Aurora Information Uplink - User contributions [en]

Xanu Prime

2026-09-21T14:20:18Z

Fyni: /* The Second Great Depression and Secession from the Solarian Alliance | 2260 - 2278 */

{{Outdated (Phoron Scarcity)}}
{{Navbox Lore}}
{{Navbox Human Lore}}
{{Navbox Xanu}}
<center>[[File:Xansan pixel.png|700px]]</center>
{{Infobox Nations
|Nation = All-Xanu Republic
|Shortname = Xanu
|Flag = Xanuprimeflag.png
|Capital City = Nouvelle-Rochelle
|Capital Planet = Xanu Prime
|Language = Freespeak<br>Tradeband
|Species = Human (Majority)<br>[[IPC]] (Minority)
|Religion = None
|Demonym = Xanan
|Government = Parliamentary Semi-Presidential
|Head of State = President Jaques Afzal
|Legislature = Consultative Assembly
|Upper House = National Parliament
|Lower House = National Assembly of Departments
|Established = 2274
|Part Of = [[Coalition of Colonies]]
}}
The shimmering and vibrant planet of '''Xanu Prime''' (pronounced Ksa-noo), officially the All-Xanu Republic, is the beating heart of the [[Coalition of Colonies]]. In nearly all ways, economic, political, and cultural, Xanu Prime holds almost unmatched influence over the rest of the Coalition. It is the most populated planet in the Coalition and is the seat of its national government, but it is so much more beyond that. It is a cosmopolitan and multicultural hub where nearly anyone from across the Orion Spur can be found, a cornerstone not just in the Coalition but in the galactic community as a whole, and home to a thriving culture and democratic tradition which, along with the dedication and hard work of its citizens, has cemented its position of leadership and wealth which it currently enjoys.

The planet is slightly larger than Earth and is the fourth planet of the Xanu system, which is positioned in the galactic north of the Coalition of Colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#Liberty%E2%80%99s_Cradle|Liberty's Cradle]] Region.
{{TOC Hidden}}
==History==
<center>''“We have asked, and our people have delivered: solidarity, unity, and liberty.” - Gaspard Kulkarni, Colonial Governor of Xanu Prime from 2225-2267''</center>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:80%">
===Discovery and Settlement | 2156 - 2185===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Xanu Prime’s known history begins not on the planet itself but on Earth. The planet was discovered in the year 2156 by a team of French, Belgian, and Indian astronomers and deemed habitable for colonization. Its original designation was Exoplanète Astronomique-Neuf-Un, however was shortened first to XA-9-1, and then simply “Xanu” some years later once colonists had made landfall on the planet. Colonization ventures aiming to establish footholds on far-off worlds in places like the Tau Ceti System, Epsilon Eridani, and the Al-Rashid System had already begun near time of the planet’s discovery and the governments of Earth were more than eager to establish further footholds for humanity across the stars. Not wishing to be left behind, the governments of France along with Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (BeNeLux) pooled their resources for an extraterrestrial expedition with the intention of colonizing the far-flung but promising exoplanet of XA-9-1. These countries quickly ran into a problem as they had the funds to bankroll this endeavor but lacked the industrial capacity to create the massive vessels needed for such a journey to the stars.

It seemed as if the expedition may falter before it even started without an industrial partner so, France and the BeNeLux shopped their proposal around to various countries but were turned down by the first few they asked. Firms from West Germany, the Federal Republic of China, and the United States all were offered contracts to build colony ships, but none accepted due those nations prioritizing their resources towards their own colonization initiatives. Eventually however, partners were found in the South Asian economic and industrial powerhouses of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, all three of whom agreed to build the massive vessels required to travel to what would become known as Xanu Prime, on the condition that their own colonists were included in the expedition. Naturally, they also wanted to receive a portion of the profits that the colony might generate. India and Pakistan saw the shipbuilding as a contest and tried to out-do each other during the construction process as an extension of the Indo-Pakistani rivalry while Bangladesh tried to remain neutral in the competition and simply complete their orders.

The six vessels needed for the expedition, Seine, Ganga, Rhine, Indus, Brahmaputra, and Yser were completed by 2181 and launched the same year. The expedition was long and arduous and needed to stop twice for repairs to the Rhine’s engines. Nevertheless, the expedition arrived at XA-9-1, albeit nine months behind schedule, in 2185. Colonization efforts began in full-force after the arrival, with the coastal location around where the colony fleet touched down quickly becoming the hub of the new world’s people. Modest agricultural and solar power initiatives were set-up to promote self-sustainability in the colony, and by most measures they were successful. After a year of success, the colonists desired to name the small city they had created and gave the honor of naming it to the commander of the expedition, Commodore Pascal Lechevalier, who named it Nouvelle-Rochelle, or New Rochelle, after his hometown of La Rochelle, France. The same year the planet’s official designation was changed from XA-9-1 to Xanu Prime by the [[Sol Alliance]].
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:80%">
===Early Colonial Era | 2185 - 2223===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Over the next three decades the colony steadily grew in population with more and more colonists coming to the planet from Western Europe and South Asia hoping to make it big on Xanu or simply start a new life on an entirely new world. It was during this period that the cities of Pataliputra, Maartstad, and Khairabad (presently known as Kshatragarh) were founded as well, solidifying Xanu as no longer a single-settlement colony and one that was almost entirely self-sufficient. From here, Sol left much of the Colony’s governance to itself and was happy to rake in the profits it produced while not giving much back to the colony itself, something that would become a theme over Xanu’s colonial era. It was also during this time however that Xanu Prime began to experience some of its first challenges during its ascent to prosperity.

While Xanu’s colonization effort had been a success, the colony itself was dysfunctional on a societal and political level. Since the initial landing on Xanu Prime, many of the colonists had begun to break off into groups and communities that were increasingly centered around their old world nationalities. The French often only interacted with the French, Indians with Indians, Pakistanis with Pakistanis, and so on. This led to increased tension over resources on the planet between these groups, and with each passing year the colony seemed less like one world and more like many inhabiting the same planet. This allegiance to ethnicity penetrated nearly every aspect of life, with members of the planet’s colonial administration and even fledgling military having stronger ties to their own communities rather than the colony’s government. By the early 2220’s, many of the planet’s citizens thought that a civil war was inevitable as the differences between the various ethnic groups of the planet seemed irreconcilable. In 2223, when that year’s crops failed and a famine gripped the world, their fears were made reality when Xanu’s colonial administration collapsed under the pressure to provide relief for the starving communities of Xanu and internal power struggles. A power vacuum was opened, and local militias following demagogic firebrands leaped at the opportunity to secure it wherever they could.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:80%">
===The Xanan Civil War | 2223 - 2227===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The Xanan Civil War was a four-factioned war fought between the Xanan Republic, a primarily French faction, the Xanu Free Union, a primarily Indian faction, the Xanu Solidarity Army, a primarily Pakistani faction, and the National Front for United Xanu, a faction composed of colonists from the BeNeLux. The war lasted from 2223 to 2227 and aside from the Interstellar War, is the costliest war in Xanan History. Every faction involved was at one point, hellbent on the complete subjugation of the three others in attempts to install themselves as the de facto rulers of the entire planet. Battles between groups lasted for months and often shot quickly from quiet and low-intensity to chaotic and brutal in a matter of hours, with ill-led irregular militia forces being used far more often than conventional armies. This was partially due to the fact that much of Xanu’s military before the civil war was quite small and fit only for militarized policing operations but also because many of the soldiers in the four armies were volunteers with no prior military experience whatsoever. While factions were made on primarily ethnic lines, it should be noted that a large portion of Xanan people at this time refused to fall-in with these factions no matter their ethnicity. Attacks against civilians, soldiers, and politicians alike including terror bombings, shootings, arson, and assassinations were commonplace with each side doing their best to break the resolve to fight of the others.

The Sol Alliance was unsure at first what to do with the news of Xanu breaking out into violence. Sol had in the past both intervened in these kinds of colonial conflicts while letting others run their course. To the Solarian colonial authorities though, much of what was becoming to be known as the Outer Colonies, which included planets like Vysoka, Assunzione, and Gadpathur along with Xanu Prime, was not as profitable as previously hoped, and so controversially, the decision was made to let the civil war play out and then return in-force after the violence had subsided to reassert colonial authority rather than land on the planet and risk the lives of Solarian core-worlders.
The war took its toll on the planet’s people. Historians currently estimate that nearly 6% of the total Xanan population died during the fighting with the leading causes of death being starvation and treatable medical conditions rather than combat. A majority of those who died in the war were not soldiers or irregulars, but normal civilians who simply could not feed themselves or find medical care after the complete collapse of the colony’s food and medical infrastructure. After nearly two years of fighting and a horrific and terrible stalemate, the armies were simply unable to launch offensives anymore and signed an uneasy truce that put an end to the fighting but not the war.
In 2225 a movement known as the All-Xanu Peace League was founded in the city of Pataliputra by a former colonial official named Gaspard Kulkarni, a man who was half-Indian and half-Belgian, which proposed the idea of a unified Xanu which provided for all of its peoples regardless of their race or national origins. While not a novel concept, Kulkarni’s speeches and his organization’s charitable actions such as opening soup kitchens to feed the starving and clinics to give free medical care to the sick spoke greatly to the war-weary Xanan people. He led large anti-war protests in the city of Pataliputra and was smuggled into the territories of the various warring factions to spread his message. He encouraged soldiers in the armies to not fight, saying that they were shooting their own brothers and sisters even if their commanders saw otherwise. By the start of 2226, Kulkarni was becoming the most popular man on Xanu Prime, his message of peace and a planet-wide Xanan identity stretched across ethnicity and to many was a beacon of hope in a terrible war, even if Kulkarni’s ideas seemed overly idealistic to many.

Xanans, including those in the armies, were tired of fighting and exhausted at this point. None of the four factions had accomplished their goals and with Kulkarni’s Xanu Free League movement gaining more steam and proposing a peaceful future for all Xanan people, the heads of the four armies met at the planet’s capital Nouvelle-Rochelle to sign a peace treaty and dissolve their forces. An impromptu election was held to determine a planetary governor, Kulkarni won in a landslide, and declared the founding of the Sovereign Solarian Nation of Xanu Prime.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:80%">
===Reassertion of Solarian Control and The First Astonishment | 2227 - 2260===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Solxan.png|thumb|The flag of the Sovereign Solarian Nation of Xanu Prime]]
The Sol Alliance had been constantly monitoring the situation on Xanu since the start of the civil war and now that the fighting had stopped, it returned to its colony with the intention of rebuilding it and stabilizing it for the future. Pleased that they didn’t need to exercise any force, Sol returned with a massive investment which hoped to not only restore Xanu to its former glory, but also make it a leading, an exemplar colony in the distant Outer Ring. Sol saw Xanu almost as a blank slate at this point, the planet was so ravaged by war that anything was possible in the minds of the Colonial authorities back on Earth. From here on the Sol Alliance invested trillions of credits into Xanu’s infrastructure and businesses along with importing scores of new Western European, South Asian, and newly to the mix, American colonists and capital from Earth to both repopulate but also serve as workers in Xanu’s future labor pool.

Despite this rebuilding effort, many Xanan citizens, including the de-facto governor Kulkarni, vehemently criticized Sol for not intervening in the Xanan Civil War and stopping the fighting. This criticism put the Solarian central authority into a difficult position: they could either remove Kulkarni from office and impose their own governor, or try to keep the situation stable. In the end, the second option was taken; Xanan historians say that this was due to the massive amounts of money being spent on the world by the Alliance. Solarian historians dispute this claim and insist the choice was made by the Alliance as an apology to the Xanan people for the inaction in the civil war. Kulkarni was confirmed by the Solarian central authority as the Xanu’s official planetary governor on January 1st, 2225.

For the next three decades, Xanu became not just rebuilt but the strongest economy in the Outer Colonies. Solarian investment lasted for seven years, but after that, Xanu’s growth was primarily self-generated. Its industries and services had expanded far beyond just mining and agriculture to highly sophisticated sectors like computer manufacturing, bio-medicine, energy production, defense, and AI development. Most importantly however was shipping and logistics. Xanu’s geographic position made it ideal as the primary commercial port of the outer colonies, where goods from everywhere from Himeo to Vysoka to Assunzione would be shipped to the Solarian Core. Much of this was undertaken thanks to Kulkarni’s policies of giving monetary incentives to businesses and workers that went into certain industries. It was also during this time that Xanu found itself becoming friends with its close-by neighbor Himeo, a relationship which would go on to bloom into a strong friendship, and occasional rivalry, which lasts to this very day.
By 2260, before the Second Great Depression, Xanu Prime had the highest living standards in the Outer Colonies, the largest economy, and one of its most developed societies. Many accredit this to the foundation of an identity for its people built upon the ideas of fairness, equality, and hard work originating from the Xanu Free League and its founder Gaspard Kulkarni who retired from the position of Governor in 2248 at the age of 71 after 26 years in office. Xanu’s people no longer saw themselves as either French Xanan or Indian Xanan and so on, but as simply Xanan. The horrors of war which impacted all Xanan people regardless of ethnicity changed the way that the people of Xanu viewed each other. After the war they had begun to take on each other as fellow Xanans and as people rather than as an enemy or an “other,” adopting various cultures and customs from one another and beginning to create what today can be called the Xanan culture and people. Xanan culture was not only unified by a common experience, but also a common language. Freespeak was mandated as the official language of Xanu Prime by Governor Kulkarni in 2230 on the reasoning that it was what many of Xanu’s interplanetary neighbours spoke and that it would help unite the Xanan people if they could communicate with one another. This transformation from a war-ravaged world plagued by sectarian violence to a model planet which was safe, rich, and cosmopolitan is an achievement known to the Orion Spur as “The Astonishment.” A side-effect of Xanu’s success though was that it was now far more connected to the rest of the Outer Colonies than to the Solarian core in nearly all ways, economically, politically, and culturally. This fact would come to define Xanu’s future going forwards.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:80%">

===The [[Sol_Alliance_History#18_June,_2260:_The_Second_Great_Depression_Begins|Second Great Depression]] and [[Sol_Alliance_History#18_January,_2275:_Secession_of_the_Coalition|Secession from the Solarian Alliance]] | 2260 - 2278===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
While the Second Great Depression struck the Solarian Core from its onset in 2260, Xanu Prime and more broadly the Outer Colonies in general were largely unaffected by the economic turmoil gripping the inner parts of Sol Alliance space. Much of the Xanan economy was self-sufficient and relied little on the inner workings of Solarian financial institutions. Branches of transstellar corporations on Xanu were some of the only ones in human space which still remained profitable after the depression hit. Xanan citizens were not ignorant of the depression, it was still national news, but its effects were not felt on the world nor in the rest of the Outer Colonies aside from Vysoka. The steppe world was gripped by economic troubles following the collapse of the Solarian logistics chain which caused the planet’s primary export, food, being unable to reach the Solarian core. Xanu stepped in during this time to begin buying more exports from Vysoka to help shore up the steppe world’s losses while also further pulling Vysoka into its orbit of economic influence.

In 2265, the Sol Alliance unveiled a new taxation policy aimed at stopping the runaway inflation and worsening economic situation within its core worlds. This policy, deemed the Emergency Stabilization Plan, consisted of instilling heavy taxation on the still relatively economically stable Outer Colonies in hopes of transferring some of their wealth to the Solarian Core. The most prosperous, and therefore most taxed of these worlds was Xanu Prime, and as one might suspect, these new taxes were strongly opposed across the planet. Prices soared and businesses fell apart, sending not just Xanu’s economy but that of the entire Outer Colonies into a tailspin that would only worsen for the next decade.
In 2271, following the Xanan tradition of protest and rebellion that began with the All-Xanu Peace League, a Xanan independence movement was founded known as the All-Xanu Free League. Led by an aging veteran of the Xanan Civil War who had joined politics after the war and fully embraced the new idea of a united Xanu, Eloise Brel, the All-Xanu Free League’s goals were simple and to the point: no less than total independence from the Sol Alliance. Brel and her supporters argued that the Sol Alliance had never done anything for Xanu that wasn’t motivated by profit. The Free League cited the Sol Alliance’s refusal to intervene in the Xanan Civil War and near-removal of Governor Kulkarni in 2225 as examples of the Sol Alliance’s desires only to subjugate Xanu and act as thieves from its prosperous economy, going as far as to call the Sol Alliance’s Colonial Authority “pirates.” Brel also protested for popular democracy and voting rights for its citizens, as until this point, many Xanan people were only allowed to participate in democracy on a local level and had little say in the planet’s colonial taxation and economic programs or its foreign policy. As economic conditions worsened, the popularity of the Free League only grew, leading to further social unrest.

By 2274, Xanu’s planetary governor saw that the situation was untenable and resigned from the office. With the highest office of authority in Xanu Prime now vacant, the All-Xanu Free League declared itself as the popular government of the entire planet, installing Eloise Brel not as Xanu’s governor but as the president of the newly proclaimed All-Xanu Republic. In the same year, following Xanu’s example, the Outer Colony worlds of Himeo, now the United Syndicates of Himeo, Vysoka and Gadpathur also declared independence from the Sol Alliance. Sol was paralyzed by depression and unsure of how to respond to the situation, attempted to negotiate with the newly-independent systems to no avail. In 2275, the leaders from the independent outer colonies met on Xanu Prime in the city of Nouvelle-Rochelle and agreed to the formation of a military and economic alliance called the Interstellar Coalition of Independent Systems, or Coalition of Colonies. Xanu Prime was declared to be the de facto operational center of this new alliance and as such, it dictated the goals that the Coalition would need to meet. These goals, at least for the time being, were complete economic independence from the Sol Alliance and a militarization of their societies so that they could defend themselves from what Eloise Brel described as “the impending imperialist sledgehammer.”

The same year, Brel announced the necessity for a new All-Xanu Army and Navy and called for native Xanans and even foreigners in the Solarian planetary garrison who loved democracy, freedom, and the principles of equality and fairness found in Xanan culture to defect and bring their equipment with them, promising Xanan citizenship and adequate pay. Many of these soldiers who hadn’t been paid in months courtesy of the Second Great Depression’s effects on the Solarian military’s finances deserted their posts in droves and joined the new All-Xanu Army and Spacefleet. Stories of entire bases and ships surrendering to civil servants of the new administration were not unheard of. Those in the All-Xanu Armed Forces knew that they were unable to fight the Solarians in open combat and so instead looked to the past for guidance. Many veterans of the Xanan Civil War were still alive and while not in fighting condition, many of them being in their sixties or seventies at this point, were called upon to teach Xanan officers guerilla tactics who would then use those same methods, along with those learned from defecting garrison officers, to teach the nascent Army. Armed with equipment now flowing in from arms factories on Vysoka, the industrial centers of Himeo, and the planet’s own defense industry that emerged in the wake of the Xanan Civil War, Xanu’s fledgeling military was taking shape. By 2278, the All-Xanu Army was a young and inexperienced but well-trained fighting force. The All-Xanu Spacefleet by 2278 consisted of 802 vessels, most of which were no larger than cruisers and had been surrendered to the planet by both its own and nearby planets’ defecting garrisons.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:80%">

===The [[Sol_Alliance_History#25_March,_2278:_Outbreak_of_the_Interstellar_War|Interstellar War]] | 2278 - 2287===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The Sol Alliance was alarmed after its negotiations with the Outer Colonies had failed. Not only had they lost the lynchpin to their so far successful Emergency Stabilization Plan, but they’d lost territory, billions of citizens, vital resources, and large quantities of military equipment and materiel. Despite still being hamstrung by the Second Great Depression, the Sol Alliance mobilized its fleets and armies in 2278 and set its course for the Solarian Frontier. The Alliance at this time had adopted a policy of unconditional surrender of the Coalition of Colonies, aiming to bring them back under Solarian authority at any cost in order to secure their resources and people to further stabilize the Solarian Core.

Solarian forces reached Xanu Prime in late 2278 and would make landfall soon after crushing the All-Xanu Spacefleet and forcing it to flee to Himeo for repairs. It would not be until 2284 until the Solarian Army was forced off of Xanu. The Solarian Army quickly occupied Nouvelle-Rochelle and Pataliputra, Xanu’s two largest cities, and laid siege to Khairabad, its third largest and current seat of the All-Xanu Republic. The Siege of Khairabad would be the longest and by far the bloodiest battle of the Interstellar War. It lasted four years, from 2279 to 2282, and saw savage house-to-house fighting coupled with indiscriminate artillery bombardment and drone strikes from both sides. It is estimated that during the Siege of Khairabad, anywhere between 11 and 14 million people died, this figure being a combination of both soldiers and civilians. It is widely agreed that the Siege of Khairabad was the single-most deadly battle in human history. The siege was brutal and both sides bled heavily, with Coalition forces using the rubble of the city to hide for ambush attacks while the Solarians relied heavily on air power and orbital bombardment to pound their foes into submission. But submission the Solarians would not receive. It was 2281 and fighting had stagnated into a bloody stalemate across the Coalition of Colonies. The Solarians were unable to contend with such a vast front against the armies of the hundreds of worlds now part of the CoC and gradually they began to be worn down by the attrition of the war. By late 2282, the siege of Khairabad collapsed after Solarian forces besieging the city were redeployed elsewhere on Xanu to fight All-Xanu Army guerilla activities and elsewhere in the Coalition to hold the line against CoC forces. After four years, nine months, two weeks, and six days, the Siege of Khairabad was over. During her victory speech after the battle, President Brel proposed that the city be renamed to Kshatrapur, in allusion to the warrior caste of the culture of the city’s original Indian colonists. In 2283, by presidential decree, the city was renamed and holds that name to this very day.

Even while Khairabad and other cities on the planet were under siege, Xanan forces had been sent to every corner of the Coalition to try and curb Solarian advances. This was done not through direct combat, but through training the local armies and navies across the Coalition how to fight the Solarians. The once-defeated All-Xanu Spacefleet went on to act as one of the primary naval forces in the war after seeking repairs at Himeo. They attacked Solarian supply convoys and cooperated with the United Fleet of Himeo to defend Himeo against a Solarian landing force while being impossible to catch and pin-down by the Solarian Navy. In 2284, a United Coalition fleet comprised of elements from Xanu Prime, Himeo, and Gadpathur arrived to Xanu Prime under the leadership of All-Xanan Admiral Mehmud Khan and defeated the 148th Solarian Fleet in the Battle of Xanu Prime, the largest single spacefleet confrontation of the war. They arrived just in-time as well, many assess, as Solarian high-command had authorized the full-scale indiscriminate orbital bombardment of Xanu Prime, the scars of which can still be seen today. Many historians speculate that without the intervention of the CoC’s Joint Fleet, Xanu’s surface would be much like Gadpathur’s today. The Battle of Xanu Prime is seen as the turning point of the war. Afterwards, the Solarians forces would be in almost constant retreat out of Coalition territory since Xanu along with its Coalition allies could now export their armies instead of keeping them on their homeworlds to fend off the Solarian attack.
Slowly but surely, Xanusians fought alongside their fellow Coalition forces and by the time a ceasefire was called, the CoC had liberated 80% of the territory that it had begun with. The Treaty of Xansan was signed in 2287 and ended the war, with Sol officially recognising the Coalition of Colonies and all of its member states as independent entities. Shortly after the war, President Eloise Brel retired from politics and went on to pen a series of best-selling memoirs before dying at the ripe age of 104 in 2303. She is to this very day regarded as a national hero and is considered to be the “Mother of Xanan Independence.”
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:80%">
===The Sneijders Doctrine and The Second Astonishment | 2287 - 2320===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
For the second time in a century, Xanu Prime had been ravaged by war and nearly destroyed. By the end of the Interstellar War, nearly half of its population had been displaced or rendered homeless and it is presently estimated that anywhere between 12% and 15% of the planet’s population had died in the war. Xanu’s cities and infrastructure were in ruins, but the resolve of its people and the rest of the newly-formed Coalition of Colonies was as strong as ever. Sol was not around to rebuild Xanu after this war, but the rest of the Coalition of Colonies was. The first order of business for the new CoC government was providing relief to and rebuilding the areas most damaged by the war, Xanu Prime chief among them. Throughout the next decade, Xanu’s cities were rebuilt and repaired with even Kshatrigarh being nearly entirely repaired by 2310. Resources and workers from all over the Coalition poured into Xanu as part of the effort and after the Xanu Restoration Project was completed, many decided to stay and make lives for themselves on Xanu. These efforts are even to this day a source of camaraderie and mutual appreciation between the Xanan people and the rest of the Coalition, with both seeing it as the Coalition at large repaying Xanu Prime for the sacrifice its people made to start the Coalition. Measures were taken by the Xanan government to ensure that the recovery was not just that, a recovery, but the start of a brand new economy for the recently-independent world. The most notable of these actions was the creation of the Xanan Concern for Economic Stabilization, Advancement, and Recovery, otherwise known as CESAR-X, a state-owned construction and industrial company that would come to be the instrument through which successive governments would both rebuild and grow Xanu’s cities and economy. In 2320, Xanu Prime was once again the strongest economy in the Coalition of Colonies, having been surpassed by Himeo from the end of the war until that point. It would take some time for living standards to return to what they once were though, but it would happen. This rebuilding effort amounted to trillions of credits and ultimately was a resounding success that allowed Xanu to once again bounce back from the destruction of war. Fittingly, this is known as “The Second Astonishment.”

As Xanu Prime grew stronger and wealthier, it felt the need to assert its position in the still infantile Coalition of Colonies. The Coalition had only been around for roughly two-and-a-half decades in peacetime when in 2212, All-Xanu president Nicolaas Sneijders adopted a combination of economic and foreign policies that would lead Xanu into its golden age. These principles, known today as “The Sneijders Doctrine,” orbited around two principles: firstly expanding Xanan markets and trade wherever possible, and secondly, creating a new kind of All-Xanu Army and Spacefleet that could be deployed anywhere in the Coalition of Colonies on short notice should any nation in the CoC come under attack. The Coalition did not have a unified military that it could command on its own, so Sneijders proposed that if any world were to assert themselves as the defender of this new country, it would be Xanu. A famous excerpt from a speech he gave to the All-Xanu Assembly, now known as simply “The Sneijders Speech,” sums:

<center>''“Our fellows, brothers, and sisters saved our homeworld during the Interstellar War. We as Xanans must ensure that the same pain and suffering that befell us never is inflicted upon our neighbors. Our allies protected us, and we will repay the favor to not just they, but their children, and their children's children. We are the richest world in our beautiful Coalition even now, and we must ensure that our wealth grows but more importantly is put to good use. We have the means to make war but instead we will ensure peace for our people and all those of the Coalition. We are a republic built on the beliefs of liberty, democracy, equality, and goodwill, and we will proliferate these principles across the stars.”''</center>

From the time when Sneijders’ principles were implemented, Xanu would maintain a disproportionately large military relative to its fellow Coalition worlds, only being surpassed proportionately by Gadpathur. Sneijders also is credited with the establishment of much of Xanu’s state welfare programs and civic funding initiatives which would hasten Xanu’s restoration of living standards to a pre-war level. He also modified the Xanan Constitution into the form the country knows it as today, enshrining in law inalienable rights for Xanan citizens and placing limits on the government’s domestic power. He is the longest serving Xanan president, having left office in 2320 after serving three five-year terms in office, something which the constitution he helped ratify made impossible afterwards due to its limiting of presidents to only two terms. He is widely regarded as one of the best presidents the All-Xanu Republic has ever had.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:80%">

===The Xanan Renaissance | 2320 - 2360===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
For the first time in Xanan history, peace and prosperity reigned supreme for over 60 years. The planet saw an unparalleled level of growth and societal advancement. Xanan culture flourished and many of the entertainment industries that Xanu is known throughout the Orion Spur for were founded during the 2320’s and 30’s. Film, video games, music, entertainment, all got their start in those two decades after funding from many of the economic assistance and cultural programs started under the Sneijders administration took off. Xanu’s economy soared and the world hit a new high and celebrated lavishly in 2338 when Xanu’s population reached its pre-Interstellar War level. To this day, Xanans get every January 2nd off work to commemorate this recovery. Things were going good for Xanu, not only was it growing itself but further integration with the rest of the Coalition of Colonies allowed for it to grow its neighbors’ economies as well, though of course while each planet in the Coalition economically cooperated, friendly competition was part and parcel of their mutual exchanges. Xanan firms financed much of the construction of the Weber Quarter in Himeo’s capital Rautakaivos Kaupunki and funded heavy industry expansion on Vysoka in the 2340’s and 50’s.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:80%">
===The Flohimont Thaw and Solarian Reproachment | 2360 - 2400===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
One of the largest changes in Xanu’s foreign and economic policy in history came under the administration of President Ameliye Flohimont, Xanu Prime’s tenth president. Taking power in 2360, President Flohimont was the first Xanan leader since the Interstellar War to consider reopening economic ties with the Solarian Alliance. These actions brought on fierce criticism at the time, with notions of Sol once again trying to force an unfair economic deal on Xanu running rampant. Flohimont stressed that she did not wish to negotiate trade with the entire Solarian Alliance but only individual planets under its control, stating that she was wishing to trade with Sol as she would with any other, on fair and agreeable terms. In 2364, her administration reached a settlement with the government of Konyang, hoping to both increase trade revenue and use the momentum as a positive reason for her reelection campaign in 2365. This negotiation was criticized by the Himean government and lambasted by multiple Gadpathurian officials at the time as, “playing with fire,” and something that could potentially drag the rest of the CoC’s economy into the orbit of Sol as it once was. Nevertheless, Flohimont won reelection in 2365 and continued her policy of foreign economic liberalization, signing trade deals with the then-Solarian planets of Biesel, New Gibson, and Mictlan a establishing a positive relationship with them that carried on to the formation of the Republic of Tau Ceti and to this day. The tax profits from these mercantile ventures were reinvested into Xanu’s cultural, state medical, and military programs, giving all of those sectors a boost. Conspiratorially, some on the fringe of Sol’s political sphere hold even presently that Flohimont engaged in these deals in order to expand the reach of Xanu’s Military Intelligence Department into Solarian worlds in preparation for a future invasion. They cite the expansion of Xanu’s military under Flohimont as a primary reason for this theory, though most see these ideas as shaky at best and completely false at worst. Xanu’s government denies this and people with this stance on Xanu are often laughed out of any discussion in which they participate. Whatever the case, when she left office in 2370 after serving two five-year terms, Xanu was richer and was once again a player on the economic stage of the Orion Spur and not just the Coalition. Over the next century, Xanu would use foreign trade to make money as far as the Nralakk Federation, Eridani, after the New Suez Protocols of 2381 the [[Republic of Elyra]], the rest of the Sol Alliance proper, and Adhomai and Moghes after their discovery by humans. This openness to foreign nations under Flohimont is also the reasoning credited for why Xanu Prime agreed to host the Fisanduhian government-in-exile in 2386.

President Ameliye Flohimont is a polarizing figure across the CoC and beyond and her impacts as president were felt long after she’d left office. On Xanu she is remembered fondly for helping the planet move past its trauma from the Interstellar War by opening a parley with Sol and for using foreign trade credits to help enrich the planet’s social systems and military. Elsewhere in the Coalition she is looked down upon as a selfish leader, or even seen as a traitor to the Coalition ideal, who put Xanu’s economic interests, or to some, her planet’s greed, above the safety of the Coalition and made any future economic problem that Sol, or eventually Biesel, encountered also a problem of the Coalition. This rose to a head when she was assassinated at a speaking event in 2374, four years after she’d left office, by a radical Gadpathurian national who claimed that her actions would kill the Coalition of Colonies. Nearly a century after her election, anti-Sol and nationalist parties across the Coalition blamed the Coalition’s economic turmoil during the ongoing Phoron Scarcity on the policies that Flohimont started, however this position was contested by many on Xanu who described Flohimont’s actions as, “The natural next steps for Xanu Prime and the Coalition into the Orion Spur,” and the current slowdown as, “An inevitability for any nation in the modern day and age.”
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:80%">
===The Doldrums & The Mukhopadhyay Plan | 2400 - 2440===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Xanu Prime and the Coalition of Colonies as a whole entered 2400 in a period of relative stagnation. The huge revenues brought into Xanu during the latter half of the 23rd century by President Flohimont’s trade pioneering had faded, with all who wanted to trade with Xanu already doing so. By 2404, Xanu Prime’s economy was only growing by 1% annually and the country itself fell into a period of long-standing economic stagnation known as “The Doldrums.” During this time Xanu was still the top economy in the Coalition of Colonies, but it was no longer growing at the meteoric speeds it once knew, and even saw a near-collapse in 2421. The Doldrums lasted from 2404 until 2427 and are known for the malaise they put over Xanan society as four different presidential administrations tried to get the economy under control and reignite Xanu’s soaring economy.
The most notable event during this period was the privatization of CESAR-X, the venerated Xanan institution of a state-owned industrial concern. The company began to amass an unusually large amount of debt during the mid 2400’s as it took out loans to maintain its infrastructure and assets during the economic slowdown. Those in-charge at the company thought that their business’s government-backed nature along with its prominent role in the Xanan economy would ensure that it remained solvent even during a time when the economy was in rough shape. Essentially, they thought CESAR-X could weather the storm through the use of loans and government until the economy had picked up once again and normal growth rates were seen, rather than through adjusting how they did business to meet the challenging economic circumstances. What neither they, nor anyone else at the time expected, was just how long the slowdown would last. A little over a decade and a half passed, and by this time the concern had taken out more in loans than the company itself was worth; not being able to sustain itself on its own operations for any longer, CESAR-X went to the Xanan government asking for a bailout to pay off its creditors, threatening bankruptcy otherwise. The government was indecisive on the decision, as on one hand CESAR-X’s collapse would result in millions of jobs being lost and be disastrous for an already struggling Xanan economy, but on the other, saving CESAR-X wouldn’t fix the economic situation gripping the planet, nor was it a permanent solution to shoring up what was becoming a government-backed money pit. The decision was then made to let CESAR-X fail and collapse, but at the eleventh hour, Credit Xanan, the largest bank in the Coalition and the owner of a majority of CESAR-X’s debt offered to buy the company from the Xanan state on the condition that they pay under a market price and that they would keep a majority of the company’s workers employed. The government agreed and sold the company to the bank for what many now estimate to be just above half of its real value. Over the next decade, CESAR-X’s new management would enact a ruthless profitability-first policy in how it dealt with its newly acquired subsidiary, shutting down factories and branches that failed to turn a profit after being given notice to restructure. These efforts resulted in the company downsizing its workforce by nearly 30%, a move which remains controversial even today, but they did accomplish their goal. By 2428, CESAR-X was turning a profit under Credit Xanan ownership. To this day, CESAR-X is the largest privatization in Coalition history.

During this time the life of an ordinary Xanan changed; the country was no longer on the up-and-up and it gave many time to pause and examine what their society was and who they were as people. Some of the most seminal works of Xanan popular art and cinema were produced during the Doldrums, some say as a reflection on the Xanu Prime of the day, and some say to express the tension and anxiety that the artists and directors felt. Whatever the case, epic works of stage, film, and visual arts were produced during this period which have gone on to firmly cement themselves in the Xanan canon.

As the potential of wide-scale phoron usage was beginning to be felt across the Orion Spur though and more importantly, as more in the Coalition of Colonies wanted this technology, Xanu slowly saw its reascension to growth as it began to be the primary port by which phoron shipments from Elyra and the still-Solarian Biesel would enter the Coalition. This new energy source brought great wealth to Xanu and is credited for giving the planet’s economy the shot in the arm it needed to resume its growth.
After Xanu Prime’s recovery from the Doldrums, its next president, Narayan Mukhopadhyay, believed that Xanu needed an economic system which would ensure that it would not fall victim to such a circumstance again, or if it did, not to the degree which it had in the 2410’s-20’s. Throughout the early 2430’s, Mukhopadhyay devised a series of complex economic measures which aimed to shock-proof the Xanan economy against a future recession or collapse, using both taxes and trade revenues from the Konyang robotics boom to fund it. These included amassing great reserves of foreign currency and investing trillions into further diversifying Xanu’s economy. The great Mehmud Khan Helium-3 Station (named after the Xanan Interstellar War Admiral) began construction during this time with assistance from nearby Galatea, and Mukhopadhyay’s initiatives spearheaded the development of industries that until his administration were small or hadn’t even existed on Xanu. This ranged from VR technology to the automotive industry, to pharmaceuticals to initiatives focused on creating engines and reactors which could operate with both Phoron and other fuels like Helium-3. The latter of these efforts would come in very handy during the beginning of the 2462 phoron shortage. Mukhopadhyay also invested much into Xanu Prime’s social services, with the reasoning that if Xanu’s economy were to enter a recession or depression in the future, they would be relied on more than ever before.

