: keeplng Lhelr poslLlon helps wlLh buslness,
and ln bulldlng respecL among oLher sLarfarers. 1he
prlce of fallure means noL only belng klcked ouL aL Lhe
nexL elecLlon, buL an lncreaslng Lone of hosLlllLy
beLween Lhe local Cushgusl Lraders and Lhe sophonL
LhaL slLs on Lhe SecLor 1hrone, SecLor uuke
ueLhwabLakebwebwakawa.

vasL amounL of background fluff - more Lhan Lhe
advenLure lLself! - has been sLuffed lnLo Lhe
Appendlxes. lL's really [usL useful for overLhlnklng
8eferees, who wanL Lo know all Lhe worldbulldlng
mechanlcs LhaL's golng on behlnd Lhe scenes.
116

PC Identity
ln Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer, who you are - and, even
more lmporLanL, whlch Lrlbe you represenL - ls of
crlLlcal lmporLance.
117
As Lhe Cs are meanL Lo
represenL Lhelr Lradlng gulld, 1he lar Caravans Culld,
Lhe Lyplcal four-man C group musL lnclude:

116
Well, l olso wanL ChrlsLlan bellevers Lo learn
how Lo 1hlnk 1hlngs 1hrough. As Cod commands
ChrlsLlans Lo be wlse [udges, we musL undersLand
Lhe prlnclples LhaL govern us.
117
lf you wanL Lo read Lhe lengLhy, exLended
dlgresslon LhaL was replaced by Lhls senLence, go
Lo Appendlx: 1he lmporLance of ldenLlLy"

A Solomanl LasL lndlan Plndu
A Solomanl Arab Sunnl Moslem
A Mlxed vllanl Lazlsarl klkhushl
A 8wap

1he Amerlcan lndlans are absenL from Lhls llsL, as Lhey
slmply lack Lhe pollLlcal/mlllLary muscle Lo geL on lL.
118

All of Lhese culLures - lncludlng Lhe 8wap - are
paLrlarchal, so all Lhe represenLaLlves are men.
119

All Lhe Cs should be generaLed for aL leasL Lhree Lerms
(Lwelve years of experlence). All Lhe layers should
wrlLe a paragraph
120
on how Lhe Cs galned Lhe fame
and respecL among Lhe local merchanLs Lhey need Lo
be nomlnaLed as a Lrader represenLaLlve: Lhls
paragraph wlll be read ln characLer Lo Lhe group (don'L
forgeL body language: a few props could be useful as
well). 1he acLual sklll seL ls noL as lmporLanL as Lhe
repuLaLlon Lhe C has: buL savvy layers wlll be sure Lo
emphaslse Llalson, SLreeLwlse, and Admln/Legal skllls
for Lhls advenLure.

(lf Lhe sLory ls conLlnued pasL Lhls advenLure, spare a
LhoughL for sLarshlp, Lrader, and personal defense
skllls.)

1he sLarshlp should be compleLely pald off (for
addlLlonal presLlge among Lhe merchanLs who elecLed
Lhem), and owned by aL leasL one of Lhe Cs - perhaps
all of Lhem, lf Lhey usually work ln a group. l am
assumlng no vlolence durlng Lhelr [ourney Lo Lhe secLor
caplLal of nullnad, Lhanks Lo a hlred sLarmerc escorL (or
even a small noble warshlp, on a quld pro quo basls),
by Lhe sheer power of Lhe Cs repuLaLlons among local
plraLes, or Lhanks Lo cerLaln under-Lhe-Lable
arrangemenLs wlLh sald plraLes.

What Needs to be Done
SecLor uuke ueLhwabLakebwebwakawa (uuke
ueLhwab" Lo lmperlal clLlzens who gave up Lrylng Lo
pronounce hls name, uuke ueLhle" Lo lrrlLaLlng
acqualnLances, and uuke ueaLh" Lo hls enemles) holds

118
8uL see Appendlx: Changlng Lhe 8ules"
119
Cr, subsLlLuLe Lhe 8wap Lerm for 'adulL male who upholds
communlLy responslblllLles regardlng leadershlp, wealLh
generaLlon, and vlolence.'
120
LxuberanL role-players are permlLLed Lo wrlLe Lhelr flve-page
blographles, buL only Lhe 8eferee ls requlred Lo read Lhem -
and reward Lhe player for good roleplaylng/punlsh for bad
roleplaylng.
courL aL !a[apur: Lhe enLlre clLy ls offlclally lmperlal
LerrlLory, and ls locaLed close Lo Lhe sLarporL.
121

Much of Lhe paperwork and prepwork for Lhe audlence
has already been lald down by onslLe Culld lobbylsLs
and agenLs, so Lhe Cs wlll only have Lo walL Lwo weeks
unLll Lhe acLual audlence beglns. 1he Culld welcomlng
parLy, Lhe soclal whlrl wlLh oLher movers and shakers ln
Lhe secLor caplLal, and Lhe parLles Lo be had l leave Lo
be fleshed ouL by Lhe 8eferee. 1ry noL Lo plck up any
new, expenslve hablLs whlle ln Lhe secLor caplLal...

1he Cs may parLy aL nlghL, buL Lhey have Lo work
durlng dayllghL hours. lor some odd reason, pollcy
wonk work regardlng a flcLlonal far fuLure economy ls
dlsllked by 1raveller players, whose eyes glaze over
when vlewlng spreadsheeLs populaLed wLh numbers
pulled from Lhln alr. So, Lhls can be compleLely lgnored,
absLracLed, or drasLlcally slmpllfled dependlng on Lhe
Cs preference.

SLlll, Lhey should be aL leasL be aware of Lhe maln
lssues aL hand. As Lhelr vocal and rowdy membershlp
would puL lL:
uon'L Lle us down wlLh a plle of fees we can'L
afford Lo pay!
uon'L bankrupL us wlLh regulaLlons we can'L
afford Lo meeL - or even keep a Lrack of!
We can'L meeL all Lhe safeLy requlremenLs and
sLlll operaLe, so lay off!
MosL of Lhese regs and requlremenLs are
Lallored for Lhe wealLhy worlds of Lhe lmperlal
Core: we have a compleLely dlfferenL slLuaLlon
here ln Lhe Slx SubsecLors!
MosL of Lhese regs and requlremenLs can only
be meL by SecLor, uomaln, and lmperlal-scale
corporaLlons: applylng Lhem Lo us free Lraders
ls unfalr!
Wlll you klndly sLop boLherlng us and sLarL
boLherlng Lhe plraLes!
Wlll you sLarL acLlng llke an lmparLlal [udge,
and noL an boughL-and-pald for agenL of Lhe
megacorporaLlons who only wanL Lo squeeze
us ouL!

Ck? Ck!"

Getting it Done
1he Cs need Lo be brlefed ln how Lo geL Lhe SecLor
uuke Lo see Lhlngs Lhe Culld's way. 1hls can be broken
down Lo Lhe followlng subparLs:

121
lor a vlsual, see Ste||ar keaches #19, page 13.


roLocol: Lhe rlghL form of address, when Lo bow (and
when noL Lo), knowlng Lhe proper procedure ln Lhe
SecLor CourL and ln Lhe oLher occaslons Lo meeL wlLh
Lhe CreaL and Lhe Cood.

8alnmakers: no ruler - cerLalnly noL Lhe SecLor uuke -
rules alone. Cne of Lhe lmperlum's drlvlng goals ls Lo
promoLe and manage lnLersLellar Lrade, so Lhe Leam
wlll have Lo flnd ouL whlch of Lhe SecLor uuke's
servanLs and mlnlsLers Lhey need Lo convlnce flrsL, so
Lhey wlll say a few words Lo Lhe uuke ln Lhe back rooms
LhaL can help Lhe Culld's cause.
122
lorLunaLely, Lhe
onslLe Culld lobbylsLs have flgured ouL Lhe rlghL people
Lo Lalk Lo: however, lL's up Lo Lhe Cs Lo make Lhelr
case.

Lnemles: Lhere are always opponenLs who Lhe Cs wlll
need Lo ouLwlL. unforLunaLely, Lhe opponenLs here are
wealLhy and powerful megacorporaLlons, whlch Lhe
bureaucraLlc 8wap and hls vllanl assoclaLes have a
naLural sympaLhy for. lorLunaLely, Lhls ls Lhe LmpLy
CuarLer, noL Lhe lmperlal Core, Lhere's a long hlsLory of
reslsLance and hosLlllLy Lo megacorporaLe concerns
among Lhe Solomanl noblllLy and populace, and some
smarL 8 can make lL pollLlcally lmposslble for Lhe
8wap Lo sLand agalnsL Lhe goals of Lhe lar Caravans
Culld.

ln CourL: When maklng Lhose exLremely pollLe, hlghly
velled, very lndlrecL, compleLely lmpersonal, noL-qulLe-
LhreaLs LhreaLs - l llke Lo call Lhem genLle, LhoughLful
advlse agalnsL maklng regreLLable declslons" myself -
pteclse phraslng ls requlred. Whenever posslble, you
Joot wanL Lhe SecLor uuke Lo feel LhaL you were
forclng hlm lnLo maklng a declslon he doesn'L llke,
because you Joot wanL Lo flnd ouL whaL a Lruly plssed
Plgh noble can do Lo ruln your llfe (aL Lhe very leasL).
lnsLead, you wanL Lo make hlm Lhlnk LhaL yoot goals
are really bls goals, and LhaL by helplng you, he ls really
[usL helplng hlmself.

keferee: ?es, lL ls posslble for Lhe Cs Lo wln a dlrecL
confronLaLlon wlLh Lhe SecLor uuke. 8uL Lo do so, Lhey
need collecLlve acLlon - say, havlng all Lhe sLarporL
personnel cease worklng unLll Lhe SecLor uuke glves ln
Lo Lhe demands of Lhe lar Caravans Culld. 8uL only

122
Cr, beLLer yeL, Lhe Cs can geL ln Lhe backrooms Lhemselves:
buL Lhls Lakes an age of hands-on neLworklng and favour-
Lradlng, and Lhe C's don'L have LhaL klnd of Llme. unless a
powerful noble frlend of Lhere happens Lo be ln Lown, and has
Lhe Llme & lnfluence Lo spare Lo glve Lhem a hand.
cteJlble LhreaLs can make Lhe cuL: and Lhe sLarporL
LhreaL lsn'L one of Lhem. Waglng a Lradewar agalnsL
megacorporaLe lnLersLellar Lrade l5 a credlble LhreaL:
buL Lhe Cs need Lo waLch Lhelr language vety closely,
or Lhey could be ln prlson for 'aldlng and abeLLlng
plracy' raLher unexpecLedly. know Lhe Lerraln of baLLle
8LlC8L charglng ln!

Results
1here are Lwo ways Lhe 8eferee can deLermlne Lhe
success.

A) ko|e-p|ay out everyth|ng! Pave Lhe Cs make
Lhelr case before Lhe 'LrusLed frlends' of Lhe
SecLor uuke. Pave Lhem bow deeply before
Lhe 8eferee - acLlng ln place of Lhe SecLor
uuke - before offerlng Lhelr warm greeLlngs,
and carefully sllde lnLo Lhe sub[ecL aL hand.
llgure ouL Lhe tlqbt way Lo brlbe cerLaln
lnfluenLlal volces (8uL of cootse we're wllllng
Lo offer free LransporLaLlon Lo you and your
frlends for Lhe nexL year! We conslder lL a
ptlvlleqe Lo asslsL such an lmporLanL person as
yourself ln Lhe conducL of your welghLy
lmperlal duLles.") LxpecL Lo offer loLs and loLs
and loLs of booze and women - buL make sure
LhaL Lhe Culld lsn'L cheaLed, and LhaL geL your
money's worLh! lf you don'L, you need Lo flnd
a way Lo make Lhese powerful cheaLers pay:
When we feel Lhe heaL, we see Lhe llghL!"

8) ko|| those d|ce! lf acLlng ouL Lhe sordld world
of pollLlcal lobbylng lsn'L for you - AcLually,
lL's [usL llke my old dlves back when l was [usL
sLarLlng ouL, [usL wlLh nlcer cloLhes, beLLer
manners, and a LC1 more Lop-noLch flashy
bllng" - Lhen you can keep your dlsLance from
Lhe lcky naLure of lmperlal pollcy maklng by
[usL rolllng Lhose dlce ln glorlously absLracL
and anLlsepLlc declslon Lrees!

!usL as a sLab aL slmulaLlng Lhe whole buslness wlLh
dlce, we can go wlLh Lhls:

1) SeL Lhe sLage for Lhe besL posslble audlence
before Lhe SecLor uuke.

1a|k|ng
LeL's assume flve meeLlngs wlLh uucal
gaLekeepers & mlnlsLers. uslng 8l1S (page 4)
and Lhe hlghesL parLy Llalson sklll.

ulfflculL Llalson,
-1 lf nobody ln Lhe parLy has Llalson sklll,
+1 lf Llalson sklll used ls 2+

5pectocolot 5occess. +2 modlfler when
speaklng wlLh Lhe SecLor uuke
5occess: +1 modlfler.
lollote: -1 modlfler.
5pectocolot lollote: -2 modlfler.

uo Lhls flve Llmes, for each
mlnlsLer/gaLekeeper/advlsor

1he enemles of Lhe Cs - a megacorporaLe
represenLaLlve - wlll also llke Lo have a chaL.
1here ls no way Lo avold Lhls. AnyLhlng you
say - or don'L say - wlll be used agalnsL you."

ulfflculL Llalson,
+1 lf Llalson sklll used ls 2+
5pectocolot 5occess. +1 modlfler when
speaklng wlLh Lhe SecLor uuke
5occess: no modlfler.
lollote: -2 modlfler.
5pectocolot lollote: -4 modlfler. Also, Lhe Cs
musL roll wlLhln a day (or a few mlnuLes.) Lo
avold arresL on some charge or oLher: roll
Average SLreeLwlse Lo avold Lhls. ArresL means
Lhey can'L see Lhe SecLor uuke: Lhe advenLure
ls over. (unless some addlLlonal roleplaylng ls
done, aL Lhe 8eferee's dlscreLlon.)

uo Lhls roll once.

