 | | Subject | |
|---|
 | A |
| |
|
| |
| C |
| |
|
| |
| E |
| |
|
| |
| G |
| |
|
| |
| I |
| |
|
| |
| L |
| |
|
| |
| [o] | Main - A grouping of systems forming a chain of worlds all reachable by jump-1. This grouping provides a sort of "corridor" allowing jump-1 capable ships to travel to any world along the chain without ever exceeding jump-1.
Many such groupings of worlds exist in the Imperium. Prominent examples include the Spinward Main in the Spinward Marches, the Vilani Main centered in the Vland Sector, The Sylean Main in Core Sector, and the Antares Main originating in the Antares sector. | |
| [o] | Mercenary - The remote centralized government of the Imperium is possessed of great industrial and technological might, but it is also unable, due to the sheer distances and travel times involved, to exert total control everywhere within its starspanning realm.
Extensive home rule provisions allow planetary governments to choose their own forms of government, raise and maintain their own armed forces for local security, pass and enforce laws governing local conduct, and regulate (within limits) commerce. Defense has been a cooperative effort of local indigenous forces, which is stiffened by Imperial naval bases manned by extremely sophisticated forces.
Conflicting local interests have often settled their differences by force of arms, with Imperial forces looking quietly the other way, unable to intervene en masse. Imperial forces have been able to operate as a police force so as to not jeopardize their primary mission of defending the realm. Only when local conflicts threaten either the security or the economy of an area have Imperial forces taken an active hand, and then, with overwhelming speed and force.
In this environment, the soldier for hire has found active employment. The tolerance exhibited by the forces of the Imperium have made the hired military force a practical matter. Imperial policy has allowed the marketplace to provide military force to those who can afford it; one line of thought has been that a hired military can be more effectively controlled if it gets out of hand, as opposed to nationalistic or politically motivated military forces.
The united Imperium stood ready to enforce its own standards; things have changed in the uncertain climate of the divided Imperium, however. The basic restrictions against improper scales of force are no longer observed, and weapons such as poison gas or nuclear devices are being used by belligerents. Matters have gotten out of hand as each archduke has done what he thought was best for the defense of his local realm. Imperial forces have attempted to intervene, but the wide-scale nature of the turmoil has diluted their effect and even turned Imperial forces against each other in border areas. | |
| [o] | Moot - The Imperial government's only deliberative body. It has few powers and rarely exercises them. In theory, the Moot includes all Imperial nobles of baronial or higher status, but most nobles do not find it convenient to travel to Capital, and so many of those seated hold proxy votes. Large blocks of these votes can be wielded by a single influential noble.
Technically, the Moot is supreme in the Imperium, but its power is extremely limited. In practice, its deliberations are advisory to the emperor, and he is wise to heed them. The Moot has only one power: to dissolve the Imperium. When this power is brought to bear, it compels compromise between opposing factions.
When an emperor dies, abdicates, or otherwise becomes unfit for office, the Moot becomes important as the validating body for the new emperor. It has the power to examine the qualifications and credentials of the heir apparent and, in unusual situations, to reject him.
The Moot holds its sessions in the Moot Spire, which is the tallest building on Capital. By tradition, the Spire is the only building allowed to tower above the Imperial Palace, which is 4.25 kilometers away. Elevators with gravitic compensators can speed visitors from the bottom to the top in 18 seconds. At the top of the Spire is the High Moot, where select committees hold the most private deliberations.
In the resulting turmoil after Strephon's assassination, Prince Lucan ordered the Moot dissolved for a year in an effort to prevent any infiltrators from convincing the Moot to approve the usurper Dulinor's claim to the throne. | |
|
| |
| O |
| |
|
| |
| R |
| |
|
| |
| T |
| |
|
| |
| X |
| |
|
| |
|