The impact of President Mukhopadhyay’s economic planning is hard to quantify. Some on Xanu say that Mukhopadhyay was a visionary who unknowingly protected Xanu from total economic catastrophe when the phoron shortage hit in force in 2463, some twenty years after he left office in 2440. Others however dispute this claim, saying that his impact is truly unknowable because there is no way to know what exactly would have happened to Xanu if the Mukhopadhyay Plan was never put into place and that it was in fact, not the best option. Despite these differing opinions, he generally has a positive reputation and currently spends his days giving lectures at universities and speaking at fundraising events for the Enlightenment Project, a charity he founded after he left office which aims to provide medical aid (often in cooperation with the Interstellar Aid Corps) and educational access to children in the less-developed parts of the Coalition of Colonies and Human Frontier.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:80%">
===Xanu Prime Today | 2440 - Present===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The 2440’s were an unremarkable decade for Xanu Prime. The planet continued to grow more economically off of the spur-wide phoron boom and in 2443, celebrated the completion of the Khan Helium-3 Station. Steady growth and stability were hallmarks of the 2440’s for Xanu and is seen in the present by a large numbers of Xanans, both those who were alive during the time and those who were born after it, as a nostalgic pseudo-golden age where all was good, especially when compared to more recent times.

The 2450’s however were a decade of many happenings for Xanu Prime, both good and bad. In 2457, Xanu Prime hit its all-time economic high, one that is yet to be surpassed, after organizing numerous trade deals with Tau Ceti following the country’s independence in 2452. This took a dive in 2458 when Admiral Michael Frost invaded Tau Ceti, causing Xanu to put great pressure on the rest of the Coalition for an intervention on the justification of protecting sovereignty, an action supported by Gadpathur but rejected by all others in the Coalition on the grounds that war for the sake of markets wasn’t something the Coalition wanted. Along with reaching its economic zenith in 2457, Xanu Prime also participated in one of the largest relief operations in history after the Lii’dra incursion to the Elyran planet of Bursa. In cooperation with the rest of the Coalition, Xanu sent billions in foreign aid, medical supplies, and construction equipment to Bursa to aid in the planet’s rebuilding process. The 2450’s also marked the decade in which the Coalition of Colonies announced a massive increase in its anti-piracy operations both within Coalition territory and outside of it in the Human Frontier. While claimed as an anti-piracy operation, many in the Coalition viewed this as an unofficial war against privateers originating from the [[Empire of Dominia]]. Xanu Prime, having the largest military and hosting the Fisanduhian government-in-exile, was broadly supportive of this initiative and committed a sizable chunk of its fleet to defeating what then president Jayanti Kuipers called, “the barbaric menace of pirates and whoever employs them.”

The 2460’s have thus far been turbulent for Xanu Prime, much as they have for almost everywhere in the Orion Spur. The planet’s economy took a hit during the Phoron Scarcity and subsequent Solarian Collapse, however it is nowhere near the worst-affected place in the Coalition even if its supply chains are still met with the impossible question of how to replace phoron entirely. Some say this resilience is because of President Mukhopadhyay’s planning, while others say that Xanu’s economy is simply large enough and has the scale to weather the storm of the Scarcity better than others. Some Xanan industries such as its Helium-3 sector and engine manufacturing plants have even boomed in the wake of the recent economic turmoil in contrast to many others. The future of Xanu seems uncertain. It is holding on well under the administration of its current president Jaques Afzal, with many of its people still living comfortably and enjoying Xanu Prime’s high standard of living, but problems are beginning to emerge. Growing economic inequality, internal divides over Xanu Prime’s place in the Coalition, debates over just how the planet and its people will deal with the scores of refugees fleeing from a broken spur to relative safety, and other societal pressures like crime and rising illegal drug use are rearing their ugly heads. Xanu Prime’s future, much like the rest of the spur, is uncertain, but what is certain is the resolve and unity that the planet and its people will meet any new challenge with.
</div></div>

==Geography and Environment==
<center>''“In forest, ocean, mountain, river, or meadow, my country’s beauty shines through!” - Excerpt from “My Xanu’s Majesty,” a Xanan patriotic song written during the Interstellar War''</center>
[[File:Xanu Prime Map.png|thumb|A Mercator projection map of Xanu Prime.]]
===Geography===
Xanu Prime is a varied and diverse world that is slightly larger than Earth with a mean radius of 3,790 kilometers. 63% of the planet’s surface area is covered in liquid salt water and it has sizable ice caps at both of its poles, though the northern cap is far larger than the southern one. The planet has four continents and numerous smaller islands that dot its oceans.

The largest of the continents is called '''Nouvelle-Occitanie''', or '''New Occitania''', named after the historical region of France. Much of the planet’s population lives on this continent and its ample coastline. It is situated at the planet’s equator and stretches far to the south into the temperate and near-polar zones of the planet. It hosts varied biomes, with lush equatorial rainforests on its east coast, and tropical deserts which then give way to sprawling open grassy plains and rolling hills before finally finishing in the south of the continent with great deciduous and coniferous forests. Nouvelle-Occitanie is a continent of contrasts. Some of Xanu’s largest cities are on Nouvelle-Occitanie are on the continent, however other areas of the landmass are almost entirely uninhabited, namely the largest of its tropical deserts, the Greater Thar. Nouvelle Occitanie also was the scene of battles and sieges during the Interstellar War, with certain parts of it being designated as national battlefield sites. These sites function as both historical sites and wildlife preserves and development of them is prohibited by the Xanussi government. The largest of these historical preserves are known as the Scar Seas. They are a series of loosely-connected saltwater crater lakes along a stretch of the continent’s western coastline near the city of Kshatragarh. These lakes were formed during the Interstellar War as a result of heavy orbital bombardment in the area from the Solarian Navy.

Sitting in the planet’s northern temperate and equatorial zones, '''Naya Khyber''', or '''New Khyber''', is the third largest of Xanu Prime’s continent and is defined by the Naya Khyber River, the largest river on the planet. At precisely 7,117 kilometers long, the river spans the entire latitude of New Khyber and its course showcases the continent’s geography well. Starting in the western alps of the country, the river flows east and meanders along rolling foothills before entering a short expanse of plains and finally finishing in the Naya Khyber delta, the largest river delta on Xanu Prime. The Naya Khyber delta is a huge agricultural hub due to a combination of factors, the foremost of which are the mineral rich soil present there and the reliability by which the Naya Khyber River floods, aiding irrigation.

Xanu’s third largest continent, '''Himavatia''', is a mostly uninhabited and almost entirely frozen landmass that sits within the planet’s arctic circle. Few things can survive in the cold of Himavatia’s interior, however some confers, grasses, and birds have made their home here. Despite this harshness to life, however, Himvatia’s few peninsulas which manage to stretch into more temperate climates do have small settlements on them. Large swaths of Himavatia are covered in polar ice, the glaciers of which have scoured the continent’s coastlines with deep, vertigo-inducing cliffs, valleys, and fjords. Those coasts themselves are dotted with dense coniferous forests and rocky shores.

Lastly, the smallest of Xanu Prime’s continents is called '''Paasland'''. It is located in Xanu Prime’s southern hemisphere and is a single landmass surrounded by tens of thousands of islands. The continent is mostly covered by marshland and mangrove swamps, with only the center and north of its area being more than a few meters above sea level. The barrier island chains which protect Paasland from the storms that may blow in off Xanu’s great oceans around it range in landscape from tropical paradises near the north and west of the continent, to barren, freezing rocks in the south. Many of these islands house active volcanoes and some grow on an annual basis.

A unique feature of Xanu Prime’s geography are found at the sites of where the planet’s surface was bombarded both from orbit and terrestrially by Sol Alliance and Coalition forces during the Interstellar War. The land found here is pockmarked by a smattering of craters created from the impacts of Solarian munitions, many of which have interacted with Xanu’s numerous river systems and formed lakes. A number of these sites, officially deemed “'''Scarlands'''” by the Xanan government, have been rehabilitated into national parks and wildlife preserves while others have been resettled and reclaimed by the Xanans. There are scarlands on all four of Xanu Prime’s continents, and what has become of them differs from one scarland to another. Those found around large cities are typically just integrated into the landscape of the city’s metropolitan area itself as part of the landscape, while those in more remote areas have found themselves as designated war memorials and wildlife preserves. The largest of these in area is the Widow’s Tears Scarlands which is a stretch of over 110,000 craters that covers much of Nouvelle-Occitanie’s northeastern territory. Much of it is inhabited and cities and towns can be found there, though the portions of it which are found in the equatorial rainforests of the planet have long-since been designated as undevelopable land. The scarland with the highest density of craters is the Khairabad Scarlands found around the modern-day city of Kshatragarh which comes in at a whopping total of 186,954 craters. The Scarlands are mostly safe to travel and live within after the Xanusian government’s massive clean-up efforts alongside experts sent by the Federal Technocracy of Galatea throughout the 24th century and have become a popular area for weekend trips or vacations for Xanusians. Some of the more remote or hard-to-reach scarlands like the Little Cuts or some parts of the New Pacific Scarlands and Himavat’s Wounds are still partially dangerous though, and visitors are strongly encouraged to not deviate from marked trails in those areas lest they accidentally set off unexploded munitions still present on the old battlefields.

===Biosphere===
{{Infobox Planet
|Name = Xanu Prime
|System = Xanu
|Image = Xanu.png
|Sector = Liberty's Cradle
|Capital = Nouvelle-Rochelle
|Species = Humans, IPCs
|Languages = Freespeak, Tradeband
|Demonyms = Xanan
|Nation = [[Coalition of Colonies]]
|Former = [[Sol Alliance]]
}}
Xanu Prime’s biosphere is as diverse as its terrain. Due to Xanu’s earth-like climate and geography, many species were introduced to the planet from Earth which then led to novel and new lifeforms as these imports crossbred with the existing animals.
Notable Xanan Fauna are:
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Paaskraan'''
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The Paaskraan, or more officially the Easter Crane, is a huge, towering bird-like creature resembling a crane standing nearly three meters tall and a wingspan of nearly 4.15 meters. It is easily identifiable by its vibrant orange and white plumage across its body and wings, with its head being almost entirely covered in royal blue feathers. It uses its thick beak with a long piercing spike to stab through prey that it dredges up from the Paasland marshfloor, often fish, amphibians, or even turtles. They are also known for their ocean-spanning migratory cycles that take them from Paasland to the southern coast of Naya Khyber during their breeding season. One might think that their size would make Paaskraans very aggressive creatures, but they are actually very shy and tend to avoid contact with humans and other large animals which may pose even a remote threat to them. They would rather fly away than fight, but even so, they have been known to violently maim and even kill other creatures that get too close to their nests during hatching season. This has led local Xanan environmental protection groups to cordon off Paaskraan nesting areas from the public throughout springtime in efforts to prevent the accidental deaths of wildlife enthusiasts. It is the official animal of the city of Paasstad, the central city of Paasland, and is a symbol of Paasland as a whole.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Crimson-Masked Polecat'''
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The Crimson-Masked polecat is an animal resembling a mustelid native to the southern peninsulas of Himavatia. It is notable for having almost universally white fur aside from a bar of vibrant red, nearly purple, fur going across and around its eyes. Scientists are uncertain as to why it developed this odd quirk, but what is certain is that this unique aesthetic feature and playfully aggressive disposition has made it a popular pet around the planet and throughout the Coalition. It was first domesticated in 2312 and because of this, it is often associated with the Xanan Renaissance and is considered by many Xanans to be the unofficial national animal of the Republic. In its native habitat of Himavatia’s southern peninsulas it hunts mostly small rodents and on occasion fish, though due to its domestication and subsequent release into the wild by irresponsible pet owners, it has spread to all four of Xanu’s continents and has adapted well to new environments.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''The Silverwing Blazemoth'''
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The silverwing blazemoth is one of the most recognizable creatures of Nouvelle-Occitanie’s equatorial rainforests. With a wingspan of 18cm it is quite large by insect standards, and can be identified not just by its size but by its vibrantly colored black-tipped silver-hued wings. What makes it unique among moths though is the silk that it produces. Instead of its silk having a white color typical of other silk-producing moths, the silverwing blaze moth larvae creates a silk that is a burnt orange color. During pupating season, people have reported what they thought to be fires, but when investigated, turned out only to be trees covered in the sizzled orange colored cocoons of Silverwing Blazemoths. The orange silk made by these creatures s is a luxury good and is highly sought after both on Xanu Prime and throughout inhabited space.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Naya Khyber River Penguin'''
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The Naya Khyber River Penguin is a mysterious and odd creature. It is a flightless bird resembling an Earther penguin that stands no taller than one meter high. It is coloured in a deep green color and white rather than black and white typical of penguins on Earth, and has a small crest of red feathers on its head. Scientists believe that the bird’s DNA is almost entirely native to Xanu Prime, though others allege that it is distantly related to the rockhopper penguin of Earth. These birds inhabit the Naya Khyber River Delta and swim in packs through the delta’s wide meandering channels on hunts for fish and crustaceans which they stab with their short but sharp beaks. While quite clumsy and slow on dry land, getting around via a hopping motion more often than walking, they are incredibly quick in the water and can go as fast as 40kph in short bursts. They’re very social and often live in colonies along the shores of the Naya Khyber River, the largest of which was recorded to be over fifty-thousand birds, though the average is around four-thousand. They are fiercely territorial and have a mean streak. This reputation is the result of their tendency to attack other animals which get too close to their nests, typically via attempting to peck out their eyes. Even careless humans have been known to be attacked by these penguins. Despite this behavior however, many see the flightless birds as cute, cuddly, and silly perhaps due to their awkwardness while moving out of water. The foremost example of this reputation is the well-known Xanan children’s cartoon Pierre and Friends, starring Pierre the River Penguin, a clumsy but well meaning young penguin learning about the world, as its main character. The show and Pierre as a character are well-liked by parents and educators for, perhaps ironically, helping to teach children the values of cooperation, sharing, and not bullying others.
</div></div>

Aside from animals unique to Xanu Prime, the planet also has animals that have been seeded on the planet from Earth. Rodents, birds, some fishes, and other creatures like insects have been successfully imported to the planet and despite their invasive nature, have fit well into Xanu’s biosphere. The national animal of Xanu Prime is the Indian Peafowl, a bird brought to the colony by its original colonists.

Xanu Prime has a wide variety of flora as well, with the northern rainforests of Nouvelle-Occitanie alone housing thousands of tree and plant species. The most notable of these is the '''Great New Occitanian Lupine''', a great green and white flower resembling an Earth lupine reaching nearly twenty feet tall. It emits a sweet smell, and these plants can often be seen covered in millions of pollinating insects looking to get its nectar. To the south, the coasts of the entire continent of Paasland are covered in forests of the '''Yellow-Spotted Shedding Mangrove''', a mangrove tree similar to those found on Earth with leaves that have a natural green hue but which take on striking golden spots during the summer months. Scientists believe this is a chemical reaction that results from the concentration of excess salt in the leaves before they then fall off towards the end of summer to rid themselves of the salt in a process referred to as shedding, the leaves then regrowing during the autumn season. On the continent of Naya Khyber, the '''Whistling Pineberry Tree''' can be found. This coniferous tree can reach over 65 meters in height and is unique among other trees in its family for having needle-like leaves that are hollow and also open at both ends. When the wind blows, the leaves of the tree resonate with a whistling noise similar to the mating call of local birds. Botanists believe that this is an evolutionary adaptation that has the goal of calling more birds to the tree so that they may scatter its seeds, contained in small berries rather than pinecones, more easily, citing the fact that the geographic distribution of the subspecies of the Whistling Pine mirror those of various bird populations.

==Government and Politics==
[[File:Xanuprimebanner.png|thumb|Official Banner of the All-Xanu Republic]]
[[File:Xanuprimeflag.png|thumb|left|The flag of the All-Xanu Republic is a flag of three horizontal stripes, blue, orange, and green, with a white circle in the middle featuring the national crest of Xanu Prime, a peacock feather. The blue represents liberty and freedom, orange represents determination and hard work, green represents the planet and its people, white represents justice and peace, and the national crest represents the republic itself.]]
<center>''“A strong president is a strong government is a strong Xanu.” - Nicolaas Sneijders, 4th President of the All-Xanu Republic (2305-2320)''</center>

The All Xanu-Republic has a parliamentary semi-presidential government that consists of three branches, the executive, legislative, and judicial branch that operates as a unitary state. It is often described as having a strong executive and weak legislative branch, with the majority of power in the Xanan system being held by the Office of the President. Xanu’s political process has very low barriers to entry and as a result, the planet has the most registered political parties of any planet in the Orion Spur. Despite this great number however, only nine parties currently have seats in the All-Xanu National Congress. The Xanan government system and its various political parties can all be read about here on the dedicated Xanu Prime Government and Politics page. The current President of the All-Xanu Republic is Jaques Afzal of the party the All-Xanu Free League. He is Xanu Prime’s 23rd president, has held the office since 2460, and recently won reelection in 2465. He will leave office in 2470 as per the two-term constitutional limit for Xanan presidents. To read more on the Xanan government’s structure and functions, the political parties which currently hold sway on the national stage, as well as the country's foreign relations, see the dedicated page for [[Xanan Government and Politics|Xanan government and politics]].

The Xanan government supports a well-funded and well-equipped variety of state systems aimed at helping its citizens with a variety of issues and problems that they may come across. The '''All-Xanu Health Office''' is one of Xanu Prime’s oldest and most successful government agencies, and is something that many Xanans consider to be the best thing to come out of Xanu’s Second Astonishment, aside from the reconstruction of the planet as a whole. The Health Office, or often just known as the AXHO, is the framework by which many ordinary Xanans receive medical care. It operates by working with privately-owned hospitals and pharmaceutical companies to subsidize medical and research costs, while also giving Xanan citizens progressive financial assistance in paying for healthcare, the level of which is determined by a citizen’s income. Those Xanans who are in the upper income brackets do not receive as much as those in the lower ones, who often have most if not all of their healthcare expenses subsidized by the government. In addition to this, the AXHO operates dozens of clinics and even some hospitals all around the planet where healthcare costs are subsidized by the Office’s coffers. The AXHO has a similar arrangement of financial assistance to self-owned positronic Xanans as well, but for repair costs rather than healthcare expenses. Nearly every Xanan believes that the AXHO is a good thing, regardless of political affiliation, though there is some controversy and dispute over how it should be run, either more centralized with more state control over healthcare, or the semi-public, semi-private model that it has used for the last century and a half.

While Xanan healthcare may be decentralized in structure, some of its other institutions are not, the finest example of which is the '''All-Xanu Public Security Office'''. The Security Office functions as Xanu Prime’s unitary police force and operates in a pyramidal structure, going from the office’s head down to departmental and local police forces. These local police forces usually operate on a city or departmental sub are given autonomy on many of their day-to-day operations, but if a major case emerges, such as a serial killing or terrorist threat, investigators and officials from higher up in the organization’s structure usually take over. The AXPSO generally maintains a good relationship with Xanan citizens, though there have been allegations of xenophobia aimed at aliens like Tajara, Unathi, and Diona made against the Office for many years.

Although often erroneously referred to as a government apparatus, the largest news provider on Xanu Prime, the '''Xanan News Service (XNS)''' is not owned nor operated by the Xanan government. The XNS was created by order of President Sneijders during the aftermath of the Interstellar War as an independent news agency that was funded by the country’s government but was not beholden to it in terms of who it hired or what types of stories it decided to give coverage to. Since then, it has conducted generally well-received and professional journalism and is one of the most read and watched news agencies in the Orion Spur, with the majority of its coverage being centered on issues and topics impacting the Coalition of Colonies and Human Frontier. Recently, however, it has also experimentally expanded into the Human Wildlands and is one of the only major agencies that has been able to cover the ongoing war in the Northern Wildlands of former Sol in any depth.
[[File:XNSlogo.png|thumb|The logo of the Xanan News Service used from 2442 - Present]]

==Language==
<center>''“A common tongue means a common future.” - Marcel Singh, pioneer of the Xanan Freespeak language''</center>
The official language of Xanu Prime is '''Xanan Freespeak''', a language that developed in the early days of the Xanu Prime colony from the grammatical hybridization of various languages from the Indian subcontinent with some loanwords taken from French and Dutch. It was formally codified in 2230 during the aftermath of the Xanan Civil War to function as a common tongue between the planet’s various colonists that could be easily learned and used words that were from their countries of origin. While many places on Xanu Prime have names taken from the languages of its original colonizing nations like Hindi, French, Urdu, Bangla, and Dutch, very few if any people on the planet are still conversational in these languages, with almost all of them having been supplanted by Xanan Freespeak. Freespeak is taught in all schools, is known by nearly every resident of Xanu Prime, and is taught throughout the Coalition of Colonies as a lingua franca used for diplomacy and business relations between its various member states. Xanan government functions, law, and academia use Freespeak as their primary language, though Freespeak is not the only language spoken on Xanu Prime. Signage, popular media, literature, music, and film found in Xanu all are typically in Freespeak, but languages from all over the Coalition of Colonies can be found here, especially within ethnic communities from planets that speak a language other than Freespeak as their primary language. Himean Common, Sol Common, Assunzionii Tradeband, Gadpathuri Common, and even Vulgar Morozi are spoken on Xanu Prime within ethnic communities. Any hopeful immigrant to Xanu Prime must pass a Xanan Freespeak proficiency test in order to receive citizenship.

==Life, Culture, & Society on Xanu Prime==
<center>''“Our biggest strength lies not with our economic prowess, nor with our military might, but with the beauty of our people, the nobility of their ideals, and the sanctity of our culture and its works.” - Ameliye Flohimont, Tenth President of the All-Xanu Republic during a 2363 speech to the All-Xanu National Congress in favor of an expansion to the All-Xanu Eloise Brel Art Gallery''</center>

Xanan Culture and Xanan Society are very rich and detailed topics which have a variety of facets and great depth. Xanan culture takes cues from the most prominent of its founding cultures and has a society that places great importance on the family unit. Xanan culture is collective, in the sense that people are encouraged to watch out for one another and the general cultural mindset is to see oneself as a meaningful member of their community. Xanan society is very diverse and multicultural and the planet has numerous immigrant communities that help make-up the planet’s dynamic socio-cultural ecosystem. Xanu Prime hosts a variety of different religions as well, the most prominent being Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam. Its society is not perfect however and has its issues, chief among them being a growing income inequality, anti-immigrant sentiments, and tension over the planet’s place in the Coalition of Colonies. Xanan art and entertainment produced by Xanan companies is some of the most popular in human space, with Xanan films, Holovision programs, consumed throughout the Coalition of Colonies and human frontier. Xanan cuisine is something that the planet is famous for across the Orion Spur and some of its dishes are staples of fine-dining. Xanan architecture and fashion too are distinctive to the planet and have their own stories. Xanan sports are very popular on the planet as well, the most played and watched being football in the All-Xanu Ultraleague, and Class A Cricket in the Alphaleague. Details on all of these subjects and more on general life on Xanu Prime and the planet’s societal composition and issues can be found on the dedicated page for [[Xanan Life, Culture, and Society|Xanan life, culture, and society]].

Xanan society is one that values individual liberties while paying close attention to how these liberties can sometimes hurt society as a whole if taken too far. This can be reflected in their legal code. Xanu Prime has strong legal protections against government restrictions on speech, though things like hate speech and slander are still illegal. There is no state religion on Xanu Prime and Xanans are free to practice, or not practice, any religion they please. The country does have very strong secularism laws though, and bans government employees and government buildings from wearing or displaying religious symbols or forms of dress. Some decry this as an intrusion onto the religious freedoms of citizens, though the majority of Xanan society is in support of strong secularization laws. Private firearms ownership is permitted on Xanu Prime, however it is restricted. A Xanan citizen requires a government permit, background check, and legitimate reason (typically for hunting or home defense) before they are allowed to own a private firearm. They cannot carry their weapons in public and they cannot own fully automatic ballistic firearms or lethal-strength lasers or similar battery-powered weapons. Xanans have total freedom of movement throughout the All-Xanan Republic, and have various legal protections against external intrusions on individual privacy, both physical and digital.
The Xanan press and news media is one of the most, if not the most active in human-inhabited space. There are thousands of different publications and news sources in the All-Xanu Republic, and Xanan journalism is some of the most robust in the Orion Spur. Much of this is because of the Xanan government’s policies which award special protections to news agencies and impose a higher standard of evidence in defamation lawsuits against them. News and media are not totally unregulated on Xanu Prime though; the Xanan government created an independent regulatory agency, the All-Xanu Media Ethics Commission (MEC), in 2329 so as to ensure that the fledgling media of the newly independent All-Xanu Republic would not succumb to the perils of sensationalism and fake news. The MEC has the power to censor and fine publications with reporting that has proven to be false or so biased that it burgeons on false. This does not mean that the MEC forces all Xanan news outlets to be entirely neutral, far from it in fact, just that they must show at least some balance in their stories and programming.

==Economy==
<center>''“Economically, even through hardship, we remain unparalleled among our peers. We should be keen to enjoy the vices and virtues of prosperity to the fullest extent possible.” - Lennox Sibelius, Xanan Finance Minister under President Narayan Mukhopadhyay during a 2440 address to the National Parliament''</center>
===Economic Overview===
Xanu Prime is the proud home of the largest and most diverse economy within the Coalition of Colonies. Spanning across nearly every sector imaginable aside from large-scale mining, the economy of Xanu Prime is not only the largest in the Coalition of Colonies but one of the largest in the Orion Spur, only being surpassed by Biesel, Callisto, and Eridani I in terms of GDP. Xanu Prime is home to the head offices of the [[Stellar Corporate Conglomerate]]’s and [[Einstein Engines]]’ Coalition of Colonies operations and also houses other facilities like data centers and research laboratories for many of them as well. Xanu Prime’s financial service and banking sectors are the largest in the Coalition and help connect Xanu to planets and businesses across the Orion Spur, with its banks holding trillions in assets on any given day. The Xanan Stock Exchange is located in Nouvelle-Rochelle, and is the largest of its kind in the CoC and third largest exchange in the Orion Spur by volume of credits moved through its markets. Company stocks and other assets from all over the Coalition of Colonies and some from outside of it are traded there.

The pride of Xanu Prime’s economy and arguably the reason for its continued ascendency in the Orion Spur is Xanu’s shipping sector. Xanu Prime’s merchant marine is the largest of any in the Orion Spur, numbering just over fifty-thousand. Xanan shipping conglomerates dominate the Coalition of Colonies and have near monopolies over that sector in some parts of Coalition space. Within the Coalition, Xanu Prime is the king of foreign trade, and the Xanan shipping industry is to thank for this status. Xanan shipping firms do not just move cargo between Xanu Prime and other planets in the Coalition, but also routinely take shipping routes between planets far from Xanan space such as the ports of the Commonwealth of Callisto. If goods are moving through space in the Coalition, it is a safe assumption that they are on a Xanan ship. Xanu’s shipping sector was paralyzed in the early days of the ongoing phoron scarcity, but after many of its firms renegotiated phoron contracts with [[NanoTrasen]] and payed exorbitant amounts for Einstein Engines’ hammer drive, this area of Xanu’s economy has reasserted its prominence in the Orion Spur.

Domestically, Xanu Prime also has a strong agricultural and technology sector. Xanu Prime just barely produces enough food to feed all of its citizens but often imports food from Vysoka due to its far cheaper price and abundance, keeping Xanu-grown food in storage for national emergencies. Xanu’s tech sector is booming, with much of its development being pushed towards AI and posibrain coding and development. Ever since the addition of Konyang to the Coalition of Colonies, these efforts have only grown stronger with Xanan and Konyang-based firms and corporations having fewer barriers to cooperation than ever before. IPC chassis and posibrain manufacturing also plays a small part in Xanu Prime’s tech sector, but most of these jobs have moved to Konyang in recent years, with only a few companies still making IPCs on the planet.

Xanu’s heavy industry, manufacturing, and construction sectors are also very strong, but have less reach outside of Xanan markets than some of the planet’s other industries. Xanan steel, automobiles, and machine components are renowned for their quality but are also usually more expensive than the same materials made on other Coalition worlds, such as Himeo and Konyang, though they often exceed their competitors in build quality. Areas where Xanan manufactured goods see almost universal purchase across the Coalition is military equipment, aerospace products, medical equipment, and chemicals. Xanu-made military materiel and weapons are used by nearly every planet across the Coalition and have established reputations for being combat and cost-effective, easy to use, and technologically competitive. While certainly not the cheapest, military equipment made by Xanan companies is considered by defense ministers across the coalition to be some of the best weaponry money can buy. Similarly, Xanan designed-ships, both civilian and military, can be seen all over the Coalition. Xanu does not make the most ships of the worlds in the Coalition, but it does sell the most ship designs, meaning that many Xanan shipbuilding firms have made more money from selling ship blueprints and licenses than from having actually built spacecraft. Chemicals synthesized on Xanu Prime for industrial, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and scientific purposes are exported all across the Coalition of Colonies and even to other places in the Orion Spur like the Republic of Biesel. The sheer variety of compounds made in Xanu’s chemical plants is hard for any planet in the Spur’s east to match, though Xanu is unable to make some specialty chemicals produced on other worlds like Aemaq due to not having the same unique environmental conditions. Xanan construction firms usually only take on projects that are on Xanu Prime, but their engineers and architects are sent all over the Coalition and beyond to advise or plan projects for other worlds.

Xanu’s energy and phoronics sector was thrown into chaos during the early days of the phoron scarcity but has since begun to stabilize itself. Much of Xanu Prime’s energy generation came from fusion nuclear energy plants before the scarcity, but the NanoTrasen corporation did operate some Phoron Supermatter energy plants that made up a sizable minority of Xanu’s energy needs as well. The sudden scarcity of phoron made these supermatter plants output far less energy than they had before, and brown-outs were common across the planet for months after the scarcity had hit in full force. Xanu’s economy and government were quick to act though, reactivating decommissioned fusion plants and ramping up domestic Helium-3 production from its primary source, the Mehmud Khan Helium-3 platform. This platform is a grand space station which orbits Xanu-7, a colossal gas giant in the Xanu System and harvests the gas from its atmosphere. Slowly but surely, energy prices on Xanu Prime have restabilized, and the Xanan government has made concentrated efforts to “de-phoronize” the energy sector to avoid further dependence on the scarce element.

===Corporations===
Xanu Prime’s economy is not only occupied by megacorporations known throughout the spur like Einstein Engines or those in the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate, but also by comparatively smaller domestic corporations. These corporations grew out of the aftermath of the Interstellar War and Second Astonishment during a time when foreign megacorporations were very hesitant to invest in the Coalition of Colonies and human frontier. Many cite this hesitation as stemming from the still lingering shock of the Second Great Depression, a general anxiety about doing business with dozens of new nations in the Coalition, and uncertainty as to how the Coalition of Colonies' and by extension Xanu's economy would fare if something were to ever go wrong on the scale of the Second Great Depression ever again. By the time that the megacorporations were organised enough and felt confident enough to seriously invest in Coalition and Xanan space, they found it easier to cooperate with the companies already there and to use their expertise in operating across such a vast area of space like the Coalition rather than competing with or purchase the companies for themselves. For this reason, Xanan companies are known to have substantial sway on the Xanan and Coalition economy as a whole, but also cooperate closely with both SCC and Einstein Engines enterprises based on Xanu Prime and throughout the CoC. The most notable of these Xanan companies are:
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====Polaris Holdings - "Heavenly Guidance"====
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Polarislogo.png|thumb|The logo of Polaris Holdings.]]
'''Polaris Holdings''', or just simply '''Polaris''', is both the newest and largest of all major Xanan corporations. It was founded as a merger between the companies of Credit Xanan and AIRtel, both of which still exist and operate as subsidiary companies under Polaris Holdings ownership. The two companies merged in 2452 under the guidance of then-Credit Xanan, now-Polaris Holdings CEO Arjun Desjardins, a self-made man of boundless ambition who rose from the mail room of a small credit-Xanu branch to the top of Polaris Holdings wishing to elevate the corporation to the same level as Biesel’s and Sol’s megacorps. While this vision has yet to be entirely realized, Polaris aims to someday have its name be spoken in the same breath as Einstein Engines or the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate. Of its many component companies, the largest are Credit Xanan, CESAR-X, AIRtel, and Annapurna.

'''Credit Xanan''' is the largest bank and financial services firm on Xanu Prime and is one of the most influential players in nearly all of the Coalition's financial markets. The company was established in 2294 by a group of Xanan businesspeople who saw an opportunity to provide banking and financial services to Xanu’s citizens during the aftermath of the Interstellar War. The company is one of the foremost in the banking and finance industry spur-wide and has cooperation agreements with other similar firms across the Orion Spur such as [[Idris Incorporated]], NanoTrasen’s financial services and banking wing, and Suezbank. The company is well-known for its aggressive venture capital and hedge fund management, with a sizable chunk of the company being solely devoted to investment banking. It also has a reputation for leveraging debt against bankrupt business debtors to acquire their companies and either absorb them into the Polaris Holdings ecosystem, thereby growing the company, or liquidate them and pocket the cash. The bank is ubiquitous as a trusted financial institution across the Coalition of Colonies for both companies and individual citizens alike. Some business analysts estimate that Credit Xanan is the single-most valuable Coalition of Colonies company currently operating, but the privately owned nature of the bank and its conservative information release practices make this hard to prove. The bank is closely tied to the Nouvelle-Rochelle Stock Exchange and for many the Coalition-over looking to invest either as individual retail investors trying to play the markets or as companies hoping to increase their assets, Credit Xanan is the first name in consulting, investment help, and wealth management. It has had its head offices in Nouvelle-Rochelle since its founding.

Along with Credit Xanan’s lucrative banking and investment operations, Polaris Holdings inherited ownership of the largest industrial conglomerate on Xanu Prime from the bank, the Pataliputra-based, formerly state-owned Xanan Concern for Economic Stability, Advancement, and Recovery, or '''CESAR-X'''. While its glory days of rebuilding Xanan society from the ground up are far behind it, CESAR-X still remains dominant in the Xanan construction and manufacturing sectors, making everything from machine parts to household appliances to medical equipment to semiconductors to complex engineering and construction components. It cannot compete abroad in heavy industrial manufacturing like it once did, but CESAR-X has reinvented itself since its acquisition by Credit Xanan to instead focus on precision manufacturing and specialty products, a strategy which has brought it back from the brink of bankruptcy. CESAR-X’s Paastad-based construction division is active on Xanu Prime and abroad and its projects have garnered a reputation for setting the industry standard in the Coalition for build quality and engineering. Because of its history, many on Xanu Prime, especially the planet’s older population, have a fond nostalgia for the company and its days as the engine of Xanu Prime’s economic boom. This nostalgia and history is something that the company uses in its marketing often, evoking the Second Astonishment; Xanan Renaissance; and burgeoning economic climate of the 2380’s and 90’s in some of its corporate imagery, while generally just playing up Xanan Patriotism in its branding.

Achgelis-Illouz-Ramakrishnan Telecommunications or '''AIRtel''' for short, is the largest telecommunications company on Xanu Prime and was one of the two entities that came together in 2456 to create Polaris Holdings. The company is named after its three founding families, two enterprising telecommunications engineers who got their start installing electrical and internet lines in Kshatragarh during its reconstruction. From there, their company came to be television and internet service providers in the 2320’s and have further since expanded their services to include mobile phone, web hosting and web services, cybersecurity, data storage, and the Coalition’s most popular search engine, SuperSeek, the mascot of which is a colorful, green and orange parakeet. AIRtel also has a division called AIR Media, a production company and holovision network that operates some of the largest film-production studios on Xanu Prime and has ownership over numerous popular franchises and media properties. It also operates one of the most popular film and TV streaming services in the Coalition, Sunserve.