8r|b|ng
LeL' assume LhaL Lhe Cs need Lo brlbe Lwo
lndlvlduals Lo make cerLaln LhaL Lhe SecLor
uuke sees cerLaln lnformaLlon Lhe mega-
corporaLlons would raLher have dlsappear, a
megacorporaLe payoff somehow 'geLs losL ln
Lransmlsslon', or a poor 8ank 8aron ln a useful
poslLlon, buL close Lo belng dlscharged 'geLs
Lhe reLlremenL package he expecLs - ln reLurn
for a llLLle asslsLance ln a dlfflculL maLLer'.

ulfflculL 8rlbery,
-2 lf nobody ln Lhe parLy has 8rlbery sklll,
+1 lf 8rlbery sklll used ls 2+
5pectocolot 5occess: All negaLlve modlflers losL
ln Lhe 1a|k|ng secLlon are removed.
5occess: All negaLlve modlflers losL ln Lhe
1a|k|ng secLlon are cuL ln half, rounded up.
lollote: no modlfler. Also, Lhe Cs musL roll
before leavlng nullnad Lo avold arresL on
brlbery charges: roll Average SLreeLwlse Lo
avold Lhls. ArresL means Lhey lose Lhelr case
and any galns: Lhe advenLure ls over. All
furLher aLLempLs aL brlbery are lncreased ln
dlfflculLy, from 'ulfflculL' Lo 'lormldable'.
5pectocolot lollote: no modlfler. Also, Lhe Cs
musL roll wlLhln Lhe day Lo avold arresL on
brlbery: roll ulfflculL SLreeLwlse Lo avold Lhls.
ArresL means Lhey lose Lhelr case and any
galns: Lhe advenLure ls over. Also, no furLher
aLLempLs aL brlbery can be made.

uo Lhls roll once, Lwlce, or never: C's
dlscreLlon.

2) MeeL Lhe SecLor uuke.

1he MegacorporaLlons have been worklng on
hlm for a whlle now, and he naLurally leans ln
favour Lo Megacorp lnLeresLs, so Lhe Cs have
Lhelr work cuL ouL Lo geL Pls Crace Lo see
Lhlngs Lhelr way.

lormldable Llalson,
Add all earller modlflers Lo Lhe roll,
5pectocolot 5occess. Lhe Cs meeL Lhelr goal -
and more. Some meanlngful form of granL,
deregulaLlon, eLc. ls provlded Lo free Lraders ln
Lhe secLor.
123

5occess: 1he free Lraders have no addlLlonal
burden placed on Lhelr operaLlons.
lollote: 1he free Lraders have addlLlonal legal
obllgaLlons placed on Lhelr operaLlons,
prlmarlly safeLy and anLl-LhefL regs, Lo lnsure
Lhey are noL uslng sLolen properLy. LxpecL
wldespread grumbllng and lncreased hosLlllLy
agalnsL Lhe SecLor uuke wlLhln Lhe Culld, Lhls
wlll slowly spread Lo harsher aLLlLudes agalnsL
Lhe vllanl and Lhe 8wap ln general.
5pectocolot lollote: All sorLs of fees,
regulaLlons, llcenslng resLrlcLlons, eLc. are
placed on Lhe back of Lhe average free Lrader.
Ma[or anLl-brlbery leglslaLlon wlLh sLlff
penalLles and rlgorous enforcemenL lncreases
Lhe dlfflculLy of local Lraders Lo do buslness:
buL sLrangely enough, corporaLe conLrlbuLlons
Lo Lhelr powerful frlends are noL covered ln
Lhe new regulaLlons.

1he MegacorporaLlons laugh, buL Lhe locals
are noL nlce people, and Lhey don'L llke

123
1here ls no Lax rellef, as Lhe lmperlum does noL Lax
lnLersLellar Lrade aL all. 1ax burdens are placed on worlds
lnsLead, nobles have personal Lax LreaLles wlLh Lhe Lmperor.

ouLslders. LxpecL an unpleasanL Lradewar
wlLhln Lhe year, on Lop of plracy concerns.
124

1he lmperlal MegacorporaLlons are broadly
supporLed by Lhe vllanl and Lhe 8wap, whlle
Lhe free Lraders are generally supporLed by
Solomanl Arabs and (some) LasL lndlans, so
Lhere wlll be a raclal overlay Lo Lhls confllcL:
Lhe lmperlum and local Solomanl arLy
aglLaLors wlll Lake noLe, sooner or laLer.
robably sooner.

uo Lhls roll once.

lollow-up on Lhe SecLor uuke's declslon.

lf Lhe SecLor uuke declded |n favour of Lhe lar
Caravan Culld, Lhe Cs need Lo make sure LhaL Lhls
declslon sLlcks. 1hls ls noL dlfflculL: 8wap are
sLubborn, and Lhls 8wap doesn'L llke Lo waffle, as lL
would make hlm look weak ln Lhe eyes of Lhe
publlc. (Lspeclally Lhe mlldly hosLlle Solomanl
publlc.) SLlll, lL pays Lo make sure LhaL all Lhe l's are
doLLed and Lhe 1's crossed before leavlng nullnad:
Lhe MegacorporaLlons would love Lo sLlck ln a llLLle
lasL-mlnuLe surprlse. noL anyLhlng LhaL wlll desLroy
Lhe C's accompllshmenL, buL a llLLle hlnL LhaL Lhey
aren'L done yeL, noL by a long shoL.

lf Lhe SecLor uuke declded aga|nst Lhe lar Caravan
Culld, Lhe Cs have one lasL shoL before Lhe Lraln
of unpleasanL consequences leaves Lhe sLaLlon.

1hey wlll somehow have Lo squeeze a lasL-mlnuLe
unofflclal audlence wlLh Lhe SecLor uuke ln before
Lhe offlclal proclamaLlon ls made. 1hls wlll be a
lormldable Llalson Lask, as Lhe Mega-corporaLlons
wlll be on guard for [usL such a sLunL. lf Lhe Cs can
pull lL off, Lhey Lhen have Lo make
elLher a lormldable Llalson Lask Lo sofLen
Lhelr fallure one sLep (lrom lallure Lo
success, for example)
or a SLaggerlng Llalson Lask Lo sofLen Lhelr
fallure by Lwo sLeps (lrom lallure Lo
SpecLacular Success, for example.)

124
1he llkellhood LhaL local Lraders wlll ally wlLh Lhe plraLes
agalnsL megacorporaLe lnLeresLs approaches 100.
l can always rely on Lhe LmpLy CuarLer Lo
sLrengLhen my mlgralne.
- Lmperor Cavln, 73-993 lmperlal.

Appendix: Changing the Rules
1he Cs may wlsh Lo challenge Lhe excluslon of Lhe
Amerlcan lndlans from Lhls Leam of leaders.

lf Lhe Cs wanL Lo change Lhls, Lhey wlll have Lo make lL
happen. Any aLLempL Lo creaLe a flfLh place on Lhe
Leam wlll be sLrongly reslsLed: lf lL ls successfully
opened, lL wlll be lmmedlaLely conLesLed by Lwo oLher
powerful groups: Lhe vllanl, and Lhe lper'mar (Ste||ar
keaches #3).

1he vargr do noL have a hope of [olnlng Lhls group,
teqotJless of how many spaces are opened: far Loo
many Lraders have dled by Lhelr claws for any Lolerance
Lo be exLended. layers who are deLermlned Lo change
Lhls facL wlll dlscover LhaL Lhey wlll be expelled:
lmperlal LdlLs LhaL order Lhe SLar Caravans Culld Lo
accepL Lhe vargr wlll merely resulL ln Lhe fotmol
dlssoluLlon of Lhe group - and lL's prompL
reconsLlLuLlon lofotmolly.

And lf Lhe Cs are wllllng Lo dump absoluLely
evetytbloq Lo geL Lhe SLar Caravans Culld Lo teolly
accepL Lhe vargr?"

Well, Lhey have chosen a worLhy challenge - buL lL's
noL parL of tbls advenLure. 1hen agaln, lL's Lhe need of
Lhe group LhaL maLLers: advenLures can and should be
rewrlLLen and/or dumped, as Lhe needs of Lhe Cs
requlre.

Clven a sufflclenL number of Llme, work, and cash, Lhls
goal ls noL Lruly lmposslble: Lhere are qulLe a number of
lrlllLok and Cvaghoun vargr ln Lhe lmperlal
bureaucracy, Lhe lmperlal mlllLary, local mercenary
groups - and on Lhe wrong slde of Lhe law. Pow Lhe
8eferee and Lhe Cs leverage Lhese forces ls an
lnLeresLlng llLLle puzzle.


c0-(# !#$%/) M'@# M#%02&8%&@#82#82&@&2& 0&+ =/3-B-#3 "&)%+ /B 0-+ )'(-1E %/2#)I"&(&$# &% P&Q&"') %/ +'-% 0-+
1##3 B/) 0'=-3-%?9 -%F+ &% %0# &1$-#1% g&(&$# /B P#2#(+ D /)-E-1&((? 8'-(% B/) & ='$0I8#(/6#3 $/1+/)% /B & ,-)+%
<="#)-'= M'@# D 20#)# %0# !#$%/) M'@# B##(+ =/+% )#(&C#39 &13 (&?+ 3/21 0-+ =/+% -="/)%&1% "(&1+> 7# 0&+ 0&3
%0# 8'-(3-1E )#1/6&%#3 &% E)#&% #C"#1+#9 2-%0 0-E0 %#$01/(/E? &13 $(#6#) &-) ")#++')# %#$01-d'#+ @##"-1E %0#
2&%#)I(/&3#3 &-) -19 3#+"-%# %0# /"#1I%/I1&%')# $/1$#"% /B %0# 8'-(3-1E> fB $/')+#9 &(( /B -% -+ +#% &% Urrt
0'=-3-%? D %0# 0'=&1+ $&1 +0'% '" &13 +2#&%9 B/) /1$#b 1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "1he Lx|t" Artur kosa
See h|s work at http:]]arthurb|ue.dev|antart.com]art]1he-ex|t-3S3008044

Appendix: Historical Background
1he Cs are noLable of a large lnLersLellar merchanL
assoclaLlon, Lhe lar Caravans Culld. 1he Culld exlsLs Lo
proLecL and promoLe Lhe economlc lnLeresLs of free
Lraders across Lhe Slx SubsecLors. 1he Culld has had a
good relaLlonshlp wlLh Lhe uucal houses, planeLary
nobles, and planeLary governmenLs over Lhe cenLurles,
and had eagerly worked wlLh local concerns Lo sLlfle
Lhe exLenslon of lmperlal megacorporaLe lnLeresLs
wlLhln Lhe secLor. Worklng wlLh Lhe lmperlal
governmenL, Lhe Culld was one of Lhe wllllng Lools used
Lo sLlfle Solomanl arLy aLLempLs Lo spark a dlsLracLlng
lnsurrecLlon ln Lhls raLher Solomanl reglon of lmperlal
Space.

CurrenL dlsconLenL arose wlLh Lhe fallure of Lhe uukes -
all buL one human - Lo selecL a human uuke Lo rlse Lo
Lhe SecLor 1hrone. AfLer numerous falled aLLempLs,
Lhey were forced by Lhelr own peLLy [ealousles Lo
choose Lhe lone 8wap among Lhelr number,
ueLhwabLakebwebwakawa, Lo rlse Lo Lhe poslLlon of
SecLor uuke.

uuke ueLhwabLakebwebwakawa - uuke ueLhwab" Lo
Lhe Longue-Lled average lmperlal clLlzen - ls noL as
Lone-deaf Lo human concerns as Lhe anonymous
rumourmongers clalm. As parL of Lhe ApprenLlce
noble" program hls clan arranged for hlm before
ascendlng as uuke of LenLull, uuke ueLhwab spenL Llme
ln all slx of Lhe lmperlal subsecLors, as well as a falr blL
of Llme ln Lhe sLrongly humanlsL, broadly anLl-vargr
Pegemony of Lorean. Powever, Lhe uuke - now SecLor
uuke as well - ls a sLrong 8wap naLlonallsL, and wanLs
Lo puL a 8wap sLamp on Lhe Slx SubsecLors. 1hls leads
noL Lo an aLLempL for 8wap lndependence (as Lhls
slmply lsn'L of greaL lnLeresL Lo Lhe senLlenL
amphlblans) buL ln Lnforclng roper rocedures on Lhe
secLor governmenL and bureaucracy.

1he 8wap are always concerned wlLh deLalled
bureaucraLlc mlnuLlae, buL for Lhe ma[orlLy of 1hlrd
lmperlal rule of Lhe secLor, Lhe Arabs LhaL long
domlnaLed Lhe reglon rouLlnely lgnored Lhe 8ules As
WrlLLen ln favour of Lrlbal alllances, brlbes, rellglous
supremacy, personal glfLs, pollLlcal bargalns, eLc. 1he
8ules were rlgorously enforced when convenlenL -

especlally Lo hlnder enemles - and casually lgnored
when lnconvenlenL.

WlLh Lhe fall of Arab domlnaLlon - closely coupled wlLh
Lhe end of Lhe Pebrln 8ebelllon and Lhe anos
SeLLlemenL - Lhe SecLor uukes LhaL Lhe Lmperor
parachuLed onLo nullnad were no longer [usL lgnoranL
ouLslders, Lo be led by Lhe nose by Lhe Arabs who
domlnaLed Lhe lnner advlsory clrcles, Lhe lmperlal
mlllLary and Lhe lmperlal clvll servlce of Lhe secLor.
rlnce anos drove blaLanLly corrupL and blased
pracLlces lnLo Lhe shadows, whlle Lhe enLlre lmperlal
esLabllshmenL was vlgorously purged of sedlLlous
elemenLs." 1he followlng lmperlal nobles ruled Lhe
secLor by carefully balanclng Lrlbe vs. Lrlbe, and over
Llme gave more and more auLhorlLy Lo Lhe weaker
Lrlbes - Lhe 8wap mosL noLably, buL also Amerlcan
lndlans, Lhe Lazlsarl, Lhe vllanl, even a few vargr - Lo
lnsure LhaL Lhe LasL lndlans and Lhe Arabs LhaL
demographlcally domlnaLe Lhe local populaLlon are
kepL from unfeLLered culLural and pollLlcal prlmacy.

1hlngs changed as Lhe decades rolled by. Pebrln, Lhe
[ewel of Lhe Arab sysLems, was broken as lmperlal-
subsldlzed lnfldel lmmlgraLlon grew Lo maLch, Lhen
surpass, Lhe old Musllm Arab populaLlon. 1he 8wap
grew from sLrengLh Lo sLrengLh, and corrupLlon was
pushed down Lo manageable levels - buL sLlll remalned
noLlceably hlgher Lhan Lhe Lyplcal lmperlal secLor, as
Lhe weak local economy slmply couldn'L survlve lf Lhe
full force of lmperlal rules, paperwork, and regulaLlons
were enforced Lo Lhe leLLer. Lven Lhe conslsLenL
enforcemenL of sLarshlp safeLy regulaLlons, alone, ls
enough Lo brlng lnLersLellar Lrade Lo a shuLLerlng halL.

Slnce Lhe Pebrln 8ebelllon, all Lhe SecLor uukes
declded on a pollcy of Lhe llghL enforcemenL of mosL
lmperlal regulaLlons, so long as Lhe fundamenLal loyalLy
of Lhe local sysLems was glven. lormal regulaLlons were
rlgorously enforced only on Lhe lmperlal MlllLary and
Lhe personnel of Lhe Clvll Servlce, as Lhere was no way
ln hell LhaL Lhe envlronmenL for anoLher Lreasonous
mass muLlny would be LoleraLed.

