Altarean Confederation

Altarean Confederation: The government of the Murian
minor race in Subsector N of the Vanguard Reaches. The
Murians have extensively explored and consolidated this
subsector, founding a long-lasting, advanced and well-
developed society spanning some 28 systems.

Although the Confederation government appears stable,
the politics of the individual worlds are somewhat chaotic.
Murians have a naturally combative nature among themselves.
Combine this with their tendency toward individualism and the
result is political systems which are highly participatory
with frequent government changes. Non-popular dictatorships
and self-perpetuating oligarchies are almost non-existent.
Democracies are the most stable governments. At times,
however, the most popular form is government by riot.

(reproduced by permission of the author, Chuck Kallenbach II)

Council of Worlds

Council of Worlds: A conference held on Telleria
(Vanguard Reaches 0926 A-877944-A) in 1089 with members of
all worlds of the Tellerian Cluster except Necto and Zelos.
Altarean Confederation representatives, Driantia Steblenzhtia
delegates, Aslan emissaries and diplomats from the Duchy of
Trelyn were present. The basic thrust of the council was a
non-interference agreement with regard to inner struggles of
the Tellerian Cluster. These Wars of Colonization are still
continuing within the area, although its neighbors have so
far respected the Council decisions. Free passage along the
Jump-2 route from the Altarean Confederation to the Driantia
Steblenzhtia was guaranteed by the Council, although this
route passes through two systems of the Tellerian Cluster.

(reproduced by permission of the author, Chuck Kallenbach II)

Driantia Steblenzhtia

Driantia Steblenzhtia: The Core Expeditions of the
Zhodani (seven in number) have been extensively documented;
the interest of this race in the galactic center is well-
known. However, there is certainly interest in the gaining of
information in other areas. After the First Frontier War with
the Vilani (589-604), elements of the Iadr Nsobl province
wanted intelligence regarding the sectors to rimward.

As a result, exploration forces travelled in the Far
Frontiers sector and thence to the Vanguard Reaches. In the
Imperial year 609 Zhodani explorers first contacted
the Murians.

A Zhodani scout craft misjumped to the Elliador system
during these explorations, and subsequently contacted the
Eslyat. This scout ship, the Iayr'a'chtiapr (Wind of Change),
gave the secret of jump drive to the Eslyat.

In 626 the Driantia Steblenzhtia was created, and
patterned quite closely after the workings of the home
government. The Zhodani word "steblenzh" is loosely
translated as "vanguard," and the name "vanguard reaches" was
later adopted by most races as the name for the sector. The
Zhodani use of the word "vanguard" clearly is from a
reference to rimward, although from an Imperial point of view
"vanguard" would refer to the spinward frontier.

The capital world (Vanguard Reaches 0406, A-301AB9-D)
was renamed Chyia Nedlkel after the political radical and
exploratory pioneer who advocated abolishment of the nobility
in favor of widespread psionic testing of all citizens. The
reforms of High Councillor Nedlkel were installed in the
Imperial year 666.

This Zhodani client maintains good diplomatic relations
with the Altarean Confederation and the Eslyat. Negotiations
with the Duchy of Trelyn and the Aslan colonies have been, at
best, neutral. No significant wars have been fought by
Driantia Steblenzhtia, although a sizable military force has
always been maintained.

As of Imperial date 1120, the Driantia Steblenzhtia
governed worlds in 80 systems with a total population of over
36 billion sophonts.

(reproduced by permission of the author, Chuck Kallenbach II)

Serpent Trace

Serpent Trace: Located in the astrographic center of the
Vanguard Reaches sector, this cluster of fifteen Jump-1
systems is accessible from outer parts of the sector via two
Jump-2 routes. One stretches rimward to the Trace from the
Duchy of Trelyn, and another expands coreward from the
Altarean Confederation. The cluster takes its name from the
serpentine nature of its twisting route that wends its way
through three subsectors.

The Serpent Trace is home to several billion residents,
and nearly all kinds of sophonts from spinward charted space
can be found within. Society in the Trace is cosmopolitan and
on the cutting edge of technology.

No single government controls the Trace, although many
trade agreements boast several worlds as signatories. The
Regional Commerce & Growth Association is a local group which
promotes trade and commerce throughout the cluster.

Some say that the planetary governments are mere puppets
of the industrial concerns of the high population worlds in
the Trace. In reality, each system controls its own planetary
armed forces and many have naval squadrons. These troops are
more than capable of handling commercial disagreements and
enforcing law and order throughout the Serpent Trace.

(reproduced by permission of the author, Chuck Kallenbach II)

Tellerian Cluster

Tellerian Cluster: A group of six systems of roughly the
same technological level (interstellar community level) who
are on basically good trade terms with the Altarean
Confederation. However, there continues in the cluster a
lengthy series of wars and infighting concerning unoccupied
worlds in several systems. Export or import of weapons
between other interstellar communities and the Tellerian
Cluster is strictly illegal. Efforts are made to disinclude
travellers from the constant warfare, but the area remains
dangerous.

(reproduced by permission of the author, Chuck Kallenbach II)