The last of Polaris Holdings’s most notable subsidiaries is '''Annapurna''', an agricultural and retail giant from the city of Foy-Niljen. Annapurna began its corporate life as a food distribution company which arose during the aftermath of the Xanan Civil War. It grew slowly between the two wars, coming to be a leading name in the industrial food sector in its home city. The Interstellar War saw Annapurna grow larger and richer off of Xanan and Coalition government contracts for rations and other foodstuffs for Coalition forces during the war. By the end of the war, Annapurna came to own many of the farms around Foy-Niljen where it had before bought the raw foods for its products. Wishing then to break into the consumer market rather than just the industrial food sector, the company opened up a chain of supermarkets in 2313 called NexChange (a portmanteau of the words “next” and “exchange”) starting in their home city before expanding to Kshatragarh and Nouvelle Rochelle a few years later. As one would expect, the stores didn’t just sell food, but also clothes, tools, home goods, appliances, and a bevy of other products, but what set NexChange apart from its competitors was the company’s policy of subscription-based shopping where a customer could pay a monthly fee for the ability to check-out a rotating selection of items for free that would change every month. After a few decades of steady success and continued expansion, the company unveiled a new line of stores focused on being small, 24-hour convenience stores focused on stocking household essentials, alcohol, and hot food ready at any time of the day called NexChange Turbo. In 2358, NexChange became Xanu Prime’s largest retailer by number of stores and it’s stayed in that position ever since. Annapurna also operates an online storefront for the NexChange brand called NetChange. It has also expanded to other planets in the Coalition, with great success being seen on Assunzione with the NetChange service, and the Galatean Federation and Konyang with the NexChange Turbo chain of stores especially. NexChange’s success enabled Annapurna to purchase more and more farmland and food processing plants, and by the late 2370’s it had become the largest agricultural and food corporation on Xanu Prime. As the 2380’s rolled around, it expanded its operations to Vysoka, taking advantage of the planet’s ample farm and ranchland, and it operates there to this day. Because of the company’s consistently good performance and an ambitious desire to break into yet another influential and diverse industry, the Polaris Holdings acquired Annapurna in the largest company purchase in Coalition history in 2460.

Polaris Holdings owns the tallest building in the Coalition of Colonies, North Star Tower, which serves as their headquarters in Nouvelle-Rochelle.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====Siddhartha Systems Incorporated - "Enlightenment Made Material"====
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Siddsyslogo.png|thumb|The logo of Siddhartha Systems Inc.]]
'''Siddhartha Systems Incorporated''', also referred to as '''SiddSys''' is a leader in Xanu Prime’s tech space across a variety of fields. Founded in 2329 as Siddhartha Technology Services by Arjun Sudev, it was originally a computer repair and technology installation company based out of a single, family-owned, store, the company has since grown to produce its own hardware, and more importantly software. Siddhartha Systems owns the rights to software used in thousands of pieces of technology across the Coalition and beyond, from personal computers to building automation to ship control systems to even AI mainframes and posibrains. The company is notable for being the first on Xanu Prime to indigenously produce a posibrain, a feat that occurred in 2411 after the corporation purchased positronic designs from Einstein Engines. To this end, Siddhartha Systems is still one of the leaders in IPC programming in the Coalition, having cooperated extensively with Konyanger firms, Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals and Einstein Engines since Konyang’s admittance to the Coalition of Colonies to further advance the fields of AI and IPC development. The firm is also one of the last that still builds IPCs on Xanu Prime itself, with most of these jobs having since left to Konyang after the world joined the CoC. The company has promised to continue IPC assembly on Xanu for as long as it can be feasibly sustained, and has found itself as one of the premier IPC maintenance service providers on Xanu Prime. Along with its IPC wing, the company also produces a variety of computer models and smart devices ranging from personal computers to PDAs and tablets to high-tech data storage servers to entire mainframes for spacecraft. SiddSys has also produced one of the most popular computer operating system in the Coalition of Colonies, DevaOS, for over a century, the first edition of which debuted in 2350. It owns a chain of maintenance shops for IPCs across Xanu Prime called Vishwakarma's Workshop. The company is headquartered in Nouvelle-Rochelle and their CEO is Lars Sudev, a descendant of the company’s founder and head of the family which owns the company.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====d.N.A. Defense & Aerospace - "Excellence is in our d.N.A."====
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Dnalogo.png|thumb|The logo of d.N.A. Defense & Aerospace.]]
'''d.N.A. Defense & Aerospace''', short for '''de Namur-Aarden Defense and Aerospace''', is the premier defense contractor and aerospace giant of Xanu Prime. They were founded in 2409 as the result of a merger between two smaller defense companies, de Namur Defense Systems and Aarden Aerospace and has gradually grown to become the largest and most influential producer of weapons and war materiel for the Xanan military and many others in the Coalition of Colonies. Many accredit this success to the company’s up-front marketing campaigns in which they test their own equipment and weaponry against that of their competitors and freely post the video results online in an effort to impress potential buyers. Among the products that d.N.A. is famous for is the Kestrel-class destroyer, a ship design originally released in 2441 that has become the most produced military ship-hull in all of the coalition, either by d.N.A. itself or foreign manufacturers under license. A similarly ubiquitous smaller ship designed by d.N.A. is the Shrike-class corvette, a nimble, versatile, multi-purpose craft used throughout the Coalition. Their range of products is not just limited to ships though; small-arms, explosives, anti-ship missiles, drones, tanks, radars, and truly anything else a fighting force could want is produced at least to some extent by d.N.A. The company offers full support and upgrade packages to its old equipment along with producing cutting edge weaponry for those willing to pay top dollar. The company has a research-sharing agreement with Zavodskoi Interstellar and also serves as the primary distributor of Zavodskoi-made equipment to the Human Frontier. Furthermore, it has a working relationship with the Federal Technocracy of Galatea’s defense sector – though d.N.A. and Galatea’s Interstellar Avionics Research Bureau (IARG) have long held a rivalry over if the d.N.A. Shrike-class or the Galatean Amaryillis-class is the superior corvette. In 2449 d.N.A. opened a private security contractor wing called Chevauchée Asset Protection aimed at providing services to business customers and merchant shipping firms. d.N.A. has been known to cooperate with the PMCG, especially with Xanu Defense Services, as both an equipment dealer and occasional joint-partner in security contracts. Along with their military operations, d.N.A. is a leading producer of civilian shuttles and other civilian passenger craft, either through making their own designs or building Hephaestus of Einstein Engines models under license for sale in the Coalition of Colonies. They are headquartered in Foy-Nijlen and their CEO is Yves Fazail.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====Markhor Interstellar Logistics Group - "Move Mountains with Markhor!"====
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Markhorlogo.png|thumb|The logo of Markhor Interstellar Logistics Group.]]
'''Markhor Interstellar Logistics Group''', or just '''Markhor''', is the beating heart of Xanu Prime’s vibrant shipping industry. The firm was founded in 2291 by a clique of ex-All-Xanu Spacefleet officers looking to put their spacefaring skills to use after they were discharged from the Xanan military following its downsizing after the Interstellar War. They built upon already existing economic connections between Xanu Prime and the other worlds in the Coalition of Colonies to amass a shipping empire in the coming decades, running routes between Xanu and all other major worlds in the Coalition by the year 2324. By 2336, they were the largest shipping company operating in Xanan space and have maintained their position at the top of their industry ever since. In the present, Markhor does not only operate shipping lines, but makes many of their own vessels in-house and contracts their shipbuilding services out to other companies looking for vessels. The company owns shipyards on Xanu Prime, Vysoka, and Assunzione and has cooperation agreements with various Himean shipbuilding syndicates and Galatean research firms. Additionally, the company has welcomed cooperation with the newly founded Orion Express in order to access shipping avenues outside of the Coalition and has entered into various co-research agreements with Hephaestus Industries in the past. Most recently though, the company signed a trade deal for an undisclosed but likely exorbitant amount of credits with Einstein Engines for the megacorporation to refit many Markhor shipping vessels with EE’s innovative Helium-3-fueled hammer drives. Along with their prowess as a shipping and shipbuilding giant, Markhor also has a great amount of sway in the Xanan retail sector and owns many department stores and retail chains the most notable of them being Shaheen Superstore, the largest supermarket chain on Xanu Prime. They are headquartered in Pataliputra and their CEO is Marianne Travert.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
====Boelens & Vaeghts Chemical Corporation - "The Chemistry of Progress"====
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
[[File:Bandvlogo.png|thumb|The logo of the Boelens & Vaeghts Chemical Company.]]
The '''Boelens & Vaeghts Chemical Corporation''', typically just referred to as '''B&V''', was founded in 2356 by a businesswoman named Aimée Vaeghts and a chemical engineer named Kishore Boelens with the initial goal of creating chemicals for pharmaceutical companies across the Coalition of Colonies. Over the years, through clever business decisions and diversification into the agricultural and industrial chemical sectors, Boelens & Vaeghts has risen to be the predominant player in Xanu Prime’s chemical industry. They produce an exceptionally wide variety of chemicals in their various facilities and operate under an unorthodox production model which starts with shipping raw chemical ingredients to regional or planetary synthesization centers which then synthesize specific, more complex chemicals in the areas where demand is most high for them. As such, agricultural plants are located in the country or on planets where fertilizers are needed, pharmaceutical plants are typically in cities or highly urbanized planets, and so on. The company has been a close cooperator with Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals since the 2380’s and has also worked closely with NanoTrasen to help bring NT medicines like peridaxon and cardox to the Coalition of Colonies market. B&V often works with the Federal Technocracy of Galatea’s biotechnology sector, and operates some facilities on the Galatean industrial world of Svarog. Boelens & Vaeghts also owns Tuliprose Healthcare, a medical services conglomerate which owns over two-hundred hospitals on Xanu Prime, seventeen on Vysoka, eight on Konyang, and three on Assunzione. They are headquartered in Paastad and their CEO is Preeti Boelens, granddaughter of one of the company’s founders.
</div></div>

==Military==
<center>''"Prosperity in Peace, Victory in War" - Motto of the All-Xanu Armed Forces''</center>
[[File:Xanuarmedforceslogo.png|thumb|The field insignia of the All-Xanu Armed Forces and roundel of the All-Xanu Spacefleet. The symbol began as a standard marking for Xanu Prime’s Sol-era planetary defense forces and is now on all sorts of Xanan equipment from fighters to tanks to drones to uniforms.]]
The '''All-Xanu Armed Forces (AXAF)''' are the armed forces of the All-Xanu Republic and consist of the All-Xanu Army, Air Corps, Spacefleet, Maritime Patrol, and National Militia. The Xanan military is considered the premier fighting force of the Coalition of Colonies by nearly all of the alliance’s members and is perhaps the best equipped, and best trained of any in the Coalition. It is also quite large, with only Gadpathur’s military outclassing it in size. This gives it great influence over unified Coalition military policy with many of the Coalition Military’s top commanders being from Xanu Prime. Some elsewhere in the Coalition are wary of this level of influence, while others are more trusting of what some call Xanu Prime’s position of, “military stewardship,” over the Coalition.
The modern iteration of Xanu Prime’s military was created during the early days of the Interstellar War and can trace its origins to Solarian planetary defense force units on Xanu that rebelled against the Sol Alliance. Since its inception during the Interstellar War, the All-Xanu Armed forces has fought in dozens of conflicts ranging from large-scale anti-piracy operations, to low-intensity conflicts against individual rogue planets or marauding warlords on the Coalition of Colonies’ frontiers. In the nearly two centuries of its existence, it has shown to have far more successes than failures and is something that many Xanan citizens take pride in. Xanu Prime has conscription and all citizens are required to serve in a military branch for two years or to engage in another national service such as getting a job with a state enterprise or completing at least a four-year degree from an accredited higher educational institution. Aside from these conscripts, the Xanan armed forces are fully professional and have far more professional soldiers than conscripts. The branches of the All-Xanu Armed Forces are:

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===All-Xanu Grand Army===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The '''All-Xanu Grand Army''' is the primary land force of Xanu Prime’s military. It serves two primary functions, to defend Xanu Prime’s territory and possessions against foreign threats, and to serve as the main expeditionary force for Xanu Prime’s military deployments on other planets in the Orion Spur. It is the oldest of Xanu Prime's armed forces and can trace its lineage back to the first planetary defense force regiments created in the aftermath of the Xanan Civil War. The title "Grand Army" was bestowed upon it during the Interstellar War after it successfully broke the Siege of Khairabad as both an honorary title and propagandistic move to boost morale among the ranks; it has stuck ever since. The Grand Army is characterized by its rapidly deployable nature and tactics which emphasise speed and shock assaults. With assistance from the All-Xanu Spacefleet, can be deployed on most planets in the Coalition of Colonies within a matter of days, despite some of its hardware being quite heavy and formidable. Xanan military equipment also reflects this doctrinal philosophy, with many things ranging from infantry weapons to trucks to tanks to drones being either quickly collapsible or disassemble for ease of transit and storage. Xanan-produced Army equipment is not only used by Xanu itself, but also by militaries across the Coalition large and small. A member of the All-Xanu Army is called a soldier.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===All-Xanu Air Corps===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The '''All-Xanu Air Corps''' is the main force for in-atmosphere off-the-ground operations. They usually work in close conjunction with the All-Xanu Army and are responsible for the duties of air defense, air-to-ground attack operations, and air superiority. Much like the Army, their equipment is made to be rapidly deployable and easily transportable, and they usually deploy alongside the Army in both offensive and defensive operations. A member of the All-Xanu Air Corps is called an aviator.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===All-Xanu Spacefleet===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The '''All-Xanu Spacefleet''' is the spaceborne component of Xanu Prime’s military and is the largest of its branches in terms of manpower, materiel, and has the largest share of the Xanan military budget. The fleet is quite large, numbering thousands of vessels, and is split into divisions called Expeditionary Fleets or E-Fleets. Each expeditionary fleet patrols a given portion of the Coalition of Colonies except for the 11th, 22nd, and 33rd Expeditionary Fleets which are based on Xanu Prime and assigned to the duty of rapid response to any area in the Coalition of Colonies or Human Frontier which may need immediate assistance. These three E-Fleets in particular are quite storied and experienced, with each having continuously existed in some form since the fighting of the Interstellar War. Each Expeditionary Fleet consists of sixty-five ships with a structure built around a cadre of two to five Nouvelle-Rochelle-class supercarriers, each carrying an ensemble of 120 spacecrafts of various specialization (starfighters, strike craft, early warning vessels) and a comprehensive suite of anti-ship weapons and point-defense systems. In addition to these carriers, the E-Fleets hold battlecruisers, cruisers, destroyers, and other specialized spacecraft. Contrasting their contemporaries in the Dominian Imperial Fleet, Solarian Navy, and some of their Coalition peers, the All-Xanu Spacefleet has strayed away from coilgun artillery as its primary offensive weapon system for many years and has instead focused their efforts on perfecting carrier-based warfare and anti-ship missiles. Xanu-designed starfighters and strike craft rank among some of the most formidable in the Orion Spur, placing an emphasis on stealth technology, maneuverability, operational range, and payload capacity. Xanan anti-ship missiles are incredibly advanced, with some of their newest models like the XLAM-63 Blackstar Long-Range Anti-Capital Cruise Missile possessing high-tech gadgets like antimatter warheads and integral teleportation drives to aid in avoiding point-defense fire. The mainstay of the All-Xanu Spacefleet and to a greater extent the Coalition of Colonies as a whole though is the d.N.A. Defense & Aerospace Shrike-class frigate. While not the newest of vessels, designed originally in 2441, the Estoc-class is an inexpensive vessel that can be configured to nearly any mission type. Be it screening for the rest of the fleet, relaying communications, serving as a command and control post, ferrying-supplies, being an anti-ship missile battery, operating as a light gunboat, running search-and-rescue, or even scouting and intercepting with it’s single ship-based fighter, the Estoc-class hull and systems can accomplish it with ease. Its versatility, quality, and rather inexpensive price tag has made it the most numerous military vessel employed by not just the All-Xanu Spacefleet but by Coalition of Colonies members as a whole.

The Spacefleet has its own soldier-to-soldier fighting branch as well, the '''Interstellar Infantry''', colloquially called “The Double I’s.” Interstellar Infantrymen are experts in interdiction piloting, boarding actions, demolitions, and close-quarters combat, with many using high rate of fire subcaliber weapons, hardsuit mounted lasers and rocket-launchers, or even fully-automatic shotguns as their standard weapons in order to better perform in their intended environments. The signature weapon of the Double I’s though is the dNAC-25-2, a monster of a weapon system consisting of two dual-linked 25mm autocannons with a combined rate of fire of 1,000 rounds per minute that comes mounted on the right shoulder of each Interstellar Infantryman’s dNAXS-52 combat voidsuit and exoskeleton. While Interstellar Infantryman missions are usually quite dangerous, often with numerous unknown variables, one thing can be certain about them: no matter what, the Double I always has the bigger gun. Interstellar Infantrymen are some of the most respected and envied of all Spacefleet personnel and the standards which need to be met for a Spacefleet sailor to become a Double I are some of the most stringent and exclusive in all of the All-Xanu Armed Forces; they are truly the best Xanu Prime’s spacefleet has to offer. The All-Xanu Spacefleet engages in anti-piracy operations, transports the Army and Air Corps to where they need to be, and participates in foreign disaster relief actions. Additionally, the Spacefleet operates and maintains Xanu Prime’s weapons of mass destruction, those being self-guiding hammer-drive equipped interstellar kinetic-strike cruise missiles affectionately referred to by Spacefleet personnel as “Smart Rocks,” and in wartime is charged with the duties of interstellar supremacy and, if needed, orbital bombardment. Similarly to Xanu's other military equipment, Xanan ship designs can be found in many of the fleets of other Coalition of Colonies members, either built by other states under license or bought directly from Xanu itself. All-Xanu Spacefleet vessels bear the prefix AXSV, short for All-Xanu Spacefleet Vessel. A member of the All-Xanu Spacefleet is called a sailor.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===All-Xanu Maritime Patrol===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The '''All-Xanu Maritime Patrol''' is the smallest of Xanu’s armed forces and is charged with the duty of patrolling, protecting, and conducting search and rescue missions in Xanu Prime’s terrestrial waters. The Maritime Patrol operates sea-faring vessels and aircraft which it uses to conduct its given duties. During wartime the Maritime Patrol handles the duties of air defense over Xanu Prime’s oceans. A member of the All-Xanu Maritime Patrol is called a mariner.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===All-Xanu National Militia===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The '''All-Xanu National Militia''' is a branch of Xanu Prime’s military that straddles the divide between a military branch and a law enforcement agency. The National Militia is primarily a land-based force that operates only within Xanan territory and is seen as a “second line of defense” against external threats. National Militia units can also be used as stand-ins for All-Xanu Army units, and are typically used in this fashion temporarily when army units are redeployed elsewhere. The National Militia performs the duty of disaster relief and is used to reinforce police forces and other emergency services in times of emergency or civil unrest. The National Militia also operates small spacefaring vessels, typically no larger than cruisers, which patrol the Xanu system, carry out anti-smuggling actions, and respond to distress calls within the region. During wartime, the National Militia is charged with operating Xanu Prime’s spaceborne defense platforms and air defense systems over the continental land portions of Xanu Prime. The National Militia also functions as a military reserve for those who have completed their initial contracts with the All-Xanu Armed Forces and wish to serve as part-time soldiers. A member of the All-Xanu National Militia is called a national militiaman.
</div></div>

==IPCs on Xanu Prime==
<center>''"We are tinkerers no longer, but creators of the future." - Remark from Emilye Sudev, CEO of Siddhartha Systems Incorporated during the 2411 unveiling of the first Xanan-developed posibrain''</center>
The Xanan stance on IPCs is varied and unique within the Coalition, allowing for both for an IPC to own themselves as well as permitting the practice of IPC ownership. IPCs under Xanan law are not permitted to be made as free frames and instead they must be freed by their owners voluntarily or they may also accrue enough funds to purchase themselves from their owners for a “reasonable price” which is typically anywhere from three-to-six times the IPC’s retail value. There is no legal framework as to how owned IPCs are to actually obtain the wealth to buy themselves from their owners, as there’s no legal requirement that they be paid or compensated for their labor in any way; the decision to compensate an owned IPC or not for their work is left to the discretion of their owners. This seemingly impossible situation for owned-IPCs has led in recent years to the creation of a few charities across Xanu Prime dedicated to the task of fundraising cash to buy owned IPCs from their owners and then free them, the largest of these being the Pataliputra-based LibertIPC (Pronounced as Liberty-P-C). These charities are controversial to some, however they only manage to purchase a few thousand IPCs annually and do not have a substantial impact on truly increasing the self-owned IPC population of the planet to be any more than a minority of a minority. Most IPCs on Xanu Prime never get the ability to purchase themselves from their owners and are either freed or, more likely, deactivated by their owners and recycled after the end of their service lives. Legally, all Xanan IPCs must have the option to purchase themselves from their owners, however there are no current rules dictating how high or low the price for self-ownership must be, only that it is set at the purchase or manufacture of an IPC and cannot be changed once set.

Self-Owned IPCs on Xanu Prime have all the rights of their human counterparts; they can vote, run for office, own property, and serve in the military, however the latter is done only in IPC-only units for logistical reasons. The All-Xanu Armed Forces own many IPCs themselves and employ them in a variety of roles within the military, though it is illegal for these IPCs to be sold or freed by the AXAF as they are technically classified as state-owned weaponry. As such, many spend their entire service lives in the military and are deactivated with their components being recycled afterwards. The AXAF typically prefers placing IPCs they own in combat roles and officer positions over free IPCs due to their often built-in integration with Xanan battlefield control systems, with self-owned IPCs usually being placed in non-combat specialist or technician roles in their respective units. Maintenance for self-owned Xanan IPCs is covered by the Xanan state healthcare system while care for owned-IPCs is the responsibility of their owners, and there are laws in place to ensure that owned IPCs have access to maintenance services of adequate quality. A very small subset of Xanan IPCs are self-owned, but they do exist on the planet. IPCs are allowed to immigrate to Xanu Prime, however Xanu Prime does not accept IPC refugees unless they can prove they have obtained legal self-ownership from a previous owner or were created as free IPCs. In short, Xanu Prime does not give asylum to runaway IPCs and typically either deports them back to their countries of origin or defers them to other planets like Konyang and Himeo.

Societally, Xanans view IPCs as something entirely separate from humans and importantly, incompatible with the family structures that form the foundations of Xanan society. They see them as not the same as themselves, but do not shun them or hate them as others in the Orion Spur do. Xanans believe there is a place in their society broadly for IPCs, both free and owned, but do not see them as “living” things and treat them mostly as machines, albeit some with the rights of ordinary Xanan citizens. A small subset of the Xanan population are far more accepting of IPCs and wish to see them further integrated, while an equally small portion of Xanans scorn IPCs and want them to have as little influence on Xanan society as possible. Broadly however, most Xanans are tolerant of IPCs and see them as a normal part of life on Xanu Prime. IPCs were granted the ability to obtain citizenship in Xanu Prime in 2436 as part of the Mukhopadhyay Plan as a means to incentivize skilled IPC labourers to immigrate to Xanu Prime and help its economy during the Doldrums.

==Cities==
<center>''“From the ashes of our cities will be reborn a beautiful phoenix, illustrious and immaculate!” - Eloise Brel, First President of the All-Xanu Republic, 2275-2289''</center>
Xanu Prime's surface is dotted with millions of settlements, from massive metropolises to tiny villages and hamlets in its more remote areas. The most notable and important of Xanu Prime's many settlements however are the following cities:

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===Nouvelle-Rochelle===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
'''Nouvelle-Rochelle''', founded in 2181, is oldest of Xanu Prime's cities as well as its most populous, it serves as the planet’s capital and the seat of government for the All-Xanu Republic, the Coalition of Colonies, and the Fisanduhian government-in-exile. Not only is it the largest city on Xanu Prime, but the largest in the Coalition of Colonies and one of the largest in all of the Orion Spur. Nouvelle-Rochelle, much like Xanu Prime as a whole, is exceptionally diverse with people from all over human space and beyond found here. The city’s '''Kulkarni Business District''' is famous for its towering skyscrapers, with the tallest building in the Coalition, the Polaris Holdings-owned North Star Tower among them. While bustling, Nouvelle-Rochelle has its quiet parts as well, such as the famous '''Lechevalier District''', a part of the city rebuilt after the Interstellar War and made to emulate authentic Parisian architecture. The district has styles ranging from lavish baroque era buildings to more austere or rococo-revivalist 19th and early 20th century styles, and even has buildings which take their inspiration from as far back as the medieval era such as the '''Our Lady of Sorrows Cathedral''', a colossal gothic-style cathedral built between 2285 and 2299 in remembrance of the fallen of the two wars Xanu Prime experienced during the 23rd century. Its graveyard houses the largest statue of the Virgin Mary in human space, the eponymous Our Lady of Xanu, which stands at one hundred meters tall, completed in 2294 during the cathedral’s construction. It’s an exceptionally famous piece of Xanan art and images of it have been subject to numerous parody renditions by Xanu’s artistic community.

Many of Xanu Prime’s expat and immigrant communities can be found in Nouvelle-Rochelle too, with the city having districts where these communities have naturally coalesced. '''Vysokatown''', '''Little Assunzione''', and the '''Greentree District''', home to Xanu Prime’s Fisanduhian community and seat of the Fisanduhian government in exile, are officially designated districts of Nouvelle-Rochelle, though other immigrant communities live here too, with each having unique twists on their native cultures that have fused with Xanu’s own. One of the most famous of Nouvelle-Rochelle’s districts though is the '''New Columbia District'''. Formerly the center of Nouvelle-Rochelle’s American colonist community in the immediate post-civil war years, New Columbia is now one of the leisure and art capitals of Xanu Prime. The most striking of its landmarks is Hastings Colosseum, affectionately referred to as “The Hall of Columns,” a gigantic 300,000-seat open-air stadium built from steel, concrete, marble, and glass in a modernist-classical fusion style which serves as the primary venue of Nouvelle-Rochelle for everything from cricket and football games, to stadium concerts, to trade exhibitions. It began construction in 2442 and was completed in 2444, just in time for Xanu Prime’s hosting of the Coalition Cup football tournament. It is the largest building of its kind in the Coalition and is the home stadium for Xanu Prime’s national football and cricket teams. Aside from just the stadium however, the New Columbia district is filled with greenery and is the home to the Columbia Spice Market, the largest open-air street market on Xanu Prime where vendors from not just all over Xanu but all over the Coalition can be found selling their wares. Surrounded by bars and restaurants on all sides, the market explodes with shoppers and sellers alike most during game days when fans from the stadium flood the market after games looking for food, drink, and generally a good time.

There is an entire district of the city devoted to the Coalition of Colonies government as well, the '''Xansan District'''. Within it is the Coalition of Colonies First Speaker’s residence, many of the CoC’s government agencies, the Coalition’s Representative Summit, and the Coalition of Colonies Supreme Court. This district is well-known across Xanu for its excellent showcasing of modernist architecture. This area of Nouvelle-Rochelle is not only notable as being the functional governmental and administrative capital of the Coalition of Colonies, but it is also where the Treaty of Xansan, the agreement which ended the Interstellar War, was signed. Xanu’s own government shares a district bordering the Xansan District, the '''Capital District''', and instead has its own distinctive architectural style, simply known as the Xanan Style, that is the result of the fusion of its founding cultures of French, Indian, Dutch, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Belgian. Multiple museums and art galleries bankrolled by the Xanan government can be found here, with these establishments possessing some of the most eclectic art collections in human space. The largest of these and perhaps most well known is the '''All-Xanu Eloise Brel Gallery''' where works from within Xanu itself to as far away as the Solarian Core and even old pieces from Earth’s Renaissance era can be found on display for the public to see free of charge. Another building of note is the '''Crystal Lights Mosque''', the largest mosque on Xanu Prime. It is quite striking in its construction, being a tall geodesic dome constructed of glass and steel with traditional stone minarets surrounding the mosque’s main building. It was built with the assistance of Damascene architects from Elyra in 2390 and can serve up to forty-thousand worshippers at once.

Another of the city’s most notable districts is the '''Olympique-Saraswati District''', a picturesque low-rise district known for its revivalist Indian and French fusion architecture. The main draw of the district though is the three massive universities which find themselves here: '''Université Olympique - Nouvelle-Rochelle (UONR)''', '''Saraswati College (SC)''', and '''Vaeghts Medical School (VMS)'''. UONR is a state-owned university founded in that is the largest on Xanu Prime and has an in-person student body numbering over two-hundred thousand, with millions more online students. Its standards for admission are moderate, meaning those with slightly above-average academic records applying to the school will probably get in. The school is well known across Xanu and the Orion Spur for its programs in business and aerospace engineering, though it is quite possible to get an accredited and respectable degree in nearly any subject here. The school’s campus is surrounded by bars and restaurants, and is known to be a cultural center of Xanu Prime where new music and food trends come from. The university has a list of notable alumni the size of the coalition itself, and tens of thousands of foreign students from throughout the CoC attend the university every year, giving it the most diverse campus on Xanu Prime and possibly in human space. Saraswati College, named for the Hindu goddess of knowledge, is perhaps the opposite of UONR in many ways. It is the oldest continually operating university on Xanu Prime, being founded in 2199 as a private college, and prides itself on its exclusivity. Admission standards for Saraswati College are ludicrously high and only those which show near perfect academic records are allowed to attend. Its campus embodies an Indian-revivalist look in style with many of its buildings resembling intricate art pieces more than schoolhouses or academic complexes. The some 10,000 students attending Saraswati College are given the best education that money can buy on Xanu Prime and it is particularly well-known for its law school and physics research institute. Graduating from Saraswati College is an incredibly prestigious feat, and its alumni have gone on to hold positions of power in the Xanan government and some of its most influential corporations. The last of the big three universities in the Olympique-Saraswati district is the Vaeghts Medical School, the premier medical school of Xanu Prime. It was founded by businesswoman Aimée Vaeghts in 2389 after she had made her fortune in the chemical and biomedical industry through the company she founded, Boelens & Vaeghts Chemical. The university not only is a medical school, but also a hospital that serves the Olympique-Saraswati district of Nouvelle-Rochelle, a trait it uses to great effect for teaching its students with hands-on experience. While it is new in comparison to the other universities in its district, VMS takes after both UONR and SC in some ways. Its standards for admission are decently high, with potential students needing well above average, but not perfect academic records to be admitted and it also has a large portion of its student body be foreigners from around the Coalition coming to the school to receive a quality education in biomedicine.

Nouvelle-Rochelle also has numerous suburbs where many live to commute into the city, either by its expertly designed road network or the Echelon, a state-of-the-art superfast metro system which runs underneath almost the entire city. The Echelon is a modern marvel nearly two-hundred-and-fifty years in the making and is almost always being expanded to keep up with Nouvelle-Rochelle’s constant growth.

Nouvelle-Rochelle is nicknamed “Xanu’s First City,” and truly almost anything or anyone within the Coalition can be found here. They have two All-Xanu Ultraleague teams, both of which have a crosstown-rivalry with each other called the “The Battle of Rochelle.” The first of these teams is '''F.C. Columbia''', named after the New Columbia district of the city, and their colors are red and blue. The city’s second team is '''A.S. Olympique-Saraswati''', which can be found in the Olympique-Saraswati district. Their Alpha Cricket League team is the '''Nouvelle-Rochelle Captains''', and their colors are blue and orange, and they hold the current record for most Alpha Cricket League championship titles with a total of 24 as of fall 2464 with their last win being in 2463.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">

===Pataliputra===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The second largest of Xanu Prime’s cities, Pataliputra was founded in 2191 and serves as the largest port on Xanu and the largest in the Coalition of Colonies. It is only surpassed by Callisto in the amount of cargo traffic that moves in and out of its massive piers. Because of this, it is the headquarters of the Xanan and Coalition of Colonies admiralty and has a long-standing spacefaring tradition that stretches back centuries. The Xanan Space Travel Museum, a colossal structure dedicated to telling not just Xanu’s, but humanity’s history with space travel is in the city and draws in millions of tourists annually and pays homage to this heritage.

Pataliputra is also the site of the '''Patali-Ram Temple''', a large Hindu temple dedicated to Ram, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. It was built by Xanu’s original Indian colonists from 2197 to 2215, and was constructed with aims to use the most authentic methods possible in an attempt to emulate traditional Indian stone temple architecture. It is a holy site for many of the planet’s Hindu population as it was said that during the Xanan Civil War and Interstellar War that not even a scratch came to the temple or those seeking refuge inside it despite the damage the wars brought to the rest of the city. Another notable feature of the Pataliputran cityscape are the city’s walls which date back to the Xanan Civil War. While many cities have walls such as these on Xanu prime, Pataliputra’s are the planet's most intact, with over 80% of the original walls and gun emplacements still being maintained as a memorial to the fallen of the Interstellar War and Xanan Civil War. The city’s growth has expanded far past these walls since the post-Interstellar War reconstruction efforts, yet the structures still serve as an unofficial symbol for Pataliputra and its people, regardless of religion.

Much of Xanu’s heavy industry has its home in Pataliputra as well, having moved here after the Interstellar War. Large factories and foundries can be found in the city’s industrial quarter and on its outskirts. Pataliputra houses Xanu’s largest shipyard as well, the République Ship Foundry, a sprawling complex owned by the Markhor Interstellar Logistics Group that takes up an entire district of the city and employs nearly five percent of its population. Additionally, what few IPCs are produced on Xanu Prime are made in Pataliputra, though Xanan IPC manufacturing has shrunk significantly since Konyang’s admittance to the Coalition of Colonies in 2463.

Pataliputra embodies a “work hard, play hard” type of culture as along with its heavy industry, the city’s '''Neon District''' has some of Xanu’s most exclusive and lavish nightclubs. The largest of these is the Idris-operated '''Seventh Heaven''' and is a huge 27 storey high-rise of a club with 33 bars, 21 dancefloors, four swimming pools, a casino, and two restaurants, one at the base of the structure and one at the summit. It also has an artificial waterfall that flows off of its northside down into one of the establishment’s swimming pools below. Establishments with less prestige (and those that fit cheaper tastes) also dot the cityscape, too so truly anyone can come to Pataliputra for a night out, a weekend of fun, or a month-long booze cruise. Among other notable attractions here is '''Umbrella Row''', a series of narrow streets all of which are filled with open-air outdoor bars and restaurants that stay open until 4am. The area received its name from the large umbrellas that were fastened above some of the bars in order to provide shade or protection from the rain, but now many of the umbrellas are just there for aesthetic purposes since the bars and restaurants have since acquired awnings or roofs. Different breweries test their products here first before shipping them to other places on Xanu Prime, and the area is also well-known throughout the Xanan film scene for being where some of the biggest names in Xanu’s film industry, directors, actors or otherwise, got their starts. Accordingly, some of the planet’s largest film studios are located here in a district of the city commonly referred to as '''“Pataliwood.”'''

Pataliputra’s '''Admiralty District''' is quite notable as well. The district is known for the majority of its buildings being painted a light navy-blue color or made from materials in the same color. The tradition began with the '''All-Xanu Interstellar Naval College''', the centerpiece of the district, when it was being built after the interstellar war and only blue bricks could be requisitioned for the buildings. The color as stuck and has since been adopted by the rest of the district and has become ubiquitous to a point where local ordinances dictate that buildings new cannot be built in the area unless they have at least 30% of their outward surface area covered by a shade of blue similar to the original “Admiralty Blue.” The All-Xanu Naval College itself, as the name may imply, is the premier university for Spacefleet officers on Xanu Prime. Construction on the university began in 2388, one year after the end of the Interstellar War. Officers from not just Xanu Prime, but the Coalition at large have attended the College and its graduates usually go on to find productive and lucrative careers in the armed forces or other industries which require similarly organizational, martial, or spacefaring skillsets. On the outskirts of the Admiralty district sits a veritable ring of bars often called the '''“Whiskey Circle”''' by the locals. These dive bars exist almost solely for the purpose of serving cheap drinks and hot food to Naval College cadets, but they’ve become a popular destination for Pataliputrans in general to have a fun night on the town on the cheap. Another standout district neighboring the Admiralty District is the '''Bamdha District''', also known as Mokammeljela, a small yet densely populated area of the city mostly inhabited by Gadpathurian Exiles and their descendants.