Appendix: The Importance of Identity
MosL 1raveller advenLures are wrlLLen for a generlc
group of advenLurers, engaged ln an advenLure LhaL
could happen anywhere. l don'L have Lhe sllghLesL
problem wlLh Lhls: l have wrlLLen a few scenarlos
myself whlch flL Lhls LemplaLe.

8uL LhaL would defeaL Lhe purpose of Lhe lmmense
Lldal wave of fluff l have wrlLLen for Lhls secLor. WhaL's
Lhe use of deep background, lf you don'L puL lL Lo
work?
1he Cs should 1) be able Lo uncover Lhe slgnlflcance of
whaL's happlng all around lL and 2) puL LhaL knowledge
Lo work, Lo meL Lhe challenge, Lo show LhaL noL only
does he undersLand Lhe rules of Lhe game, buL LhaL he
can make Lhem sloq.

And Lhe 8eferee should - perhaps, musL - reward Lhe
C for dolng so. CLherwlse, why wasLe Lhe C's Llme
[erklng hlm around when he could be playlng xcom:
Lnemy unknown or World of WarcrafL lnsLead?

8uL Lhe Lhlng ls, lf Lhe background ls so lmporLanL, Lhen
Lhe C musL flL ln lL as well. 1he LmpLy CuarLer ls a
deeply personal seLLlng: who you are, where you come
from, who your famlly ls, whaL your race and rellglon
and sex ls, profoundly deLermlnes how Lhe locals deal
wlLh you. lsolaLed, klnless lndlvlduals wlLhouL frlends or
ally or neLwork are slmply asklng Lo geL voolsbeJ Lhe
mlnuLe Lhey break some unspoken rule, say Lhe wrong
klnd of [oke, or slmply show up aL Lhe wrong place.

Well, l exaggeraLe. 1he 8ukadukaz 8epubllc ls qulLe
clvlllzed, and has no hosLlllLy Lo forelgn vlslLors. 1he
Pegemony of Lorean ls noL clvlllzed - regardless of Lhe
sLarshlps, Lhe hlgh Lechnology, or Lhe many lmpresslve
clLles - buL Lhey also have no greaL haLred of lmperlal
vlslLors. so long as Lhey mlnd Lhelr manners, and don'L
go around sLlcklng Lhelr nose ln places lL doesn'L belong
or asklng subverslve quesLlons. lL's only Lhe lmperlal
LmpLy CuarLer, Lhe Slx SubsecLors, where Lhe rellglous,
raclal, and culLural clashes really make your head swlm.

lorLunaLely, mosL of Lhe clashes of recenL decades
resulL ln sharp elbows and a mosalc of small Lo mld-
slzed monoculLural communlLles wlLh well-defended
borders, lnsLead of Lhe feroclous, occaslonally uuchy-
wlde vlolence of even a cenLury ago. SLlll, as Lraders,
lL's Lhe C's [ob Lo cross Lhe borders ln search of a deal,
and many Cs have Lo brlng muLually susplclous parLles
LogeLher Lo make a deal - and Lo keep Lo Lhe Lerms of
Lhe deal, even when Lhey can beneflL by cheaLlng. noL
easy aL Lhe besL of Llmes: and, wlLh Lhe lmperlal lleeL
gone and Lhe Shadow CarLel fraylng aL Lhe bonds of
Lrade, Lhese are noL Lhe besL of Llmes.

SLlll, Loday ls far from Lhe worsL of days, and Lhe Cs
are expecLed Lo Lake Lhelr knocks llke men. lf you
wanL an easy llfe, Lhe lmperlal Core ls tbotowoy. 8uL lf
you wanL Lo make someLhlng beLLer Lhan lL was before,
sLlck around - we can always use anoLher hand!"

Appendix: The Limits of Corporate Power
1he SecLor uuke has oversLepped hls bounds, and lf he
doesn'L pull back, he's golng Lo geL a promoLlon Lo
CaplLal/Core, and Lhe Lmperor wlll Lry - ACAln - Lo

flnd someone who can rule Lhe secLor compeLenLly. or
aL leasL noL mess Lhlngs up so specLacularly as Lo spark
some enraged backwaLer uprlslng, dlsLracLlng hlm from
Lhe mosL lmporLanL confllcL slnce Lhe lnLersLellar Wars
whlch desLroyed Lhe lltst lmperlum.

8uL," l can hear you say, Lhe LsLabllshmenL ALWA?S
supporLs Lhe megacorporaLlons!"

Well, noL Lhe Canonlcal lmperlal LsLabllshmenL.

Why can l say Lhls wlLh confldence?

l can glve Lhe answer ln [usL a few words, words LhaL
are bullL lnLo Lhe unA of 1raveller. See lf you can spoL
Lhe common Lhread among Lhem.
Mercenarles
SLarmercs
CorporaLe 1roops
8ouLe roLecLors
1radewars

ln a proper buslness-governmenL parLnershlp", Lhe
corporaLlons can rely on Lhe governmenL Lo proLecL
corporaLe concerns - mosL cerLalnly lncludlng Lhe use
and monopoly conLrol of vlolence - ln reLurn for
corporaLe supporL and flnanclng of Lhe governmenL.

1o my asLonlshmenL and advenLure-lovlng pleasure,
Lhls slmply coooot be Lrue of Lhe lmperlum. 1he
lmperlal Lroops work for Lhe Lmperor - buL Lhe
lmperlal corporaLlons are ln Lhe same flx as Lhe
lmperlal worlds, and even Lhe noble Pouses: oo look
ouL for yoot own lnLeresLs, and do yoot own kllllng wlLh
yoot own hands. we serve Lhe Lmperor. petloJ."
123

lL ls reasonable Lo lnslsL LhaL Lhe megacorporaLlons geL
aL leasL lmpllclL supporL from Lhe Plgh noblllLy. 8uL
when push comes Lo shove, Lhe CreaL Pouses are golng
Lo sLand aslde and leL Lhe corporaLlon dle. ?es, even
Lhe lmmensely powerful 1ukera Llnes can and wlll be
cuL off, aL Lhe end of Lhe day.
126

123
8elng a Cod-fearlng man, l have some lnLense phllosophlcal
dlfferences wlLh Lhe pagan lmperlal governmenL. 8uL l have Lo
admlL, l have a ptofoooJ respecL for a pollLlcal leadershlp LhaL
polnL-blank refuses Lo a) whore lLs name ouL Lo Lhe money-
men, yeL b) allows Lhem Lhe Lools Lo proLecL Lhelr people and
Lhelr properLy. ?our proflL ls yours. lf you can keep lL." 8ough
[usLlce, yes, buL [usLlce all Lhe same.
126
noL even 1ukera Llnes can snap lLs flngers and have Lhe
lmperlum [ump aL lLs beck and call. lL has lL's own 8ouLe
roLecLors and SecreL Servlce - Lhe vermene - for a teosoo.

AfLer all, ZhunasLu lndusLrles was Lmperor Cleon's
petsoool megacorporaLlon, and Lhe need Lo creaLe a
large markeL for lLs wares ls debaLably Lhe reason for
Lhe creaLlon of Lhe 1hlrd lmperlum ln Lhe flrsL place.
1he lmperlum sLlll sLands. buL where ls ZhunasLu
lndusLrles?

8lood ls lmporLanL. llag ls lmporLanL. buL
CorporaLlon [usL don'L measure up.
127

Appendix: The Profound Unimportance
of the Imperial Empty Quarter
8ecall LhaL a slngle hlgh-pop/hlgh-Lech world - lkon ls
Lhe world ln mlnd - ls worLh more Lhan Lhe enLlre
LmpLy CuarLer, comblned.
128

1hen recall LhaL, sLaLlcally speaklng, Lhe 1hlrd lmperlum
has aL leasL a hundred - perhaps a few hundred - of
absoluLely lndlspensable hlgh-Lech/hlgh-pop worlds
wlLhln her vasL LerrlLory. none of whlch can be found
among Lhe lmperlal worlds of Lhe LmpLy CuarLer.

8aslcally, whaL Lhls means LhaL LvL8? SlnCLL SLCCnu Lhe
Lmperor spends Lhlnklng abouL Lhe LmpLy CuarLer ls a
fanLasLlc wasLe of hls Llme. Pls Llme ls beLLer spenL [usL
grabblng a flsLful of Appeals Lo Lhe Lmperor from Lhe
noLable ClLlzens of Lhe ma[or worlds, rapldly sklmmlng
Lhrough Lhem, and glvlng a qulck Lhumbs-up/Lhumbs-
down/geL more lnformaLlon rullng on Lhem.

uone wlLh a reasonable level of lnLelllgence and
compeLence, Pls Ma[esLy can add a good 0.1 Lo 1.0
lncrease Lo boLh publlc approval Lo hls rule, and overall
lmperlal wealLh, [usL wlLh Lhls acLlon alone.

Cn Lhe oLher hand, Lhe Lmperor can spend a full year
of hls Llme Lrylng Lo flx Lhe LmpLy CuarLer, and aL Lhe
end of Lhe year - even lf he was completely successful -
he would have a secLor LhaL was oo lts woy Lo belng a
worLhwhlle addlLlon Lo Lhe lmperlum.

127
8uL corporaLlons Jo measure up for Lhe vllanl! As for Lhe
Solomanl, observe Lhe lmporLance of rellglon among Lhem, and
lL's lock of large-scale lmpacL ln Canonlcal lmperlal hlsLory.
128
Ste||ar keaches #9, page 37.

5 6-#2 /B S0#&9 !&%')1F+ +#$/13I(&)E#+% =//1> Image cred|t: NASA]IL]Space Sc|ence Inst|tute.
1he use of th|s |magery shou|d not |mp|y that NASA endorses th|s fanz|ne |n any form or fash|on.
See the or|g|na| graph|c at Space Images: http:]]www.[p|.nasa.gov]space|mages]deta||s.php?|d=IA10494

Appendix: Imperial Honour
lL would be easy for me Lo LreaL Lhe concepL of lmperlal
Ponour wlLh cynlclsm and rldlcule: buL Lhe seLLlng
won'L leL me. 5ometbloq has Lo hold Lhe lmperlum
LogeLher: lL was never rellglon
129
, and Lhe 8ullng
Solomanl 8ace concepL fell by Lhe wayslde (ln CourL

129
8uL see Ste||ar keaches #22 for a Lake on an lmperlal
CaLhollc 1heocracy.
and noble Clrcles) ln 679 wlLh Lmperor Zhaklrov's
marrlage Lo Lhe vllanl noblewoman, AnLlama.
130

130
Zhaklrov: CldesL lssue of ArbellaLra. 8orn ln 624, proclalmed
emperor by Lhe MooL ln 666. Zhaklrov's marrlage Lo AnLlama ln
679 marked and cemenLed an alllance beLween Lhe Alkhallkol
uynasLy and Lhe buslness lnLeresLs of Lhe lmperlal Core, lL broke
Lhe power of Lhe Solomanl lnLeresLs aL courL and ulLlmaLely led
Lo Lhe Solomanl 8lm War (990 Lo 1002). uled ln 688." -
Lmperor's LlsL", Mega1rave||er Imper|a| Lncyc|oped|a. l can
hear Lhe premlllennlal Solomanl yells abouL Lhe Mark of Lhe

So, we Lurn Lo honour. noL llkely as a governlng ldea for
emplre (l'd beL on Lhe LhlrsL for money, power, and
fame myself), buL noL lmplauslble, elLher: Lhe men of
Cyrus' erslan Lmplre only had Lhree duLles - Lo rlde
well, shooL sLralghL, and speak Lhe LruLh - and Lhe llves
of 8omans, Medleval Luropeans, and Lhe leudal
!apanese were all shaped by varlaLlons of Ponour.

LeL's be candld now, keeplng Lhe 8wap homeworld
under lmperlal rule ls Lhe ooly reason why we boLher Lo
hold on Lo Lhe LmpLyheads."

Well, Lhe CuarLer also serves as a buffer agalnsL Lhe
!ullan roLecLoraLe, ln case Lhey ever geL nasLy agaln."

And every Lmplre needs an obscure backwaLer, where
cerLaln annoyances Loo pollLlcally leveraged Lo be
spaced or shoL can be dumped lnsLead."

So even Lhe LmpLy CuarLer earns her keep ln Lhe vasL
lmperlal famlly!"

AbsoluLely. And also as a negaLlve example. ?ou know:
'lL could be LhaL Lhe purpose of your llfe ls only Lo serve
as a warnlng Lo oLhers.'"

So keeplng Lhe 8wap happy lsn'L Lhe ooly reason Lo
keep Lhe SLarbursL flylng Lhere, afLer all! Cood Lo know.
8uL wouldn'L lL be greaL lf Lhere were a hlgh-pop/hlgh-
Lech world Lhere? lL would change evetytbloq!"

Well, Lhey don'L haLe each oLher llke Lhey used Lo.
Maybe you'll geL your wlsh. ln a few cenLurles."
AssorLed powerful sophonLs,
chaLLlng aL a flne Sylean resLauranL on CaplLal,
993 lmperlal.

uslng uelrdre McCloskey's vlrLues losL: Pow lL
happened and why we can'L llve wlLhouL Lhem" as a
qulck and dlrLy gulde
131
, we can group Lhe seven
classlcal vlrLues ln Lwo groups: 1he ArlsLocraLlc/agan
vlrLues of Courage, !usLlce, 1emperance, and rudence,
and Lhe easanL/ChrlsLlan vlrLues of Love, Pope, and
lalLh. As a flrsL pass, Lhe lmperlal noblllLy can be sald

8easL from here, Lhree mlllennla ln Lhe pasL. Why LschaLology
MaLLers", hLLp://amerlcanvlslon.org/4366/llfe-and-deaLh-and-
Lhe-lasL-days-or-why-eschaLology-
maLLers/#sLhash.4e[Wxckl.dpbs, ls a sufflclenL response.
131
1he llnk:
hLLp://www.abc.neL.au/rellglon/arLlcles/2013/12/18/3913384.
hLm
Lo Lle Lhe arlsLocraLlc vlrLues under a slngle mlllLary
vlrLue, Ponour.

unllke modern wesLern secularlsm - whlch desplses
Lhe very coocept of eLernal vlrLues - Lhe lmperlum
holds closely Lo Lhe arlsLocraLlc ones. ln conLrasL Lo
Loday's unofflclal (and Lherefore unaccounLable) rullng
noblllLy
132
, lmperlal nobles harbour no greaL mallce Lo
Lhe ChrlsLlan vlrLues, buL do noL leL lL domlnaLe Lhelr
own llves. easanLs - Lled Lo land, [ob, or corp - have
Lhelr proper place, and are permlLLed Lo llve as Lhey
wlsh: buL leL us noL delude ourselves, and preLend LhaL
Lhe vlrLues of servanLs are Lhe vlrLues of masLers."
133

