Empire of Dominia

Overview
The Empire of Dominia was formed from an amalgamation of Unathi pirate clans and human colonists in the mid 25th century. It is made up of a multiple star systems with four key planets. It's national motto is "In Their Name, So Shall It Be Done." It's official language is Tau Ceti Basic and Sinta'Azaziba. What is significant about Dominia is it's state religion, the Moroz Holy Tribunal, which rules alongside the Emperor and creates the laws of the land. It remains diplomatically isolated.

Population and Planets
The total population of the Empire is 1,393,583,842 based on the 2458 Census. This population is spread out over the nation's 4 planets.

Dominia
The capital planet the Empire with roughly 800 million residents. The planet is largely dominated by its large polar circle which encompasses around 70% of the planets surface. Most settlements are dotted around the equator of the world, though some outer villages and towns are located in the sparse, frigid northern regions. The citizens of these arctic regions are known for their endurance and survival skills causing many to be recruited into the Imperial Army. In recent years efforts have been made to reclaim the polar regions with the use of large Echelon Mirrors, large constructions which direct heat and sunlight into their local surrounding areas. These melt zones are then settled and cultivated. There is a growing rift between the 'original' inhabitants of the polar regions who's rugged, survivalist lifestyle is being replaced by the more 'cushy' urban migrants. Dominia is also home to the prestigious "Juro School of Genetics and Bio-Sciences", a University focusing on genetic research and cross-species biology.

A Specific Faction of Freedom, the Extrastellar Travel Union, calls this system home, usually on Dominia. A desire to break the bluespace monopoly held by Nanotrasen, and a few other corporations is their primary goal.

Spartan
The second most inhabited planet with 300 million people, Spartan has a thin but breathable atmosphere and largely unstable crust. It suffers from frequent natural disasters from earthquakes and volcanoes. Despite the violent geology making permanent habitation dangerous, the unstable crust contains an incredibly rich source of minerals and valuable ores that form the backbone of the local economy.

Alterum Magnum
Carrying around 200 million people, Alterum Magnum is one of the more recent additions to the Empire. Featuring a diverse biosphere and an environment similar to Earths, the planets populations is rapidly growing after coming under Imperial control around two years ago. After a proper government administration was established, surveys revealed that the planet may have been terraformed in the ancient past. Due to the secretive nature of the Imperial government there are no methods of confirming these claims by the government.

Ignotum Balteum
The least populated world in the Empire with 100 millions subjects, Ignotum Balteum is a dry world with a mixed climate of savannas, deserts and arid polar regions. Many Unathi are known to dwell here and the Moroz Holy Tribunal's power is at it's most potent. The Tribunal's influence here can even surpass the Emperors imperial will in some cases.

Economics
Dominia uses the Galactic Credit like the rest of the galaxy, but to SolGov's frustration the system continues to use its own Imperial Pound as a local currency.

The standard of living is extremely stratified. There is an extremely large underclass of the poor underneath a small caste of extremely wealthy land-owners. Dominia has an extremely small, stagnant middle class with limited economic mobility. Many companies in the system are styled after Unathi Guilds.

Societal
Ethnic Groups:
 * 40% Colonial European (Human descended from Inhabitants of Europe)
 * 20% Colonial East Asian (Human descended from Inhabitants of East Asia)
 * 20% Other (Humans of other heritage)
 * 6% Alien (Skrell, Tajara, Dionea, Other)
 * 4% Unathi

The state religion is the Moroz Holy Tribunal.

Government
Dominia operates as a feudal empire similar to the Izweski Hegemony, but far more radical and centralized in design.

Imperial Cabinet
Acting as the executive cabinet, this branch of government exists to exert the will of the Emperor. Almost all major political posts are controlled by Emperor Boleslaw Keeser. Under him is his Imperial Cabinet, made up of:


 * High Lord General of the Army: Kasz Han'San
 * High Lord Admiral of the Navy: Maxim Zhao
 * Seneschal of Diplomatic Affairs: Ngo Juric

Legislature
Dominated by a small group of extremely wealthy landowners, the Religious Tribunal functions to draft new laws and regulations for the Empire. The Religious Tribunal is made up of 4 representatives from each world.

Judicial
The Imperial Court has 12 seats, 3 for each world. It operates as the Supreme Court of the Empire. Each member serves for life. It functions to clarify the laws of the Empire, evaluate the legality of any edicts by the Emperor, and punish lawbreakers.