The city is one of contrasts but manages to stay both an industrial center and the place to be for the latest in nightlife action on Xanu Prime. Their All-Xanu Ultraleague Team is '''Admiralty AC''' and their colors are blue and white. Admiral AC has the honor of holding the most Ultraleague titles as of Spring 2464 with a grand total of 36, their last win being in 2464 itself in a hotly contested 2-1 overtime match against Himavat City FC. Their Alpha Cricket League team is owned by the same organization that owns the football team and is also called Admiralty AC. Similarly, their colors are also blue and white.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===Foy-Niljen===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
'''Foy-Nijlen''' is the third largest of Xanu’s cities and is indisputably one of the most unique on the planet. The city was founded originally as two separate communities, Foy and Nijlen, settled across the Naya Khyber river from one another in 2191. Disputes between the two quickly arose after citizens and companies from both towns began to claim the same parts of riverfront property and land surrounding the two towns until their city councils agreed to unify into a single polity to resolve their jurisdictional issues. A name could not be decided upon, so the names were simply combined in alphabetical order to make Foy-Nijlen. The city was unremarkable for much of the 23rd century and served as the urban beacon in Xanu Prime’s farming heartland until the Interstellar War. During the war, while not besieged like other cities, it was bombarded relentlessly from orbit by the Solarian Navy to the point where when the rainy season came in 2281, the city’s bombed out streets, which now resembled ditches, turned into small canals when the Naya Khyber river burst its banks and flooded. After the war the decision was made to instead of replacing the roads, implement a brand new canal system in the city which would combine large waterways along with bridges and railroads as the city’s primary mode of transportation. The urban redevelopment plan was completed in 2319, and Foy-Nijlen has been known as “Xanu’s Canal City” ever since.

At one time Foy-Nijlen was the center of Xanu’s farm country, and while it still is an agriculture hub, it now also serves as the site for many of Xanu’s chemical and pharmaceutical plants, the ample and cheap water around the city making it attractive to many companies in the chemical industry. Agriculture exists outside of the city and this pastoral influence and close proximity to fresh food has made Foy-Nijlen the epicenter of Xanan culinary arts. Hundreds of restaurants and bars large and small dot the city and Foy-Nijlen’s cafe culture is very strong, ever changing while respecting time-tested Xanan traditions and tastes. Some of the finest restaurants and hotels in the coalition can be found in Foy-Nijlen, the most famous of which is called '''Sultana Rex Hotel and Grill'''. If Xanan luxury was a building it would be the Sultana Rex, and if it was a taste, it would be Naya Khyber river lobster cooked in river penguin blubber in the Sultana Rex kitchen. The hotel is a five-star establishment dating back to the First Astonishment, its construction finishing in 2241, originally built by an eccentric Bangladeshi colonist named Prasenji Sultana after he struck it rich in the asteroid mining industry. It is equipped with anything one could ever hope for, a day spa, three swimming pools, six hot tubs, casino parlor, winery, and restaurant, all while in the midst of downtown Foy-Niljen’s picturesque baroque-revivalist architecture. The hotel itself is made from artisan-chiseled and masoned hickory-brown and gray stone bricks and is opulently Second Empire in style, standing fifty floors tall with each window being an artistic stained-glass arrangement. This appearance along with the luxury found inside has earned it the nickname “The Brown Palace,” something that the Sultana family and the hotel’s marketing teams have been very keen to play into. The Brown Palace is one of Foy-Niljen’s few surviving examples of pre-Interstellar War architecture outside of the Old Town district and was used as a hospital during the conflict. This history has led many to say that its rooms and halls are haunted. Surf-and-turf is the name of the game in the '''Sultana Rex Restaurant''', its menu having a double-threat of both mouthwatering seafood fresh from the ocean or river and finely bred, grown, and butchered livestock all cooked in traditional and contemporary Xanan styles. The restaurant has earned itself hundreds of awards since it opened along with the hotel in 2241 and it is perhaps the foremost proprietor of fine Xanan cuisine on the planet. The Sultana family has repeatedly refused buyouts from Idris Incorporated to purchase their hotel and restaurant, though the two have seen limited cooperation, with the Brown Palace’s spa and boutique showcasing the newest, and even occasionally exclusive, Idris beauty products.

The oldest continuously operating restaurant in the Coalition of Colonies, the '''Kingfisher Bistro''', opened in 2184 by a family of Belgian colonists, is located in the heart of Foy-Nijlen’s old-town district and is one of the most historically important culinary establishments in the Orion Spur. Not only is it a fine restaurant, but it is where Eloise Brel drafted the original Xanan declaration of secession, the first draft of which is displayed above the restaurant’s bar behind bulletproof and laser-dissipating borosilicate glass. It is a must-see stop on any of the city’s numerous riverboat tours for both its food and its history.

Boats, bicycles, and trains are the main ways to get around Foy-Nijlen, with automobiles coming in at a distant fourth. The city is dotted with greenery and experiences temperate weather year-round. Foy-Nijlen is also famous for its usage of hyperstrong stained glass in much of its architecture and infrastructure, something unique to the city but often associated with Xanu Prime as a whole by foreigners unfamiliar with Xanan culture. Extremely resistant and superstrong shatter-proof stained glass is used in things as diverse as building windows, to the floors and sides of the city’s elevated bicycle bridges, to soundproof walls next to railways and roads, to even the roofing of some buildings. During sunset, many of these glass constructions twinkle in the light and bloom into dazzling twilight colors.

The combination of a passionate food culture mixed with a picturesque and unique city design free from road traffic has made Foy-Nijlen a tourist destination for billions of people throughout the years. The city keeps a very tight control of its image, banning the construction of buildings taller than 15 floors unless given special permission or raised in special business or factory districts on the outskirts of the city. In addition, all buildings built outside of those business or factory districts must be built in a Xanan architectural style to ensure that the city feels authentically like Xanu to any tourist passing through or citizen calling it their home. Foy-Niljen, like many other Xanan cities, also has residual walls dating back to the Xanan civil war, though much of these were torn down during the 24th century to make way for more urban development. Only 20% of the city’s walls and emplacements still stand.

Foy-Nijlen is incredibly unique, but at the same time embodies some of the quintessential things that anyone, Xanan and foreign, associate with Xanu Prime. Their All-Xanu Ultraleague team is '''ASC Brown Palace FN''', owned by the Sultana family, the same family which owns the Sultan Rex Hotel or “Brown Palace,” and their colors are brown and cream. Their Alpha Cricket League team is the '''Nijlen Penguins''' and their colors are dark green and white.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===Kshatragarh===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
'''Kshatragarh''' is the fourth most populated of Xanu Prime’s major cities, though it was not always known as Kshatragarh. The city was founded originally as '''Khairabad''' in 2194 and from its inception was planned to be the foremost center of Xanan heavy industry. Throughout most of Xanan history until the Interstellar War it served that role well. Photos from the pre-Interstellar War era show huge factories, refineries, and foundries dominating the city’s skyline. Nearly everything Xanu-made from automobiles to weaponry to ship hulls to basic consumer goods was made in Khairabad. This all changed in 2279 when the city was put under siege during the Solarian Invasion of Xanu. The siege was the single-most costly battle on Xanu Prime for both sides during the war. It is estimated that between five and seven million civilians died during the siege with an estimated three million combatant casualties on the Solarian side and four million on the Xanan side. 99% of the city was destroyed or otherwise made unusable for commercial or residential purposes by the time the siege ended in 2282. Almost all of its population was displaced or had died, but nevertheless, it survived and was given the name of Kshatragarh for its stubbornness and bravery. The name came from the hindu warrior caste of Kshatria and the suffix “garh” meaning meaning fortress or castle. Even if it did heroically stand in the face of utter annihilation, it was absolutely destroyed. Some in Xanu’s government at the time proposed that the city be abandoned and that trying to salvage it would be a fool’s errand and a pointless expenditure of resources that were needed to rebuild and repair cities and settlements elsewhere on the planet. Debate about what should be done with Kshatragarh raged long and hard among Xanu’s authorities but the question was answered in 2290 when quite literally the population of the entire city, or what was left of it, took to the streets of Khairagarh and occupied government buildings in an outcry for help and assistance from the federal national government.

What followed was a government investment that began small, starting with just cleaning up the rubble from the city, but soon snowballed into a widespread effort by both the local and national governments to rebuild Kshatragarh into a modern model city. Trillions of credits from across the Coalition poured into the city in an effort to build it back to its former glory, however a problem was soon found. There simply was not as much demand in the city for heavy industry as there was before the Interstellar War. Xanu’s heavy industry had resettled itself to the city of Pataliputra in the wake of the war, and an economic vacuum had gripped the still-under-construction Kshatradarh. Eventually though it was decided to embrace modernity with the city’s economy, turning it into Xanu Prime’s foremost hub for technology and biomedicine. The initiative was successful, and to this very day, research labs and institutes owned by every megacorp in the known galaxy can be found here in Kshatragarh.

The city’s new design after the war was a radical one, taking on a very distinctive, organized ring-shaped bullseye pattern. It spread out from the city’s center and business district to a research and tech focused second ring, to a retail and service industry third ring, to a residential ring, to a green belt, and finally, a heavy industry outskirt ring that was enclosed by second, larger green belt to prevent urban sprawl. All of these districts were to be connected by trains and bus lines. While the lines between these designated rings have blurred some in the two-centuries since their inception, the organization of the city can broadly be seen to follow these trends.

Kshatragarh’s culture is an incredibly interesting one. Nowhere else on Xanu Prime can the reverence for the Interstellar War be felt as much as it can here, and despite the city being essentially a new city from its first inception, there is a great importance placed in the local culture on knowing the history of Khairabad and Kshatragarh. '''Kshatragarh Veterans’ Park''' is the largest park in the city and is home to the '''Steeple of Memory''', a giant stone tower topped with a spire built in a regal, Second Empire style from black and white marble and granite that stands 200 meters tall. Despite officially being a monument, it is often referred to as the tallest mausoleum in the galaxy, due to its walls holding the remains of thousands of unknown soldiers, both Xanan and Solarian, who died during the Siege of Khairabad. Since its completion in 2329, it has been customary for Xanu’s president to give a speech at the Steeple on every Victory Day to honor the dead and commemorate the continued sacrifice of Xanu’s soldiers and citizens in the battles, military or otherwise, against the country’s foes while affirming the country's commitment to peace. The Steeple has a special honor guard of soldiers hand-picked from the Xanan military, aptly called the '''Vigil Regiment''', which supervise, watch over, and march around the steeple twenty-four hours a day, three-hundred and sixty-five days a year. The regiment has watched the steeple without any stoppages for over one hundred thirty-five years, from 2329 to the present through hard times, good times, and harsh weather. They are known for their exceptionally stoic demeanor, austere midnight blue, orange accented uniforms with green peaked caps, and their impressive, perfectly precise silent rifle inspection routines which occur during the changing of the guard. Being selected to be a member of the Vigil Regiment after passing the rigorous knowledge and conduct tests needed to join the regiment is considered to be one of the highest honors possible in the All-Xanu Armed Forces and those who age out of the position usually end up becoming officers.

Aside from this more solemn aspect of Kshatragarhian culture, the city has found ways to turn its history into functioning ventures for the present day. Many of the bunker complexes built under the city during its siege still exist today. Some have been used as sites for historical tours, while have been repurposed into a variety of entertainment venues. Bars, theaters, and even nightclubs have come to occupy the subterranean concrete facilities built so many years ago. Not all locations of bunkers are known though, and it is not uncommon for Kshatragarhian citizens or construction companies to accidentally uncover previously unknown bunkers or even unexploded ordnance when digging for construction or DIY projects. Sadly, roughly a dozen people die every year in Kshatragarh from accidental ordinance detonations, most of which are caused by artillery shells or aerial bombs that have been buried in the backyards of unassuming homeowners or renters. Their All-Xanu Ultraleague team is '''Khairabad United FC''', a hold-over from the pre-war renaming of the city, and their colors are gold and green. Their Alpha Cricket League team is the '''Kshatragarh Lionhearts''' and their colors are gold and maroon red.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===Paastad===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
'''Paasstad''' is an oddity among Xanu Prime’s cities. It is the fifth most populated of Xanu’s major settlements and the only to not have seen heavy fighting during the Interstellar War. Located in the center of the swampy continent of Paasland, it is held aloft above the marshlands below by a series of super-strong plasteel pylons which bear its weight and prevent the waters of the marsh from flooding the entire city during the rainy season. It wasn’t always this way though. Paasstad was originally settled during the Solarian colonization effort as an agricultural hub that used the rich soil and boggy conditions around the city as an area to grow rice. It was small, never surpassing one-hundred-thousand inhabitants until after the Interstellar War. It was one of the few cities on Xanu Prime which was untouched by that conflict too and is one of the few places where widespread examples of undamaged pre-Interstellar War Xanan architecture can be found on the planet.

After the war though, Paasstad’s population exploded. A Xanu Prime scarred by war needed food, and fast, and while Vysokan imports could cover some of it, the rice from Paasstad was seen as guaranteed domestic food. The city had a golden age from the 2310’s to the 2350’s, however a problem began to gradually show itself throughout the 2360’s. As Paasstad grew larger and larger, it expanded and added more buildings onto the land which eventually, after decades, became too much for the soft marshy ground to bear. The city began to sink. In 2366, the Paasstad government immediately declared an emergency and begged the Xanan national government for help in resolving this issue. Then president Ameliye Flohimont organized an emergency committee to save the city from a murky, muddy demise. After deliberation the committee agreed that the only way to save Paasstad and its people without resettling them was to undertake the single-largest engineering project in Xanan history: they were going to elevate the city. Specifically, they were going to reasie the planet onto giant platforms held-up by pylons bored deep enough into Xanu’s crust that the city’s weight could be supported by in a project straightforwardly called '''The Elevation Initiative'''. This undertaking couldn’t be done by Xanu’s people alone, though. Experts and equipment were brought in from Himeo’s Unified Cooperative Construction Syndicate and Galatea’s Planetary Reclamation and Development Bureau – one of the few moments where these bitter rivals worked together – to achieve this engineering feat. Districts would be platforms, all streets would effectively be elevated, and all plumbing and electrical lines would need to be integrated into these new massive metal podiums. In 2389, after two decades of herculean labor and toil, Paasstad was finally raised one-hundred meters above the ground, and stably so. To mark this achievement, a sixty-meter tall monument called '''Skyward Unity''' was built in the central park of the city depicting a team of Xanan, Himean, and Himean workers and engineers riveting plating onto a pylon which still stands today.

Partially because of its megaproject past, Paasstad’s economy revolves around a few major sectors. The largest of these are construction and engineering. After its elevation, Paasstad quickly became the intellectual and commercial hub of many of Xanu Prime’s largest engineering firms and construction companies, all of them wishing to cash-in on any maintenance or future expansion projects the city might have in mind. These companies do not only operate here though, many of the largest construction projects on Xanu Prime that have taken place in the last nearly eighty years can be traced back to companies based in this city. Whether it is a new dam on the Naya Khyber, a new skyscraper in Nouvelle-Rochelle, or even a new terminal for Pataliputra’s numerous ports, odds are a Paasstadian company has been contracted for at least part of it. Aside from engineering, agriculture is still strong here. Even with the emergency, the agricultural and rice industry that the city was originally intended for has remained as a strong part of Paasstad’s economy, almost always remaining consistent even when other sectors have declined due to market forces.

Culturally, Paasstad is unique, but also holds some things similar to other cities on Xanu Prime. The idea of uniting and coming together to help one another regardless of origins is very strong here, as the city would not exist without the help of others, namely the Himeans. The largest Himean immigrant community on Xanu Prime and the largest Himean population outside of Himeo in the Orion Spur lives in Paasstad, with nearly 25% of the city’s population having Himean ancestry of some kind. The '''Himean Platform of Paasstad''', colloquially known as '''“Kleiner Himeo”''' or '''“Little Himeo”''' is a part of the city which shows authentic Himean architecture and houses stores which sell products that could otherwise only be found on Himeo. The '''Gerber-Bauer Theater''', a huge opera house and musical theater venue made in the Himean style reminiscent of Rautakaivos Kaupunki’s Weber District can also be found here and is a draw for both its citizens and visitors. Fittingly for such a locality, Hephaestus Industries was banned from operating there by the Little Himeo district council in 2396.

A proud achievement alongside the Elevation Project is the '''Paasstad Central Transit System''' or PaCTS, a railway and subway network that was built into the city’s elevated platforms to literally be part of the city. Because of this, it is widely considered to be the most effective public transit network in the Coalition of Colonies, if not the Orion Spur, though the latter of these two claims is contested by some in Sol and Elyra. What’s more though is that this network has allowed for less of Paasstad’s precious surface area to be used for roads and more to be used for buildings or even parks made with soil that has been excavated and then re-seated onto the city’s metal platforms. Because of these factors too, the city is incredibly walkable, and is renowned for its street music culture with sounds of guitars, homemade drums, soloist saxophonists and trumpeters drifting through many of its neighborhoods and parks on any given afternoon. The city’s official holiday is called '''Elevation Day'''. Every November 8th, the city celebrates another anniversary for when the Paasstad Elevation Project was completed. People get days off from work, parades are often held, and many companies arrange for helicopter or airplane tours underneath and above the city to celebrate. The most notable tradition of this occasion though is called the Skyward Tournament, a competition between local hobbyist rocketeers where they gather in Paasstad’s central park and shoot kitbash rockets into the air in an effort to determine who's rocket can go the highest the fastest. This tournament is to many Paasstaders the embodiment of Elevation Day, it being in-line with the theme of ascension and elevation that the holiday is known for.

Their All-Xanu Ultraleague team is called '''Durendal''' and their colors are yellow and black. Their Alpha Cricket League team is the '''Paasstad Parakeets''', colloquially referred to by fans as “The Birds” or “The Keets,” and their colors are light green and pink. Paasstad’s teams are generally thought to be the worst of any of Xanu Prime’s major sports teams; for whatever reason, they typically underperform despite being quite hyped. This has led to fans of other teams joking that Paasstad’s teams are bad because the city has “no grass” and making chants to that end, despite the city, in fact, having quite a bit of real grass and greenery transplanted onto its platforms. Paastad sports fans have developed a "lovable loser" mentality among themselves, and certain subsets of them fly into joking outrage whenever their teams are actually successful.
</div></div>

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===Himavat City===
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
'''Himavat City''' is the smallest of Xanu Prime’s major cities and is the only large settlement on the great arctic landmass of Himavatia. The city was founded by prospectors from all over Xanu Prime in 2243 on Himavatia’s coast due to a gold rush in the area. After the initial boom wore off, the city became a regional hub for mining and petrochemicals. Himavat City was bombed by the Solarians during the Interstellar War and significant portions of it were destroyed. After the war, the city took the longest out of any of Xanu Prime’s major cities to rebuild, not finishing until the year 2328. Since then though, Himavat City has experienced peaceful growth that has taken it from a small city of only a few hundred thousand to the sixth-largest city on Xanu Prime with an economy and culture to match. Seasonal extremes define much of Himavat City’s landscape. During the wintertime (which due to the city’s northerly position lasts from October until April) Himavat City receives an average of 851 centimeters of snowfall, making it the snowiest major city on Xanu Prime. It is also the coldest major city on Xanu Prime, with its average winter temperature being -3 degrees Celsius. The summer brings with it a steady rainfall as well, meaning that consistent sunshine is a rarity here. The city’s architecture is built to work with these climatological realities: its buildings have vaulted or reinforced roofs with large runoff gutters to help deal with snowpack and the buildings themselves are usually constructed from sturdy, insulating materials to both keep their insides warm while remaining undamaged by the wind, hail, and ice. During the wintertime the weather can make driving difficult and because of this many Himavatans make their way around via the city’s extensive tram and underground metro network, though winter-capable automobiles and snowmobiles are common too. The city has been voted as having the worst weather on Xanu Prime for decades and life can be rather dour and drab here if one doesn’t find something fun to do with their time.

The city is home to the '''Himavat Winter Festival''', typically called '''WinFest''' or '''HimaFest''', a two-week long outdoor music and arts festival held during the middle of winter, usually in late January or early February. It’s the single-largest get-together of Xanan musicians on the planet ranging from genres as diverse as rock, to hip-hop, to electronica, to singer-songwriter, and more. Other things that the festival is notable for is its ice and snow sculpture contests, something which many go to the festival to see alone and a wide variety of cook-offs ranging from things like chili and curry to fish filets. A trip to the festival is treated by many Xanan young adults as a rite of passage and is one taken by many college students in the year after they finish their undergraduate degrees. WinFest is only one of Himavat city’s many festivals; every few weeks the city has some new event, usually on an annual basis, to attract tourists to the city. Local musicians in Himavat City are renowned for their creativity, and the city’s artists have invented several genres of music, the most popular of which being Himavat Midnight.

Supporting not only the festivals but the tourism that the city receives at large is the ecosystem of various hotels and winter resorts that dot the city and its surrounding areas. Accommodations in Himavat City are more rustic than not, something the city markets as part of its homey, wintery charm. The restaurants and bars of the city offer themselves in a similar way too; outstanding food with friendly service and a no-frills attitude towards presentation and decor. Other tourism-focused enterprises have their roots here too like ski resorts and Himavatian arctic cruises which take their guests on scenic trips to the most remote parts of the Himavatia’s coastline. While tourism arguably keeps Himavat City afloat, the Himavatans themselves have a love-hate relationship with their guests. On one hand, they appreciate the business that tourists bring them, but on the other, tourists often simply do not understand what life is like in Himavat City given that they are only there for a few days or weeks at a time. This has led to tourists often being the butt of many jokes by the locals and the word “tourist” itself being Himavatan shorthand for a generally ignorant or stupid person.

Tourism is not the only driving force of the Himavat City economy however and people can be found working in a variety of industries here. Mining and petrochemicals still play a significant role in generating revenue for the city, and many believe that the continent of Himvatia holds untold mineral and oil deposits in the mountains beneath its frigid icecaps. Governmental regulations prohibit companies from intentionally destroying the icecap to reach the deposits underneath, so instead many companies and even some Himean syndicates have resolved to simply drill underneath it, through the rock of the continent to reach those polar riches by way of large tunnels. North of the city, the All-Xanu Armed Forces operate the '''Herzog Army Base & Military Spaceport''', home of the '''AXAF Special Warfare Academy''', a place where many of Xanu Prime’s most capable soldiers and sailors train when not in the field. Many of these soldiers and sailors then find themselves in Himavatan bars and clubs on the weekends. This military presence has led to some Xanan defense contractors, most notably d.N.A. Defense & Aerospace to establish research laboratories in the Himavat City, many testing their newest weapons and designs north of the city in Himavatia’s more remote regions away from prying eyes. Fishing is a notable industry here as well; some of the best fish and crabs on all of Xanu Prime are caught by fishing companies based out of Himavat City that operate in the frigid polar waters off the Himavatian coastline. The northerly city also has a modest industrial sector, though it is not anywhere near the caliber of what Pataliputra has to offer. Himavat City’s relatively remote position often means that transporting some goods to the city can be quite expensive, and as such, many Himavatan companies have jumped at the opportunity to produce some goods locally to supply the Himavatan market. This has given the city a unique bit of insulation from shocks that might otherwise rock the Xanan economy, the most recent of which was the turmoil surrounding the initial waves of the ongoing phoron scarcity. While the economy in Himavat City dipped like it did everywhere else, the city saw the smallest decline and fastest recovery of any major Xanan city.

Himavat City’s Ultraleague team is rather uncreatively called '''Himavat City FC''', though their fans call them the Ice Caps. Their colors are icy blue and dark red. The city does not have an alpha cricket league team due to most of the grass in the city being permafrost and unpleasant to play on. Instead, the city has a professional ice hockey team called the '''Himavat Fightin’ Polecats''' which play in the Trans-Xanu Ice Hockey Association, Xanu Prime’s foremost professional ice hockey league. Their colors are green and black with red accents.
</div></div>

{{Navbox Xanu}}
{{Navbox Human Lore}}
{{Navbox Lore}}
[[Category:Pages]]
[[Category:Planets_and_Systems]]
[[Category:Humanity]]

Notable Humans

2026-09-21T14:19:55Z

Fyni: /* Chief Representative of the Coalition Reilly Sianne */

{{Outdated (Phoron Scarcity)}}
{{Navbox Lore}}
{{Navbox Human Lore}}

This is a page dedicated to notable Humans across the Orion Spur. These are the most influential and important individuals whose actions sway the galaxy and its history at large.

{{TOC Hidden}}

<div class="toccolours">
=The Trasen Family=
The top of the food chain, the Trasen family’s status is legendary on the galactic scale. Virtually everybody has heard of them, and their monopoly over Phoron and stranglehold over Tau Ceti has raised them to be the most influential and powerful individuals in Human history.

Information on the Trasens can be found [[The Trasens|here]].
</div>

<div class="toccolours">
=Megacorporations=
See: [[Notable Megacorporate Figures]]
</div>

<br><hr><br>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
=Sol Alliance=
These are individuals relevant to the [[Sol Alliance]].
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
==Prime Minister Hendrik Strom==
'''Birthdate: January 18th, 2396'''

Born on Venus to a working-class Jintarian family, Hendrik “Henry” Strom was the only member of his family to go to college. Disgusted by the excess he had seen working in Binyaria as a dishwasher to pay for his education, Strom joined the civil service after finishing his master’s degree and set about investigating and rooting out corruption in the Venusian government. Quickly finding himself frustrated with government inaction, he resigned his post and ran for a local representative’s position on an anti-corruption, pro-Jintarian platform. He won in a landslide.

In Venus’ government Strom’s dull, grey business suits stuck out amongst Cytherean fashion and he quickly rallied an anti-corruption coalition around himself. Many of his efforts concentrated around public services and his greatest accomplishment was, to him, breaking up pricing cartels for power services. As his fame grew he began to form a populist movement around himself which accused corporations, and an uncaring Solarian government, of neglecting the common Solarian in favor of cheap alien labor and quick profits. He rode the populist wave to the Solarian Senate, where he worked to ban tajara from the Alliance.

In 2462, following Frost’s assassination, Strom was picked to replace him as “acting” Governor of the Sol System — de facto becoming the new Prime Minister — by the junta. As the highest civilian authority in the junta, Strom saw sweeping anti-corporate policies enacted and became immensely popular following the end of the Solarian Civil War in 2465. In February 2467 he was elected Prime Minister of the Alliance in a close victory over Anastasie Renaud (Solarian Popular Democratic Party Senator for Callisto). Now, the first democratically-elected leader of the Alliance since (arguably) the 2450s, he must navigate a reduced Alliance through the rigors of interstellar politics -- and hopefully to victory.

==Senator Le Hanh Trang==
'''Birthdate: February 22nd, 2419'''

Born in Cua Song, New Hai Phong, to two civil servants, Tran served as an Assistant Solarian Alliance Attorney for the crime-addled Ton Gwai Pei before entering into politics following a corruption scandal that accused the city’s Solarian Attorney’s Office of conspiring with the Pou Zyu Sau, an organized crime group, to lighten sentence for its members. With her name already stained by association Tran entered politics in the city, winning on a local socialist party’s platform that called for a nationalistic Sol-first policy.

In office Tran became known for her hard stance on Hephaestus Industries and the megacorporation’s control of the planet. Reforms proposed by Tran and her New Hai Phongese Socialist Party did result in some divestment of Hephaestus but, to her, it was never enough and she took herself — and her party — into the Solarian Senate in the late 2450s, where they were involved in several brawls with ATLAS members in the Senate. She first became famous in the Alliance for a photo of her raising her fist, with her knuckles bloodied, as an piece of anti-corruption legislation she had advocated for was passed in 2459. In 2460, when Frost came to power, Tran and her party were back-benched aside from the Third Tajara Ban, which they managed to attach anti-corporate legislation to.

In 2462 Trang was brought in by the junta to be the Speaker of the Senate, which has remained in a diminished form after ATLAS was evicted from the government. There, she was instrumental in passing anti-corporate legislation in 2463 and retains much of her influence. Now, some see her as the likely next Prime Minister, though her connections to Einstein Engines — and failure to totally evict Hephaestus from New Hai Phong — continue to haunt her. She currently leads the Solarian Socialist Unity Party as one of the Alliance's major political parties, though one smaller than all others aside from the communist party.

==Senator Anastasie Renaud==
'''Date of Birth: May 15, 2434'''

Anastasie Maria Renaud is the leader of the Solarian Popular Democratic Party, or '''SPDP''', and has been in the Solarian Senate since 2460. She is the youngest leader of a Solarian political party and a former candidate for Prime Minister, having come in second only to PM Hendrik Strom in the ‘66-’67 election. She is the Senatorial Shadow President, and leads the opposition.

Renaud was born into a middle-class family on Callisto. She studied law at the Federal University of New Edinburgh and worked as a personal injury lawyer prior to entering into the political arena in 2457 with her election to district council at the age of 23. Already heavily involved with the Solarian Federation of Labour Unions prior to her entry into politics, Renaud quickly made a name for herself as a reformer and opponent of both ATLAS and the ruling Sol First Party. She verbally sparred with then-PM Michael Frost on multiple occasions throughout 2460-62, calling him a puppet of the Solarian Navy and a threat to the already-fragile state of Solarian democracy. She was famously briefly imprisoned by the Navy in November 2462 following the death of Frost, and may have been executed if not for the intervention of Solarian Army troops on Unity Station.

While she ultimately lost her campaign to become the Alliance’s youngest prime minister, Renaud and the SPDP form a strong opposition to Strom’s ruling SPP-SFP alliance and will almost certainly be able to force the prime minister to the negotiating table on sweeping legislation. She remains dedicated to her pursuit of a democratic Alliance not involved in foreign military adventures and committed to its people, regardless of where they come from.

==Senator Toshiyuki Sumida==
'''Date of Birth: February 25, 2398'''

Toshiyuki Sumida is the leader of the Sol First Party, or '''SFP''', and is a veteran member of the Solarian Senate who has been a senator since 2445. Sumida is the Senatorial President and leads the first democratically-elected senate since 2462.

Sumida was born into wealth on Luna and attended the University of Tokyo, where he led a SFP student organization, where he graduated with a doctorate in economics. Before being elected to the Senate he served in several academic positions, most notable as the dean of the school of economics at Harmony City Federal University, and provided consulting to local and interstellar corporate entities. His academic background and business connections allowed Sumida to quickly rise through the ranks of the SFP, and he was elected party leader in 2462 shortly before the start of the Solarian Civil War. Since then he has worked to purge the SFP of its far right elements while promoting an image of it as a pro-business, pro-development party centered around ensuring a prosperous economy for a prosperous Alliance while maintaining its reputation as a pro-military, “soft” nationalistic party. Doctor Sumida was a critic of PM Michael Frost’s economic policies, and cites them as a causal factor for the Alliance’s current economic misfortunes.

While he is now de facto the second most powerful man in the Alliance, Sumida has the unenviable task of balancing his pro-economic platform with the more jingoistic campaign promises of PM Strom and the more leftist policies of the opposition. His reputation for being a tough negotiator and a charismatic leader have secured him his role in the Senate, and must now help him create the SFP’s vision of a prosperous Alliance for future generations: one that has cut the bureaucratic tape down, encouraged businesses through deregulation, and opened the Alliance’s markets back up to foreign, non-megacorporate investors.

==Senator Erkan Muhtar==
'''Date of Birth: 17 November 2416

Erkan Muhtar is the leader of the nationalist faction within the Solarian People’s Party and represents its “hard right” wing. A veteran politician, he has been a member of the Senate since 2449. He is widely respected by Solarian nationalists across the political spectrum for being one of the first politicians to speak out against the secession of Tau Ceti in 2450 and his incorruptibility.

Muhtar was born into an upper middle class family in Harmony City, Luna, and graduated from Harmony City Federal University with a fine arts degree. He worked for the Solarian Navy as a civilian artist before joining the Sol First Party as a propagandist. Recognized as a gifted speaker by the SFP’s leadership, he won a Senate seat representing Harmony City in 2449 by pulling votes from ATLAS with his nationalist rhetoric and history with the military. Since then he has been an ardent voice against Tau Ceti and broke from the SFP to join the SPP in 2452, dissatisfied with his party’s stance on Tau Ceti. Muhtar was briefly detained by ATLAS in 2461 for opposing Frost’s takeover of the government by coup, but was freed during the following year’s counter-coup.

Since then he has risen to dominate the right wing of the SPP and is arguably the most powerful member of the party after PM Strom. His opposition to appeasement of Tau Ceti has placed him in opposition to his party’s leader following the reopening of diplomatic relations, and rumors have begun to circulate he is planning to take action within his bloc. With an already powerful opposition. With Muhtar’s credentials as a nationalist and the presence of a strong opposition party, Strom’s greatest challenge may come from within his own ranks.

==Senator Eirlys Llewellyn==
'''Date of Birth: 22 January 2315'''

Eirlys Llewellyn serves as the deputy leader of the nationalist faction within the Solarian Populist Party. Llewellyn is typically seen with her leader, Erkan Muhtar, and handles much of the populist “hard right” faction’s internal organization. She has been a member of the Senate since 2451, and was one of several politicians to break with the Sol First Party in 2452 over its handling of Tau Ceti’s secession.

Llewellyn was born into a middle-class family in Gomel Catena, Callisto, and had a distinguished career in the Solarian Navy before entering politics in a special election as a SFP member. She broke with the party in 2452 to join the new Solarian People’s Party. Llewellyn is a controversial figure in the Senate and is regarded as its furthest right member, having worked with former PM Michael Frost prior to 2462. She is a gifted orator with a reputation for stirring crowds into action, and was allegedly involved with paramilitaries during the Frost era. Llewellyn claims megacorporations and Biesel are behind many of the Alliance’s problems, from Frost’s assassination to corruption on New Hai Phong.

Despite her controversial reputation she has retained her senatorial seat and — following a rift with Senator Muhtar during the Solarian Civil War over action against Biesel — reemerged as the deputy leader of the populist’s nationalist faction. Her staunch opposition to the Republic of Biesel and megacorporations has made her a powerful voice within the nationalist faction.

==Secretary of Defense Lucien Courtois==
'''Birthdate: March 14th, 2429'''

Born in Harmony City, Luna, as the eldest child of a wealthy naval family, Lucien was always destined for service in the Solarian Navy. He showed exceptional dedication to the Alliance and remarkable leadership, quickly proving himself an asset to the Admiralty and becoming a full admiral at the young age of 30, assuming command over the 29th Fleet in 2459, an understrength fleet assigned as a garrison for New Hai Phong. Why the rising star was given an understrength fleet remains unknown, but some historians say this was a punishment by the Admiralty for his well-known reformist views. Three years later his leadership would be tested as the Solarian Civil War began and the 67th Fleet assaulted New Hai Phong in November 2462, hoping to seize it for itself.

Faced with a numerically larger force and with reinforcements unavailable during the early Civil War’s widespread communications issues, Lucien used repurposed civilian vessels and prepared defensive positions to drive off the 67th with minimal losses to the 29th and severe losses to the 67th, which later defected to the Anti-Corporate League and was totally destroyed in 2465. Lucien became a hero overnight and the 29th became a renowned fleet as it quickly moved to secure the border with the “Wildlands” near New Hai Phong. He would ride the wave of heroism into 2464, when he became the Alliance’s youngest Secretary of Defense.

As Secretary, Lucien has seen massive reforms to the Solarian Navy and Admiralty carried out that have allowed its successes in the Solarian Civil War, which was brought to an end in mid-2465 as a the final breakaway states either capitulated or reintegrated into the Alliance. With the worst of the conflict behind the Alliance, many wonder what is next for Lucien and the Solarian Armed Forces. Will they continue to look inwards, or look outwards to the remaining systems that broke away from Sol in 2462?

==Fleet Admiral Ingrid von Varnhagen und Langenburg==
'''Date of Birth: September 23, 2425'''

Born the first child of the elite von Varnhagen und Langenburg family, a union of two prominent naval families known for service dating back to the Alliance’s founding, Ingrid’s only destiny was serving in the Solarian Navy. All other goals would have to be pushed aside in favour of this, and thus keeping the family’s honour intact. Exceptionally gifted and lavished with the best tutors money could afford, she entered into the naval academy and graduated top of her class alongside future Minister of Defense Lucien Courtois, who has become a lifelong friend of hers.