1he vllanl have Lhelr own seL of 'hlgh governlng
LradlLlons', whlch - llke Lhe 1ao of Chlnese culLure - are
falrly analogous Lo Lhe WesLern vlrLues lf you look and
squlnL aL Lhem ln Lhe rlghL klnd of llghL. WlLh Lhe
supplanLlng of Lhe Solomanl by Lhe Mlxed vllanl (a
reasonable developmenL, as Lhey make up Lhe bulk of
Lhe lmperlal populaLlon), vllanl mores and ldeas are
slowly reshaplng Lhe concepL of lmperlal Ponour, buL
even ln 993, lL's sLlll a slow and cauLlous work ln
progress.
134

Appendix: Jajapur Notes
Whlle !a[apur lsn'L LhaL large a clLy for nullnad, Lhere ls
a greaL deal of varleLy ln Lhe clLy dlsLrlcLs and wards.

ulsLlncL lnclude:
LasL lndlan: whlle Lhe world broadly belongs
Lo Lhem, Lhey only domlnaLe only 40 or so of
Lhe clLy,
Arab: Lhelr sLake ln Lhe clLy daLes back Lo Lhe
8ule of Man era, over 2,300 years ago
133
,

132
l refer Lo Lhe nobles Lhemselves - noL Lhelr elecLed puppeLs.
133
ConLrasL Lhls wlLh Lhe 8oberLson's l am second" vldeo:
hLLps://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=l[qcc?mx13w Cf course,
lmperlal nobles are noL lnLeresLed ln comlng ln second Lo
ooyooe excepL Lo a hlgher noble (daLe of enfeoffmenL ls used Lo
sorL nobles of equal rank). 1o observe how Money Changes
1hlngs, see Lhls experlmenL:
hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=luqCrz-?_Lc 1hen, lmaglne
how drasLlcally Lhe wealLh Lo buy enLlre wotlJs would change
Lhe mlnd.
134
As Lhe psychoLlc evenLs of Lhe War of Lhe 8ebelllon (1117-
1130) proved, lL wasn'L slow and cauLlous eoooqb.
133
As of Au 2013, Lhere are abouL 13 clLles LhaL have been
conLlnuously lnhablLed on LarLh for Lhe lasL 2,300 years (l.e.:
slnce Lhe fall of !erusalem Lo Lhe 8abylonlans).
hLLps://en.wlklpedla.org/wlkl/LlsL_of_clLles_by_Llme_of_conLln
uous_hablLaLlon. Always remember, 8eferee: 1he lmperlal Lra -
all Lhree lmperla - has been around for a (/1E %-=#.

8wap: Lhelr sLreeLs are shaded from Lhe sun
wlLh dlmmlng cloLhs, and suffused wlLh a hoL,
dense, humld, drlpplng aLmosphere,
Amerlcan lndlans: only earnlng Lhelr share of
Lhe clLy ln Lhe lasL 30 years, Lhey are sLlll
engaged ln Lurf wars legal, culLural, pollLlcal,
and crlmlnal,
vllanl: beneflLlng from close connecLlons wlLh
Lhe 8wap, Lhe lmperlal governmenL, and Lhe
megacorporaLlons, Lhelr nelghbourhoods have
a prosperous alr abouL Lhem,
1he lmperlal ulsLrlcL: where LranslenL lmperlal
soldlers and bueaucraLs llve and work. MosL of
Lhese people never leave Lhelr dlsLrlcL ln all
Lhe years Lhey spend ln !alapur.1hls area ls
prlmarlly domlnaLed by lmperlal Clvll Servlce
personnel: as Lhe secLor ls of llmlLed sLraLeglc
lmporLance, Lhere are relaLlvely few mlllLary
personnel here, compared Lo oLher secLors.
1he llnanclal ulsLrlcL: unllke all oLher lmperlal
SecLor CaplLals, tbls flnanclal dlsLrlcL ls
domlnaLed by Lhe few subsecLor-scale
corporaLlons - and even a few large plooetoty
corporaLlons - wlLh mosL of Lhe lmperlal
megacorporaLlons relegaLed Lo second-Ller
and speclalLy concerns. Cnly Ceneral roducLs
- co-rulers of Lhe lndusLrlal world of Zukhlsa
136

- and Lhe relenLless drlve of 1ukera Llnes have
permlLLed Lhem Lo galn more Lhan a
beachhead ln Lhe secLor.
137

1he CorporaLe ulsLrlcL: llke Lhe llnanclal
ulsLrlcL, lL ls unusual due Lo Lhe far smaller
presence of Lhe lmperlal CorporaLlons,
compared Lo mosL secLor caplLals. 1he enLlre
feel of Lhe dlsLrlcL would feel welrd, dlfflculL Lo
undersLand, Lhreadbare, and harsh Lo
lmperlals accusLomed Lo lmpersonal,
numbers-drlven, cosmopollLlan lmperlal
CorporaLe CulLure, raLher Lhan lnLensely
personal, relaLlonshlp-drlven, Cod-World-and-
1rlbe rooLed Cushgusl
138
buslness culLure.

136
See Ste||ar keaches #11 for deLalls.
137
1he oLher lmperlal MegacorporaLlons are noL completely
shuL ouL of Lhe secLor: Lhe 8wap and Lhe vllanl sysLems
welcome Lhelr producLs, and nullnad and Lnlnslsh are frlendly
markeLs. Pebrln ls lncreaslngly open as well: buL oLherwlse?
1oo much of a sLruggle for Loo meager a proflL. lf you can
even geL a proflL!"
138
l wouldn'L say 'LmpLyheaded' here: you'd be surprlsed how
you can geL numbers Lo lle, and how rellanL buslnesses are on a
shared culLure, lmplled LrusL and unspoken undersLandlngs.
1he ulplomaLlc ulsLrlcL: lor a mlnor lmperlal
caplLal world of only slx subsecLors and a
Loken amounL of wealLh, Lhere are qulLe a
number of dlplomaLlc delegaLlons and
consulaLes around. 1he !ullan roLecLoraLe
malnLalns a consulaLe here, buL lL's raLher
dwarfed by Lhe consulaLe (and surroundlng
seLLlemenL!) of Lhe Pegemony of Lorean.
Whlle Lhe maln lmperlal embassles of Lhe
SsllnLhls and 1oklLre sysLems ln Lhe SsllnLhls
Cap are on CaplLal
139
, Lhey also malnLaln small
offlces on AnLares and nullnad as well. 1he
k'kree malnLalns a Lrade delegaLlon on
nullnad as well.
o 1here wos a Solomanl AuLonomous
8eglon offlce here as well. lL was
closed long ago, buL Lhere remalns a
few Solomanl ConfederaLlon
unofflclal represenLaLlves LhaL are
under house arresL, yeL are permlLLed
conLacL wlLh 'lnformed frlends' from
Lhe ouLslde world. ?ou never know
how Lhe Lldes of war wlll shlfL -
beLLer hedge your beLs."
1he lper'mar ulsLrlcL: As noLed ln Ste||ar
keaches #3, Lhe lper'mar are prlmarlly
lnLersLellar nomads, llvlng off Lhelr
Lechnologlcal experLlse, buL regular access Lo
Lhe lmperlal SecLor CaplLal means access Lo
varlous pro[ecLs. So, a few small buL wealLhy
subclans remaln ln !a[apur, 'Lo gulde Lhe
lmperlum Lo senslble Lechnologlcal cholces.'
and SLarLrader ulsLrlcL: 1hls ls Lhe secLor
caplLal, so Lhe sLarLown ls falrly well cleaned
up compared Lo Lhe oLhers ln Lhe Slx
SubsecLors. SLlll, you don'L need Lo look Loo
hard before flndlng Lhe same Lrade Lycoons
and scammers, solld merchanLmen and shady
Lraders, as you'd flnd aL any oLher sLarLown.

uue Lo nullnad's asLrologlcal asLronomlcal poslLlon and
pollLlcal lmporLance, you'll flnd more lmperlal vlslLors
from ouLslde Lhe secLor here Lhan anywhere else, so lf
you really need Lo Lalk Lo a uenebl from ueneb, a vllanl
from vland, or a born-and-bred uelphl, Lhls ls Lhe only
place where you have a falr chance of dolng lL. Also,
famous celebrlLles who have commlLLed Lo vlslLlng ALL

139
CounLlng all Lhe 'lmporLanL slngle-sysLem governmenLs', Lhe
number of embassles aL Lhe lmperlal CaplLal ls slmply vost,
dwarflng any slmllar embassy row - !usL a slngle row?!? Pow
poolot!" - ln exlsLence.

Lhe lmperlal secLors are llkely Lo make a plL sLop aL
nullnad... Lhen qulckly Lurn Lhelr back as Lhey conLlnue
Lhelr [ourney, never Lo be seen ln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer
agaln. lf you hope Lo evet meeL someone famous ln
Lhe CuarLer, you oeeJ Lo be aL !a[apur, nullnad!"

Application: !And about those Virtues!
Llke Lhe modern secular humanlsL, l advlse LhaL Lhe
concepL of Lhe vlrLues - and Lhe enLlre Aqulnas-drlven
aLLempL Lo synLhesls a agan/ChrlsLlan clvlllzaLlon - ls
slmply obsoleLe. 8uL noL because Lhere are no endurlng
moral guldellnes, as Lhe moderns belleve: all Lhe vlrLues
are worLhwhlle and worLhy of respecL, so far as Lhey
go.

no: lL's because Lhe vlrLues - lf you rooL Lhem ln
1radlLlon and CusLom" as ConservaLlve agans do, and
noL ln 1ranscendenL Law - are buL pale and feeble
lmlLaLlons of Lhe real Lhlng.
140
Lven Lhe ArlsLocraLlc
vlrLues of Courage, !usLlce, 1emperance, and rudence
have no rooL, no anchor, and are Lhus no resLralnL on
Lhe powerful.
141

lrom Lhe Creek clLy-sLaLes Lo 8ome Lo Loday (Lo Lhe
flcLlonal lar luLure), Lhe SLaLe ls noLhlng more Lhan a
Lool for Lhe lnslders Lo beneflL aL Lhe expense of Lhe
CuLslders. All Lhe resL of lL - CourLs and Schools, llags
and ollce, Lhe Medla Lo Lhe rofessorlaLe, LlecLlons
and 8ureaucraLs - are [usL paraphernalla.

Lven Church and Law and Cod would become noLhlng
buL yeL anoLher Lool ln Lhelr hand, lf Lhey can geL Lhelr
polsonous fangs lnLo lL. And, ofLen enough, Lhe lnslders
succeed - well, noL wlLh Lhe real Lhlng obvlously, buL
lL's easy enough Lo brlbe
142
sophlsLlcaLed and

140
1he frulLs of Lhe splrlL (Cal. 3:22-23) are beLLer guldes: buL
even LhaL ls [usL Lhe tesolts of rlghLeous llvlng. 1he sootce of a
noble llfe ls ln obedlence Lo Cod and Pls CommandmenLs: buL
LhaL ls only posslble by Crace, as we have no ablllLy (or even
deslre) Lo obey Cod and llve unless ChrlsL moves us Lo. (Col.
2:12-14)
141
?es, even Courage - a vlrLue even lunaLlc LyranLs can uphold
- ends up on Lhe scrap heap when Lhe heaL geLs hoL enough. An
uncounLable number of harmless lnnocenLs have been harmed,
crlppled, or kllled by fearful cosLumed murderers, all ln Lhe
name of preservlng Lhelr preclous skln. As for Lhe up-and-
comlng mlllLary offlcer, Lhe one who wlns baLLle afLer baLLle,
and en[oys Lhe LrusL of hls men? 1lme Lo arrange an accldenL -
sLrlcLly Lo ensure Lhe unlLy of Lhe SLaLe, naLurally." And yeL, and
yeL. Courage ls noL slmply a vlrLue, buL Lhe form of every
vlrLue aL Lhe LesLlng polnL." Lven when C.S. Lewls annoys, he
sLlll has a polnL.
142
AcLually, l Lhlnk LhaL only Lhe low-level drones are boughL off
wlLh money or Lenure: Lhe really hlgh-level brlbes are lnner 8lng
lnvlLaLlons.
lnfluenLlal churchmen Lo bulld ldols LhaL Lhe lnslders
wlll approve of, and are celebraLed by Lhe masses.

And whaL ls Lhe ChrlsLlan response?
All Lmplres lall
All Lles Crumble
All ldols lall
All ueluslons Crash
Cnly ChrlsL wlll Lndure
Old Business: The Scent of Death
1here were qulLe a few lnsLances when Admlral unlo's 'good forLune' ran Lo rldlculous levels. lnLrepld
8esearchers Lraclng hls paLh across Lhe LxLenLs - all vargr Lhemselves, for obvlous reasons - end up raLher shocked
by [usL how many Lhlngs could have gone wrong, how narrowly Lhe SecLor Admlral sldesLepped a leLhal Lrap, or
[usL happened Lo show up aL Lhe preclse Llme LhaL hls vargr enemy was vulnerable. 1he lmpllcaLlons of Lhls
rldlculous chaln of lmposslble colncldences - LhaL elLher Lhe SecLor Admlral was gulded by Cod Plmself, or was
acLually Cod ln Lhe llesh - have lnfllcLed a deep wound of self doubL lnLo Lhe vargr psyche, wlLh serlous
consequences Lo be dlscussed laLer.
Lspeclally as Lhe prlmary resulL of Lhe Wars of Lhe Claw was Lhe crlppllng of vargr power and Lechnology, Lhe
deaLhs of over a Lrllllon vargr (dlrecLly or lndlrecLly), and Lhe re-lnvlgoraLlon of Lhe enemy human race.
Ste||ar keaches #22, CounLles and Churches: 8eyond Lhe lmperlal 8orders", page 28.

l never geL round Lo Lhls ln lssue #22, so l mlghL as well Lake a look aL lL now.