History
X'yr Vharn'p was discovered by a human bounty hunter vessel chasing a small pirate Vox fleet in 2399. The extent of the battle is unknown, but the bounty hunters did say is that the vox used this system as a store for their stolen goods. The name of the system was discovered to derive from the Vox word for Hidden Treasure - "X'yr Vharn'p". In 2408 an ambitious explorer re-discovered the system within local star archives and after a long study of the system financed and formed a colony on the planet Moroz, now known as Dominia.

At the time, the only major settlement was Nova Luxembourg which mostly prospered in its independent, if reclusive society, forming the Constitutional Moroz Republic.

In 2438, the colony, which had only a small militia, was attacked by an ambitious unathi pirate clan. The former government was defeated and quickly surrendered. The Unathi promptly replaced the government with what resembled a classic Unathi hierarchy, introducing the religion of [Sk'akh|Unathi Religions]. In 2444 the Unathi clan leaders were overthrown by a rebellious group of Unathi and humans that went on to found the 'Holy Tribunal of Moroz' and the Empire. Due to the exposure of the Unathi religious concepts, the new religion blends the human and Unathi faiths into a new hybrid. Unathi and human citizens live side by side as true citizens where as other aliens are largely considered second class.

Brief Timeline

2399 : Discovery of the X'yr Vharn'p system by the human bounty hunter Vakaris Birstonas

2408 : Survey of the system and discoveries of "Ballast" (Dominia) by Patrik Häkkinen, follow by the first wave of colonist.

2409 : Foundation of Nova Luxembourg and the Constitutional Republic of Ballast

2410 : Foundation of Forêt-en-Lisière

2411 : Foundation of Ondergaandezon and Schnéi Creek

2413 : Foundation of Domum

2414 : Foundation of Nova Alpinae

2416 : Foundation of Nouvelle Alsace-Loraine

2433 : Major protests against the president of Ballast, Lorin Zeiter

2435 : A protests against the president turn violent, 77 Dead and 403 Wounded reported

2438 : Invasion of the planet by a Unathi group in a stolen transport from Dominia and foundation of the Hierarchy of Ballast a classic Unathy hierarchy

2439 : Redraw of the clan leader S'kraskin Seryo and appointed a new leader, Boleslaw Keeser, the following years Boleslaw Keeser reform the government into the one of today and the planet been rename Dominia

2440 : Investment into the 7 major city and creation of the Imperial Railroad which link every major city together for faster transportation

2443 : Creation and first gladiator fight on the planet, creation of the outpost on the moon of Dominia

2449 : Attack by the pirate fleet "The Corsairs of the Eternal Raid", follow by a stale mate and a treaty between the emperor and the captain who call himself "War Sentinel", creation of the The Ally Communication Department

2450 : Creation of the "Coalition against Dominian Piracy" by frontier colonies after the previous announcement by Dominia to work with some distinct pirate groups if anyone attacks Dominia

2455 : Dominia announced no partnership with NanoTrasen is ever gonna happen (citizens can still work for NT but NT isn't allow in territory own by Dominia)

2456 : Dominia denounced Nanotrasen releasing documents of possible sentient mistreatment and experimentation in remote stations in the frontier, NT answered that the accusation are false and the document fabricated

Early 2457 : The "Coalition against Dominia Piracy" embargo Dominia

Life in Dominia
Noble

The elite of the Empire, members of the nobility enjoy the finest comforts and opportunities. Divided into Noble Houses or Clan Houses, these initiations are a hybrid form of Unathi clans and Human dynasties. Each Noble House is ruled by a "Lord Noble" below whom sits the "Minor Lords" followed by the "House Nobles" and finally the "Minor Nobles" on the bottom rung. All Noble Houses have a number of serfs allocated to them dependant on their perceived importance to the Empire alongside their relationship with the Emperor or the Tribunal. These serfs are then further distributed down the "chain" by the Lord Noble of the House. Many Nobles also choose to own slaves. All Nobles of a House share the same last name.

Freeman/Free Citizen

What one might consider the average citizenry, these citizens are either born into being a freeman or an immigrant into Dominia. Able to own property and take part in elections the variations on Freeman life are numerous and dependant on the planet or nation in which they dwell. It is not uncommon for these citizens to be adopted into the noble clans or houses as lesser nobility. This is usually based on demonstrating some use to the clan or house in question or through cronyism.