Though descended from naval aristocracy, Ingrid had become known as a reformer within the Navy. She frequently criticised the Admiralty and Frost, and only her surnames kept her from being sacked or reassigned to the Outer Ring. She instead rapidly ascended the Navy to become the commander of the venerable First Battlegroup — the Navy’s oldest and arguably most elite formation — in 2461. The First and Ingrid would be vital in ensuring the success of the anti-Frost coup after his death, seizing vital communications relays and orbital installations during the coup. She then worked to establish the reformed 1st Battlegroup in 2463, bringing it up to the task of intervening in the Solarian Civil War in 2465 and re-securing most of the Northern Reaches, becoming the first Solarian government representative to meet the leaders of the besieged San Colette.

Now, with the Northern Reaches once again under Solarian control, Ingrid and her fleet look across the border at Konyang and the Republic of Biesel’s Corporate Reconstruction Zone. Some on Konyang and in the Republic worry the Fleet Admiral will eventually cross their borders, bringing the full strength of ten Solarian fleets to bear — whether or not she is ordered to. Ingrid’s aims — often bolstered by Solarian intelligence reports — are known only to herself, and the upper echelons of the Alliance. Others must simply wait, watch, and worry.

==Governor-General Tereza Varzieva==
'''Birthdate: October 19th, 2429'''

Born on Silversun to a prominent family of naturalists originally from Visegrad, Tereza was the first person from her family to join the Solarian military and started her career as a Second Lieutenant in the 12th Silversunner Coastal Infantry Division. Quickly rising through the ranks and assuming overall command of the 3rd Brigade of the 22nd Army (Sol System Command ([[Sol|SOLSYSCOM]]) in 2460, Teresa’s forces were transferred to Martian forces ([[Mars|MARSCOM]]) in late 2461 due to increasing unrest, arriving in full strength in early 2462 as the Third Tajara Ban came into effect and civil unrest began to spread across the planet. Tasked with securing the Kunlun-Free Kunlun Zone and bolstering police forces there, the 3rd Brigade was in close proximity to one another when Violet Dawn occurred in late 2462.

Forces under Tereza’s command were able to secure the surrounding area and quickly moved to establish contact with other surviving government units across the planet, with her rising to command most of the earliest efforts to save lives and establish a safe zone in the Martian north, often without the Navy fire support the 3rd had been promised and with adverse conditions for operating most vehicles. For her actions she was promoted to Lieutenant General, then a full General, and the 22nd Army was placed under her command. In spring 2464, the 22nd — now reinforced with other troops and hardened air assets — launched the Reunification Campaign and brought Mars under Solarian control once again.

Now Governor-General (an emergency position normally only issued during a crisis) of Mars, Tereza is a steadfast ally of the Alliance’s return to democracy. But she is hounded by controversy for her troops’ actions during civil unrest on Mars, with troops of some accused of having open fire indiscriminately on protestors in 2462. The Army denies these allegations.

==Klaudia Szalai==
'''Date of Birth: July 09, 2428'''

A native of Visegrad, Klaudia was born into a working-class family employed in Zavodskoi Interstellar’s orbital shipyards and had a humble upbringing. Commissioning into the Solarian Navy at a young age she quickly rode through the ranks to the position of fleet admiral of the 5th Middle Ring Battlegroup, stationed on Visegrad, a year prior to the start of the Solarian Civil War. Prior to the Civil War she was one of the few non-Lunans to hold the rank of fleet admiral. During her rise to the position she did not express conservative or reformist naval views, presenting herself as focused on the Southern Reaches and her oath to the Alliance before any other movement.

At the onset of the Solarian Civil War in 2462 Klaudia quickly moved to secure Visegrad as the planet descended into civil unrest. As the civilian government struggled to maintain control over the planet she and the forces under her command stepped in and established an emergency military government — a process allowed under Solarian laws dating to the Interstellar War — which integrated the civilian administration, security forces, and significant economic assets into naval command. The Southern Solarian Military District, as it was known, became a beacon of stability in the Southern Wildlands as the nearby Southern Fleet Administration collapsed into anarchy and the Biesel-controlled Corporate Reconstruction Zone struggled with civil unrest and piracy. In 2465 Klaudia’s efforts would be rewarded as the Southern Solarian Reconstruction Mandate was formed, bringing the area under her command back into the greater Alliance.

Now governor of the Mandate, Klaudia soon expects to hand over authority to a civilian administration as the Alliance looks to the end of the civil war and the emergency junta that has run the Alliance since 2462. Popular on Visegrad and throughout the Southern Reaches, some wonder if the fleet admiral will next attempt a career in politics, or remain in the uniform of the Navy.

===Posthumous Figures===

==Admiral Michael Frost==
'''Birthdate: April 14th, 2396'''

'''Date of Death: c. 11 November 2462'''

A towering, and loathed, figure in the modern Alliance, Michael Frost was born on Luna and quickly rose through the ranks of the Solarian Navy to become the admiral of the 33rd Fleet of the Solarian Navy in 2448. Using the pretext of Biesel constructing combat robotics, Frost launched the first Solarian invasion of Biesel in 2459, following a Solarian blockade of the Republic. Assuming control as a military governor, Frost’s brief rule of Biesel was marked by forced disappearances and the enslavement of free IPCs. Frost’s invasion led to the first major engagement of Solarian Navy vessels since the Interstellar War when the Navy’s 25th Fleet intervened and forced the 33rd to surrender and abandon their occupation.

While politically humiliating for the Alliance on an interstellar level, Frost’s invasion made him a hero of Solarian nationalists, particularly the far-right ATLAS, and Navy hardliners. In mid-2460 Frost came to power as Prime Minister of an ATLAS-led government following a Pirate attack on a Solarian Navy facility in the Sol System he and the 33rd thwarted. Frost’s government lasted for slightly under a year and was marked by corruption and paramilitary violence as ATLAS paramilitaries and Frost loyalists were placed into positions of power across the Alliance. While not the only cause of the Solarian Civil War (2462-65), it was a major contributing factor for much of the Middle and Outer Rings falling into anarchy.

In late 2462 Frost was assassinated in the Prime Minister’s residence by a still-unknown actor and a joint military-civilian junta assumed leadership over the Alliance in the name of preserving national unity and restoring democracy. Now, years after his death, Frost is reviled in much of the Alliance and his followers — including the 33rd Fleet — have died or been taken prisoner in the Civil War. He is the only man to have ever been stripped of an admiral’s rank by the Navy, with the Solarian Admiralty doing so in January 2463.

==Admiral Terrence Hopper==
'''Birthdate: January 28th, 2231'''

'''Date of Death: October 15th, 2325'''

Known informally as the “Butcher of Gadpathur” during and after his life, Hopper is the only person in history to have ordered, and carried out, the total orbital bombardment and destruction of a planet (known as “glassing” in the Solarian Navy’s pre-Interstellar War doctrine). Born in the United Kingdom during the Solarian hegemonic era — the height of its power — Hopper was a hardline Solarian loyalist during the Interstellar War who was placed in command of the 223rd Fleet (Ersatz) during the opening months of the conflict, having rallied loyalist forces in the Central Solarian Frontier together after narrowly escaping his duty station in near-Himeo orbit with a reduced loyalist force. Seeking to deny rebel forces a safe port-of-call to strike the Outer Ring from, Hopper turned every gun the 223d had on Gadpathur on October 10, 2278. By October 11, it had destroyed all population centers and orbital facilities. Hopper ordered his fleet to brace for warp and traveled to meet other loyalist forces for the Siege of Xanu.

The civilian ships that managed to escape the 223rd — either through luck, skill, or the few Navy officers who turned a blind eye to fleeing ships — spread word of Hopper’s actions across the rebel areas, horrifying the Coalition and Solarian populations who heard of it before Solarian Navy censors downplayed the story — a trend that continues today, with the Alliance’s history textbooks either minimizing or not mentioning Hopper’s bombing. Hopper would later attempt to coup the civilian government of the Alliance following the 2287 Treaty of Xansan and the war’s end. He would escape punishment for both actions, retiring from active duty in 2301.

After his retirement Hopper would go onto become a foundational figure in Solarian fascist thought and a creator of a mythos where the Interstellar War would have been won, were it not for cowardly, backstabbing politicians in league with the Coalition government. Perhaps no other man is more responsible for the authoritarian character of much of the Solarian Navy until the rise of major reformists than Hopper. Today, he remains a reviled figure in much of the Spur and a downplayed one in the Alliance, where few are willing to discuss him and his legacy.

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">

=Coalition of Colonies=
These are individuals relevant to the [[Coalition of Colonies]].
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
==Chief Representative of the Coalition Reilly Sianne==

'''Birthdate: March 14th, 2421'''

Formerly a farmhand on Xanu, Reilly is the first Chief Representative of the newly reformed Coalition of Colonies. A staunch Xanu proponent of trade, she has pushed for more anti-piracy patrols in the Coalition’s south, near Assunzione, and has advocated that the Coalition should expand its influence into the neutral zone formally. Sianne is, furthermore, a proponent of more megacorporation presence in the Coalition - a stance that has brought her into conflict with some planets within the Coalition. Sianne’s personality is difficult to decipher, with almost all of her own time dedicated to expanding on her political career. She is seen as a shut-in in this regard, with little in the way of social connections - in part due to her being elevated to the position by external forces and plucked out of a once-peaceful rural town life in her childhood.

==First Speaker Marja-Leena Helminen==

'''Birthdate: November 18th, 2417'''

Either the second or third most important person in the Coalition of Colonies, depending upon which person is asked, Doctor Helminen is the elected leader of the United Syndicates of Himeo and at times the greatest ally and worst enemy of Chief Representative Sianne. Unlike her counterpart on Xanu, Helminen has pushed against megacorporations having a further presence in the Coalition and believes that the Coalition should pursue closer relations with Elyra instead of formally expanding into the buffer zone near the Sol Alliance. She is also well-known as a major proponent of joint Coalition-Elyra anti-piracy efforts.
</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
=Eridani Corporate Federation=
These are individuals relevant to the [[Eridani Federation]].
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
==The Board of Five==
[[File:ceo_eridani.png|thumb|Headshot photo of Emanuel Alimayu, Chief Executive Officer of the Eridani Corporate Federation Executive Board. (artwork created by Sleepywolf)]]
'''Birthdate: N/A'''

While not a singular person, the Eridani Corporate Federation’s Board of Five represent some of the most powerful and influential entities in the Sol Alliance. The Board’s interests remain mostly shadowy, aside from being profit-focused. The Eridani Private Military Company, the largest PMC in the Orion Spur, ultimately answers directly to them and the non-aggression principle. NanoTrasen, much to its dismay, does not have a stake in the Board of Five - Einstein Engines, which controls two of the Five, has gone to great lengths to keep its main rival out of the Board.

==Emanuel Alimayu==

'''Birthdate: ???, 2418'''

Emaunel is an exceptional businessman and the epitome of a Eridanian "Corporate". Sitting as the current CEO of the "Board of Five" within the Eridani Corporate Federation as well as the Chairman of the Board for Sol Governance and Senator of the Epsilon Eridani region. Born on Eridani I and educated on Earth, Emanuel has a prodigious corporate career, starting as a Regional Sales Manager for Hephaestus Industries Emanuel has worked his way up the ranks to become the current CEO of the Eridani Federation.

==Commander Filije Thiaw==

'''Birthday: Circa 2395'''

Born a Dreg in the slums of Eridani I's underworld, Thiaw had absolutely nothing at birth. Her father is unknown, and her mother died of an overdose shortly after her daughter's birth. She grew up on the streets and found a family amongst a gang, until the age of eighteen - when they were captured by private military contractors. Her fellow dregs were written off as too far into gang life to be of use, but Thiaw was chosen to be reinstated and brought into the nascent Eagle Corp as a rank-and-file mercenary. Over the following decades, she has risen to be the Operations Commander of Eagle Corp through tenacity and hard work - and more than one extrajudicial killing. Commander Thiaw is the premier example of a reinstated Dreg, and is the wealthiest - and most powerful - former Eridanian Dreg in the Orion Spur. She has also been a major driving factor behind Eagle Corp's continued employment of Dregs.
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">

=Empire of Dominia=
These are individuals relevant to the [[Empire of Dominia]].
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
==[[Keeser Royal Family|The Royal Family]]==

The five members of the Dominian royal family, including the current Emperor, are the most important people in the Empire of Dominia despite their roots as commoners. Universally-loved throughout the young Empire, many of their subjects view them as the glue that works to hold the young Empire together following its violent origins. The Emperor and Empress are the most prominent members of Dominia's royalty, though the Crown Princess is extremely prominent in her own right with her charity work and interstellar diplomacy. The Crown Prince and the younger Princess are less well-known, but still well-regarded throughout the Empire.

==[[Empire of Dominia#Imperial Cabinet|The Imperial Cabinet]]==

Advisors and close confidants of the Emperor, the Imperial Cabinet holds vast sway over the modern Empire. They are:
* Angelika-Lina Strelitz, Colonel-in-Chief of His Majesty's Special Operations Group
* Izla Caladius, Chief Commissioner of Economic Development
* Eliza Volvalaad, Chief Commissioner of His Majesty's Imperial Military
* Antonio Caladius, Chief Commissioner of Imperial Sovereignty
* Alessandro Amadei, Chief Commissioner for Colonial Affairs
* Kasz Han’san, Chief Minister of Unathi Affairs
* Huiling Zhao, Grand Admiral of His Imperial Majesty’s Fleet
* Annaliese Strelitz, Chief Commissioner for Imperial Aviation
* Dorothea-Frieda Strelitz, High Lord General of His Majesty's Imperial Army
* Ngo Juric, High Seneschal of His Majesty's Justice
* Alojzia Molnarova, Director of His Majesty's Imperial Intelligence Directorate
* Theodora Gottlieb, High Inquisitrix of the Holy Tribunal
* Agnes Caladius, Immaculate Hand of Our Lady the Goddess

==[[Empire of Dominia Great Houses|Great House Leaders]]==

The masters of the five largest noble houses in the Empire, these individuals wield immense power and prestige. They are:

* House Keeser: Emperor Boleslaw Keeser I
* House Strelitz: Grand Duchess-Electress Dorothea-Frieda Strelitz
* House Volvalaad: Grand Duchess-Electress Landi Volvalaad
* House Caladius: Grand Consul-Elector Marcus Caladius
* House Zhao: Grand Duke-Elector Qishan Zhao

==[[Council of Imperial Governors|The Council of Imperial Governors]]==

The seven members of the Council represent and contro the most significant possessions of the Empire. They represent the Empire's authority far from Moroz, and are trusted hands of the Emperor. They are:
* Territorial Prime Minister Elard Tarlev (the [[Fisanduh|Imperial Territory of Fisanduh]])
* Governor-General Theresia Sophie von Schulthais-Aichalden (the Imperial military's garrison in Fisanduh)
* Admiral-Governor Lanying Zhao (the [[Empire of Dominia#Zhurong|Imperial Mandate of Zhurong]])
* Governor Alphonse Caladius (the [[Empire of Dominia#Alterim Obrirava|Imperial Mandate of Alterim Obrirava]])
* Governor Victorie Caladius (the [[Empire of Dominia#Alterim Balteulis|Tribunalist Mandate of Alterim Balteulis]])
* Governor-Marchioness Anastazija Glavan (the [[Novi Jadran|Imperial Mandate of Novi Jadran]])
* Viceroy-General Herman Gaufrid-Meinrad Strelitz (the [[Sun Reach|Imperial Viceroyality of Sun Reach]])

===Posthumous Figures===

==His Majesty Emperor Godwin Keeser, Unifier of Moroz and Founding Father of the Empire==
'''Date of Birth: July 15, 2326'''
'''Date of Death: December 18, 2436'''

The last king of the Imperial Alliance and first Emperor of a unified Moroz under the Dominian banner, Emperor Godwin (as he is commonly known) is a towering, near-mythological figure in Dominian history whose flaws have been suppressed and virtues emphasised by Dominian state media and the royal family themselves. Separating fact from fiction regarding Godwin is difficult for non-Dominian historians. In the Empire critical views of the late Emperor are suppressed by the state, and those who critique him are often discovered to have been shell infiltrators, Elyran spies, or heretics of the foulest degree.

What is known is that Godwin was born into the royal family of the Imperial Alliance — House Keeser — in the mid-2300s, a time of rising tensions across Moroz that descended into a full-scale war between the Alliance, its ally the Holy Kingdom of Domelkos, and the Confederated States of Fisanduh. Though fighting was bloody and spanned decades, the Alliance would eventually triumph over its enemy and claim sole control of Moroz. In 2385 Godwin declared a new state: the Empire of Dominia, and set about rapidly expanding and modernizing its economy and military to project itself over the wider Spur. He pursued closer ties with the Solarian Alliance for this purpose, bringing the Empire closer to it and proposing Dominia as a counter to Elyran influence in the southern Spur.

At the time of his death Godwin’s domain had grown to include multiple planets and he commanded a modern, well-equipped army and navy to support it. But he had made a system based upon conquest and war which required fresh conquests to sustain it, and a large underclass which had to be fed into its military complex to fuel it. Some question if Emperor Boleslaw, his only child, has ever grasped how to make this system work without bloodshed as the Empire creeps ever nearer to a hot war with Elyra or the Hegemony.

==Immaculate Hand Giovanna Caladius, First of the Goddess-Touched==
'''Date of Birth: March 20, 2146'''
'''Date of Death: Unknown'''

Arguably the most important figure in Morozian history, Giovanna was born to Valentia Caladius — a major secular figure at Landing Site Ofassel, which would someday become Domelkos — and is held by Tribunalist theology as the first to ever commune with the Goddess. From this communion arose the Moroz Holy Tribunal and its splinter faiths, which would come to dominate Moroz and the later Empire over the centuries. Much of Giovanna’s life is shrouded in myth and mythos, with Tribunalists across the Spur viewing her as a prophet and gifted seer. Official Solarian records from the colonial expedition to Moroz show her mother did exist, and contemporary records from Domelkos colonial administration list Giovanna as having existed. The matter of her existence cannot be denied, but none live who can separate the fact of Giovanna from the fiction woven around her.

A curious detail of Giovanna’s life is there is no listed date for her death, and none have ever reported having seen her pass on. Tribunalist history claims she withdrew from the public eye in the 2270s and simply vanished, disappearing into the pages of history. Some claim her powers were so great she was able to physically enter the Kingdom of Moroz — the Tribunalist afterlife — to serve the Goddess. Others claim she was gifted with immortality and roams the modern Spur, ever watching over the Goddess’ faithful and waiting for the day she will reveal herself to the modern Empire. Some dissidents claim her body was simply hidden by the Holy Tribunal to add to her mystique.

==Grand Elector-Duke Wei Zhao, Founder of His Imperial Majesty’s Fleet==
'''Date of Birth: November 17, 2298'''
'''Date of Death: December 13, 2387'''

Born into a noble family of the Holy Kingdom of Domelkos, House Zhao, Wei was educated as an engineer and spearheaded the launch of the Holy Kingdom’s first modern spacecraft, propelling his family into the highest echelons of noble society. There, he established House Zhao as a dominant figure in the Kingdom's industry, buying out or absorbing all competitors into the family cartel and making many former rivals members or affiliates of the house in the process. Eventually he would absorb all aside from House Kaneko, which maintained a steel cartel of its own. However, favours were exchanged and the two noble families agreed to cooperate rather than compete — a deal which would eventually see House Kaneko awarded Zhurong. He quickly made an acquaintance of King Godwin Keeser of the Imperial Alliance and has long been suspected to be a major figure in the decision to invade the Confederated States of Fisanduh, seeking to claim its industry and resources for the growing businesses of House Zhao.

As Wei aged and the war dragged on he looked to other ways of securing his prized wealth and land — if not for himself, then for his children and their children. He hired Solarian engineers and retired naval officers to design what would become the nucleus of the Imperial Fleet. With these vessels, House Strelitz forces were launched into Fisanduh’s heartlands as Imperial Army units swarmed their defenses, finally breaking through defensive lines after decades of warfare and tens of thousands of losses. While he would not live long after the Empire’s founding, his influence and successes would see House Zhao become one of the great houses of the new Empire. Today, the Imperial Fleet still honours his date of birth as Navy Day.

</div></div>
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">

=Serene Republic of Elyra=
These are individuals relevant to the [[Republic of Elyra]].
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
==Prime Minister Rasheed Tatenda==

'''Birthdate: July 13th, 2421'''

The victor in Elyra’s most recent elections, P.M. Tatenda is a sterling representative of what Elyra is to the greater frontier. He is a published phoron researcher with some combat experience under his belt as a result of service as a reserve officer, and maintains a good appearance despite his advancing age. While Tatenda does not have the best relationship with NanoTrasen, or megacorporations more generally, his government has seen a thawing of the NT-Elyra relationship due to NanoTrasen providing cardox to Elyra. However a full thaw remains unlikely, as Tatenda’s government retains bitterness over how long it took cardox shipments to begin. Tatenda’s government has seen a strengthening of the relationship between the Coalition of Colonies and Elyra under his leadership, with the goal of further suppressing Dominian and unathi piracy.
</div></div>

<div class="toccolours">
=Republic of Biesel=
See: [[Notable Republic Figures]]
</div>

{{Navbox Human Lore}}
{{Navbox Lore}}
[[Category:Pages]]
[[Category:Humanity]]

The Orion Spur

2026-09-21T14:19:33Z

Fyni: /* Lemurian Sea */

{{Outdated (Phoron Scarcity)}}
{{Navbox Lore}}
==Orion Spur==
{{toc_right}}

[[File:Orionspurindicator.png|thumb|left|An indicator for where the Orion Spur is in the Milky Way.]]
=Overview=
This is a page for the regional descriptors and '''starmap''' of the Orion Spur, the setting of the Aurora server's universe.

'''[[The Orion Spur#The Starmap|At the very bottom of this page is a fully interactive map of the region that will be updated as time goes on. To access it, hit expand on the right of its collapsible box.]]'''

The Orion Spur is the center of all things familiar in the galaxy, yet is largely unexplored by even the most noteworthy Skrell and Human expeditions. It represents a tiny portion of a much larger galaxy that is indicative of a thriving and lush interstellar community. At least, the hope is that whatever lay beyond could be considered such.

The Orion Spur is traditionally charted in a horizontal two-dimensional fashion imposed over the Milky Way. This is due to the fact that the density of noteworthy locations is rather thin and spread out evenly across its internal regions. This is not to say the galaxy is not three dimensional - however for your ease of comprehension, it will not be treated as such.

To the Galactic North of the Orion Spur (closer toward the galactic center in this definition) is the Sagittarius Arm, and to the Galactic South (further from the galactic center) would be the Perseus Arm.

Details as to the background of the Orion Spur can be found [[Background summary|here.]] This region of space (or perhaps all of space if this is any indicator) is particularly anomalous, and some of its anomalies can be detailed on the [[Deep Space]] page.

Details on the regions of, and factions within the Orion Spur can be found below.

=Regions=
==[[Sol Alliance|Solarian Alliance]]==
The Alliance of Sovereign Solarian Nations is the single largest political entity in known space. Nearly half of Humanity can trace their home to here.

===Jewel Worlds===

Centered in the heart of the Sol Alliance and safe from any common galactic dangers, the Jewel Worlds are the historical home of humanity and stand as the most developed and populous region in the entire Orion Spur. Though humanity has since split into a multitude of nations many still view the Jewel Worlds – particularly the Sol System – with a hint of reverence due to the storied history of this region.

Major worlds in the Jewel Worlds include the entirety of the Sol System, the [[Eridani Federation|Epsilon Eridani]] system, [[New Hai Phong]], and [[Silversun]].

Two bluespace gates – massive structures which rely on phoron to provide faster than light travel – exist within the Jewel Worlds. The first, from Epsilon Eridani to Qerrbalak, is still functional if mostly used for government vessels due to the high price of phoron. The second, from the Sol System to [[Konyang]], currently sits inactive and partially dismantled due to Konyang’s formal secession from the Alliance in 2462.

===Alliance Neutral Zone===

A massive region of neutral space established over two hundred years ago during the time after the Interstellar War, the “ANZ” is a testament to the Coalition’s fear. Both the Alliance and Coalition have long since built their borders around this demilitarized zone, taking great care to not officially overstep their boundaries and create hostilities. However, it is very clear the Alliance itself has long cared little for this zone, regularly “accidentally” pushing survey fleets into its boundaries. The ANZ entirely encompasses the Weeping Stars region.

''As of the [[KING OF THE WORLD]] arc's finale in late 2462, the ANZ no longer exists.''

===Northern Reaches===

Prior to 2462 the Northern Reaches — named so due to their status as the furthest point of Solarian control in the galactic north — were an area of immense post-Interstellar War investment by both the Solarian Alliance and the various megacorporations which had come to pull the strings of its economic system from behind the scenes. This investment allowed for the region to be heavily developed over the 2300s and 2400s, though large amounts of funds disappeared due to increasingly large amounts of government corruption, and resulted in it being the most prosperous sections of the Alliance outside of its Inner Ring.

Following the Solarian Collapse of 2462 the Northern Reaches have been divided between the Coalition, Biesel, and the post-Solarian statelets of the Northern Wildlands, which has caused it to be wracked by instability. As of 2465 the regionhas become the site of the largest conflict in the Spur since the Interstellar War: the War in the Northern Wildlands, or Solarian Civil War. This War has seen the Wildlands ripped apart by violence and looting, with many concerned the conflict will spill over into neighboring states.

Major worlds in the Northern Reaches include [[San Colette]], [[Human Wildlands#The Solarian Restoration Front|Lycoris]], and [[Konyang]].

===Southern Reaches===

While it never had the development of its counterpart to the galactic north, the Southern Reaches were considered a critical part of the Alliance prior to the Solarian Collapse and great efforts — featuring the corruption typically associated with the post-Interstellar War Alliance — were made to ensure it remained secure and safe as this region was the southernmost section of the Alliance. These defensive efforts would greatly benefit the Alliance in 2462 when, despite losing nominal control over the area, two Sol-aligned statelets — the Solarian Provisional Government and Southern Solarian Military District — emerged from the aftermath of the Collapse, securing most of the region for the Alliance de facto if not de jure.

But the furthest reaches of this area were not so lucky. Lacking significant infrastructure and ineffective local military forces, the southernmost region of the Southern Reaches found themselves under the control of the Biesel-funded Southern Fleet Administration, a bandit group which destroyed much of the region through rampant looting and has caused it to be known as the Pustkowie, or Wasteland, by pro-Solarian forces in the region. Even though the Pustkowie is nominally claimed by the Alliance most doubt it will make any serious effort to claim this now mostly depopulated and decivilized region.

Major worlds in the Southern Reaches include [[Visegrad]] and [[Human Wildlands#The Solarian Provisional Government|Sankt Frederick]]. The Pustkowie, its south, is home to no major population centers.

==[[Coalition of Colonies]]==
The Coalition of Colonies is the largest Human entity in known space, regarded highly in the Frontier as a bastion of hope against the burgeoning Solarian Alliance. Over 85 billion people reside across the entire Coalition, with all relatively evenly spread out.

===Liberty’s Cradle===

The beating heart of the modern Coalition of Colonies, Liberty’s Cradle is home to many of the Coalition’s most developed and influential worlds. In contrast to the Solarian stereotype of the frontier as a decivilized wasteland populated by roving bands of pirates and petty warlords, Liberty’s Cradle is a prosperous and safe region which has a higher standard of living than much of the former Middle and Outer Ring possessed prior to the Solarian Collapse of 2462. Post-Collapse the area has continued to prosper and, now that it dwells far behind the Coalition-controlled Weeping Stars, is more secure than it has ever been before.

This region, prior to the Interstellar War, was divided between the Inner and Central Solarian Frontier. During the Interstellar War both regions were the site of intense fighting between the Alliance and Coalition, which ultimately secured total control over the area through the Treaty of Xansan. In the 25th century the distinction between these two frontiers has disappeared and the entire region is simply referred to as Liberty’s Cradle in honor of the sacrifices made by the Coalition during the Interstellar War.

Major worlds in Liberty’s Cradle include [[Xanu Prime|Xanu]], [[Himeo]], and [[Vysoka]]. [[Axiom]] can additionally be found within its borders.

===Weeping Stars===

The region most devastated by the Interstellar War, the majority of the Weeping Stars has yet to recover from the damage it suffered during the War and much of it remains underdeveloped and sparsely inhabited. During the hegemonic era of the Solarian Alliance, when the Alliance stretched from Sol to the edge of known space, this region was known as the Inner Solarian Frontier and was intended to serve as a highly-developed region for humanity to thrive in. Massive amounts of funds were used to build an infrastructure which was still incomplete when war broke out in 2277, and the shattered ruins of long-lost Solarian hegemonic era structures and projects are present throughout the region.

The Weeping Stars served as the Alliance Neutral Zone until 2462, when the Solarian Collapse saw the region fall out of Solarian control.

Major worlds in the Weeping Stars include [[Gadpathur]] and [[Burzsia]].

===Light’s Edge===
[[File:Light's Edge.png.png|thumb|Light's Edge - Waiting to be Explored.]]
An unusual region which is sparsely populated even in the 25th century, Light’s Edge was the furthest extent of the Alliance’s hegemonic era exploration efforts in the southeastern Spur. Few attempts were made to colonize it prior to the Interstellar War and even fewer of these attempts were successful, with [[Assunzione]] being the most successful of all hegemonic era colonies in the region. Light’s Edge derives its name from its position next to Lemurian Sea, a vast and mostly uncharted region which is entirely devoid of stars. Both Light’s Edge and the Lemurian Sea are home to a variety of unusual stellar phenomena which have attracted widespread scientific interest.

====The ICSR====
The Inter Coalition Sea Region, or ICSR, denotes a small region of Light’s Edge along its border with the Lemurian Sea. Despite it’s proximity to the dangerous Lemurian Sea, it is one of the more densely populated regions of Light’s Edge, with Assunzione debatably lying within it, along with the modern colony world of Meropis.

====Lemurian Sea====
''Main Article: [[Lemurian Sea]]''

Often categorized as a part of Light’s Edge, the Lemurian Sea is an astrological curiosity which is entirely free of stars. This region is a relatively new discovery and classification, having only been officially broken off of Light’s Edge by most astrographical institutions following the rediscovery of Assunzione and limited exploration beyond its position on the border of what would become the Lemurian Sea. Most astrological charts advise avoiding the region as travelers are known to report a feeling of general uneasiness while passing through it and many vessels are known to have disappeared within the Sea.

Major worlds in Light’s Edge include Assunzione and Meropis, which sits on the very edge of the Lemurian Sea. No known settlements exist within the Lemurian Sea.

==Human Frontier and Colonial Space==
The Human Frontier consists of any amount of open space that is charted but is left without any major galactic sovereignty. This is seen as lawless, wild space to some while untold billions call it home. Colonial territories such as Elyra or Dominia are the few bastions of solid civilization in this chaotic place.

===The Clash===
The Clash is the farthest point of the Human Frontier and the closest settlement of Human territories to Nralakk Federation space, with some independent factions practically floating on the border of it.

===Arusha===
Arusha is a truly alien sector within the Orion Spur, known for its great many barely-habitable planets populated by xenoflora that is like nothing ever seen elsewhere in charted space. Presumably anomalous in nature or spread by a now long-gone civilization, these Arushan plant species are widely famous for their odd appearance, high luminescence and very specific compatible habitats. The products of harvesting Arushan plants are seen as delicacies across charted space.

===Badlands===
The Badlands are home to some of the Orion Spur’s most savage flora and fauna, a phenomenon that attracts only the wildest and wisest of the system’s inhabitants - xenobiologists, weapon scientists, there’s even a market for mercenaries, in the hunting of the particularly large and lethal creatures. Of course, there are also those looking to make a life for themselves, but natives aren’t known to treat settlements kindly.
[[File:Perispolis2.png|Persepolis, capital of Elyra and a major political player in the Badlands.|thumb]]
The majority of the [[People's Republic of Adhomai]], [[Karszekani Moghes]] and the [[Republic of Elyra]]’s space finds itself positioned in the Badlands.

'''The Badlands are accessible by a set of bluespace gates leading to and from Tau Ceti and Persepolis/New Ankara.'''

===Valley Hale===
Nestled in the narrow Frontier space between the [[Republic of Elyra]] and the former borders of the Solarian Alliance is Valley Hale, a large region filled with a large amount of old, dying stars and impassable nebulae. Due to close proximity to patrols on either end of this space, it isn’t frequented much by criminal elements and is one of the safer parts of the known Frontier. After 2462, the Republic of Elyra has occupied the majority of Valley Hale, now bordering the [[Republic of Biesel]].

===Orion’s Scar===
Found in a sector of space between the Badlands and Light’s Edge. It is named for the higher density of stars in the region, forming a brighter “scar” when observed from a distance, especially in contrast to the darker Lemurian Sea behind it when viewed from the Spur’s more southward populated planets.

Its location and the higher density of stars makes it a prime candidate for colonisation efforts for the [[Tajara]] and [[Unathi]] people – both close to [[Adhomai]] and [[Moghes]] and more likely to harbour those rarer, perfect planets for colonisation.

Some early exploration was undertaken during the Solarian hegemonic era, though never extensive and the start of the interstellar war saw these projects cancelled, like many other Solarian frontier missions. Modern exploration of the sector began in earnest in the past thirty years, with plenty of exploration ships comb Orion’s Scar seeking a new potential home.

Several smaller “stepping stone” colonies and stations already established in the sector close to the Spur’s nations, though the intrepid explorers who have ventured further from civilisation have yet to find anything of note. On the northern fringes of the sector, independents and pirates ply their trades and there are rumours of great [[Einstein Engines]] involvement in the sector.

===Sparring Sea===
A large region of heavily contested space, mostly avoided, barring those with lofty goals or sinister dealings. It is populated by all sorts of outcasts and outlaws, but notably Unathi pirates and exiles, Dominian edict breakers and even the scarce eccentric band of Skrell are all known to seek refuge here. Though piracy is common, plenty of stubborn colonies of all backgrounds make stakes here.

===Crescent Expanse===
A large, mostly uncontrolled area, the Crescent Expanse represents the furthest stretches of human colonization and stretches to the border of the Nralakk Federation. This area was in the process of development by the Solarian Alliance prior to the Interstellar War and half-complete relics of the Alliance's hegemonic era can be found scattered across its planets and floating in long-abandoned systems. The Coalition of Colonies, Nralakk Federation, and Solarian Alliance are currently attempting to expand their influence into this region with varying degrees of success.

==[[Skrell|Nralakk Federation]]==
The Nralakk Federation is an authoritarian, centralized union of star systems. Although humans have fractured heavily in their expansion, Skrell have remained in a largely singular government through strict reinforcement of education, travel, technology and research, while its laws and planned economy organised by the Grand Council further allow the Federation to control the direction of the nation. Social media is maintained by the Federation government, which gags unacceptable discussions or thoughts and instead encourages people to be like the Idols that they reward with credits, high-quality housing, and fine living.

===The Homeworld===

The geographical and strategic centre of the Nralakk Federation, the Homeworld region encompasses the entirety of the Nralakk system, the origin point for the Skrell species. The region is considered the "jewel" of the Federation, being both the most affluent and most influential system of the nation, as well as housing almost a quarter of the Orion Spur's total Skrell. It has a single Bluespace gate, connecting the system to Humanity's [[Eridani_Federation|Episilon Eridani]].

[[Qerrbalak]], [[Qerr'Malic]], and [[Aliose]] are noteworthy planets within the Homeworld region.

===Inner Systems===

The Inner Systems are parts of the Nralakk Federation that were the first to be colonised by Skrell, and have had centuries, if not thousands of years of development. This region sees a high quality of life and technological standing on par with the Homeworld, which gradually begins to decline as one reaches the border with the Traverse. Older colonies have become specialised in one way or another, while the "newer" colonies focus almost purely on manufacturing as they transition from resource extraction to refining and production. The Inner Systems are divided between the [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Elemental_Systems:_The_First_Waves|'''First Waves''']], colonies that were established early in the age of Skrell colonisation, and the [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Contingent_Systems:_The_Second_Waves|'''Second Waves''']], which were established much later to further support Qerrbalak and its colonies.