1he blggesL problem, afLer a Lruly crushlng defeaL, ls LhaL you could slmply glve up. l don'L Lhlnk Lhe vargr of Lhe
CounLles and Churches" unlverse wlll do Lhls: even afLer Lhls masslve seLback, Lhey are sLlll ahead of where Lhey
were when Lhey flrsL sLarLed rebelllng agalnsL Lhelr slave sLaLus Lhousands of years ago. 1he Wars of Lhe Claw are
over, and Lhe vargr sLlll exlsL, have made subsLanLlal galns ln recovery, and are even readylng for an offenslve
agalnsL Lhe k'kree.
no, Lhe acLual defeaL lsn'L really Lhe problem. 1he problem lles elsewhere, ln Lhe mlnd:
1) Pave Lhe gods/faLe/desLlny/naLural selecLlon declslvely Lurned agalnsL us?"
2) 1he reallzaLlon LhaL We can really lose, we can really dle - all of us - and our enLlre exlsLence can Lurn
lnLo noLhlng buL dry dusL. lorgoLLen."
1he flrsL problem ls noL really a problem. 1he vargr slmply wlll noL kneel Lo a human god, nor recognlze human
morallLy as auLhorlLaLlve over Lhelr own acLlons - as all of Lhese acLlons would make Lhe vargr subservlenL Lo Lhe
humans. Cnce you have declded LhaL Lhere are prlces noL worLh paylng for any reason, deaLh, and even Lhe
exLlncLlon of your people and culLure, can be seen as Lhe proper cholce.
1he problem ls Lhe kloJ of deaLh Lhey are faclng: of belng [usL a road bump ln some oLher race's sLory. 1he vargr
hasn'L had Lo face an exlsLenLlal crlsls, or face Lhe end of Lhelr hlsLory and Lhelr race slnce Lhe Wolvesbane lague
LhreaLened Lo geL ouL of conLrol. WlLh LhaL crlsls, a loL of hard work and radlcal co-operaLlon beLween Lhe packs
managed Lo save Lhelr specles, and afLer Lhe crlsls had passed, Lhe vargr could agaln grow as before.
8uL Lhls Llme, lL's dlfferenL. WlLh Lhe heavy losses Lhe vargr have susLalned ln Lhe new vargr Wars - especlally Lhe
desLrucLlon of so many AnclenL weapon cashes - Lhe facLlon-rldden vargr of tbls unlverse have losL Lhelr maln
defense agalnsL Lhe human lmperlum. 1he smarL pollcy Lhen ls Lo pull back your claws and rebulld agaln: buL Lhe
vargr slmply wlll oot stop raldlng Lhe humans, sLeallng Lhelr sLuff, or kllllng Lhose who reslsL. And lf Lhe humans
showed Lhe posslblllLy of wlplng Lhem ouL before, Lhey can fully manlfesL LhaL posslblllLy nexL Llme.
1he vargr can feel Lhe cold fangs of deaLh, resLlng genLly on Lhelr LhroaL. lL ls genLle and sofL now, buL Lhe grlp ls
unbreakable. 1he vargr have never been an lnLrospecLlve specles, or one glven Lo worrles of a dlsLanL fuLure, buL
Lhe cold wlnds of Lhe comlng darkness ls seeplng lnLo vargr arL, ln Lhe sLorles Lhey Lell, ln how Lhey flghL. More
passlon, more recklessness, more [oy, more sLrengLh - and less LhoughLfulness, less plannlng, less sacrlflclng Loday
for a beLLer Lomorrow. LaLlng Lhe seed corn, lf you wlll. A flnal bursL of deflance before eLernal nlghL.
ln summary? ln Cfflclal 1raveller, Lhe vargr are Lhe creaLlon of CrandfaLher, who may answer Lhelr crles aL Lhelr
Llme of greaLesL perll. ln Lhe CounLles and Churches" unlverse, Lhe vargr have. noLhlng.

The Association of Hope

A0# S&Q&1 S#+$'# -1 &$%-/19 ;lGI::r> c0-(# 1/% & +#=-1&( #6#1% (-@# %0# <="#)-&( )#%)-#6&( /B =-((-/1+ /B (/1EI
#1+(&6#3 <="#)-&( $-%-^#1+ B)/= <@/1 -1 %0# =-3Iurr+ R!%#((&) S#&$0#+ TUo9 "&E# UmV9 %0# S&Q&1 S#+$'# +%-((
-1+"-)#+ =&1? 2-%0-1 %0# 3/21%)/33#1 !-C !'8+#$%/)+9 &13 =&3# %0# 5++/$-&%-/1 /B 7/"#F+ )#"'%&%-/1>
1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "Sa|vat|on" kon
See h|s work at http:]]www.renderos|ty.com]mod]ga||ery]|ndex.php?|mage_|d=17034S7

Preface
lounded and led by Slr Andrew Sandla
143
ln 133-986 - whlle sLlll flghLlng courL (and oLher) baLLles Lo secure hls
wealLh - Lhe AssoclaLlon of Pope (AoP) ls a rapldly growlng charlLable neLwork LhaL works Lo supporL and rescue
vlcLlms of plracy wlLhln Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer. Slr Andrew has grown bored wlLh Lhe poslLlon of Chalrman of
AoP: success breeds boredom, and new challenges call ouL Lo hlm, so he ls lnLeresLed ln Lurnlng over Lhe relns Lo
someone else.

1he Cs may be fellow charlLable workers, hlred mercenarles (Lhe AoP does noL arm her shlps, buL ls wllllng Lo
purchase armed proLecLlon), or wealLhy magnaLes lnLeresLed ln leadlng Lhe AoP Lhemselves, Lo go furLher ln her
presenL course or ln a new dlrecLlon.

143
lor more on Lhe lmperlal knlghL, see Ste||ar keaches #21, page 30-31

Ethics
Slr Andrew ls a ChrlsLlan, and ls sLrongly moLlvaLed by !esus' charlLable and compasslonaLe acLlons ln Pls llfe.
unllke mosL ChrlsLlans ln Lhe lmperlal Lra - who remaln as eLhnocenLrlc as Lhe resL of Lhe Solomanl - Slr Andrew
lnslsLs LhaL Lhls compasslon be exLended Lo non-human/non-Solomanl sophonLs, as a form of Common Crace.

MosL of hls sLaff operaLes on dlfferenL prlnclples. 1he vllanl (raclal and culLural) belleve LhaL all sophonLs should be
broughL lnLo one unlfled consensus, and feel LhaL exLendlng mercy and compasslon Lo Lhose ln need helps Lo brlng
mlnds LogeLher, Lhus laylng Lhe foundaLlon Lo Lrue unlLy and a Llmeless, never-aglng grace and peace. CerLaln
8wap feel LhaL AoP nourlshes Lhe Wapawab, Lhe unlversal 1ree/neLwork (envlsloned as a greaL and llfe-glvlng
Lree) LhaL brlngs order and llfe Lo all... even whlle drlven Lo dlsLracLlon by Lhe AoP's hablL of rule-bendlng.

1he lrlllLok vargr (who make up mosL of Lhe vargr wlLhln Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer) are sLrongly lncllned Lo pro-
soclal acLlvlLles, are qulck Lo recognlze Lhe value of human llfe as equal Lo Lhelr own, and make up a large
percenLage of Lhe sLaff ln Lhe fleld. As a large percenLage of plraLes are vargr, Lhls makes Lhe lrlllLok conLrlbuLlon
especlally valuable ln obLalnlng lnformaLlon on sLolen llves and equlpmenL. Cn Lhe oLher hand, as vargr Lhey are
naLurally vlewed wlLh susplclon. and, some plraLes do lmpersonaLe AoP vargr Lo geL Lhelr LargeLs Lo lower Lhelr
guard, permlLLlng a more easler klll.

1here are a small buL noLlceable facLlon of 8uddhlsLs ln Lhe AoP: followers of a monk from ramas ln Lhe
Pegemony of Lorean, who led 40 of hls mosL dedlcaLed followers from LhaL world Lo Lhe AoP offlce ln Pebrln Lo
[oln and serve wlLhouL pay. (Slx of Lhese followers dled on Lhe [ourney, due Lo a plraLe aLLack). Slr Andrew ls qulck
Lo polnL ouL Lo hls fellow ChrlsLlan bellevers LhaL Lhere are more Pegemonlo 8uddhlsLs ln Lhe AoP Lhan lmperlal
ChrlsLlans, Musllms, and Plndus. comblned.
144

Sald ChrlsLlan bellevers remaln unmoved, polnLlng ouL LhaL love beglns aL home, wlLh your nelghbours - noL wlLh
dlsLanL allens from far sLars - and hls own people need hlm more Lhan sLrangers do.
143

Goals
unllke almosL all locally-rooLed charlLles - buL llke many noble-sponsored charlLles - Lhe AssoclaLlon ls noL Lled Lo
a parLlcular race, rellglon, Lrlbe, world, or culLure. lL ls Lled Lo a parLlcular need, Lhough: Lhe rellef of vlcLlms of
plracy.

lraLes exlsL Lo sLeal and Lo klll. ulfferenL plraLes have dlfferenL moLlvaLlons:
1he deslre Lo lnfllcL paln and deaLh, wlLh Lhe sLeallng parL merely belng a frlnge beneflL: 8lood vargr
plraLes fall ln Lhls caLegory.
Lasy money, wlLh vlolence used as Lhe prod Lo geL whaL Lhey really wanL: Lhe dual-specles
146
lkonaz
lraLes & Lhe race-bllnd Shadow CarLel comes under here.
8ellglous grounds: Lhe 8engal Llons (Plndu nobles) and SLellar Shelks (Musllm nobles) used plraLes for
numerous proxy wars for cenLurles (400s - 800s lmperlal). 1hls ls no longer Lhe case: ln 993, Lhe Musllm
8roLherhood works oqolost plraLes, and noL ln supporL of Lhem.

144
lollowlng 1zu Chl, Lhese 8uddhlsLs follow an eLhlc of unlversal compasslon for all llvlng Lhlngs, human or noL.
hLLp://www.us.Lzuchl.org/us/en/lndex.php?opLlon=com_conLenL&vlew=arLlcle&ld=20473Adeveloplng-a-hearL-of-
equallLy&caLld=823AmasLerLeachlngs&lLemld=199&lang=en 1hls poslLlon has a very small followlng ln Lhe lmperlal LmpLy CuarLer.
143
A subsLanLlal porLlon of local ChrlsLlans Lhlnk LhaL Slr Andrew's charlLy ls merely a pro[ecL Lo curry favour from lmperlal auLhorlLles - a
successful pro[ecL, as hls knlghLhood proves. Slr Andrew ofLen reLorLs LhaL perhaps Lhelr hearLs are as merely as cold and hard as a nlckel-
lron asLerold. and hls people reply LhaL wealLh lnsulaLes men from reallLy, allowlng wasLeful, self-rlghLeous gesLures LhaL poor normal
folk cannoL afford. WhaL ls Lrue ls lefL for Lhe 8eferee Lo [udge: noLe LhaL lL ls posslble for oll of Lhe above Lo be Lrue!
146
Puman vllanl and Cvaghoun vargr, boLh Lled Lo Lhe exLremely wealLhy world of lkon,
who have no qualms ln robblng poor lmperlal shlps & sysLems.
Why do Lhe wealLhy sLeal?"
Money alone does noL brlng Charlsma ln vargr socleLles.
Cnly darlng acLs of vlolence and LhefL brlngs honour among Lhe wolves of space."

8aclal grounds. 1he vargr have an earned repuLaLlon as plraLes, coupled wlLh Lhelr raclal prlde.
147
ln
conLrasL, Lhe plraLes of udusls subsecLor are qulLe humanlsLlc: whlle happy Lo sLeal from Lhelr own
people, Lhey reacL wlLh rage when vargr lnLerlopers come for Lhelr own plcklngs. ALLempLs by Solomanl
SecurlLy Lo lnLroduce a raclal blas among oLher plraLes, focuslng on Lhe Shadow CarLel, have meL wlLh
ab[ecL fallure.
8y pollLlcal goals, wlLh Lhe coverL Ans (ollLlcal AcLlon neLworks) once upon a Llme belng a prlme
example of Lhls. nowadays, mosL of Lhe Ans have largely abandoned Lhe old Abadanl ldeology, ln favour
of slmply sLeallng plus shouLlng some parLy slogans.
148

CulLe a loL of Lhe vlcLlms of plracy are lnLersLellar merchanLmen who are ln Lhe wrong place aL Lhe wrong Llme.
Some of Lhem merely lose a modular cuLLer, an alr/rafL, or some cargo: oLhers lose Lhelr shlps, and sLlll oLhers lose
Lhelr llves.

1he AoP cannoL compensaLe for flnanclal losses, buL Lhey can do Lhe followlng:
1race down and reLurn sLranded spacers and passengers Lo Lhelr homeworlds,
8ecover bodles and reLurn Lhem Lo Lhelr loved ones,
1race down Lhe enslaved, free Lhem, and brlng Lhem home,
And Lend Lo Lhe wounded.

1here are plraLes who Lake hosLages, and are wllllng Lo negoLlaLe for Lhelr release ln reLurn for a ransom. 1he
AssoclaLlon of Pope avolds Lhls klnd of mlddle-man poslLlon, preferrlng Lo glve Lhe work Lo speclallzed Crlsls
negoLlaLlon Leams. Powever, Lhere are Llmes when Lhe nearesL negoLlaLlon 1eam ls a good dozen llghL years
away, so AoP leaders are Lralned ln Lhe foundaLlons of Lhls klnd of work.

1he AoP ls prlmarlly lnLeresLed ln Lhe proLecLlon of senLlenL llfe and Lhe reLurn of Lhe dead Lo Lhelr famllles and
clans, and noL Lhe reLurn of cargo or properLy: buL lf lL doesn'L lnLerfere wlLh Lhelr prlmary mlsslon, her members
are happy Lo polnL ouL where losL cargo can be found should Lhey happen Lo know of lL.

A Lhln-buL-broad neLwork of hosplLable frlends of Lhe AssoclaLlon ls wllllng Lo puL up pennlless survlvors of plraLe
aLLacks for free,
149
and some allled sLarshlp capLalns are wllllng Lo provlde LransporL for free as well.

1he free LransporL usually lnvolves worklng passage, Lrue, buL come on - do you really Lhlnk LhaL washlng dlshes,
mopplng floors, and manhandllng equlpmenL can pay for ooy lnLersLellar [ourney? l respecL Lhe prlnclple, buL a
Lough klndness ls sLlll klndness.

llnally, Lhe AoP provldes a good number of slmple-buL-useful free educaLlonal maLerlal, Leachlng capLalns Lhe
baslc Lell-Lales of a plraLe ambush, ordlnary people whaL Lo do ln case of a plraLe aLLack, and Lhe mosL successful
sLraLegles for defense. (?es, leLhal weapons are suggesLed, and elemenLary examples of baslc squad LacLlcs are
provlded.) Also, plraLes are ofLen llnked wlLh dlrLslde crlmlnal neLworks, so Lhe baslcs of Lracklng your properLy and
people - especlally young glrls and women - ls also provlded. Cnce Lhey're offworld, Lhey're almosL lmposslble Lo
geL back, so you have Lo head Lhem off aL Lhe pass!"
130

147
Why do Lhe vargr Corsalrs palnL human skulls on Lhelr sLarshlps?"
8ecause lL Lerrlfles bomoos, of course!"
148
noLe LhaL Lhe Pebrln 8evoluLlonary lronL sLlll provldes sLrong supporL for Lhe rlghLs of cyborgs. belngs generally frowned upon ln
lmperlal culLure.
149
ShouL-ouL on Lhe lmporLance of hosplLallLy: hLLp://amerlcanvlslon.org/10608/reclalmlng-culLure-chrlsLlan-
hosplLallLy/#sLhash.3rLv1a9z.dpbs
130
Cne useful arLlcle on modern sex slavery: hLLp://www.sLarLrlbune.com/local/230336631.hLml noLe how Lhe Smlllng Cnes llke Lo puL on
a clean-shaven mask, and prefer Lo make a beellne Lo Lhe more lnnocenL glrls. lrom Lhe suburbs Lhey don'L know Lhe dlfference," he
sald. l'm looklng for Lhe nave daughLer LhaL you send back and forLh Lo Lhe bus sLop." !usL a noLe Lo all Lhe LrusLlng, gulllble ChrlsLlans
readlng Lhls.