Serf

Essentially having the rights of medieval European serfs, they are a step above slaves on the social scale. Most serfs are born into their serfdom and are allocated by the Emperor to a noble house or clan on coming of age, a variable time frame based on planet and nation. Serfdom also stands as a replacement for the traditional Unathi practice of "The Guwan". When a Dominian citizen dishonors his clan or house, they can be stripped of all titles and assets by their Clan Lord/Lord Noble and relegated to a life of serfdom. Serfs are assigned weekly, monthly and yearly quotas by their masters which, if not achieved, can lead to punishment ranging from reduced rations to serve beatings. Achieving or exceeding quotas on the other hand allows the serf to be entered into the "Serf Lottery" provided by the Moroz Holy Tribunal in the Emperors name in which they can potentially be granted freedom and the rank of 'Freeman' or 'Free Citizen' with the approval of their master. Lottery winnings are not uncommon and most serfs attribute their luck to being blessed by God through the Tribunal. Serfs are theoretically protected from murder and other violent crimes perpetuated by their masters due to the virtue of belonging to the Emperor by law, however in practice serfs attempting to exercise these rights to protection tend to have great difficulty due to their social status.

Slave

Almost every slave in Dominia space is made up of either citizens of conquered states who refused to adopt Dominian rule/were unfortunate to be selected for slavery or spoils brought in by the pirates that frequently visit and sell their goods within the Empire. Slaves, as in most eras, are viewed in Dominia as literal property and are protected under the same laws which protect the assets of citizens, in the sense that kidnapping a slave would be treated as theft and murdering a slave would be treated as vandalism, with severity of punishment largely based on the value of the slave and the social status of the citizen who owns/owned said slave. Slaves are instantly identifiable by the slave collars they are forced to wear. These devices contain a micro- explosive situated at the base of the spine which detonates when the collar is tampered with or the collar is remotely activated by either the slaves owner or the local police.

Tribunal Commandos

An evolution of the Unathi concept of ‘Guwandi’; in the event that a citizen becomes mortally ill, finds themselves lacking the pride, honor, drive to live or has simply become tired of their lot in life, they will give up their possessions and join the religious "Tribunal Commandos", an irregular military force of near suicidal warriors. Acting as a vanguard force to soften up targets or as distractions members of the Commandos are expected to die. Like ‘Guwandi’ it is possible for a citizen to regain their honor whilst serving in the unit and be released from service and accepted into their clan, house or into a new found lease of life. It is not uncommon for young men and women with no real prospects to join the Tribunal Commandos to prove their worth to their families or themselves. A Commando who survives an engagement is awarded a square, bronze battle medal. When ten are accrued the soldier is offered the choice to remain within the Commandos or be honorable discharged, keeping his medals. A soldier who survives ten engagements is very uncommon.

Synth Relations
''"I'm real! Just like any of you! Please God save me! I'm real!" Last words of Shell IPC T2332 aka Lì Olesk before permanent shut down, praise God.''

Dominia is highly anti-synth, as such any and all IPC's are sought out and destroyed upon entering Dominia space. Interestingly to observers, there seems to be a disproportionately high number of shell IPC's present in the sector compared to those beliefs. Special task forces have been set up under Section 0 to tackle this perceived threat to Dominia yet it is still not unknown for shells to flee the system in search of protection.

Edict Breakers
Breaking of an edict is punishable by death so it is not uncommon for an "Edict Breaker" to go on the run outside of Dominia space. Due to the nature of the Empire, indepth records are kept on all subjects and once one runs, their details are reported on the local ExtraNet daily until they return/are returned. These details include name, address, picture, family details everything. As such, any "Edict Breakers" are instantly identifiable to Dominia subjects. In Dominia space, any "Edict Breakers" are violently sought for capture. Outside of Dominia space however, due to the nature of The Thirty Third Edict, subjects of Dominia usually do not violently attempt to apprehend these criminals but instead try to convince them in the nicest way possible to return to Dominia space under their own volition for judgment. This usually devolves into near passive-harassment where the loyal imperial subjects will remind the "Edict Breaker" over and oover that they have violated the law and should return to the Empire to repent, usually in a sickly sweet manner. The effect is usually maddening for the law breaker and it's not uncommon for them to take their own lives or allow themselves to be returned to Dominia for judgment and inevitable execution.