[[Aweiji]] is located in the Inner Systems.

===The Traverse===
The Traverse is the frontier of Federation society. Research and mining outposts, newly-established colonies, and manufacturing facilities can be found dotted throughout this large-spanning section of Federation space. While the quality of life and purpose of settlements in the Traverse vary drastically, they will all follow similar trends based on which [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Tetramerous_Systems:_The_Traverse|district]] they are in. The Traverse is also home to independence movements, resistance cells, and other [[Federation_Crime_and_Resistance|criminal]] organisations that operate in Federation space.

[[Tattuqig]] and [[Xrim]] are located in the Traverse.

====Pluat Ven’qop - The Pluat Cooperative====

The “crown” of the Traverse, the Pluat Ven’qop (or the Pluat Cooperative) is host to much of the Traverse’s industrial facilities. Besides Pluat itself, several other planets and megafactory stations take in raw resources imported in from other areas in the Traverse or the Spur at large for manufacturing civilian and military goods for the Federation. Though, the majority of the goods produced here are necessities rather than luxury items.

The standard of living is comparable to living within the Contingent Systems, thanks to the importance and support the Federation places on the district. Qukala Patrols are a common sight here and piracy rates are extremely low. Technologically speaking, citizens enjoy advanced industrial designs and slightly outdated, but enjoyable luxury devices.

====Qukala-Median Treqki - The Median====
Also known as the Median Naval District, it was created shortly after first contact with the Solarian Alliance, this district was to serve as a firm wall between human and skrell territory. The Qukala established several military bases and patrol outposts in the region to handle potential piracy, be it Humans preying on Skrell or vice versa. The region was largely unoccupied prior to the Qukala’s establishment in the area, outside of a few mining and agricultural colonies. Thanks to warm relations with the Alliance, the Qukala never had to make much use of their power here, until the Solarian Warlord States arrived in force. Recently, occasional skirmishes have broken out in the Median as opportunistic raiders swelled in numbers in the wake of the collapse of Solarian authority.

Skrell from the Median are few and far between, especially those that decided to venture out in the Spur. Most of the population are farmers, miners, Qukala, and those that make up the services to support them. The planets in the district were developed enough for the Qukala to purchase local food rather than importing it from the inner worlds, but little more support than that has been received from the Federation.

====Q'elpi - The Q’elpi Basin====
The Skrell residing in the “Basin” of the Traverse do not often feel the touch of Nralakk’s hand in their affairs, for better or worse. The region is largely decentralized with administrations being planetary in nature rather than covering large swathes of space. The Basin is home to barely habitable planets and plenty of asteroid fields. Outside of initial construction and colonization efforts, the Federation has provided nearly no extra support to the Basin. Most colonies and habitats get by via trading minerals and valuable gasses for food and domestic goods.

During the [[The_Phoron_Scarcity:_Skrell_Arc|phoron crisis]], it was revealed that around a dozen systems in the Q'elpi region were secretly collaborating with the Ti'Rakqi, the largest group of Marauders in Federation space. When the Qukala and local Nlomkala attempted a mass arrest of the civilian Government for their part in the collaboration, the systems quickly broke into open defiance of the Federation Government. The '''"Marauder Systems"''', as they came to be known, are currently under martial law as slow progress is being made to pacify them. The Federation has publicly stated its intention to return the systems back to a civilian Government once the collaborators have been detained and "dissident activity" has ceased.

====Zeiqi-Trqn - The Deadspace Spine ====
The portion of the Traverse situated towards galactic west near uncharted space is aptly dubbed the “Deadspace Spine” when translated from Nral’Malic. The region was one of the first colonization targets of pre-Glorsh skrell. The colonies and installations here are very old, very occupied, and very lawless.

Due to the Tri-Qyu incident, much of the skrellian infrastructure in place to keep their interstellar empire intact was rendered inoperable, setting the species back with resounding force. Due to the distance, the Zeiqi-Trqn was one of the final areas of pre-Glorsh space to be “reclaimed” by the Nralakk Federation.

This reclamation took quite some time though, and during the decades prior, the skrell in the Zeiqi-Trqn recovered their ability to traverse the stars earlier than most due to their distance from the Tri-Qyu system. They lacked sufficient industrial power to produce the fuel and other necessities required to return to the core worlds, and instead opted to engage in communal trade to keep the region breathing until they could be found.

A few decades before rediscovery, a plague swept through the Zeiqi-Trqn. Its origins are unknown and widely speculated about, popular theories being that it was a Glorsh-Omega bio-weapon or some unknown bacteria from Deadspace. Regardless, the “Black-Blood” caused the blood of a victim to cease transmission of oxygen to the cells, eventual corruption of DNA and caused the body to use carbon instead of mercury in its blood, causing its infamous black color. The plague wiped out a few of the fledgling colonies completely and severely damaged the populace of the remaining planets and stations. Authority collapsed and the region descended into anarchy.

Desperate skrell turned towards piracy and exploitation to stay alive. Colonies were raided and burned, rival pirate fleets fought for any scraps of fuel or food, and countless others died from the indiscriminate conflict. When the Federation arrived, little was left to save. The Grand Council condemned the area as a “lost cause” and enacted measures to destroy colonies, ships, and stations suspected to contain traces of the Black-Blood. To this day, there is no cure to the disease, only early treatment can prevent cases from becoming terminal. Any skrell suspected of visiting the region is subject to screening to avoid spreading it to the Federation core.

Inside the Zeiqi-Trqn itself, skrell who refuse to bend the knee to Nralakk, prefer to live more criminal lives, or simply lack the power to go elsewhere live in squalor. The region receives no support from the Nralakk Federation, and no regular patrols outside of the ones on its border.

====Estuaries====

The Estuaries are considered the final frontier for Skrellian expansion, being one of the few directions the Nralakk Federation can expand without encroaching on its neighbour's borders. The region is mostly comprised of small developing colonies, termed "Boundary Worlds" or "Boundaries" for short. The Estuaries are almost a perfect location for independence movements and other illegal operations to flourish; the lack of infrastructure and value found in the Estuaries has resulted in Qukala patrols being few and far between, allowing for Marauders, Lyukal cells, and anti-Federation agitators to operate with unparalleled freedom.

The Estuaries have learned to rely less on the Federation, with colonies adopting a more "generalist" plan compared to the specialised societies found elsewhere in the Federation to facilitate trade and survival. Technology and quality of life within this segment of the Traverse can vary wildly, but usually ranks lower than elsewhere in the Federation as a result of the colonies here either being newly established or lacking the resources to develop to what's considered standard in the modern-day.

==The Starmap==
{{Template:Aurora_Starmap}}

Sandbox:Outer Eyes

2026-09-21T12:07:23Z

Fyni: Fyni moved page Sandbox:Outer Eyes to Outer Eyes: Completed

#REDIRECT [[Outer Eyes]]

Outer Eyes

2026-09-21T12:07:23Z

Fyni: Fyni moved page Sandbox:Outer Eyes to Outer Eyes: Completed

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[Republic_Security_%26_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_Bureau|BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karszekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrell planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop during their time at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]], which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrell history and the discovery of [[phoron]], the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the [[Skrell]], the then newly discovered [[tajara]] and [[unathi]] was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper, which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity from an "objective outside perspective" speculates that such a war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimised, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war - that such a thing was impossible.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this extreme rhetorical philosophy as the founding principle of their new organisation. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it may seize what power is needed in one move.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* Its main body must be apart from the Spur, and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply, and the finalisation of a hypothetical project to use psirens as controlled bioweapons to spark chaos.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans, and still believe the accelerated war would have them rise from the ashes. Even as the Provost died, and the Ennead fractures, it is rumoured some of that number continue this accelerationist policy, though with much diminished resources.

==The Ennead==
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]] The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
[[File:Harmonious eyes.png|thumb|The nature of Harmonious' dual positronic arrangement remains a mystery.]]
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrell Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the ''SAMV Obsidian Arrow'' in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.

During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrell researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

The Orion Spur

2026-09-19T16:16:48Z

Fyni: /* Liberty’s Cradle */

{{Outdated (Phoron Scarcity)}}
{{Navbox Lore}}
==Orion Spur==
{{toc_right}}

[[File:Orionspurindicator.png|thumb|left|An indicator for where the Orion Spur is in the Milky Way.]]
=Overview=
This is a page for the regional descriptors and '''starmap''' of the Orion Spur, the setting of the Aurora server's universe.

'''[[The Orion Spur#The Starmap|At the very bottom of this page is a fully interactive map of the region that will be updated as time goes on. To access it, hit expand on the right of its collapsible box.]]'''

The Orion Spur is the center of all things familiar in the galaxy, yet is largely unexplored by even the most noteworthy Skrell and Human expeditions. It represents a tiny portion of a much larger galaxy that is indicative of a thriving and lush interstellar community. At least, the hope is that whatever lay beyond could be considered such.

The Orion Spur is traditionally charted in a horizontal two-dimensional fashion imposed over the Milky Way. This is due to the fact that the density of noteworthy locations is rather thin and spread out evenly across its internal regions. This is not to say the galaxy is not three dimensional - however for your ease of comprehension, it will not be treated as such.

To the Galactic North of the Orion Spur (closer toward the galactic center in this definition) is the Sagittarius Arm, and to the Galactic South (further from the galactic center) would be the Perseus Arm.

Details as to the background of the Orion Spur can be found [[Background summary|here.]] This region of space (or perhaps all of space if this is any indicator) is particularly anomalous, and some of its anomalies can be detailed on the [[Deep Space]] page.

Details on the regions of, and factions within the Orion Spur can be found below.

=Regions=
==[[Sol Alliance|Solarian Alliance]]==
The Alliance of Sovereign Solarian Nations is the single largest political entity in known space. Nearly half of Humanity can trace their home to here.

===Jewel Worlds===

Centered in the heart of the Sol Alliance and safe from any common galactic dangers, the Jewel Worlds are the historical home of humanity and stand as the most developed and populous region in the entire Orion Spur. Though humanity has since split into a multitude of nations many still view the Jewel Worlds – particularly the Sol System – with a hint of reverence due to the storied history of this region.

Major worlds in the Jewel Worlds include the entirety of the Sol System, the [[Eridani Federation|Epsilon Eridani]] system, [[New Hai Phong]], and [[Silversun]].

Two bluespace gates – massive structures which rely on phoron to provide faster than light travel – exist within the Jewel Worlds. The first, from Epsilon Eridani to Qerrbalak, is still functional if mostly used for government vessels due to the high price of phoron. The second, from the Sol System to [[Konyang]], currently sits inactive and partially dismantled due to Konyang’s formal secession from the Alliance in 2462.

===Alliance Neutral Zone===

A massive region of neutral space established over two hundred years ago during the time after the Interstellar War, the “ANZ” is a testament to the Coalition’s fear. Both the Alliance and Coalition have long since built their borders around this demilitarized zone, taking great care to not officially overstep their boundaries and create hostilities. However, it is very clear the Alliance itself has long cared little for this zone, regularly “accidentally” pushing survey fleets into its boundaries. The ANZ entirely encompasses the Weeping Stars region.

''As of the [[KING OF THE WORLD]] arc's finale in late 2462, the ANZ no longer exists.''

===Northern Reaches===

Prior to 2462 the Northern Reaches — named so due to their status as the furthest point of Solarian control in the galactic north — were an area of immense post-Interstellar War investment by both the Solarian Alliance and the various megacorporations which had come to pull the strings of its economic system from behind the scenes. This investment allowed for the region to be heavily developed over the 2300s and 2400s, though large amounts of funds disappeared due to increasingly large amounts of government corruption, and resulted in it being the most prosperous sections of the Alliance outside of its Inner Ring.

Following the Solarian Collapse of 2462 the Northern Reaches have been divided between the Coalition, Biesel, and the post-Solarian statelets of the Northern Wildlands, which has caused it to be wracked by instability. As of 2465 the regionhas become the site of the largest conflict in the Spur since the Interstellar War: the War in the Northern Wildlands, or Solarian Civil War. This War has seen the Wildlands ripped apart by violence and looting, with many concerned the conflict will spill over into neighboring states.

Major worlds in the Northern Reaches include [[San Colette]], [[Human Wildlands#The Solarian Restoration Front|Lycoris]], and [[Konyang]].

===Southern Reaches===

While it never had the development of its counterpart to the galactic north, the Southern Reaches were considered a critical part of the Alliance prior to the Solarian Collapse and great efforts — featuring the corruption typically associated with the post-Interstellar War Alliance — were made to ensure it remained secure and safe as this region was the southernmost section of the Alliance. These defensive efforts would greatly benefit the Alliance in 2462 when, despite losing nominal control over the area, two Sol-aligned statelets — the Solarian Provisional Government and Southern Solarian Military District — emerged from the aftermath of the Collapse, securing most of the region for the Alliance de facto if not de jure.

But the furthest reaches of this area were not so lucky. Lacking significant infrastructure and ineffective local military forces, the southernmost region of the Southern Reaches found themselves under the control of the Biesel-funded Southern Fleet Administration, a bandit group which destroyed much of the region through rampant looting and has caused it to be known as the Pustkowie, or Wasteland, by pro-Solarian forces in the region. Even though the Pustkowie is nominally claimed by the Alliance most doubt it will make any serious effort to claim this now mostly depopulated and decivilized region.

Major worlds in the Southern Reaches include [[Visegrad]] and [[Human Wildlands#The Solarian Provisional Government|Sankt Frederick]]. The Pustkowie, its south, is home to no major population centers.

==[[Coalition of Colonies]]==
The Coalition of Colonies is the largest Human entity in known space, regarded highly in the Frontier as a bastion of hope against the burgeoning Solarian Alliance. Over 85 billion people reside across the entire Coalition, with all relatively evenly spread out.

===Liberty’s Cradle===

The beating heart of the modern Coalition of Colonies, Liberty’s Cradle is home to many of the Coalition’s most developed and influential worlds. In contrast to the Solarian stereotype of the frontier as a decivilized wasteland populated by roving bands of pirates and petty warlords, Liberty’s Cradle is a prosperous and safe region which has a higher standard of living than much of the former Middle and Outer Ring possessed prior to the Solarian Collapse of 2462. Post-Collapse the area has continued to prosper and, now that it dwells far behind the Coalition-controlled Weeping Stars, is more secure than it has ever been before.

This region, prior to the Interstellar War, was divided between the Inner and Central Solarian Frontier. During the Interstellar War both regions were the site of intense fighting between the Alliance and Coalition, which ultimately secured total control over the area through the Treaty of Xansan. In the 25th century the distinction between these two frontiers has disappeared and the entire region is simply referred to as Liberty’s Cradle in honor of the sacrifices made by the Coalition during the Interstellar War.

Major worlds in Liberty’s Cradle include [[Xanu Prime|Xanu]], [[Himeo]], and [[Vysoka]]. [[Axiom]] can additionally be found within its borders.

===Weeping Stars===

The region most devastated by the Interstellar War, the majority of the Weeping Stars has yet to recover from the damage it suffered during the War and much of it remains underdeveloped and sparsely inhabited. During the hegemonic era of the Solarian Alliance, when the Alliance stretched from Sol to the edge of known space, this region was known as the Inner Solarian Frontier and was intended to serve as a highly-developed region for humanity to thrive in. Massive amounts of funds were used to build an infrastructure which was still incomplete when war broke out in 2277, and the shattered ruins of long-lost Solarian hegemonic era structures and projects are present throughout the region.

The Weeping Stars served as the Alliance Neutral Zone until 2462, when the Solarian Collapse saw the region fall out of Solarian control.

Major worlds in the Weeping Stars include [[Gadpathur]] and [[Burzsia]].

===Light’s Edge===
[[File:Light's Edge.png.png|thumb|Light's Edge - Waiting to be Explored.]]
An unusual region which is sparsely populated even in the 25th century, Light’s Edge was the furthest extent of the Alliance’s hegemonic era exploration efforts in the southeastern Spur. Few attempts were made to colonize it prior to the Interstellar War and even fewer of these attempts were successful, with [[Assunzione]] being the most successful of all hegemonic era colonies in the region. Light’s Edge derives its name from its position next to Lemurian Sea, a vast and mostly uncharted region which is entirely devoid of stars. Both Light’s Edge and the Lemurian Sea are home to a variety of unusual stellar phenomena which have attracted widespread scientific interest.

====The ICSR====
The Inter Coalition Sea Region, or ICSR, denotes a small region of Light’s Edge along its border with the Lemurian Sea. Despite it’s proximity to the dangerous Lemurian Sea, it is one of the more densely populated regions of Light’s Edge, with Assunzione debatably lying within it, along with the modern colony world of Meropis.

====Lemurian Sea====
''Main Article: [[Lemurian Sea]]''

Often categorized as a part of Light’s Edge, the Lemurian Sea is an astrological curiosity which is entirely free of stars. This region is a relatively new discovery and classification, having only been officially broken off of Light’s Edge by most astrographical institutions following the rediscovery of Assunzione and limited exploration beyond its position on the border of what would become the Lemurian Sea. Most astrological charts advise avoiding the region as travelers are known to report a feeling of general uneasiness while passing through it and many vessels are known to have disappeared within the Sea.

Major worlds in Light’s Edge include Zaurghis, Meropis and Assunzione, which sits on the very edge of the Lemurian Sea. No known settlements exist within the Lemurian Sea.

==Human Frontier and Colonial Space==
The Human Frontier consists of any amount of open space that is charted but is left without any major galactic sovereignty. This is seen as lawless, wild space to some while untold billions call it home. Colonial territories such as Elyra or Dominia are the few bastions of solid civilization in this chaotic place.

===The Clash===
The Clash is the farthest point of the Human Frontier and the closest settlement of Human territories to Nralakk Federation space, with some independent factions practically floating on the border of it.

===Arusha===
Arusha is a truly alien sector within the Orion Spur, known for its great many barely-habitable planets populated by xenoflora that is like nothing ever seen elsewhere in charted space. Presumably anomalous in nature or spread by a now long-gone civilization, these Arushan plant species are widely famous for their odd appearance, high luminescence and very specific compatible habitats. The products of harvesting Arushan plants are seen as delicacies across charted space.

===Badlands===
The Badlands are home to some of the Orion Spur’s most savage flora and fauna, a phenomenon that attracts only the wildest and wisest of the system’s inhabitants - xenobiologists, weapon scientists, there’s even a market for mercenaries, in the hunting of the particularly large and lethal creatures. Of course, there are also those looking to make a life for themselves, but natives aren’t known to treat settlements kindly.
[[File:Perispolis2.png|Persepolis, capital of Elyra and a major political player in the Badlands.|thumb]]
The majority of the [[People's Republic of Adhomai]], [[Karszekani Moghes]] and the [[Republic of Elyra]]’s space finds itself positioned in the Badlands.

'''The Badlands are accessible by a set of bluespace gates leading to and from Tau Ceti and Persepolis/New Ankara.'''

===Valley Hale===
Nestled in the narrow Frontier space between the [[Republic of Elyra]] and the former borders of the Solarian Alliance is Valley Hale, a large region filled with a large amount of old, dying stars and impassable nebulae. Due to close proximity to patrols on either end of this space, it isn’t frequented much by criminal elements and is one of the safer parts of the known Frontier. After 2462, the Republic of Elyra has occupied the majority of Valley Hale, now bordering the [[Republic of Biesel]].

===Orion’s Scar===
Found in a sector of space between the Badlands and Light’s Edge. It is named for the higher density of stars in the region, forming a brighter “scar” when observed from a distance, especially in contrast to the darker Lemurian Sea behind it when viewed from the Spur’s more southward populated planets.

Its location and the higher density of stars makes it a prime candidate for colonisation efforts for the [[Tajara]] and [[Unathi]] people – both close to [[Adhomai]] and [[Moghes]] and more likely to harbour those rarer, perfect planets for colonisation.

Some early exploration was undertaken during the Solarian hegemonic era, though never extensive and the start of the interstellar war saw these projects cancelled, like many other Solarian frontier missions. Modern exploration of the sector began in earnest in the past thirty years, with plenty of exploration ships comb Orion’s Scar seeking a new potential home.

Several smaller “stepping stone” colonies and stations already established in the sector close to the Spur’s nations, though the intrepid explorers who have ventured further from civilisation have yet to find anything of note. On the northern fringes of the sector, independents and pirates ply their trades and there are rumours of great [[Einstein Engines]] involvement in the sector.

===Sparring Sea===
A large region of heavily contested space, mostly avoided, barring those with lofty goals or sinister dealings. It is populated by all sorts of outcasts and outlaws, but notably Unathi pirates and exiles, Dominian edict breakers and even the scarce eccentric band of Skrell are all known to seek refuge here. Though piracy is common, plenty of stubborn colonies of all backgrounds make stakes here.

===Crescent Expanse===
A large, mostly uncontrolled area, the Crescent Expanse represents the furthest stretches of human colonization and stretches to the border of the Nralakk Federation. This area was in the process of development by the Solarian Alliance prior to the Interstellar War and half-complete relics of the Alliance's hegemonic era can be found scattered across its planets and floating in long-abandoned systems. The Coalition of Colonies, Nralakk Federation, and Solarian Alliance are currently attempting to expand their influence into this region with varying degrees of success.

==[[Skrell|Nralakk Federation]]==
The Nralakk Federation is an authoritarian, centralized union of star systems. Although humans have fractured heavily in their expansion, Skrell have remained in a largely singular government through strict reinforcement of education, travel, technology and research, while its laws and planned economy organised by the Grand Council further allow the Federation to control the direction of the nation. Social media is maintained by the Federation government, which gags unacceptable discussions or thoughts and instead encourages people to be like the Idols that they reward with credits, high-quality housing, and fine living.

===The Homeworld===

The geographical and strategic centre of the Nralakk Federation, the Homeworld region encompasses the entirety of the Nralakk system, the origin point for the Skrell species. The region is considered the "jewel" of the Federation, being both the most affluent and most influential system of the nation, as well as housing almost a quarter of the Orion Spur's total Skrell. It has a single Bluespace gate, connecting the system to Humanity's [[Eridani_Federation|Episilon Eridani]].

[[Qerrbalak]], [[Qerr'Malic]], and [[Aliose]] are noteworthy planets within the Homeworld region.

===Inner Systems===

The Inner Systems are parts of the Nralakk Federation that were the first to be colonised by Skrell, and have had centuries, if not thousands of years of development. This region sees a high quality of life and technological standing on par with the Homeworld, which gradually begins to decline as one reaches the border with the Traverse. Older colonies have become specialised in one way or another, while the "newer" colonies focus almost purely on manufacturing as they transition from resource extraction to refining and production. The Inner Systems are divided between the [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Elemental_Systems:_The_First_Waves|'''First Waves''']], colonies that were established early in the age of Skrell colonisation, and the [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Contingent_Systems:_The_Second_Waves|'''Second Waves''']], which were established much later to further support Qerrbalak and its colonies.

[[Aweiji]] is located in the Inner Systems.

===The Traverse===
The Traverse is the frontier of Federation society. Research and mining outposts, newly-established colonies, and manufacturing facilities can be found dotted throughout this large-spanning section of Federation space. While the quality of life and purpose of settlements in the Traverse vary drastically, they will all follow similar trends based on which [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Tetramerous_Systems:_The_Traverse|district]] they are in. The Traverse is also home to independence movements, resistance cells, and other [[Federation_Crime_and_Resistance|criminal]] organisations that operate in Federation space.

[[Tattuqig]] and [[Xrim]] are located in the Traverse.

====Pluat Ven’qop - The Pluat Cooperative====

The “crown” of the Traverse, the Pluat Ven’qop (or the Pluat Cooperative) is host to much of the Traverse’s industrial facilities. Besides Pluat itself, several other planets and megafactory stations take in raw resources imported in from other areas in the Traverse or the Spur at large for manufacturing civilian and military goods for the Federation. Though, the majority of the goods produced here are necessities rather than luxury items.

The standard of living is comparable to living within the Contingent Systems, thanks to the importance and support the Federation places on the district. Qukala Patrols are a common sight here and piracy rates are extremely low. Technologically speaking, citizens enjoy advanced industrial designs and slightly outdated, but enjoyable luxury devices.

====Qukala-Median Treqki - The Median====
Also known as the Median Naval District, it was created shortly after first contact with the Solarian Alliance, this district was to serve as a firm wall between human and skrell territory. The Qukala established several military bases and patrol outposts in the region to handle potential piracy, be it Humans preying on Skrell or vice versa. The region was largely unoccupied prior to the Qukala’s establishment in the area, outside of a few mining and agricultural colonies. Thanks to warm relations with the Alliance, the Qukala never had to make much use of their power here, until the Solarian Warlord States arrived in force. Recently, occasional skirmishes have broken out in the Median as opportunistic raiders swelled in numbers in the wake of the collapse of Solarian authority.

Skrell from the Median are few and far between, especially those that decided to venture out in the Spur. Most of the population are farmers, miners, Qukala, and those that make up the services to support them. The planets in the district were developed enough for the Qukala to purchase local food rather than importing it from the inner worlds, but little more support than that has been received from the Federation.

====Q'elpi - The Q’elpi Basin====
The Skrell residing in the “Basin” of the Traverse do not often feel the touch of Nralakk’s hand in their affairs, for better or worse. The region is largely decentralized with administrations being planetary in nature rather than covering large swathes of space. The Basin is home to barely habitable planets and plenty of asteroid fields. Outside of initial construction and colonization efforts, the Federation has provided nearly no extra support to the Basin. Most colonies and habitats get by via trading minerals and valuable gasses for food and domestic goods.

During the [[The_Phoron_Scarcity:_Skrell_Arc|phoron crisis]], it was revealed that around a dozen systems in the Q'elpi region were secretly collaborating with the Ti'Rakqi, the largest group of Marauders in Federation space. When the Qukala and local Nlomkala attempted a mass arrest of the civilian Government for their part in the collaboration, the systems quickly broke into open defiance of the Federation Government. The '''"Marauder Systems"''', as they came to be known, are currently under martial law as slow progress is being made to pacify them. The Federation has publicly stated its intention to return the systems back to a civilian Government once the collaborators have been detained and "dissident activity" has ceased.

====Zeiqi-Trqn - The Deadspace Spine ====
The portion of the Traverse situated towards galactic west near uncharted space is aptly dubbed the “Deadspace Spine” when translated from Nral’Malic. The region was one of the first colonization targets of pre-Glorsh skrell. The colonies and installations here are very old, very occupied, and very lawless.

Due to the Tri-Qyu incident, much of the skrellian infrastructure in place to keep their interstellar empire intact was rendered inoperable, setting the species back with resounding force. Due to the distance, the Zeiqi-Trqn was one of the final areas of pre-Glorsh space to be “reclaimed” by the Nralakk Federation.

This reclamation took quite some time though, and during the decades prior, the skrell in the Zeiqi-Trqn recovered their ability to traverse the stars earlier than most due to their distance from the Tri-Qyu system. They lacked sufficient industrial power to produce the fuel and other necessities required to return to the core worlds, and instead opted to engage in communal trade to keep the region breathing until they could be found.

A few decades before rediscovery, a plague swept through the Zeiqi-Trqn. Its origins are unknown and widely speculated about, popular theories being that it was a Glorsh-Omega bio-weapon or some unknown bacteria from Deadspace. Regardless, the “Black-Blood” caused the blood of a victim to cease transmission of oxygen to the cells, eventual corruption of DNA and caused the body to use carbon instead of mercury in its blood, causing its infamous black color. The plague wiped out a few of the fledgling colonies completely and severely damaged the populace of the remaining planets and stations. Authority collapsed and the region descended into anarchy.

Desperate skrell turned towards piracy and exploitation to stay alive. Colonies were raided and burned, rival pirate fleets fought for any scraps of fuel or food, and countless others died from the indiscriminate conflict. When the Federation arrived, little was left to save. The Grand Council condemned the area as a “lost cause” and enacted measures to destroy colonies, ships, and stations suspected to contain traces of the Black-Blood. To this day, there is no cure to the disease, only early treatment can prevent cases from becoming terminal. Any skrell suspected of visiting the region is subject to screening to avoid spreading it to the Federation core.

Inside the Zeiqi-Trqn itself, skrell who refuse to bend the knee to Nralakk, prefer to live more criminal lives, or simply lack the power to go elsewhere live in squalor. The region receives no support from the Nralakk Federation, and no regular patrols outside of the ones on its border.

====Estuaries====

The Estuaries are considered the final frontier for Skrellian expansion, being one of the few directions the Nralakk Federation can expand without encroaching on its neighbour's borders. The region is mostly comprised of small developing colonies, termed "Boundary Worlds" or "Boundaries" for short. The Estuaries are almost a perfect location for independence movements and other illegal operations to flourish; the lack of infrastructure and value found in the Estuaries has resulted in Qukala patrols being few and far between, allowing for Marauders, Lyukal cells, and anti-Federation agitators to operate with unparalleled freedom.

The Estuaries have learned to rely less on the Federation, with colonies adopting a more "generalist" plan compared to the specialised societies found elsewhere in the Federation to facilitate trade and survival. Technology and quality of life within this segment of the Traverse can vary wildly, but usually ranks lower than elsewhere in the Federation as a result of the colonies here either being newly established or lacking the resources to develop to what's considered standard in the modern-day.

==The Starmap==
{{Template:Aurora_Starmap}}

Tajara

2026-09-19T10:22:33Z

Fyni: link fix

{{Navbox Lore}}
{{Navbox Tajara Lore}}
{{Infobox Species
|Species = Tajara
|Scientific = T. sapiens
|Image = OldTajara.png
|System = S'rand'marr
|World = [[Adhomai]]
|Language = Siik'maas, Siik'Tajr, Nal'rasan, Ya'ssa, Delvahhi
|Politic = People's Republic of Adhomai,

Democratic People's Republic of Adhomai,

New Kingdom of Adhomai
}}
{{TOC_Hidden}}
== Overview ==

The Tajara (direct plural: Tajara – Tah-jaw-rah both singular and multiple) (adjective: Tajaran - Tah-jaw-ran) are a race of humanoids that possess markedly felinoid traits that include a semi-prehensile tail, a body covered in fur of varying shades, and padded, digitigrade feet. Tajaran history and society is deeply entrenched in the conflict between its caste system and ruling governments. The species currently finds itself involved in a cold war between the three powers that control its homeworld, Adhomai.

To play as Tajara, apply [https://forums.aurorastation.org/forum/13-whitelist-applications/ here].

==Heads of Staff==
Since the end of the First Revolution, Tajara have proven themselves to be capable workers to the megacorporations of the galaxy. In the years since, some of these Tajara demonstrated competent leadership and were hired into various command positions in their company of choice. To be a Tajaran head of staff in a human- and skrell-dominated space is to have dozens of eyes on you at once. Oftentimes, these Tajara face heavier criticism, are given lower wages and fewer benefits, and still face discrimination from their peers. Severe pressure is put onto them to meet a degree of excellence higher than what would be expected for a human. The vast majority of Tajaran heads of staff, especially within NanoTrasen, remain PRA citizens. Due to their close ties to NT and being of higher diplomatic standing, megacorporations prefer to promote Republican citizens over their counterparts. The NKA opening their doors to interested companies following the armistice has made it easier for their supporters to be promoted or re-promoted; however, these types are rare. The NKA’s technological backwardness is viewed as a major detriment for leadership roles and is a given reason for why a citizen would be passed over. The DPRA’s citizens, unsurprisingly, are incredibly unpopular for a promotion choice. The nation’s xenophobic and anti-corporate attitude is well known to megacorporations, so any citizen of the DPRA who manages to become promoted is subject to yearly interviews and background checks. Any sign of a connection to radical elements means a demotion, if not a firing.

To date, there is yet to be any Tajara in a meaningful place of power within a megacorporation.

Hharar and Njarir’Akhran can be the following Heads of Staff:

* Head of Security
* Chief Medical Officer
* Executive Officer
* Research Director
* Chief Engineer
* Operations Manager
* Consular Officer
* Corporate Liason

M'sai can be the following Heads of Staff:
* Head of Security
* Executive Officer
* Consular Officer

Zhan-Khazan can be the following Heads of Staff:
* Operations Manager
* Chief Engineer
* Biesellite Consular Officer

== Mechanics ==

* Tajara can speak a number of unique languages, such as:
:- Siik'Maas. Use this in-game by typing say ,j
:- Siik'Tajr. Use this in-game by typing say ,w
:- Ya'ssa. Use this in-game by typing say ,r
:- Nal'rasan. Only available to M'sai Tajara, use this in-game by typing say ,i
:- Delvahhi. Only available to Zhan-Khazan Tajara, use this in-game by typing say ,n
* All Tajara have claws and scratch with them instead of punching, dealing extra damage.
* Tajara are faster but take extra brute damage.
* Tajara can see much better in the dark than humans. This is possible by using a verb in-game, but that makes them vulnerable to flashes.
* Tajara can extend their vision while standing still. This is possible by using a verb in-game.
* Tajara have superior hearing, allowing them to listen intently. This provides messages on nearby machinery, explosions, and allows Tajara to hear whispered messages from further away. This is possible using a verb in-game.
* Tajara are less vulnerable to harm from the cold due to their fur but more vulnerable to harm from heat.
* Tajara cannot use human gloves or shoes due to their claws and digitigrade limbs. They are only able to wear voidsuits and voidsuits helmets designed/modified for their Tajaran anatomy. They are able to wear 'softsuits' (such as regular space suits, biosuits, and fire suits).
* Tajara have a higher nutrition and hydration threshold and process reagents slightly slower.
* Tajara have a set of organs adapted to the life on Adhomai, with some differences in regard to function and form.
* Due to a long history of combined selective breeding and cultural factors, different Tajaran races have different physical qualities and attributes as well as levels of education. Visit the physiology sections of the [[Tajaran Ethnicities]] page for information about their differences.

== Biology ==
[[File:Tajara_Child.png|thumb|A Tajaran mother with her child.]]
Tajara are an omnivorous bipedal humanoid species. While on a surface level Tajara appear to be humanoid felines, scientifically and practically Tajara share little in common with Earth’s felines beyond certain visual elements. Tajaran bodies are strongly adapted for the Adhomian environment, an arctic and turbulent planet. Evolved to survive the harsh weather, temperatures, and hostile fauna, Tajara are well adapted to cold-weather environments, speed, and perception.

===Fur and Mane===
Tajara are covered in a layer of thick fur that provides insulation from the cold, protection from diseases, and weather solar radiation. The only regions left without fur are the pads of the hands and feet, alongside the eyes and various orifices. This fur performs extremely well at insulating against the cold and shedding snow or water. However, Tajaran fur is vulnerable to degradation caused by chemical or physical means. To counter this, damaged fur ‘sheds’ off to allow a healthy follicle to replace it. Otherwise, Tajara do not shed on a regular basis. Tajaran fur has a predetermined length at which it will not grow further, with exception to manes.

Manes are made of a unique strain of Tajaran fur that is stronger and wirier than the rest of a Tajara’s fur. Manes do not stop growth, instead they continually grow unless prevented by chemical means. The growth pattern of a mane can vary from Tajara to Tajara. It is not uncommon for manes to grow around the entire head, not unlike Earth's lion manes. Male Tajara additionally grow what amounts to beards and mustaches along the muzzle. Manes are a complex biological component for Tajara. They assist in heat regulation and insulate the ears when they are folded back into the head. The follicles assist the body in healing wounds as well as boosting the Tajaran immune system.

===Body Fat===

Body fat is stored in two ways: The fat reservoir and the fat layer. The fat reservoir is a non-essential organ within the lower body. It stores excess fats that may be used for energy, heat, or to replace lost fat in the fat layer. While the reservoir is non-essential, the loss of the reservoir can cause numerous complications. Those lacking a reservoir starve faster, lacking an essential store of energy when there is a lack of food. The reservoir’s fat also partially fuels Tajaran heat generation, meaning those without a reservoir are typically colder. The fat layer is an essential insulating layer beneath the fur. It acts as equal parts temperature insulation and physical protection, using the layer to dampen blunt trauma.