1he AoP ls noL a law enforcemenL agency, nor does lL provlde securlLy, buL her members can brlng lnLeresLed
sophonLs lnLo conLacL wlLh Lhe proper lmperlal auLhorlLles.

51/%0#) +&3 )'-19 +%&13-1E &+ & ='%# %#+%-=/1? /B %0# N)& /B 7/))/)> A0# -11'=#)&8(# )/%%-1E9
#="%? $-%-#+ /B `#%& O'&3)&1% &)# B&6/')#3 0&'1%+ /B %0# `(//3 ]&)E)9 &13 &)#
d'-%# 3&1E#)/'+ (/$&%-/1+ %/ -1B-(%)&%#> 1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "ku|ns" kon. See h|s work at
http:]]www.renderos|ty.com]mod]ga||ery]|ndex.php?|mage_|d=172S0S3

Intelligence
As was [usL wrlLLen,
1he AoP ls noL a law enforcemenL agency, nor does lL provlde securlLy, buL her members can brlng lnLeresLed
sophonLs lnLo conLacL wlLh Lhe proper lmperlal auLhorlLles."

Cn Lhe oLher hand, Lhe AssoclaLlon ls always lnLeresLed ln Lraclng down Lhe losL, and Lhe search for Lhem naLurally
means Lhe collecLlon of lnLelllgence and Lhe bulldlng of conLacLs.

CulLe a loL of Lhls lnLelllgence ls galned by anonymous Llps and dlscreLe hlnLs ln varlous sLarLowns across Lhe LmpLy
CuarLer. Some of lL ls provlded by frlendly law enforcemenL offlcers, or as publlc releases by Lhe lmperlal or
Colonlal naval offlces. SysLems wlLh solld naval forces also comes across Lhe occaslonal crlppled or shaLLered
vlcLlm, and Lhe AoP has agenLs and local frlends who keep an ear ouL for Lhls klnd of lnformaLlon. llnally, Lhe
Lyplcal sLarmerc come across a wreck every so ofLen, and may choose Lo drop a noLe Lo Lhe AoP dlrecLly. ln all

cases, Lhe AoP ls wllllng Lo pay markeL raLes for Lhls lnformaLlon: mosL governmenL offlclals Lurn down Lhe
paymenL.
131

1here are Lhose conLacLs who are wllllng Lo provlde beLLer Lhan average lnformaLlon, ln reLurn for a sLeady sum:
Lhe AoP dlscreeLly pays, puLs Lhe lnformaLlon Lo work, and avolds asklng nolsy quesLlons on [usL why sald
lnformanL geLs a regular feed of hlgh-grade, acLlonable lnformaLlon.

1he AssoclaLlon's lnformaLlon neLwork ls based on worlds on Lhe x-boaL rouLes, wlLh a sLarporL class of A Lo C.
MosL lnformaLlon ls senL on Lhe x-boaLs, wlLh only Lhe mosL senslLlve lnformaLlon encrypLed and courlered by
armed, professlonal operaLlves. Cn occaslon, lnformaLlon may be senL vla free Lrader Lo worlds off Lhe x-boaL
rouLes: lL ls on Lhese worlds LhaL acLual plraLe acLlvlLy ls mosL llkely. Cne head offlce ls kepL ln Lhe subsecLor caplLal
of each of Lhe slx lmperlal subsecLors, wlLh Lhe headquarLers locaLed aL Lhe lmperlal secLor caplLal of nullnad.
132

Personnel
1here are Lhousands of casual allles and occaslonal volunLeers of Lhe AssoclaLlon of Pope, buL LoLal headcounL of
pald sLaff ls kepL aL 200 per subsecLor, for a LoLal of ~1200 salarled workers for Lhe lmperlal reglon of Lhe LmpLy
CuarLer. Cn a per-subsecLor basls, Lhere are usually 30 sophonLs on Lhe subsecLor caplLal's head offlce, and
anoLher 10 or so on Lhe Lhree-Lo-seven secondary offlces. 1hls adds up Lo ~100 offlce sLaff for Lhe subsecLor, Lhe
oLher hundred or so are malnly fleld workers, arranglng for LransporL and medlcal care for Lhe found, and
arranglng/provldlng proper rlLes and LransporL for Lhe dead. A small number - perhaps a dozen or so per subsecLor
- are agenLs, elLher overL or under llghL cover, gaLherlng lnformaLlon where slaves, hosLages, marooned crews and
passengers, and Lhe dead are locaLed and can be recovered.

8egardlng Lhe men wlLh guns: mosL of Lhem are guards, hlred on conLracL for a parLlcular [ob aL a parLlcular Llme.
1here ls a full-Llme slLe securlLy speclallsL, usually Lled Lo Lhe subsecLor offlce buL occaslonally lenL ouL Lo supporL a
fleld offlce. Lach subsecLor also has one armed courler, ofLen wlLh a bloLech memory enhancemenL, for dellverlng
Lhe mosL senslLlve lnformaLlon Lo Lhe subsecLor headquarLers. Cfflclal records deplcL each courler as a man of
Mlxed vllanl descenL: wheLher Lhls ls Lrue, or a decepLlon Lo hlde a 8wap/vargr neLwork say, ls up Lo Lhe 8eferee
Lo declde.

MosL of Lhe AoP personnel are elLher vllanl (Mlxed or ure) Lled Lo Lhe corpse-preparaLlon and medlcal casLes, or
Lhe pro-soclal lrlllLok-lmperlal vargr from udusls, wllllng Lo glve a hand Lo help all sophonLs. lew Solomanl are
lnLeresLed Lhough: Lhe casLe & race-consclous LasL lndlans aren'L lnLeresLed ln dolng rlLually unclean work, and Lhe
Musllm malnsLream look ouL for Lhelr own, flrsL and lasL.
133
Lven Lhough Lhe AssoclaLlon of Pope was founded by
an Amerlcan lndlan ChrlsLlan, Lhe resL of hls people have re[ecLed hls example as well: Why are you spendlng your
Llme and money on ouLslders? ?our own people are Lhe smallesL and Lhe weakesL ln Lhe secLor - you should Lend
Lo your own, flrsL and lasL!"

ln addlLlon Lo runnlng lnLerference wlLh Lhe waLchful and unsympaLheLlc Solomanl - and geLLlng Lhem Lo aL leasL
noL hlnder Lhe work of Lhe AoP - Slr Andrew ls aLLempLlng Lo recrulL more 8wap, Lazlsarl, and lper'mar full-Llme
members. 1here has been some success wlLh Lhe Lazlsarl (wlLh a baLch of 23 recrulLs geLLlng ready for deploymenL
Lhls year) buL Lhe 8wap and lper'mar lnlLlaLlves are Lurnlng lnLo fallures. CharlLy lsn'L parL of Lhe 8wap concepLlon
of Lhe unlverse: exhausLlve compllance wlLh Lhe rules ls, and Lhe AoP bends enough rules as parL of Lhelr dally
work Lo Lurn mosL of Lhe 8wap off. 1he lper'mar are aware of Lhe value of Lhelr Lechnologlcal skllls, and lnslsL on

131
AL leasL ln publlc.
132
1he AssoclaLlon of Pope recognlzes Lhe auLhorlLy of Lhe lmperlum, and wlll provlde lnformaLlon Lo lmperlal auLhorlLles when
requesLed. Cn Lhe oLher hand, Lhelr prlmary concern ls noL Lo uphold Lhe rule of Lhe Lmperor, buL Lo reunlLe famllles Lhe plraLes have
broken, and resLore Lhe dead Lo Lhelr clans and famllles: Lhey also belleve ln proLecLlng Lhelr workers and Lhelr less-Lhan-savory conLacLs
as much as ls posslble under lmperlal law.
133
A ma[or lmprovemenL from a cenLury ago, when Lhey soughL Lo sub[ugaLe Lhe local lnfldels under Lhelr rule - uslng Lhe local lmperlal
forces Lhey domlnaLed as Lhelr Lool.

geLLlng pald aL markeL raLes lf Lhey are Lo be hlred full-Llme. 1hls would be budgeL-busLlng for Lhe AoP, so Lhey
have declded Lo conLlnue Lo hlre Lhe lper'mar on a conLracL, as-needed basls.

?ou can easlly [udge Lhe characLer of a man by how he LreaLs Lhose who can do noLhlng for hlm.
!ohann Wolfgang von CoeLhe

CharlLy LlC ls a proflL-maxlmlzlng medlcal/bloLech buslness, buL Lhey know Lhe use of good publlclLy. Moreover,
Lhe company ls bullL on Lhe bones of a falled medlcal charlLy, funded by lmperlal Core paLrons whose lnLeresL -
and money - moved on Lo Lhe nexL Lelevlsed crlsls.
134
upon occaslon, CharlLy LlC has been known Lo comes
Lhrough wlLh some useful advlse, surplus equlpmenL, or fresh-faced docLors, nurses, and medlcal Lechs Lo glve a
hand when lL's mosL needed - and when Lhe opLlcs are good.
133

Equipment
1he AssoclaLlon of Pope malnLalns Lwo old [ump2 lar 1raders for LransporLlng Lhe wounded and Lhe dead,
donaLlons from wealLhy supporLers looklng Lo do good and geL a nlce Lax wrlLe-off aL Lhe same Llme. 8oLh are
armed only wlLh sandcasLers: Lhe cargo holds have been reLooled Lo flL over a hundred low berLhs Lo LransporL Lhe
llvlng and Lhe dead: Lhe sLaLerooms for Lhe slx hlgh passengers are usually glven over Lo medlcal personnel, Lhe
sLarshlp gunner, and guards on an as needed basls.

1he lar 1raders are only meanL as an lmmedlaLe reacLlon force: because demands ln Lhese harsh Llmes ofLen
ouLsLreLch capablllLles, Lhe AoP ofLen conLracLs ouL boLh medlcal personnel and sLarshlps. CharlLy LlC has been
known Lo asslsL ln Lhe mosL hlgh-proflle cases ln reLurn for favourable publlclLy, buL mosL of Lhe work ls a low-
proflle affalr, and AoP depends on publlc-mlnded nobles, local buslnesses, and prlvaLe clLlzens Lo glve a hand
when lL's needed.

lor long-Lerm operaLlons - when an enLlre clLy or reglon ls harmed due Lo plraLe acLlvlLy (Clve me Lhe money, or
l'll shooL-up every power sLaLlon on Lhe conLlnenL!"), or when Lhere are vasL camps of freed prlsoners and slaves Lo
Lend Lo - Lhe AoP needs Lo rely on merchanLmen who are wllllng Lo brave Lhe hosLlle vold Lo brlng equlpmenL and
personnel Lo Lhe affecLed worlds, from power planLs Lo hybrld LS1CLAS alrcrafL
136
Also, a large amounL of rellef
packs ls slowly belng accumulaLed and sLored ln Lhe subsecLor caplLals of Lhe secLor
137
, Lo be rapldly dlsLrlbuLed Lo
Lhose ln need.

The Rajan Rescue
1he blggesL vlcLory so far came from Lhe dlscovery of a plraLe prlson camp of hundreds of capLured women,
desLlned for Lhe sex slave Lrade. 1hls camp, locaLed on an lsolaLed lsland on Lhe world of 8a[an, was successfully
ralded on 283-990 wlLh Lhe armed supporL of sLarmercs - Lhe Colonlal navy was busy wlLh Pebrln sysLem aL Lhe
Llme - and several dozen lar 1raders and small llners Lo LransporL Lhe freed women Lo Lhe safeLy of Pebrln. no
supporL was forLhcomlng from Lhe local mlllLary, who was suspecLed (laLer proven) Lo have cuL a deal wlLh Lhe
plraLes: uon'L rald our people or aLLack our shlpplng, and we won'L noLlce Lhe sLrange ulC acLlvlLy around cerLaln
obscure lslands."
138

134
See Ste||ar keaches #3, Sand CasLles" and LmpLy CuarLer Lcho" for more lnformaLlon.
133
wby CharlLy LlC ls dolng Lhls ls lefL Lo Lhe 8eferee Lo declde. noLe LhaL Lhe reason need noL be slnlsLer: Lhere ls a solld buslness case Lo
be made for Lhe developmenL & encouragemenL of lndependenL charlLles, boLh Lo promoLe Lhe CharlLy LlC name and as a feeder for
wealLhy yeL LraumaLlzed cusLomers Lo enLer Lhe CharlLy sysLem of comprehenslve care.
136
See hLLp://www.glzmag.com/esLolas-exLremely-shorL-Lake-off-and-landlng-all-surface-hybrld-alrcrafL/29790/plcLures#3
137
LxcepLlng ?ogesh, whlch has spenL much of 992 under a plraLe slege/blockade. 1he plraLe hold over Pebrln has been broken ln recenL
monLhs, and escorLed convoys has managed Lo LransporL rellef packs and supplles Lo lrash, flghLlng off Lhe plraLes LhaL mercllessly rald
LhaL subsecLor.
138
?es, lf Lhe 1L 9 naLlve Su8 boaLs had aLLacked Lhe 1L 8 plraLes, Lhey would have been crushed. WheLher Lhls [usLlfles Lhe declslon of Lhe
8a[an governmenL ls up Lo Lhe reader Lo declde.

v/' 1#6#) @1/2 20&% "//)(?I(-%9 +#$')#3 B&$-(-%? -+ &$%'&((? & !0&3/2 .&)%#(I/21#3 2&)#0/'+# B/) +%/(#1 E//3+ D
/) @-31&""#3 +(&6#+> 1he graph|c |s t|t|ed "nANL_CU_nLAkD_I1_1CC" Ma|o. See h|s work at
http:]]donma|o.dev|antart.com]art]nAVL-CU-nLAkD-I1-1CC-434847S9S

1hls rescue gave Lhe AssoclaLlon of Pope a ma[or boosL ln fame across Lhe Slx SubsecLors, and donaLlons roared ln.
Slr Andrew was able Lo parley Lhls lnLo a solld donor neLwork, allowlng Lhe AssoclaLlon Lo boLh expand and sLay ln
Lhe black. 8y 993, Lhe AoP was deeply rooLed Lhls slde of Lhe Lesser 8lfL, operaLlons were runnlng well. and Slr
Andrew sLarLed geLLlng bored and resLless.