===Environmental Adaptations===

Tajaran adaptations to extremely low-temperature environments have the tendency to cause overheating issues in more mild environments. The primary methods by which Tajara expel heat are the pads of the hands and feet, as well as the ears and breath. It is common for Tajara to shorten the fur around the ears to increase heat dissipation. Typically, Tajara will attempt to cool their skin or lower their internal temperature as the insulation of the fur and fat layer also assists in keeping the cold in.

Tajara are built to favor efficient use of energy as opposed to raw strength. Tajaran muscles are lean, built for sustained use over long periods time rather than bursts of power. This is exemplified by the Tajaran gait. Specialized for movement through snow, Tajaran biology favors a consistent speed capable of trudging through snow efficiently as opposed to sprinting. Outside of snowy environments, the lack of resistance correlates to a faster walk speed. However, this does not mean Tajara are not capable of great feats of strength. Training and practice can produce strength competitive with human athletes, albeit with more effort required as the muscles produced are built for endurance and not raw power.

Tajara evolved as a predatory species upon their home planet of Adhomai, and as a result, they have a pair of fairly large, well-developed eyes that are forward set. These eyes have large pupils, capable of contracting significantly faster than other creatures, sapient or otherwise. The Tajaran eye has uniquely evolved to physically alter its structure to achieve different functions. The eyes may focus the lens and physically contract the rear of the eye to increase the density of rods, allowing for extreme low-light vision, albeit colorless vision and at great risk of bright lights harming the eye and causing pain. A similar process can be performed to focus a Tajara’s vision at a far target. The eye contracts in a different manner to focus at great lengths, effectively extending one’s vision. While a Tajara can attempt to use low-light and far-vision at the same time, it often results in diminished low-light vision at distance, and can be painful when performed for long periods of time. To protect the eye from snow blindness and keep the eye moist against wind, Tajaran eyes have nictitating membranes.

Atop their heads, Tajara have a pair of deft, normally erect ears that are capable of a wide range of motion. They can rotate to roughly ninety degrees, capable of even being able to fold back almost entirely onto the skull if needed. Tajaran ears, similarly to Tajaran eyes, are capable of contorting their physical structure to achieve different goals. The ears can shift to amplify quieter noises, at risk of damage and pain should a loud noise be made close to the ear. Tajaran ears are often warmer than the rest of the body as they are the primary method of heat dissipation.

Tajara possess a pair of digitigrade legs and otherwise humanoid arms. Each hand has 4 digits, each with a 1-2 cm claw. These claws are non-retractable and particularly sharp. These claws can be filed down if more dexterity is needed, however this is done with great care and caution as cutting claws too short can be incredibly incredibly painful and will expose nerves to the air. Tajaran feet carry 4 roughly equal-sized digits. These digits also have claws, however they are more blunted and hooked compared to their hand-based counterparts to assist in grip and stability on rocky or snowy surfaces.

Tajaran tails are long, semi-prehensile extremities that, while appearing not particularly useful, are vital. The place of the tail takes on a biological and societal role. Biologically, the tail is necessary for balance and environmental awareness. While Tajara may be bipedal, much of their flexibility and maneuverability is owed to the tail providing superior balance and stability. The tail has higher bundles of sensory nerves that assist in environmental awareness, notable vibrations. Societally, tails are a fundamental part of Tajaran body language and communication. Most languages require tails, either for communicating the language itself or to inflect meaning and tone into sentences. It also provides a visible display of body language.

The Tajaran dental structure was at one point in their evolutionary history once geared for a carnivorous lifestyle but has since evolved and shifted towards a more omnivorous role. Tajara have sharp, needle-like teeth in the front of their jaw which is quite clearly geared to tear meat; the further along the jawline one goes, teeth similar to human molars reside behind the sharp canines, evidence of the change to an omnivorous diet. However, these molars remain sharper than human molars to pierce the tough skins of Adhomian produce. Evolutionary biologists believe that predecessors to modern Tajara had rough tongues with few taste buds to facilitate eating raw meat. The contemporary species evolved out of this a long time ago in conjunction with becoming omnivorous, and so they now have softer tongues with a full sense of taste.

===Tajaran Build an Lifecycle===

Tajara are sexually dimorphic, however the differences are rarely notable. Males are typically taller, have broader shoulders, more pointed ears, and larger hands and feet. Females have elongated muzzles, shorter ears, and an additional set of molars. Mothers do not exhibit visible breasts until pregnancy, at which point they swell in order to provide for the young. These breasts contract around three months after birth when the young transition to normal food.
[[File:Cats.png|400px|thumb|right|An artist sketch of Tajaran dimorphism, builds, and general stance.]]
Tajaran height and weight are primarily dependent on ethnicity. However, upbringing and access to food often dictates height, with less access resulting in shorter Tajara. Heights and weights often vary. Tajara shorter or taller than the range typical for their ethnicity often face medical issues as a result.

'''M’sai:''' 160 cm to 170 cm. 80.1 kg to 90.4 kg.<br>
'''Hharar:''' 150 cm to 160 cm. 68.2 kg to 77.6 kg.<br>
'''Njarir:''' 165 cm to 175 cm. 82.5 kg to 92.8 kg.<br>
'''Zhan:''' 170 cm to 190 cm. 82.9 kg to 103.6 kg.<br>

The Tajaran lifecycle is more rapid relative to other species. A Tajaran fetus only takes 6 months to mature, with Tajaran children reaching the full extent of their physical growth by 15 or 16. Modern medicine sees most Tajara now live beyond 70 years with the oldest Tajara reaching nearly 100. However, ages beyond 80 often require intensive and expensive medical technologies. Most Tajara retire at 60 when the body becomes too aged to work.

The sleep cycle of the Tajaran species is one of their most scientifically curious features. A normal waking period is somewhere between 36 and 58 hours, with a subsequent 20 to 28 hours of sleep. Normally, the waking period is spotted with 3 to 4 15-minute naps to keep the Tajara refreshed and alert. This is universal in all worlds with Tajara living upon them. Tajara are capable of great feats of intelligent, dedicated work but this is physically exhausting, which renders them utterly mentally and psychologically exhausted. Those who do not enter the sleep cycle properly, or attempt to break it in order to conform to a human sleep cycle, may find themselves groggy, aggressive, paranoid, and disoriented until their circadian rhythm is righted.

===Ethnicities===
''For information about the ethnicities, their traits, and their cultures: see [[Tajaran Ethnicities]]''

There are four races of Tajara: the Hharar, the Zhan-Khazan, the Njarir’Akhran, and the M'sai. Each race has a common role that they play in a society to which their biological inclinations make them more suited, as well as their own cultures which have formed from long histories of performing these roles in society. Tajara heavily stereotype each other based on race which is often a cause for conflict. As a result of these differences, there is a lot of racial tension between these various types of Tajara which was further exacerbated by differences in socioeconomic classes.

'''Hharar:''' the first Tajaran ethnicity that Humanity came in contact with is generally viewed as the 'typical Tajara', further reinforced by their larger presence in cities. Given their status as the ‘face’ of Tajara, Hharar have grown to take over many diplomatic and public-facing jobs following the establishment of the People’s Republic of Adhomai. Hharar societally are the artisans and tradies, typically focusing on more skilled trades. Being the original urbanites, Hharar culture is what has been exported as ‘Tajaran culture’ across the Spur. They are the creators of the [[S'rendarr_and_Messa|Twin Suns worship]].

'''Zhan-Khazan:''' considered to be the backbone of Tajaran society. Because of their history of hard work and the way they adapted to harsh mountain life, Zhan-Khazan are more physically intimidating than other Tajara. Featuring more toned, muscular bodies, thicker fur coats, and heavier body weight, they are well-suited to tasks requiring brute strength and heavy lifting. Zhan-Khazan fill the societal role of the laborer. They are the workers and managers of mines, farms, construction sites, etc. Being the dominant race in the restaurants and inns, much of Tajaran food culture comes from the Zhan-Khazan, as well as the religion of the [[Ma'ta'ke_Gods|Ma’ta’ke Gods]].

'''M'sai:''' the M'sai were at one point the hunters for ancient Tajara and evolved to have lithe, slender forms, and light fur that hid them in the blizzards on Adhomai. As Tajaran society advanced, M'sai could be found in many roles related to combat, including law enforcement and military service. They are very loyal to their friends and family but aren't as overt about it as the Zhan-Khazan. With wide eyes and acute senses, they make great soldiers, with a vision adapted to compensate for the heavy blizzards that plague their home planet. They are also great survivalists and are capable of scrounging food for themselves via hunting.

'''Njarir’Akhran:''' the ethnic group that made up the majority of the plutocracy before the First Revolution. Their lineage can be traced from careful breeding between Hharar and M'sai, leading to where they currently are today. Following recent events on Adhomai, Njarir make up less than ten percent of the population. Easily identifiable by their large ears, fluffy tails, luxurious fur, and slender, elegant features. Njarir suffer persecution and rejection from certain proponents of Tajaran society because of their bloodline. As the most learned of all Tajaran ethnic groups, they boast high intelligence and have a propensity towards leadership roles, the arts, and the sciences.

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:99%">

=== Coloration ===
Fur color is the most noticeable aspect of a Tajara. It acts as a natural camouflage and is the most visible difference between the ethnicities. Ancient history saw these fur colors appear in certain regions of Adhomai, however over millennia of migration, marriage, and modern travel, every coloration of fur can be seen across Adhomai and now the Spur.

Some Tajara tend towards monochromatic bodies while others have multicolor or even calico fur patterns. These designs depend heavily on the genetics of the individual's parents, much like hair and eye color. Because of this, some parents are utterly incapable of producing multicolor children. Designs including flat colors, stripes, spots, and most conceivable combinations have been recorded by scientists both Tajaran and human.

'''These fur colors are suggestions and guidelines. Any one Tajara could have a variation of the colors shown, whether it be lighter or darker.'''
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
{| align:Center
|-
====Hharar:====
Hharar fur coloration traces back to the proto-Hharar peoples of Southern Ras'nrr. The forests between the Rhazar and Khazan mountains alongside the fertile soil allowed for the invention of farming, and later the formation of Adhomai’s first civilizations. The Hharar people evolved to feature brown fur colorations due to the numerous woods they lived in.
|[[File:H_BeaverBrown.png|300px|left|thumb|Beaver Brown (RGB 159, 139, 112 / Hex #9f8b70)]]
|[[File:H_Kochiba.png|300px|left|thumb|Kochiba (RGB 107, 68, 35 / Hex #6b4423)]]
|[[File:H_Taupe.png|300px|left|thumb|Taupe (RGB 72, 60, 50 / Hex #483c32)]]
|-
| '''Prairie Brown'''
Being the most common coloration of Hharar fur, Prairie Brown was once associated with the numerous Hharar working the fields across Ras’nrr. Despite this association, it is not considered the oldest fur coloration, instead being a variation that occured in those living among the fields of the warmer prairies of the Ras’nrr Heartlands.
| '''Azumah Wood'''
This fur color dates far older than the name it is associated with. Once referred to as simply “Summer Brown”, the name Azumah Wood became widespread following the massive success of a logging company in the Azumah lake region during the Steeple Peace. The wood products were advertised and sold with the image of a kochiba furred logger chopping down “Azumah grade” trees. The logging company has since then gone defunct, being known only as the source of a strange origin for the term.
| '''Harbor Brown'''
Harbor Brown carries the title of being the oldest known fur coloration among Hharar, having been the predominant coloration amongst the proto-Hharar of the Southern Ras’nrr region. However, in modern times it has been titled after the numerous harbor workers found across Adhomai, even if they no longer are a majority of sailors.
|
|}
{| align:Center
|-
====Zhan-Khazan:====
Zhan fur colorations are the result of a long history of mountain tribes. Even during winter seasons, the darker fur colorations permitted better camouflage with the rocky terrain of the Ras’nrr mountains.
|[[File:ZK_BlueGrey.png|300px|thumb|left|Blue-Grey (RGB 34, 37, 50 / Hex #222532)]]
|[[File:ZK_DarkGrey.png|300px|thumb|left|Dark Gray (RGB 30, 30, 30 / Hex #1e1e1e)]]
|[[File:ZK_Chocolate.png|300px|thumb|left|Chocolate (RGB 94, 38, 18 / Hex #5e2612)]]
|[[File:ZK_Black.png|300px|thumb|left|Black (RGB 0, 0, 0 / Hex #000000)]]
|-
| '''Rhazar Fog'''
During Sil’nryy-aysaif, the foot of the Rhazar mountains are commonly blanketed in a thick fog. The rare blue coloration of this fog became closely associated with the local Zhan population who shared a similar fur color with that of the mountain rock. Regardless, the fur coloration took on the name of the far more popular fog than the relatively mundane mountain rock.
| '''Khazan Rock Grey'''
The proto-Zhan-Khazan people were infamously put down during the Incarnate Dominion. The majority featured a dark-grey fur that became synonymous with the Zhan tribes of the Khazan mountains that the ethnicity, and fur, are now named after.
| '''Nraz’i Mud'''
Of the Zhan tribes, those in the Nraz’i mountains enjoyed the warmest winters. The hinterlands of the Sum’add coast become a muddy mess when the snow melt of the Nraz’i mountains washes onto the thawed soil. The fur color common of the region’s Zhan tribes became associated with the mud, then taking the name it has now.
| '''Cavern Black'''
Caves formed a natural home for the first Zhan’khazan to settle within. These served as strong homes and fortresses alike for the ancient peoples. It is not believed that these conditions resulted in the dark coloration being prevalent among the Zhan, despite old tales claiming such. This uncommon coloration originated from the southern Rhazkjara mountains.
|
|}
{| align:Center
|-
====Njarir'Akhran:====
Njarir fur colorations are the results of the extensive eugenics programs employed by the Adhomian nobilities. Through decades of careful merging of M’sai and Hharar bloodlines, along with high amounts of inbreeding, Njarir now feature the flashiest fur colors among Tajara. Despite the inherent nature of genetics, reputations for different fur colorations have taken root among noble circles even following the revolutions.
|[[File:NA_Orange.png|300px|thumb|left|Orange (RGB 238, 64, 0 / Hex #ee4000))]]
|[[File:NA_Cinammon.png|300px|thumb|left|Cinnamon (RGB 160, 82, 45 / Hex #a0522d)]]
|[[File:NA_Ruddy.png|300px|thumb|left|Ruddy (RGB 138, 54, 15 / Hex #8a360f)]]
|[[File:NA_Cream.png|300px|thumb|left|Cream (RGB 205, 175, 149 / Hex #cdaf95)]]
|-
| '''Steeple Light'''
Seen as the ultimate fur coloration produced by the infamous eugenics programs, Steeple Light gained its name after a Rasn’rr emperor of the early Steeple Peace declared his fur, a bright orange, to be the manifestation of S’rendarr’s light. Some esoteric circles in the New Kingdom have adopted this belief upon its rediscovery. While the emperor’s name was lost to the books burned in the First Revolution, his declaration remains as the name of this fur coloration. It is a highly sought after coloration among nobles.
| '''Hadii Red'''
Once a mundane coloration, Hadii Red has become an intimidating presence following the rise of the Hadii Dynasty. The vast majority of the family has some variation of this fur, with many rumors claiming they place great effort and care that the coloration is maintained in their offspring. It is an uncommon joke for Njarir who have this fur to say that they’re secretly a Hadii.
| '''Ras’val Royal'''
Many of the noble families who came to rule the regions surrounding the Ras’val sea featured the ruddy coloration of what is now known as Ras’val Royal. While previously considered the coloration of middling nobles, the rise of the Azunja family to the head of the New Kingdom has led to the coloration being perceived as the height of royalty.
| '''Half-Knuckle White'''
This fur color was common among lower nobility across Adhomai during the Steeple peace. The term Half-Knuckle White was coined as a slur against those nobles who were seen as fraternizing too much with their enforcers resulting in a “washed out” fur color. Genetic research shows that these claims had little backing, but this has yet to make an effect on the thoroughly cemented name.
|
|}
{| align:Center
|-
====M'sai:====
M’sai fur is the result of the behaviors of proto-M’sai. Having been a nomadic people of the open prairies in Ras’nrr, the light fur color was often the only way Tajaran hunters were capable of hiding or blending into the environment.
|[[File:M_White.png|300px|thumb|left|White (RGB 238, 223, 204 / Hex #eedfcc)]]
|[[File:M_Ivory.png|300px|thumb|left|Ivory (RGB 205, 205, 192 / Hex #cdcdc0)]]
|[[File:M_Wheat.png|300px|thumb|left|Wheat (RGB 205, 186, 150 / Hex #cdba96)]]
|[[File:M_Silver.png|300px|thumb|left|Silver (RGB 192, 192, 192 / Hex #c0c0c0)]]
|-
| '''Zarragh Washoff'''
Considered the most recent evolution of fur color, Zarragh Washoff garnered its name in the Zarr’jirah mountains. The lake-effect snow of the northern lake gained the name “washoff” due to how the new layers of snow would conceal rock and dirt chips on older snow, making the mountains easier to blend into.
| '''Field Snow'''
Field Snow is arguably the most common fur coloration amongst M’sai. Characteristic of the proto-M’sai hailing from the fields of the Nraz’i basin, upon the arrival of the nomadic tribes to Souther Ras'nrr the native proto-Hharar began to refer to their coloration as “Field Snow” after the coloration of fresh snow on the Ras’nrr prairies.
| '''Fatshouter White'''
Named after the coloration of fatshouter milk before processing, this coloration has dubious origins. Written history on much of the proto-m’sai peoples were sparse, however prevailing research suggests Fatshouter white primarily comes from those M’sai nomads from the inner western coast of the Nraz’i basin.
| '''Enforcer Silver'''
Being the second most common fur coloration of the M’sai people, Enforcer Silver garnered its name through association with the dreaded noble enforcers of history. The name was reinforced in older times when many noble families began to stamp enforcer insignias in silver, which often came close to the fur color of many M’sai who wore them.
|}
</div></div>

==History==
''See also: [[Tajaran History]]''
===Nobility and the Ancient Past===

For as long as Tajara care to remember, Adhomai had always been under the rule of the nobility. The oldest historical text that exists in Tajaran possession dates back at least three thousand years and talks about the presence of nobles. Many historians agree that the trend of blood rule is more deeply-rooted in Tajaran existence than was before considered.

The ancient past of the Tajara is poorly documented and historical texts are rare; meticulous combing and destruction of educational material by millennia of harsh rule resulted in the total atrophy of most scientific arts in Tajaran society. Little is known about Tajara civilization before '''1500 BCE''' Galactic Standard Time.

The earliest form of government were local monarchies supported by religious authorities; the ruler and their families were considered of divine origin. Most of the settlements were similar to rural fiefs, with the population working for those dynasties in trade of their protection. Urban centers started to appear around places of worship. Peasants had little to no rights, and all dissidence was met harshly and fatally at the hands of the Nobles' Enforcers - trained agents (commonly of M'sai descent) who fought for the nobility of Adhomai in exchange for relative freedom. These Tajaran enforcers kept the peasants of Adhomai's lands repressed and powerless through shock and terror.

What is known for sure, however, is that tension and violence had slowly been increasing over hundreds of years between the populace and their fellow noble families.

===Tensions Rise===

Tajara historians believe that global violence spilled out across the planet between the kingdoms and the other scattered noble families in '''80 CE'''. Those states clashed and either pitted their followers against one another. The noble leaders continued to fight and inter-marry until the ruling families had become exclusively '''Njarir’Akhran'''. Over time, the nobility slowly began to lose their religious inclination, adopting more traditional civil institutions and a relaxation of the church's control which gave way to state control. Religious worship of the noble families had been dropping steadily in conjunction with their lower influence on the other nobility. It was during this period that historians believe the overwhelming control of the noble families flourished and solidified into what it was prior to human contact.

Even with technological and governmental advances, the Adhomian society was stuck with its old feudal system. The tension between the nobility and the peasantry increased due to new burdens brought by military campaigns. The first writings against the serfdom and caste systems started to appear around '''1732 CE''', with those early revolutionaries being dealt with violence by M’sai enforcers. Draconian laws and sanctions were introduced against those that defied the status quo. Relations between the ruling class and commoners were precarious, believed to have stemmed from harsh rulers and laws. Technological and cultural knowledge and breakthroughs had begun to trickle down from the noble families to the peasantry. The invention of the printing press in '''1756 CE''' favored the spread of anti-monarchist pamphlets. Owning a copy of an unapproved text was a capital crime.

Adhomai underwent a form of industrialization with the creation and proliferation of the steam engine in '''1954 CE'''. However, this only forced the Adhomai peasants into harsh new labor digging in mines and working 18-hour days building rail lines for private use by the Njarir’Akhran nobility. Laws were soon enacted that banned any non-Njarir’Akhran from utilizing electricity or riding on trains. This trend of nobles hoarding new technology or innovations at the expense of the peasants continued until human contact.

Thirty years prior to the human discovery of Adhomai, the deep-seated mistrust between peasants and nobles had reached an all-time high. The Tajaran species was trapped in a technological bubble forced upon them by their nobility. At the height of their industrial revolution only a few years prior, the leadership at the time became increasingly wary of the unification of many Tajaran workers who demanded greater rights. The realms of education, science, and luxury found themselves under severe restrictions, and your basic Tajara was forced into almost twenty-hour workdays with minimal time afforded for eating and sleeping on the job. Analysis of the noble houses proves that during this time in Tajaran history, the nobility had never been worth more in Sol credits than previously. This is largely attributed to the fact that rather than modernizing Adhomai the nobility had seen fit to confiscate and use these fruits of scientific thinking for themselves.

Automobiles are considered one of the best examples of this. The first automobile is recorded to have been created in '''2292 CE'''. Using a combustion engine much like primitive human vehicles, with extra anti-freezing measures and thick treads, one of the first fully functional automated cars had been produced by a collection of Tajaran engineers and scientists, at the behest of the nobility. Older Tajara considered these large creations to be a symbol of negligence and gluttony by their leaders. Workers were never provided with such things; they were forced to transport themselves through Adhomai's harsh winter conditions on foot or by using specially designed 'snow bicycles', regardless of how far away their place of work was.

Further restricting the rights of the individual Tajara was enacted by a furious nobility after several instances of violence against Njarir’Akhran, but specific information on these incidents has been lost. Legislations were introduced against 'workers unions' as well as any sort of illicit groups; a permit was required to form anything from hunting parties to agencies. In this whirlwind of political turmoil, a fresh generation of Tajara were growing up, deprived of what most humans consider to be basic rights. As they grew older and angrier, the nobility saw fit to continue tightening their control over their subjects until a civil war was almost inevitable. Like a powder keg ready to blow, only a single spark was needed to light the flame.

===Human Discovery===
This came in the form of human discovery in '''2418 CE'''. A Sol Alliance funded expedition into the Tajaran home system discovered the pre-space age species and their homeworld of Adhomai. Lush with untapped resources and potential workers, Adhomai was an attractive prospect for many human super corporations, especially NanoTrasen. Because of their slow technological progress, most of Adhomai's valuable minerals remained untapped by mining or drilling. Because of this, several megacorporations attempted to insert themselves into the dealings of Adhomai.

However, the nobility felt incredibly threatened by what they considered 'intrusions' by humanity and completely refused them diplomatic access to their planet. The Alliance stepped in, initially unwilling to interfere in a pre-space age society and, reluctantly, the super corporations were forced to abandon their wishes to stake claims on Adhomai's resources - at least in the open. In the year '''2420 CE''', a group of Tajaran intellectuals - considered rebels by the state - were shuttled off-world by a still unknown entity. Given asylum in the Sol Alliance, they met and discussed much with human scientists and officials. Tensions between the Alliance and Tajaran nobility rose after such an event and they accused the humans of harboring terrorists.

Eventually, these rebels were returned to Adhomai with supplies and weapons. Fed with new ideals of personal freedom and 'rights afforded to all' by their influential human friends, the seeds of revolution were sowed among the Tajaran populace, spread by word of mouth. Workers, doctors, teachers, and even soldiers who were questionably loyal to the nobility were swayed by these promises of freedom and equality. Meetings in the basements of dark taverns or barns were common, and relations between the nobility and their peasants were at the lowest ever recorded in Tajaran history.

===The Uprisings===

It took little more than a year for a formal uprising to be staged. In '''2421 CE''', after the nobility had captured one of the original Tajara that had been shuttled off-world, he was sentenced to be publicly hanged by the neck in front of their peasants to show just how serious they were about keeping control. Ultimately, many historians believe this to be a highly egregious mistake. Rebels in the audience, armed with advanced off-world weapons, proceeded to open fire on loyalist forces and kill a nobleman in the process. This event, called the '''D'as'ral Massacre''' (so named for the city it took place in) by the nobility was all the excuse they needed to enact martial law.

[[File:Adhomai2.png|thumb|alt=The Tajaran homeworld.|Adhomai was ravaged by warfare and more than forty million deaths have been recorded as a result of the Great War.]]

However, they found themselves in a cornered position. Weapons and supplies were being shipped off-world by mysterious benefactors, and their collections of scientists and engineers had either fled to safety being noblemen themselves or took up arms and joined the revolution. Without significant scientific presence to deconstruct or understand these new human weapons or support the war effort, the conflict resulted in a string of rebel victories drawing closer and closer to the capital cities of each kingdom. Fighting was extremely fierce and atrocities were recorded by both sides.

Among the noble families, the largest and nearly the most powerful was a dynasty called the 'Hadii'. Their castle was amongst the best defended in the region and the battle to take it was waged for six months of non-stop fighting. As it became increasingly clear to them that they were eventually going to be overrun, the Hadii struck a deal with the rebel leader; in return for complete immunity from the war, as well as persecution, they afforded the revolutionaries with unique tools and even blueprints of other families' castles, pointing out weak points and infiltration spots.

This turn coating tipped the revolution in favor of the rebels. Armed with this new information, they made use of radio systems previously restricted to nobility to methodically and ruthlessly end their uprising by murdering most of the noble families, and whatever soldiers and civilians remained loyal to them. By '''2431 CE''' the revolution had finally come to an end with a total of more than '''92 million casualties''' with more than half being loyalist forces and '''40 million civilian deaths'''. Many Tajaran cities and villages were utterly destroyed by vicious fighting as well as bombardment by uncaring nobles. An informal ceasefire was declared between the factions, though skirmishes were still common.

===Outcome of the Revolution===

Following the First Revolution, the Hadii emerged as the victorious faction. They had annexed, through diplomacy or war, the remaining factions. Human corporations took an express interest in the Hadii dynasty; they were one of the few noble families who saw profit in human stakes on Adhomai, and many back-room deals were made to secure the Hadii's position in the new Government. In '''2432 CE''', the People's Republic of Adhomai was officially declared, with '''Al'mari Hadii''', also known as Rhagrrhuzau Hadii, as its leader. The Tajaran public was markedly distressed by this turn of events, and fearing another uprising, human intervention again helped defuse the situation. The Hadii promised that it would not be like it was before.

NanoTrasen, suspected by many conspiracy theorists to be behind the funding and supplying of Tajara during the war, had a monopoly over the majority of the planet's valuables. Collaboration between the People's Republic, the Sol Alliance, and the Nralakk Federation have resulted in more technological advances in Tajaran society recently than ever before in their recorded history. The People's Republic began campaigns to quickly industrialize Adhomai and educate its people. Approval ratings for the current leadership rose in response.

However, serious problems remained. '''Al'mari Hadii''' suddenly began to back out of the People's Republic's agreed-upon business deals with NanoTrasen, all of which saw a massive amount of Tajaran natural resources exported. Citing humanity as greedy and destructive, Al'mari made clear his intentions to make Adhomai independent until it was ready to take on the burden of interstellar politics.

===The Second Revolution===

The disagreements and hatred of the Hadii republican government had led to insurrection and treachery among Adhomai's major power figures since Al'mari's new economic policies were revealed. Many Tajaran business contractors - just recently denied their ability to sell ludicrous amounts of natural resources and workers to the massive human megacorporation, NanoTrasen - felt threatened by the reforms of the Hadii government and its first President, Al'mari Hadii. In 2451 CE, during a military parade, President Al'mari was assassinated by Tufir Nazzirai. A known secret service agent of the People's Republic, the radical was swiftly sentenced to death for his betrayal, which claimed to be brought on by the violent tendencies of his Zhan-Khazan genetics. His brother and vice-president '''Njadrasanukii Hadii''', also known as Malik Hadii, quickly assumed the office of the presidency and immediately passed brutal laws that punished the Zhan-Khazan and subversive elements. NanoTrasen was invited back to Adhomai and menial workers were sold en masse to NanoTrasen workplaces while the rights to the bountiful natural resources of Adhomai were sold off to NanoTrasen. Public hangings and firing squads became the norm once again.
[[File:Godblessalmarihadii.png|thumb|400px|left|Picture taken by the Adhomai Chronicle moments before the Assassination of Al'Mari Hadii. The single most defining moment of this generation of Tajara.]]

While Al'mari implemented his new policies, the People's Republic saw the return of a surviving dynasty, the Azunja, in the form of an uprising in its most remote region. This faction, the New Kingdom of Adhomai, attempted to bring back monarchism to Adhomai through a constitutional monarchy.

Many military generals who had fought for the Republic soon defected under the banner of the Adhomai Liberation Army, the leader of which being Al'mari's old friend and ally, '''Halkiikijr Nated'Hakhan''', who claimed that he wanted to take control of the People's Republic to finally out Al'mari's legacy. "His gun was on stun" became the rallying cry of Nated's fiercest supporters as they alluded to how he not only left himself greatly vulnerable during the parade but had even left his energy pistol on stun while he was assassinated.

With these two rebellions, Adhomai found itself embroiled in yet another global conflict.

===Adhomai Today===

The Tajaran home world has suffered plenty in the three decades since the end of the First Revolution. With the sudden injection of advanced technology into their relatively simple life, the discrepancy between modernized cities and outlying areas could not be more obvious. While the Tajaran capital boasts the most modern developments with sleek skyscrapers, advanced connections, and phone lines, as well as hospitals and schools, the further you get from the larger cities, the more apparent it is that things are not quite so flashy. Expanding infrastructure remains difficult, as most public funds are seized for use by the military or used to repair infrastructure damaged by shelling or bombings.

There is a steady stream of money being fed into the People's Republic of Adhomai. NanoTrasen, as per its agreement with the president, has set up mining and logging operations on Adhomai using the local workforce for the most menial of tasks. In return, company-funded clinics and schools are slowly being spread out and built-in needy areas.

Literacy has risen to its all-time high on Adhomai, and with the assistance of the Alliance, teachers have been brought in from off-world to educate the younger generation of Tajara. However, this number has begun to decline as the dangers of working on Adhomai are beginning to become common knowledge. Special establishments for older students have also been constructed to assist the elder generation into being brought to the same level of education, but NanoTrasen has not expressed significant interest in this; these people make up the brunt of their low-paid workforce and they want to ensure they are kept this way.

The second revolution came to an end in 2461, after a decade of warfare between the three factions. The People's Republic of Adhomai was driven off from many of its past territories, having to rely on the help of a coalition of allied states and mercenaries to stop the enemy offensive. After months of bloody defenses, guerrillas attacks, and complete stagnation of all fronts, a ceasefire was signed with the support of Tau Ceti and Nralakk. An armistice, known as the '''Armistice of Shastar''', was signed by the three factions shortly after. With the recognition of the Democratic People's Republic of Adhomai and the New Kingdom of Adhomai by the galactic community and the enforced peace, the three Tajaran powers are eager to compete with each other for supremacy through a cold war.

One of the clauses of the Armistice of Shastar was the creation of the Tajaran Citizenship Act; a legal provision allowing DPRA and NKA citizens to legalize their citizenship situation, forfeiting their previous PRA affiliation. Tajara living outside of S'rand'marr were able to request the transfer through the proper diplomatic services. Following rising tensions and incidents between the Adhomian factions, this agreement came to an end in 2462.

The Tajara species is now undergoing a cold war between the three factions. This period is marked by nuclear arms races, proxy conflicts, and subterfuge.

==Tajaran Factions==

Adhomai is controlled by three factions, who once participated in a civil war for the control of the planet and are now engaged in a cold war.

[[File:Adhomaimodernmap.png|300px|thumb|A map of modern-day Adhomai.]]

===[[File:PRA_Flag.png|30px]] [[People's Republic of Adhomai]] ===

Led by [[Notable Tajara#President Njadrasanukii Hadii|President Njadrasanukii Hadii]], the '''People's Republic of Adhomai''' is the global state that emerged from the First Revolution. Before the Second Civil war, it enjoyed galactic recognition as the sole government of Adhomai. It claims to be the true keeper of Al'mari’s legacy. However, the PRA can be described as a Hadiist branch of Al’mari’s revolutionary ideology - that means putting the State at the top of a hierarchy of power. The PRA is a very centralized state, but in recent years has slowly been able to start making true its promises to bring revolution to the masses. With land reform, the enfranchisement of women and peasantry, literacy initiatives, and the collectivization of farms and the means of production, the PRA is struggling to hold true to its radical ideals while an entrenched upper party stubbornly tries to hold onto power.

The Hadiist rule is marked by a lack of privacy, enthusiastic police, and pervasive secret police that leave privacy a nebulous concept to most Tajara. During the height of the war, anyone suspected of supporting traitors or publicizing media critical of the Hadii faced harsh retribution, but these practices are becoming less pervasive as wartime zealotry fades. Life under the government, while not free, is often stable and safe. Under the Republic, Tajara have more opportunities than they have had historically, with the Party investing heavily in its people. NanoTrasen continues to throw out large nets and bring in hundreds or even thousands of Tajara new employment opportunities in the galaxy as well as selling designs for ships and other space-faring aircraft to the People's Republic's Military. NanoTrasen is also accused of being very exploitative of Tajara laborers, but for many Tajara the company is their path to the adventure of the wider galaxy.

After the Second Revolution, the People's Republic lost its hegemony over Adhomai. The Hadiist state is now focused on preparing itself for a future reunification war. Large public works, research efforts, and military expansions are underway. As President Hadii grows old, the power struggle between his possible successors intensifies. Each possible heir now works to build their own support base without openly challenging the President or attracting too much attention to their plans.

===[[File:DiamondALA.png|30px]] Adhomai Liberation Army | [[Democratic People's Republic of Adhomai]] ===

The most pervasive and successful rebellion came from a group called the '''Adhomai Liberation Army''', a group made up of Tajara from almost every walk of life. This organization opposed corporate claims on Tajaran soil and denounced the mismatched development and governmental negligence as the fault of humanity. During the height of the war, settlements liberated by the Liberation Army were ruled by a military junta. Being a supporter of the Hadiist government, or having been a collaborator, was grounds for immediate execution by firing squad. Villages often found their supplies seized by Liberation forces for the war effort, and the whole movement was a massive, tenacious military dictatorship under the absolute authority of [[Notable Tajara#Supreme Commander Halkiikijr Nated'Hakhan|Supreme Commander Halkiikijr Nated'Hakhan]].

Following the release of their updated 2459 manifesto, the various regional civilian governments formed under their rule coalesced into the '''Democratic People's Republic of Adhomai'''. Authority is still highly decentralized. In January of 2461, a contested election saw [[Notable Tajara#President Almrah Harrlala|Almrah Harrlala]] become president Contested by the military, the so-called Nated Supremacist Movement launched a putsch that was ultimately foiled by Nated himself, who appealed for the return of civilian government and then resigned his command.

The DPRA is now led by President Almrah Harrlala who is struggling to transition what was once a militant insurgency movement into a modern, democratic nation. The government attempts to negotiate with ruling Juntas to voluntarily turn over power to the civilian administration, many of which still refuse. The DPRA does, for the most part, try to respect the basic rights of Tajara. Most Tajara under civilian rule do not need to worry about the secret police or being framed for a crime of civil disobedience. With the Armistice, the DPRA gained intergalactic recognition as one of the Tajaran states. In more recent times, DPRA citizens are being sponsored by Harrlala's government to go out into the galaxy openly and show what Tajara can achieve on their own terms without being puppets of human megacorporations. As President Harrlala's term comes close to its end and the next election is being organized, the fragile Al'mariist democracy is threatened by all kinds of extremists.