The Future
Looklng Lo Lransfer Lhe AssoclaLlon he bullL Lo LrusLworLhy hands, Lhe lmperlal knlghL has sLarLed looklng for a
sulLable successor. lf Lhe Cs are wealLhy (30 MCr+ ln ready money
139
) and respecLed by Lhe lnLersLellar
communlLy, Lhey may well be conLenders Lo leadershlp poslLlons: lf noL, Lhe characLer An khlplkhlrglldemln ln Lhe
appendlx can be used: Cs who work wlLh Lhe AssoclaLlon should be able Lo feel Lhe change ln managemenL sLyle,
from an enLrepreneurlal, rellglously-moLlvaLed splrlL Lo a esLabllshed plllar of lnLersLellar socleLy, drlven by an
lmperlal concern wlLh LradlLlon, communlLy unlLy, and consensus-based Lhlnklng.

lrankly speaklng, lL lsn'L really a bad change. lL may even be necessary, glven Lhe socleLy and Lhe Llmes: lL [usL lsn'L
very lnLeresLlng and lnsplraLlonal, and Lhe enLlre operaLlon becomes a blL dull and rouLlne, lf sLlll a good Lhlng for
mosL everyone. lf Lhe Cs become leaders of Lhe AoP - by cllmblng up Lhe ranks, or (lf wealLhy) ouLclasslng An
khlplkhlrglldemln as a beLLer successor ln Lhe eyes of Slr Andrew - Lhe fuLure ls ln Lhelr hands.

Cr perhaps Lhey Cs undersLand Lhe need for predlcable leadershlp (and predlcable fundlng!), and prefer Lo work
wlLh An khlplkhlrglldemln as Chalrman, dolng all Lhe borlng buL needed work Lo keep Lhlngs hummlng. and
Lhemselves as flreflghLers, flxlng fleld problems wlLh rescued hosLages, negoLlaLlng wlLh boLh Lhe lmperlal navy
and Lhe plraLe packs for safe LransporL, and arranglng proper burlal/cremaLory/oLher ceremonles LhaL wlll saLlsfy
vargr, vllanl, Solomanl, and 8wap senslblllLles, phllosophles, and rellglons.

139
8eady money" here does not lnclude land, properLy (lncludlng sLarshlps), or oLher dlfflculL-Lo-value-and-sell asseLs llke planeLs,
lmperlal flefs, paLenLs, eLc. lnsLead, l am referrlng Lo hlghly llquld lLems llke cash (lmperlal CredlLs & !ullan SLars), preclous meLals, wldely
dlsLrlbuLed sLocks (ln 1ukera Llnes (across Lhe lmperlum) or CharlLy LlC (wlLhln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer)), and selecLed bonds and governmenL
debL (lmperlal debL flrsL and foremosL, buL also old and successful planeLary governmenLs, and of ma[or lnLersLellar buslnesses).

8efore Lhe end of Lhe week, Pandlcap lnLernaLlonal plans Lo send some aL leasL 730 emergency packs Lo Lhe
hlllpplnes vla lLs loglsLlcs plaLform ln uubal. WhaL makes all Lhe dlfference ls LhaL Lhese packs have been pre-
prepared and deslgned for dlfferenL slzes of famllles. 1he conLenL can be adapLed Lo needs ldenLlfled ln Lhe
dlsasLer zone," adds Pelene. 1he baslc slx-person pack conLalns a LenL, cooklng pack, blankeLs, waLer can,
mosqulLo neLs, soap, a plasLlc sheeL and rope. lL meeLs people's baslc needs ln Lhe lmmedlaLe afLermaLh of
dlsasLers llke Lhls one." 8eneflLlng aL leasL 4,400 people, Lhls conslgnmenL wlll be dlsLrlbuLed ln Lhe affecLed areas.
lL wlll be rapldly followed by oLher conslgnmenLs, lncludlng packs used by our Leams Lo seL up focal polnLs for
vulnerable people. 1hey lnclude a cllnlc LenL and baslc loglsLlcal and medlcal equlpmenL, enabllng Pandlcap
lnLernaLlonal's Leams Lo care for ln[ured beneflclarles and Lo provlde Lhem moblllLy and asslsLlve devlces.
nand|cap Internat|ona|,
hLLp://rellefweb.lnL/reporL/phlllpplnes/phlllpplnes-Lyphoon-hundreds-emergency-klLs-affecLed-famllles

Appendix: Sir An Khipikhirgiidemin
160

resldenL and CLC, An-Man lndusLrles
u A777l38, Age 61, Mlxed vllanl
Skllls: 1rader-3, ercepLlon-2, 8rlbery-1, SLreeLwlse-1, Cambllng-1, lnLervlew-1, Admln-1, Crav vehlcle-1, 8oaL
(Sand sklff)-1, LlngulsLlcs-1, PlsLory (Lnlnslsh vllanl on Pebrln)-1, 8lfleman-0, CompuLer-0, Mechanlcal-0

Languages: Modern vllanl (naLlve), Pebrln Arablc

1ools & Alds: Slr An carrles only a small, reasonably-prlced noLepad and pen.

vlsual: Slr An khlplkhlrglldemln ls dressed ln a modlfled vllanl fashlon, lnfluenced by Arablc and Lhe beLLer vargr
sLyles (wlLhouL Lhe bllndlng colour clashes!) As a ranklng member of Lhe vllanl corporaLe casLe, only hls head and
neck ls shown: all oLher flesh ls covered wlLh rlchly paLLerned fabrlc.

Cpenlng 1heme: 8obl kauker, 1ranslL AngsL" hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=87CLP-l_-4

Summary:
8orn ln a famlly of horLlculLure farmers, An recelved no formal schoollng whaLsoever or any hlnL of Lhe ouLslde
world, yeL he defled Lhe LradlLlons and expecLaLlons of hls vllanl-culLure famlly, selllng Lhe famlly ground car and
uslng Lhe money Lo seL hlmself up as a lLlneranL repalrman on Lhe oLher slde of Lhe planeL. Pe never developed any
real sklll as a mechanlc, buL he had a knack as a mlddleman, hooklng up skllled Lraders wlLh Lhe people who
needed Lhem, wlLh hlmself geLLlng a percenLage of Lhe Lrade. unllke Lhe Solomanl, An was able Lo deal well wlLh
vargr scroungers, unllke Lhe vllanl, An was able Lo qulckly ad[usL Lo shlfLs ln Lhe markeLplace.

MasLerlng llLeracy oftet masLerlng numbers and accounLlng spreadsheeLs, An began Lo bulld hls lndusLrlal emplre,
leveraglng hls sklll ln readlng people and paylng aLLenLlon Lo hls cusLomers Lo survlve on Lhe deserL world. 1he
repalr buslness became a heavy equlpmenL buslness, an lndusLry LhaL demands a loL of waLer - buL waLer ls so
valuable on Pebrln, LhaL lL ls Lhe acLual currency on Lhe world! An worked wlLh a varleLy of off-world sclenLlsLs -
especlally Lhe very expenslve, buL very knowledgeable lper'mar LalenL - Lo seL up waLer-conservlng, waLer-
recycllng, and waLer-subsLlLuLe facLorles over a 10-year perlod. 1he huge gamble he made - LhaL Lhe loans ln waLer
he Look ouL would generaLe more money (a.k.a. waLer used Lo buy goods) Lhan waLer losL ln producLlon - pald off
handsomely for hlm, evenLually leadlng Lo hls knlghLhood and Lhe expanslon of hls manufacLurlng Lechnlques
across Pebrln.
161

160
8ased very loosely on Lhe llfe of Chung !u-?ung, a noLable SouLh korean magnaLe, born ln Lhe norLh.
161
?ou love wearlng your Che Cuevara shlrLs," l Lold Lhe audlence. Pe kllled Lhousands of people ln Lhe name of Lhe Leam. 8orlaug ls an
lndlvldual who saved a bllllon llves. Where's hls 1-shlrL?" hLLp://Laklmag.com/arLlcle/Leamwork_ls_overraLed_gavln_mclnnes 1he arLlcle
1eamwork ls overraLed" can also be usefully exLended Lo cover vllanl culLural aLLlLudes

1he wealLh also allowed Slr An Lo brlng hls employees more closely Lo Lhe buslness: followlng vllanl mores, he
lnsLlLuLed near-llfeLlme employmenL, free healLhcare, and cheap houslng, educaLlon, and loans for hls employees.
1hls acLlon made hls buslness ellglble Lo [oln Lhe vllanl-sLyle corporaLe/bureaucraLlc 8ureaux LhaL rules Lhe sysLem,
buL cerLaln pollLlcal lndlscreLlons lnvolvlng brlbery and oLher less-Lhan-LradlLlonal acLlons forced hlm ouL of
conLenLlon, desLroylng hls pollLlcal career.

Whlle proud of hls vllanl herlLage, Slr An dldn'L lnherlL Lhe races' longevlLy. 1he deaLh of hls fourLh-born chlld, Lhe
proper helr Lo hls wealLh, has caused Lurmoll ln hls famlly, wlLh hls sons lncreaslngly manoeuvrlng for a nasLy flghL
afLer Lhe evenLual deaLh of Lhelr faLher.
162
unable Lo deal wlLh Lhe anger of hls sons or Lhe paln ln hls hearL, Slr An
plans Lo dlvlde up hls buslness among hls sons before hls deaLh, and Lhen focus on hls Lhree maln concerns:
reawakenlng Lhe vllanl of Pebrln Lo Lhelr Lnlnslsh herlLage and LradlLlons
163
, brlnglng hope and comforL Lo
sLarfarers, maklng Lhe heavens a genLler place - and, naLurally, a beLLer place Lo do buslness ln Loo, and sand-
salllng wlLh hls Mlxed vllanl wlfe and as many of Lhelr Len grandchlldren as Lhey can geL.

Closlng Lheme: Salllng", ChrlsLopher Cross, hLLp://www.youLube.com/waLch?v=yy?hZ9PP8cl

<%F+ 1/% $/==/1 B/) %)'(? '1@1/219 1#6#)I8#B/)#I+##1 &(-#1+ %/ )&-3 & 2/)(3 D 8'% -% 0&+ 0&""#1#3 -1 %0# "&+%>
A0# 5++/$-&%-/1 /B 7/"# 0&+ 1/ &36-+# B&$-1E +'$0 "-)&$?K %0# g.+ 2-(( 0&6# %/ =&@# -% '" /1 %0# B(?9 &13 D +0/'(3
%0#? +')6-6# %0# #1$/'1%#) D #C"#$% %/ 8# 3#8)-#B#3 8? 8/%0 %0# 5++/$-&%-/1 &13 %0# <="#)-&( &'%0/)-%-#+
&B%#)2&)3+> R513 ")/8&8(? %0# "(&1#%&)? E/6#)1=#1% &+ 2#((9 +0/'(3 -% +%-(( #C-+%>V
1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "Invaders overhead" Ne|| 1hacker. See h|s work at

Appendix: AoH starships
MosL sLarshlps supporLlng Lhe AssoclaLlon of Pope do so only on an occaslonal basls, and mosL of Lhose LhaL do fly
Lhe ?ellow and WhlLe banner are Lemporary charLers. 1he AssoclaLlon herself only owns Lwo sLarshlps, Lhe llvloq &
ueoJ and Lhe nope & loss. 8oLh shlps are of Lhe Lmpress Marava class, wlLh Lhelr cargo bays largely fllled wlLh low
berLhs capable of preservlng Lhe llvlng ln anlmaLed suspenslon, and Lhe dead ln a preserved sLaLe.
164
1he AoP ls ln
Lhe markeL for an addlLlonal scouL/courler, capable of aL leasL [ump2.

162
Pls daughLers, of course, are marrled and have [olned anoLher famlly, so Lhey are lnellglble for Lhelr faLher's lnherlLance.
163
Ste||ar keaches #12, page 10. lL would be lnLeresLlng Lo lmaglne Lhe LradlLlons of a (someLlmes Zero-C) vllanl culLure Lo a small,
orlglnally Arab deserL world.
164
MosL low berLhs can'L do Lhls: usually, someone who dles ln one [usL roLs away whlle ln Lhe Lube.

Low berLh Lravel ls falrly rlsky for Lhe llvlng, buL Lhe addlLlonal medlcs onboard reduce Lhe rlsk Lo a mlnlmum.
1here are Lhose who are wllllng Lo walL for anoLher sLarshlp Lo brlng Lhem home uslng mlddle or (Lechnlcally
lllegal
163
) sLeerage class: lf posslble, Lhe AoP wlll pay for Lhelr Lrlp home on anoLher sLarshlp.

Ship: Living & Dead Class: Empress Marava
Type: Far Trader Architect: Standard Imperial Design
Tech Level: 11 (modified by A. Plummer)

USP
A2-22212R1-030000-00000-0 MCr 105.100 200 Tons
Bat Bear 1 Crew: 5
Bat 1 TL: 11

Cargo: 4 Passengers: 6 Crew Sections: 1 of 5 Low: 4 Fuel: 44 EP: 4 Agility: 1
Craft: 1 x 3T Air/Raft
Fuel Treatment: Fuel Scoops



HULL
200-tons standard, 2,800 cubic meters, Cone Configuration

CREW
Pilot, Engineer, Steward, Medic, Gunner

ENGINEERING
Jump-2, 1G Maneuver, Power plant-2, 4 EP, Agility 1

AVIONICS
Bridge, Model/1bis Computer

HARDPOINTS
2 Hardpoints

ARMAMENT
None

DEFENCES
2 Single Sandcaster Turrets organized into 1 Battery (Factor-3)

CRAFT
1 3-ton Air/Raft (Crew of 0)

FUEL
On Board Fuel Scoops, No Fuel Purification Plant

MISCELLANEOUS
10 Staterooms, 128 Low Berths, 6 High Passengers, 4 Low Passengers, 4 Tons Cargo

None

COST

CONSTRUCTION TIME

COMMENTS

163
1he Lrade rules LhaL govern oLher lmperlal secLors are only loosely or sporadlcally enforced ln Lhe LmpLy CuarLer, ln a desperaLe efforL
Lo promoLe some klnd of lnLersLellar Lrade. 1he new SecLor uuke plans Lo change Lhls, and Lhere wlll be a harsh reacLlon when he does so.

This is a standard A2 Far Trader, only excepting the 124 extra low berths, and the extra 5.1 MCr
added to the nominal price tag. The ship was actually bought used, so the real price was in the
high 50s/low 60s MCr, but the additional low berths were bought new.

Of the six high passenger cabins, one is used by the ships medic, the rest by a mix of medical
techs and AoH personnel hitching a ride. The four original low berths are considered too old and
worn by the AoH to use for the rescue work, but are also unsuitable for corpse preservation; so
the crew is free to use them to carry paying passengers on the side, as an emergency survival
system or medical stop-gap until they can get to a hospital, or put the space to use as an
unofficial still

All AoH ships are painted with yellow & white livery, with the white dove symbol located on
various places: starship personnel wear a dark mustard overall and cap while on the job. While
the ship itself is unarmed, staff may or may not bear small arms and explosives, depending on the
starship captains discretion.

A0# 5/7 -+ =/)# %0&1 0&""? %/ 0#(" /'% =&)//1#3 +"&$#)+ D 8'% B-)+%9 %0#? 0&6# %/ 8# B/'139
/) +/=#0/2 =&@# $/1%&$% 2-%0 %0# 5++/$-&%-/1> A0&% $&1 6&)? 8#%2##1 a6#)? 3-BB-$'(%F %/ a+-="(? -="/++-8(#F>
!%-((4 %0#)# &)# 2/)(3+ 20#)# "-)&%#+ ")#B#) %/ 0&'1%9 &13 %0/+# B)## %)&3#)+ &13 =#)$0&1%=#1 20/ &)# 2-((-1E
%/ E-6# & 0&13 +/=#%-=#+ 3/ &1 -=")/="%' +')6#? &13 -16#+%-E&%-/1 /B '1'+'&( +-E0%-1E+ &13 +-E1&(+9
Q'+% -1 $&+#> [v/' 1#6#) @1/24"#)0&"+ ?/'F(( 8# %0# /1# E)/'13#3 /1 %0# 3-)%9 /1# 3&?>e
1h|s graph|c |s t|t|ed "Marooned |n the Desert" Ne|| 1hacker. See h|s work at
http:]]www.renderos|ty.com]mod]ga||ery]|ndex.php?|mage_|d=2430S8S
Legal
Traveller T20 and Classic Traveller Fair Use Policies

verbaLlm from lar luLure LnLerprlses's lalr use pollcy, whlch could be found aL
hLLp://www.farfuLure.neL/llLlalruseollcy2008.pdf
1he 1raveller game ln all forms ls owned by lar luLure LnLerprlses. CopyrlghL 1977 - 2008 lar luLure
LnLerprlses. 1raveller ls a reglsLered Lrademark of lar luLure LnLerprlses. lar luLure permlLs web slLes and
fanzlnes for Lhls game, provlded lL conLalns Lhls noLlce, LhaL lar luLure ls noLlfled, and sub[ecL Lo a wlLhdrawal of
permlsslon on 90 days noLlce. 1he conLenLs of Lhls slLe are for personal, non-commerclal use only. Any use of
lar luLure LnLerprlses's copyrlghLed maLerlal or Lrademarks anywhere on Lhls web slLe and lLs flles should noL be
vlewed as a challenge Lo Lhose copyrlghLs or Lrademarks. ln addlLlon, any program/arLlcles/flle on Lhls slLe cannoL
be republlshed or dlsLrlbuLed wlLhouL Lhe consenL of Lhe auLhor who conLrlbuLed lL.
1raveller ls copyrlghL by and of lar luLure LnLerprlses, and lLs use here ls by permlsslon.
hLLp://www.farfuLure.neL/."

verbaLlm from Culckllnk's lalr use pollcy, whlch can be found aL hLLp://www.Lravellerrpg.com/falruse.hLml:
1he 1raveller game ln all forms ls owned by lar luLure LnLerprlses. CopyrlghL 2002 CulkLlnk lnLeracLlve,
lnc. 1raveller ls a reglsLered Lrademark of lar luLure LnLerprlses. CulkLlnk permlLs web slLes and fanzlnes for Lhls
game, provlded lL conLalns Lhls noLlce, LhaL CulkLlnk ls noLlfled, and sub[ecL Lo a wlLhdrawal of permlsslon on 90
days noLlce. 1he conLenLs of Lhls slLe are for personal, non-commerclal use only. Any use of CulkLlnk lnLeracLlve's
producL ldenLlLy, copyrlghLed maLerlal or Lrademarks anywhere on Lhls web slLe and lLs flles should noL be vlewed
as a challenge Lo Lhose copyrlghLs or Lrademarks. ln addlLlon, any program/arLlcles/flle on Lhls slLe cannoL be
republlshed or dlsLrlbuLed wlLhouL Lhe consenL of Lhe auLhor who conLrlbuLed lL."

GURPS Traveller Online Policy

lrom SLeve !ackson Cames' onllne pollcy, whlch can be found aL
hLLp://www.s[games.com/general/onllne_pollcy.hLml:

ulsclalmer
Some of Lhe maLerlal presenLed here ls Lhe orlglnal creaLlon of Lhe conLrlbuLlng auLhor, lnLended for use wlLh Lhe
Cu8S sysLem from SLeve !ackson Cames. 1hls maLerlal ls noL offlclal and ls noL endorsed by SLeve !ackson Cames.

noLlce
Cu8S ls a reglsLered Lrademark of SLeve !ackson Cames, and some of Lhe arL here ls copyrlghLed by SLeve !ackson
Cames. All rlghLs are reserved by S! Cames. 1hls maLerlal ls used here ln accordance wlLh Lhe S! Cames onllne
pollcy."

OPEN GAME LICENSE VERSION 1.0A

1he followlng LexL ls Lhe properLy of Wlzards of Lhe CoasL, lnc. and ls CopyrlghL 2000 Wlzards of Lhe CoasL, lnc
(Wlzards"). All 8lghLs 8eserved.

1. ueflnlLlons: (a) ConLrlbuLors" means Lhe copyrlghL and/or Lrademark owners who have conLrlbuLed Cpen Came
ConLenL, (b) uerlvaLlve MaLerlal" means copyrlghLed maLerlal lncludlng derlvaLlve works and LranslaLlons
(lncludlng lnLo oLher compuLer languages), poLaLlon, modlflcaLlon, correcLlon, addlLlon, exLenslon, upgrade,
lmprovemenL, compllaLlon, abrldgmenL or oLher form ln whlch an exlsLlng work may be recasL, Lransformed or
adapLed, (c) ulsLrlbuLe" means Lo reproduce, llcense, renL, lease, sell, broadcasL, publlcly dlsplay, LransmlL or
oLherwlse dlsLrlbuLe, (d) Cpen Came ConLenL" means Lhe game mechanlc and lncludes Lhe meLhods, procedures,
processes and rouLlnes Lo Lhe exLenL such conLenL does noL embody Lhe roducL ldenLlLy and ls an enhancemenL
over Lhe prlor arL and any addlLlonal conLenL clearly ldenLlfled as Cpen Came ConLenL by Lhe ConLrlbuLor, and

means any work covered by Lhls Llcense, lncludlng LranslaLlons and derlvaLlve works under copyrlghL law, buL
speclflcally excludes roducL ldenLlLy. (e) roducL ldenLlLy" means producL and producL llne names, logos and
ldenLlfylng marks lncludlng Lrade dress, arLlfacLs, creaLures characLers, sLorles, sLoryllnes, ploLs, LhemaLlc
elemenLs, dlalogue, lncldenLs, language, arLwork, symbols, deslgns, deplcLlons, llkenesses, formaLs, poses,
concepLs, Lhemes and graphlc, phoLographlc and oLher vlsual or audlo represenLaLlons, names and descrlpLlons of
characLers, spells, enchanLmenLs, personallLles, Leams, personas, llkenesses and speclal ablllLles, places, locaLlons,
envlronmenLs, creaLures, equlpmenL, maglcal or supernaLural ablllLles or effecLs, logos, symbols, or graphlc
deslgns, and any oLher Lrademark or reglsLered Lrademark clearly ldenLlfled as roducL ldenLlLy by Lhe owner of
Lhe roducL ldenLlLy, and whlch speclflcally excludes Lhe Cpen Came ConLenL, (f) 1rademark" means Lhe logos,
names, mark, slgn, moLLo, deslgns LhaL are used by a ConLrlbuLor Lo ldenLlfy lLself or lLs producLs or Lhe assoclaLed
producLs conLrlbuLed Lo Lhe Cpen Came Llcense by Lhe ConLrlbuLor (g) use", used" or uslng" means Lo use,
ulsLrlbuLe, copy, edlL, formaL, modlfy, LranslaLe and oLherwlse creaLe uerlvaLlve MaLerlal of Cpen Came ConLenL.
(h) ?ou" or ?our" means Lhe llcensee ln Lerms of Lhls agreemenL.

2. 1he Llcense: 1hls Llcense applles Lo any Cpen Came ConLenL LhaL conLalns a noLlce lndlcaLlng LhaL Lhe Cpen
Came ConLenL may only be used under and ln Lerms of Lhls Llcense. ?ou musL afflx such a noLlce Lo any Cpen
Came ConLenL LhaL you use. no Lerms may be added Lo or subLracLed from Lhls Llcense excepL as descrlbed by Lhe
Llcense lLself. no oLher Lerms or condlLlons may be applled Lo any Cpen Came ConLenL dlsLrlbuLed uslng Lhls
Llcense.

3.Cffer and AccepLance: 8y uslng Lhe Cpen Came ConLenL ?ou lndlcaLe ?our accepLance of Lhe Lerms of Lhls
Llcense.

4. CranL and ConslderaLlon: ln conslderaLlon for agreelng Lo use Lhls Llcense, Lhe ConLrlbuLors granL ?ou a
perpeLual, worldwlde, royalLy-free, non-excluslve llcense wlLh Lhe exacL Lerms of Lhls Llcense Lo use, Lhe Cpen
Came ConLenL.

3.8epresenLaLlon of AuLhorlLy Lo ConLrlbuLe: lf ?ou are conLrlbuLlng orlglnal maLerlal as Cpen Came ConLenL, ?ou
represenL LhaL ?our ConLrlbuLlons are ?our orlglnal creaLlon and/or ?ou have sufflclenL rlghLs Lo granL Lhe rlghLs
conveyed by Lhls Llcense.

6.noLlce of Llcense CopyrlghL: ?ou musL updaLe Lhe CC?8lCP1 nC1lCL porLlon of Lhls Llcense Lo lnclude Lhe exacL
LexL of Lhe CC?8lCP1 nC1lCL of any Cpen Came ConLenL ?ou are copylng, modlfylng or dlsLrlbuLlng, and ?ou
musL add Lhe LlLle, Lhe copyrlghL daLe, and Lhe copyrlghL holder's name Lo Lhe CC?8lCP1 nC1lCL of any orlglnal
Cpen Came ConLenL you ulsLrlbuLe.

7. use of roducL ldenLlLy: ?ou agree noL Lo use any roducL ldenLlLy, lncludlng as an lndlcaLlon as Lo compaLlblllLy,
excepL as expressly llcensed ln anoLher, lndependenL AgreemenL wlLh Lhe owner of each elemenL of LhaL roducL
ldenLlLy. ?ou agree noL Lo lndlcaLe compaLlblllLy or co-adapLablllLy wlLh any 1rademark or 8eglsLered 1rademark ln
con[uncLlon wlLh a work conLalnlng Cpen Came ConLenL excepL as expressly llcensed ln anoLher, lndependenL
AgreemenL wlLh Lhe owner of such 1rademark or 8eglsLered 1rademark. 1he use of any roducL ldenLlLy ln Cpen
Came ConLenL does noL consLlLuLe a challenge Lo Lhe ownershlp of LhaL roducL ldenLlLy. 1he owner of any roducL
ldenLlLy used ln Cpen Came ConLenL shall reLaln all rlghLs, LlLle and lnLeresL ln and Lo LhaL roducL ldenLlLy.

8. ldenLlflcaLlon: lf you dlsLrlbuLe Cpen Came ConLenL ?ou musL clearly lndlcaLe whlch porLlons of Lhe work LhaL
you are dlsLrlbuLlng are Cpen Came ConLenL.

9. updaLlng Lhe Llcense: Wlzards or lLs deslgnaLed AgenLs may publlsh updaLed verslons of Lhls Llcense. ?ou may
use any auLhorlzed verslon of Lhls Llcense Lo copy, modlfy and dlsLrlbuLe any Cpen Came ConLenL orlglnally
dlsLrlbuLed under any verslon of Lhls Llcense.

10. Copy of Lhls Llcense: ?ou MuS1 lnclude a copy of Lhls Llcense wlLh every copy of Lhe Cpen Came ConLenL ?ou
ulsLrlbuLe.

11. use of ConLrlbuLor CredlLs: ?ou may noL markeL or adverLlse Lhe Cpen Came ConLenL uslng Lhe name of any
ConLrlbuLor unless ?ou have wrlLLen permlsslon from Lhe ConLrlbuLor Lo do so.

12. lnablllLy Lo Comply: lf lL ls lmposslble for ?ou Lo comply wlLh any of Lhe Lerms of Lhls Llcense wlLh respecL Lo
some or all of Lhe Cpen Came ConLenL due Lo sLaLuLe, [udlclal order, or governmenLal regulaLlon Lhen ?ou may noL
use any Cpen Came MaLerlal so affecLed.

13. 1ermlnaLlon: 1hls Llcense wlll LermlnaLe auLomaLlcally lf ?ou fall Lo comply wlLh all Lerms hereln and fall Lo cure
such breach wlLhln 30 days of becomlng aware of Lhe breach. All subllcenses shall survlve Lhe LermlnaLlon of Lhls
Llcense.

14. 8eformaLlon: lf any provlslon of Lhls Llcense ls held Lo be unenforceable, such provlslon shall be reformed only
Lo Lhe exLenL necessary Lo make lL enforceable.

13. CC?8lCP1 nC1lCL
Cpen Came Llcense v 1.0 CopyrlghL 2000, Wlzards of Lhe CoasL, lnc.
u20 SysLem 8ules and ConLenL CopyrlghL 2000, Wlzards of Lhe CoasL, lnc., AuLhors !ohnaLhan 1weeL, MonLe Cook,
Sklp Wllllams, based on orlglnal maLerlal by L. Cary Cygax and uave Arneson.
120 - 1he 1raveller's Pandbook CopyrlghL 2002, Culkllnk lnLeracLlve, lnc. 1raveller ls a Lrademark of lar luLure
LnLerprlses and ls used under llcense.
Modern SysLem 8eference uocumenL CopyrlghL 2002-2004, Wlzards of Lhe CoasL, lnc., AuLhors 8lll Slavlcsek, !eff
Crubb, 8lch 8edman, Charles 8yan, Lrlc Cagle, uavld noonan, SLan!, ChrlsLopher erklns, 8odney 1hompson, and
!u Wlker, based on maLerlal by !onaLhan 1weeL, MonLe Cook, Sklp Wllllams, 8lchard 8aker, eLer Adklson, 8ruce
8. Cordell, !ohn 1ynes, Andy Colllns, and !u Wlker.
All orlglnal Cpen Came ConLenL from SLellar 8eaches, lssue #24" CopyrlghL 2014, ConLrlbuLors: Alvln W. lummer

DESIGNATION OF OPEN GAME CONTENT

1he uWs provlded ln varlous arLlcles are deslgnaLed as Cpen Came ConLenL. 1he 120 lnformaLlon conLalned ln
Lhe 8l1S 1ask SysLem ls deslgnaLed as Cpen Came ConLenL. Any and all oLher maLerlal derlved from Lhe SysLem
8eference uocumenL, Lhe Modern SysLem 8eference uocumenL and Lhe 1raveller's Pandbook ls deslgnaLed as
Cpen Came ConLenL.
1he remalnder of Lhls documenL ls consldered Closed ConLenL and conLalns roducL ldenLlLy belonglng Lo
lar luLure LnLerprlses. no challenge of Lhelr copyrlghL ls lnLended by lLs lncluslon here.

Stellar Reaches #24: A Fair Use Fanzine For Traveller

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Stellar Reaches Issue #24 Summer 2014 Page 2

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