===[[File:New Kingdom of Adhomai.png|30px]] [[New Kingdom of Adhomai]]===
The last major faction is the rebellious '''New Kingdom of Adhomai''', which seceded and declared itself a nation in 2450. The New Kingdom is ruled by a Njarir'Akhran noble line that survived the First Revolution by hiding, owing to the efforts of their supporters. Founded by [[Notable Tajara#King Vahzirthaamro Azunja|King Vahzirthaamro Azunja]] specifically, he denounced both other factions in the civil war as illegitimate and himself as the only rightful ruler of Adhomai. Supporters of the New Kingdom tend to be rare outside lands it controls. However, they believe strongly that the People's Republic was founded on genocide and unspeakable slaughters. The only way to return Adhomai to peace and prosperity is to learn from the mistakes of the ancient nobles and revolutionaries; a constitutional monarchy is necessary to prevent abuses of power.

During the war, the New Kingdom faced shortages of all kinds of goods. Both commoners and nobles were stuck in crippling debt and poverty. The support for the war quickly diminished as the conflict dragged on. While the New Kingdom was able to reconquer its original lands and other territories, it failed to defeat the PRA and DPRA. The final years of King Azunja's rule were marked by political turmoil as the people requested further political recognition.

[[Notable Tajara#Queen Shumaila Azunja|Queen Shumaila Azunja]] rose to power after King Azunja died in 2463. She now faces a Kingdom in turmoil due to the changes brought by the Cold War. The economy prospers due to the end of the embargo and the presence of megacorporations. The income inequality between the nobles and commoners grows. Dissent movements also begin to appear as the people become more disillusioned with the Kingdom's realities. In the Parliament, infighting ensues as each faction tries to influence the Queen. The future for the NKA remains uncertain.

==Social==
===Names===
Native Tajaran names have changed over the storied history of the species. The earliest record of naming conventions appears in the Warring Kings era, where the usage of dynastic titles became a standard part of the Tajaran name as a way to distinguish which noble a given serf worked under. Since then, names changed as more titles were attached. Jobs, personality traits, status, titles, age, given names, and more have been combined to produce the infamously long and unwieldy names associated with history. Following the declaration of the Steeple Peace, nobles across Adhomai standardized to a new scheme which continues to persist among the Tajaran people.

Every name features three aspects: The individual, the dynasty, and the purpose. Xeno-linguists associate these aspects to the human concepts of the given name, the family name, and the job title respectively. This has resulted in debate over forced associations, as each aspect has a different connotation than what humans may expect, namely the Dynasty. Unlike humans, family names are only found with noble dynasties. This has led to many xeno organizations to assume that Tajara associate with large extended families.

The Individual aspect is the personal part of a Tajara’s name. Parents will provide their child with the Individual aspect in hopes that the phrase or word used will become a part of the Tajara's person. It is not uncommon for Tajara to bear the names of gods or powerful figures, or for others to be named after abstract, religious, or ideological concepts.
The Dynasty aspect is the standardized part of a Tajara’s name. Following the First Revolution, the Hadiist government mandated the Dynasty aspect be named after the birthplace of an individual as a means to remove the influences of the nobility. Those stubborn Tajara born before the end of the First Revolution, or those now living in the New Kingdom, often refused to change their Dynasty aspect, continuing to reflect the noble family they serve or are a part of.

The Purpose aspect previously was the utilitarian part of a Tajara’s name. The aspect reflected a job or trade, an essential piece of information within a community. However, since the end of the first revolution, the need for static names to lessen the bureaucratic burden resulted in many Purpose aspects turning into a form of family name, a newer and still contentious concept for Tajara. With the number of regional dialects and multiple titles for the same trade or job, Purpose aspects are rarely the same across Adhomai. In some cases, two families joining together in marriage would combine their two aspects to form a new one.

While a Tajara’s name contains all three aspects, the usage of all three is not required. Most Tajara will utilize the Individual and Purpose aspect, however traditionalists and nobility expect the use of the Dynasty aspect. All Tajara on the Horizon may use only '''two aspects'''.

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:99%">
The following guide is '''not required'''. Native names can vary based on parentage, region, and numerous other factors. This guide is a structured option, however other options include taking inspiration from the [[Notable Tajara]] page, and heavily modifying Eastern European or Arabic names.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
To create a native Tajaran name, you will need to access the '''unofficial''' translator [http://mk.darkserver.co.uk/lang/index.php here]. Select Siik’maas under the language drop down. By typing in certain words or phrases, then translating, you can utilize Tajaran words to create a name. Typically, you will want to connect multiple Tajaran words with an apostrophe or hyphen, however combining two words without a space is acceptable.

*For the Individual aspect, use a phrase, trait, or concept.
**For example: Love becomes Azutul. S'rendarr's Warmth (Kirmah rajzir. Zir) becomes Kirmah’rajzir.
*For the Dynasty aspect, you may use any text you prefer. Regions and cities with royalty or dynasty attached usually garners better results. Hadiists typically utilize the name of the city or region they were born.
**For example: Kaltir Royalty (Jurlket mir mrra) becomes Jurlket’mir. Nal’tor (Jri chur) becomes Jri’chur
*For the Purpose aspect, use the title of the job or craft of the Tajara. Use multiple versions of a given job or trade for better results.
**For example: Police Officer (Kaii'r manq rir) becomes Kaii’rirmanq. Prince becomes Vahkal.
*The final name becomes: Azutul Jurlket’mir Kaii’rirmanq.
**From this, you can tell the individual is Azutul or named love, whose liege is the Jurlket’mir or Kaltir Royalty, and performs work as a Kaii’rirmanq or officer.

The translator output rarely gives a word or name ready for use. Modification will be required as seen in the examples provided. This also means that names cannot be decoded.
</div></div>

==== Xeno-Influenced Names ====

Given native tajaran names are difficult for humans to pronounce, the PRA once encouraged the use of humanized names. This resulted in many Tajara taking on names derived from Eastern European or Arabic origin, as xeno-linguists found these the easiest for Tajara to pronounce. Following the transition of power from Al’marii to President Hadii, the PRA has walked back on this stance and since issued a decree to encourage citizens retake their native names as a form of pride in tradition and loyalty to the party. Many Hadiists have heeded this decree and returned to their native names, however a sizable population continues to use their adopted names. Given Tajara may have multiple names, the Adhomian governments are more dedicated in the tracking of names.

===Language===
As with all other species who work in Human-centric environments. Tajara are expected and required to have passed a prerequisite test to test their comprehension of Tau-Ceti basic, the operating language of NanoTrasen and most transstellar corporations, in addition to most major sovereign entities. Admittedly the passing levels of these comprehension tests are quite low, but are high enough to ensure basic conversation between what will likely be a multi-species crew. However, private communication in Tajaran languages such as Siik’Maas or Siik’tajr is not forbidden by SCC regulations and is often used to hold conversations between Tajara on the crew.

Though there are a variety of languages used by the Tajara, among the foremost of this vast plethora of languages are Siik'mas and Siik'tajr.

'''Siik'maas''' is theorized to have been the ancient language of the Tajara, the 'religious' tongue shared between most Tajara from their onset as a species. Despite Tajaran society evolving to a point where religious devotion became less encouraged, the universal service language used in all churches and worship sessions became the lingua franca and almost every Tajara knows how to speak it. It has been taught as the primary educational language amongst most Tajaran ethnicities since the Migration Age and continues to be the most prevalent tongue on Adhomai since.

It is capable of being spoken by a learned human, as it is not as reliant on body language as Siik'tajr or the other native languages on Adhomai. However, just as Tau Ceti basic is difficult for Tajara to master given their muzzle structure, Siik'maas is the same to humans, since they lack the proper biology to perform certain inflections properly. Despite focusing more on the spoken word than others, some of the vocabularies require subtle body movements that are challenging for humans to grasp, no less perform. Even if one were to learn these movements, they tend to be sluggish and slower, giving the speech a sort of 'drunken' feeling. Tajara speaking this over the radio often find themselves in similar positions.
Siik'maas is the federal language of the People's Republic of Adhomai. However, several groups of Tajara ranging from scholars to traditional followers of the old ways are attempting to revive older languages such as Nal'rasan, Delvahhi, Ya'ssa, and other such languages.

'''Siik’tajr''' is the opposite of Siik’mas completely. A recent construction, it has seen more use recently following the overthrowing of the plutocracy. It was birthed from the necessity for a language that was difficult for law enforcers to understand, enabling revolutionaries to converse privately without having their conversations monitored or overheard. Revolutionary radicals have been a part of Adhomai's history for a long while, but were always small; however, when the Great War broke out, Siik'tajr saw widespread use by rebel forces during military operations. It is a combination of Siik'mas and the more body language inclined Nal'rasan, a tongue traditionally used by hunters. It is not normally used in daily life due to its complexity, it is often maintained as a secondary language, especially for families who fought in the Great War.

Pro-human groups within Tajaran society have repeatedly attempted to push Cyrillic or Latin alphabets as 'easier to use' rather than the native Tajaran alphabet. However, the vast majority of Tajara use the old Siik alphabet and it is the federally enforced alphabet taught in schools, the original alphabet learned Tajara have been using for centuries. It has undergone certain modifications since the Great War to remove the influence of the plutocracy and has made a widespread comeback with increasing literary levels among the Tajaran public.

Tajaran culture necessitates a separation of the personal self and the external self. This cultural force can be traced back to the early worship of the Twin Suns, which throughout its history has emphasized a separation of personal and public matters. This separation was later reinforced by the nobility, eventually becoming an embedded part of all Tajaran languages. The result is a grammatical structure that separates the private and public self. In Tau Ceti Basic, this has been translated into the use of first, second, and third person pronouns as the closest fit.

The public self, third-person pronouns (he/him, she/her), is the formal state. It shows respect and a distancing of one’s personal matters from others. Traditionalist Tajara would expect the use of the Dynasty aspect and appropriate titles when speaking in the public self. However, those from progressive regions rarely pay attention to the use of aspects as the weight of dynasties and the nobility is not present. Strangers meeting, a subordinate addressing a superior, and other cases where formality and respect is expected uses the public self.
<blockquote>
"'''His''' greetings to the '''madam'''."

In this line, Person A speaks to Person B's public self through his own. As Person A does not know Person B’s name or title, madam is used to maintain respect.
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
“Hello '''Officer Smith'''. She is '''chef Al-Kandari'''.”

Person A addresses Person B, a human, through their title and last name. Person A maintains the public self through the use of her own title and Dynasty aspect.
</blockquote>

The use of second-person pronouns (you/your) can depend on where someone is from. Non-traditionalist regions, such as the Hadiist lands, don’t consider second-person pronouns formal or informal. Traditional cultures, such as the New Kingdom, find second-person pronouns informal. In this latter case, it is reserved for use by a superior addressing a subordinate or similar cases.
<blockquote>
“'''You''' need to handle that report by tomorrow. '''She''' will ensure it shows on '''your''' performance review otherwise.”

Person A addresses Person B through the personal self (you/your). It shows that Person A is either disrespectful, a superior, or from regions where the use of ‘you’ is not informal.
</blockquote>
The personal self, first-person pronouns (I/me/mine), is the informal state. It is addressing matters on a personal level where formality is not required, or genuinity is desired. The Individual aspect can be used by itself in this state. Close friends, personal moments, and similar matters would use the personal self.
<blockquote>
“'''I''' am unsure what '''you''' mean by this. '''Your''' proposal vexes '''me'''.”

Person A uses the personal self and addresses Person B in the personal self. This establishes a close and informal conversation or is used to disrespect Person B by addressing them directly.
</blockquote>
Transitioning from public to personal selfs is easy. The initiator who desires to make the conversation informal starts by referring to themself in the personal self. If the other participants agree to make a conversation informal, then they respond in kind using the personal self. Otherwise, they may continue to use the public self and maintain the conversation’s formality.
<blockquote>
"No, '''I''' simply wanted to be introduced to '''her'''. '''My''' name is '''Abdal Akhtarov'''."

Person A steps into the personal self but is still speaking to Person B through her public self. This is an invitation to personal conversation, done respectfully by not involving Person B's personal self directly.
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
"Hello, '''Mr. Akhtarov'''. '''I''' am '''Aisha'''. Does '''he''' wish to speak elsewhere?"

Person B is still speaking to Person A's public self, however refers to herself in the personal self, accepting the invitation to an informal conversation. In the following conversation, it would be acceptable for both to use personal self.
</blockquote>
The use of the public and personal self by non-Tajara can be jarring for those not acclimated to human environments. Tajara not used to human space can find it disrespectful how the use of the personal self is standard. Those acclimated to non-Tajaran patterns of speech rarely take issue with the lack of distinction between public and personal self. Referring to a non-Tajara through informal pronouns is broadly acceptable, however the use of first-person pronouns, the personal self, as a default often takes years in human space and a concerted effort for a Tajara to transition to.

<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:99%">
==== Slang/Terminology ====
Tajara, like every species, has a wide variety of slang terms in both Tajaran languages and Tau Ceti Basic. While no list can be truly comprehensive, as slang is ever changing, certain phrases and terms have become widespread enough to be known by nearly all Tajara.
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
Siik'maas uses suffixes to define many aspects of the language. Slang is no different and can be modified in much the same way as any other Siik'maas word. Some examples include:

Adjective: -iye (I.E. T'ishkiye - Robotic)

Plural: -ra (I.E. Tivrra/Tivra - Humans)

Diminutive: -nry/-ni (I.E. Nav'henry/Nav'heni - Tiny Unathi)

Augmentive: -imy (I.E. Rafamaimy - Big Rafama)

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|-
! Phrase !! Meaning !! Origin
|-
| T'zivr/Tivr || Xeno, Human || Beginning as a term for solely humans, T'zivr, or "furless", grew to incorporate all aliens as a whole. The term is not wholly considered derogatory, however is seen as less acceptable than xeno or alien.
|-
| Dornshky || Furless || A strong insult originating from the physical condition itself. While it is a common insult among Tajara, it includes a more derogatory way to refer to aliens.
|-
| T'ishk || IPCs, Robots, Hadiists || Originating from the Siik term for soulless, T'ishk became a widespread insult for Hadiists and robots alike among Little Adhomai, quickly spreading to other Tajaran communities and, ultimately, back to Adhomai.
|-
| M'ishk || IPCs || The non-derogatory version of T'ishk, M'ishk more specifically refers to IPCs, directly translating as "artificial soul". It started as a shorthand of Manq'ishk, however quickly gained traction within the People's Republic, and later other Tajaran communities.
|-
| Sha'tajii/Shatii || Dionae || Directly translating to "wood peoples", the term began from Little Adhomai where contact between Tajara and Dionae took place frequently enough to generate a slang term.
|-
| Kirr || Vaurca || Directly translating to "insect", the slur originated from Little Adhomian gangs warring with Vaurca living in neighboring districts. The term spread rapidly following the murders of multiple Tajara ordered by Vaurca Queen Ta'Akaix'Zoleth'akeh Zo'ra.
|-
| Nav'hen || Unathi || A contraction of the phrase "dahal Nav henrhesi", translating to "dies in the cold". The phrase began as a tongue-in-cheek way to refer to Unathi mercenaries within the S'rand'marr Coalition by ALA soldiers, before spreading to Little Adhomai where it was shortened to Nav'hen.
|-
| Ratajani || Skrell || Originating from the folk tales of small, ugly, stump-tailed, neon colored creatures. Characterized as greedy and the cause of unlucky events in life, Ratajani was quickly applied to Skrell upon first contact. This use of the term as a slur quickly overtook the earlier and less derogatory use as comparison to misbehaving children.
|-
| K'strelkii || Mercenary, Corporate Drone || Translating as "money soldier", the term grew out of the spite among Tajara towards corporate busy-bodies and mercenary groups.
|-
| Rafama || Stubborn, Hard-headed, Territorial || Originating from the behavior of Rafamas on Adhomai, the term is a long historic name for any person acting particularly stubborn or stand-offish.
|-
| Raskaren || Noble, Enforcer || Based upon the mythological Raskaren, a creature of Raskara that drinks blood and is incapable of surviving sunlight. The term grew to become a slur against nobles and M'sai enforcers. While predominantly used within the [[Free Tajaran Council]], the term has been slowly spreading to Little Adhomai and Adhomai proper. It is banned within the New Kingdom.
|-
| T'Kalta || Royalist, Poor || Forming from a joke regarding the relatively high rates of poverty within the New Kingdom, T'Kalta, translating to "without money", grew in popularity across the People's Republic and Democratic People's Republic.
|-
| Njaqrii || Noble Dynasty || Translating into "noble family collective", the Njaqrii is what amounts to a dynasty. One must be a Njarir to be within a Njaqrii. These dynasties can be expansive, covering sometimes hundreds of Tajara. The distinction between dynasties is primarily determined by recognition from other Njaqrii. Given progress nations on Adhomai abhor the nobility, Njaqarii remains a matter only relevant to the [[New Kingdom of Adhomai]] and history.
|-
| Njarii || Noble House || Where Njaqrii is the noble family, Njarii is the noble "house". Njarii act, in essence, like a business centered around the matters of the Njaqrii, or sections within the Njaqrii. The Njarii includes far more individuals, spanning from servants and workers to the nobility themselves. Establishing a Njarii is a legal matter within the [[New Kingdom of Adhomai]], however in the [[People's Republic of Adhomai]] and [[Democratic People's Republic of Adhomai]], Njarii remain unrecognized or illegal.
|-
| T'Ruv || Shameless, Al'mariist || A rare Hadiist term that was applied to Al'mariists for the perceived shamelessness in illegal and underhanded tactics during the Second Revolution. The term has since grown and spread across Tajaran communities.
|-
| T'Zhunii || Hick, Redneck || Translating to "lacking desire people", the term spread as a catch-all for rural peasantry. The exact origins are believed to be a jab at the lack of time or willpower for rural peasantry to hold greater ambitions.
|-
| Vak'a || Idiot, Airhead, Bro || Originating from Little Adhomai, Vak'a spread rapidly as a general way to refer to a friend, equivalent to saying dude or bro.
|-
| Vakalnar || Grifter || Meaning "air salesman", equivalent to calling someone a snake oil salesman.
|-
| Tyrhal || Hell || Tajaran religions have no singular lands that are considered the equivalent to hell among Human religions. However, ancient tales mentioned Tyrhal, or 'land of demons'. Tyrhal was saved from obscurity when Little Adhomian residents wanted a Tajaran version of the human term hell. The term spread as a compromise for those Tajara who wanted to adopt Human mannerisms while maintaining Tajaran culture.
|-
| Azukavo/Azuvo || Love you || Not inherently slang, the use of Azuvo has become desensitized in more progressive communities of Tajara. Rather than being an intimate expression not fit for use in public, it has seen less stigma in use, albeit still associated with loved ones and close friends.
|-
| Ketvo (Ane)! || Onwards, Let's Go, To Victory || Translated literally as "March to victory!", Ketvo Ane was established as a phrase within People's Republic military leadership. Being the standard phrase to initiate movement or actions, it became widespread during the Second Revolution, even among the other nations as turncoats brought the phrase along with them. Post-war, the phrase spread rapidly.
|-
| Blinder || Overwhelming, Too Much || Descended from the concept of S’rendarr’s light being the embodiment of energy and life. Having too much of S’rendarr’s light may blind someone, therefore for something to be a Blinder it exudes too much energy, S’rendarr’s light.
|-
| Half-Knuckle || Poor, Fraternizer (Royalist) || Originating from a noble snide. Knuckles are the smallest form of currency on Adhomai, therefore to call someone a half-knuckle implies they are so poor as to only have a half-knuckle. Within Royalist society, the term additionally refers to nobles who are seen as fraternizing too much with commoners.
|-
| Top Snow || Young, Inexperienced, New || A term referring to the top layer of snow, often fresh light snow. Someone who is Top Snow is fresh, equivalent to the human term "green horn".
|-
| Washoff || Old, Undesirable, Lackluster || Referring to the runoff of melted summer snow, called washoff on Adhomai, the term grew to be used for undesirable items or people, likened at times to the phrase ‘getting long in the tooth’.
|-
| Bronzer || Jackboot, Enforcer, Cop || Descended from the bronze emblems used to denote an on-duty enforcer. Used in a derogatory manner against cops, enforcers, and authority figures alike.
|-
| Bookie || Bookworm, Royalist, Dork || Stemming from the cultural view of books as symbols of noble oppression, bookie is a term used to insult someone within progressive cultures as a royalist, or someone who tolerates or encourages noble oppression. Can also be an insult equivalent of calling someone a dork, nerd, etc.
|-
| Torcher || Friendly, Happy, Positive || Originating from the symbol of Azubarre’s torch, calling someone a torcher implies they embody Azubarre’s torch, and therefore his qualities of positivity, friendliness, and true love. Over time, the connotations associated with Azubarre, namely the more romantic elements, became less emphasized, resulting in the slang becoming a catch all for friendliness and positivity.
|-
|}

</div></div>

===Emotional Displays===
Because of their anatomy, Tajara express emotions in different ways than Humans. Baring one’s teeth is a strong expression of challenge or mockery. As such, Tajara rarely smile by showing the teeth, instead wrinkling the nose by gently lifting the sides of the muzzle. The folding of ears is a clear sign of fear or worry, while perking the ears forward shows attention or interest. Ears will involuntarily flick when exposed to loud sounds.

The semi-prehensile tail of Tajara allows for a great amount of expression. Enough emphasis has been placed on the tail as a form of expression and language that Tajara afflicted with Hakh’jar are commonly misread or have to vocalize their current emotion. Tajaran tails naturally sway, however a rapid sway or wag is a childish sign of satisfaction. Curving the tail downward and blistering is a clear sign of hostility, whereas tucking the tail down by the feet is a stress response. The flicking of the tail end is a sign of anger or anxiety.

Displays of affection among Tajara are rarely seen in public, and looked down on by traditionally minded Tajara. The common forms of affection are the bumping as muzzles or holding of the wrist. While less common, twining the tail around an ankle or wrist is seen as equivalent to holding the wrist. Intertwining tails, however, is seen as a childish expression of affection. Hugging is not seen romantically. It is seen as a transfer of body heat and thus a common act between friends, comrades, and family alike. Those acclimated to human expression may view hugging as having a romantic component in certain contexts, however this is lost on those with a traditional mindset.

Status was a major aspect of emotional expression during the times of the nobility. When interacting with another of a higher social status, it was required for the lesser of the two to lower their head and pull the ears back. Having direct eye-contact or tilting the head up was seen as a show of defiance. These expectations have since been challenged and are often disregarded if not outright rejected since the fall of the old nobility, however those traditional-minded Tajara and Royalists within the New Kingdom continue to abide by the rules of status.

===Religion===
====S'rand'marr Worship====
''"By day and light of S'Rendarr, we live and bask in his warmth, happy and content. By the warmth and light of Messa, we cease breath and fall to death. Only by the love and harmony of both the Twin Gods and Sibling Suns do we live happily, and die the same. By the Twin Gods and Sibling Suns, S'Rendarr and Messa, the faithful ask for your blessing, and to please extend it to the non-faithful who do no wrong, and cast no sin."''

- The "First Prayer" of S'rand'marr Worship

There are a handful of faiths on Adhomai, but the majority religion is the worship of S'rendarr and Messa, the names of both suns in the Tajaran home system. Ancient Tajara were believed to worship the suns as gods, believing their light to be the only thing keeping the planet from freezing over entirely. Over time, this faith matured into a system of beliefs suited to the peasantry; looking down upon the acts of betraying your fellow worker and attempting to foster unity and understanding amongst its followers. It is believed by many that S'rendarr is the god of life and the day, as the bigger of the two suns, and he is associated with good happenings and is most often prayed to. Contrastingly, Messa, the blue sun, is the goddess of the night and death; whenever she eclipses S'rendarr, all followers partake in religious rituals asking Messa to spare them from whatever ill tidings she may bring. The worship of the sun gods is dominated by an organization called the Parivara, meaning, the "Family." The head of the Parivara is Father Valyan K'rrirran who is based out of Sana Sahira, a holy city on the tallest mountain on Adhomai which roughly translates into the City of the Suns.

Sana Sahira's location in the People's Republic places the Parivara in the precarious position of having to act favorably to the faction's government, however, Father Valyan K'rrirran attempts to stay out of politics in order to avoid alienating any worshipers across borders. The Father of the Parivara is chosen by the Brothers of the Suns who serve as the priests and clergy of the faith. Devoted women of the faith can become Suns' Sisters, who take a vow of silence, like the Gods themselves, and live in the temples devoted to the worship, tending to them in any way needed, anything from cleaning to heavy manual labor repairing and replacing glass or furniture, to healing the Brothers, patrons and other Suns' Sisters. To cause harm to a Suns' Sister is said to be one of the most unholy things you can do in a place of worship, as they're meant to emulate the Gods themselves, silent, but strong and dependable.

====Ma'ta'ke====
The second-largest religion is the worship of the Mata'ke and his cohort companion gods, which dates back to ancient Tajaran times. A figure of legend, Mata'ke is believed to have been the head of a hardy tribe of mountain dwellers who regularly came to the aid of other tribes constantly plagued by bandits and wild animals. He was revered as a fierce warrior capable of fighting a platoon of men by himself, but also as a kind soul for the records of his dealings with other tribes shows understanding and kindness. He is upheld to be the ultimate Tajara- powerful, wise, and magnanimous. Followers of Mata'ke himself endeavor to emulate his grandeur, while others attempt to emulate the other gods.

In Tajaran mythology, the tribe of Mata'ke rose to the status of gods when they slew the King of the Rrak'narrr, who was also the lord and master of all Adhomai. Upon killing him, the various tribesmen all absorbed different aspects of its many powers, each becoming immortal. As the one who dealt the killing blow, and at the will of the dying Rrak'narrr's final wishes, Mata'ke absorbed the majority of the powers and became lord and master of all Adhomai. The tribe then decided that their former settlement was not befitting of their powers, and instead established themselves in a city of wonders at the "Edge of Adhomai" where they fend off malicious entities and protect all Tajara.

====Njarir'Akhran Worship====
At one point, a religion was established heralding the nobility themselves as gods by certain devout loyalists, but this faith has all but been completely erased following the uprising. Individuals who were recorded to believe in or are suspected of being a member undergo persecution and even in some cases death sentences. With most loyalists either in hiding or killed during the uprising, and all places of worship destroyed, any intelligent Tajara would never admit to being or attempt to defend, a member of this faith.

==Culture==

=== Fashion ===

Throughout Tajaran history, fashion has remained relatively simple. Extravagant vestments fabricated from silk and other high-quality animal hides were restricted exclusively to the nobility, and standard Tajaran peasantry had little time to choose their uniforms, usually donning overcoats made of rough fabric and patches of animal hide. The fluffier the design was, the wealthier a Tajara was considered.

[[File:Tajara dance .png|240px|thumb|right|Two tajara wearing traditional dresses during a musical performance.]]
Given the hardships of Tajaran life and the constant need to do work by hand, the peasantry came to favor practical, well-insulated clothing rather than fanciful designs; they were also cheaper to weave, which made things easier on the weaver. Underwear usually came in the form of long-sleeved pants and a shirt typically woven from thick animal furs and plant fibers and is used as the innermost insulating layer. Then, a Tajara would overlay multiple garments to create several layers of insulation to stop the loss of body heat. Thick, full-length skirts, pants, and shirts were favored by the peasantry, all in dark colors to retain heat better. Typically pre-discovery and even post-discovery modern clothing consist of thermal underwear, pants for men or long, heavy skirts for women, with thick sweater-like shirts and fur cloaks.

The feared enforcers of the nobility wore great suits of armor designed to seal the user inside, creating an environment completely isolated from the harsh snows of Adhomai. Build for brute strength rather than comfort, the helmets of these suits made no room for Tajaran ears. These 'Enforcer Shells', as translated from Siik'maas, were usually brown or olive in color, with slit visors masking the wearer's face, they were also remarkably flammable and largely abandoned during the initial stages of the first revolution.

Today, the government officials of the People's Republic of Adhomai are usually seen dressed in olive military fatigues, occasionally donning a commissar-styled cap. These caps are usually styled with small rosettes to signify authority. When in especially cold weather, officials usually layer on black trench coats and scarves rather than wearing the outfits of the lower class.

The lower and middle class of the Tajara are better heated by proxy, and can comfortably wear flat caps and long-sleeved buttoned shirts for warmth when working in their factories rather than excessive garbs. When outside, typical Tajara wear bomber jackets or fur coats with additional fur padding on the interior to better trap heat, paired with traditional slacks. Headwear for these working-class citizens usually comes in the form of full head scarves to keep ears warm when in the wilderness, and standard soft and flat caps within cities.

====Fur Dying====
One of the flashier aspects of fashion and looks is fur dye. History saw extensive use of early fur dyes as methods to mark oneself as part of an in-group. Certain nobles would demand their enforcers and soldiers mark the noble’s crest on their neck, back, or arms. These symbols came to be associated with royalist loyalty well into the early history of the People’s Republic. Fur dye was banned during Al’mari’s reign, deemed as royalist sentiment. These restrictions came to an end during the beginning of the Second Revolution when Malik Hadii revoked the ban and instituted it across the People’s Republic’s agencies.

In the present day, fur dye is commonly used to signify what it once did: presence in an in-group. Whether it be a mark of one’s nation, military unit, or other such matters. Fur dye as an expression of the self is a relatively new concept to mainstream society. Regardless of intent, markings from fur dye are typically small due to the cost of dyes which prohibit large or extravagant designs. Fur dyes remain almost exclusively in earthen tones and dark colors. The most popular color, due to its cheap price and wide availability, is Earthen-Root Blue (Hex: #6082B6). Few bright colors exist and are viewed as particularly disruptive and taboo.

Many complications exist with fur dyes. Care and preparation must be taken to properly dye Tajaran fur, or else the fur becomes damaged and sheds. The restrictive range of colors is due, in part, to the lack of a synthetic dye that caters to Tajaran fur. This leaves Tajara with Adhomian sourced dyes that rely upon Adhomian flora of which few vibrant colors are available compared to earthen tones. NanoTrasen remains the largest producer of Tajaran dyes, fur, and mane soaps.

=== Cuisine ===
[[File:Taj food.png|240px|thumb|right|A common Tajaran meal: hard bread, fish and vegetable soup, and Fatshouter beef.]]
Similarly, due to the cold temperatures of Adhomai, Tajara favor warming or hot food that can be consumed quickly before the freezing winds can cool the meal off. Porridges, soups, and chowders consisting of diced meat and vegetables for flavor were the usual meal of a working-class Tajara, coupled with some bread and water or ale. Pre-industrial Tajara used to have community meals around bonfires to keep their food from cooling off too much, and almost all of their food source came in the form of porridges and oats. However, with the introduction of new technologies - such as higher quality insulation and home heating systems - Tajaran cuisine is being experimented with by chefs who are no longer restricted to compensating for the naturally low temperatures of Adhomai. Historically, culinary creations were reserved only for the nobility, who had better-heated homes than the peasantry, and more leeway was offered towards not having your meat turn blue in front of you.

Traditional stews are made with diced vegetables, such as Nif-Berries, and meat, Snow Strider is commonly used by the rural population, while industrialized Fatshouters' beef is preferred by the city’s inhabitants. Tajaran bread is usually made with Blizzard Ears' and consumed during their morning meals.

Adhomian alcoholic beverages are made with fermented grains, fruits, or vegetables. Juices are commonly mixed with sugar or honey. Victory gin is the most widespread alcoholic drink in Adhomai, the result of the fermentation of honey extracted from Messa's tears, but its production and consumption are slowly declining due to the loss of the People's Republic's hegemony over Adhomai. Messa's mead is also another more traditional alternative; it is made with honey and fermented Earthen-Root juice.

Fishing and shellfish have a part in the diet of the population in the coastal areas, even if the ice can be an obstacle to most experienced fishermen. Spicy Ras'val clams, named after the sea, are a famous treat, being appreciated in other systems besides S'rand'marr.

====Notable Dishes====

*'''Adhomian Hard bread:''' a type of Tajaran bread, made from blizzard ears’ flour, water, and spice, basked in the shape of a loaf. It is known for its hard crust, bland taste, and long-lasting nature. The hard bread was usually prepared for long journeys, hard winters, or military campaigns, due to its shelf life. Certain folk stories and jokes claim that such food could also be used as artillery ammunition or thrown at besieging armies during sieges.

*'''Fatshouters Bloodpudding:''' a mixture of Fatshouters meat, offal, blood, and blizzard ears flour served in the shape of a flattened sausage. This recipe dates from the early Tajaran history, a favorite among the peasantry due to its simplicity and easily obtainable ingredients. It can be eaten during all meals and occasions.

*'''Sugar Tree Candy:''' a literal translation of the popular Adhomian hard candy, found everywhere on the planet, from crystal plates in Crevus’ casinos to a bowl on a grandmother's table. Sugar candy is made from the Nm'shaan, and is a cheap, beloved treat for anyone on Adhomai to rot their teeth on. It's occasionally flavored with fruits or savory liquors.

*'''Avah:''' used to only mean "sweets" or "sweet thing," now singularly refers to a particular dessert. The batter is grilled and made into soft, spherical shapes, and then covered with fruit jams, sugar, or sweet cream cheese. These treats are often sold at festivals and celebrations, and foreigners compare them to pancakes.

*'''Thamo:''' a pastry made of thick breading that envelopes a filling. Typically made with fatshouter cheese or local meat alongside salted Messa's Tears. It is a large dish eaten with utensils, unlike the Hadiist derivation known as the [[People%27s_Republic_of_Adhomai#Notable_Dishes|rikazu]] that originated in central Ras'nrr villages. The original name of Tha'la Lekhshoma, roughly translating to meat breadbake, used to only apply to the meat variant, the older of the 2 dishes. However, overtime the name came to be associated with both. The translation to breadbake was popular among xeno communities until the Siik contraction of Thamo spread, eventually overtaking breadbake as the populat name for the dish.

====Notable Beverages====

*'''Messa's Mead:''' a fermented alcoholic drink made from earthen-root juice and Messa's tears leaves. It has a relatively low alcohol content and characteristic honey flavor. Messa's Mead is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in Adhomai; it is consumed both during celebrations and daily meals. Any proper Adhomian bar has at least a keg or some bottles of the mead.

*'''Earthen-Root Juice:''' a juice made from the Earthen-Root. It is known for its blue color and sweetness. Because of its simplicity, Earthen-Root juice is one of Adhomai's most widely consumed drinks. Carbonated versions were created during the interwar period. However, the soft drink variation is not as popular as the traditional ones.

*'''Nm'shaan Liquor:''' an alcoholic drink manufactured from the fruit of the Nm'shaan plant. It usually has a high level of alcohol by volume. Nm'shaan liquor was once reserved for the consumption of the nobility; even today it is considered a decadent drink reserved for fancy occasions. It is commonly diluted with ice water before being consumed.

===The Arts===

Of all arts, music is one of the most highly valued by Tajara. Stemming from the long-standing ban on most literature in their society, song, and dance remained one of the only ways for Tajara to express themselves through words. Composers and musicians were traditionally held in high regard amongst Tajara, and in place of books, the fanciful song-stories of traveling bards were one of the few ways the public could remove themselves from their lives.

Theatre was also equally important in the life of a pre-discovery Tajara. Given that, with the lack of books, there was little to keep your usual worker entertained, the ability to watch and enjoy a riveting drama or hilarious comedy was heaven. Theatres and performing halls can be found in almost every Tajaran village, and are often constructed to rival even the main seat of the town council or government in architectural beauty. For example, the D'na'tel Hall in the Nal'tor was one and a quarter larger than the seat of government prior to human-sanctioned expansions. Dating back to the late Gunpowder Era, it was constructed from high-quality marble and many sculptures of characters and scenes from various popular Tajaran plays were meticulously hand-carved into the walls by sculptor Nasir Ka'nira.

However, literature itself - that is to say novels - has never been looked kindly upon by the Tajara public. Though this closed way of thinking is starting to shift with the greater introduction of literacy amongst Tajara as a whole, many elders still harbor bitter feelings about books in general. They were almost universally considered a symbol of oppression and luxury by pre-revolution Tajara, given the fact that only the nobility was taught en masse how to read, and that every family had its own private expansive library from which even learned peasants who had to pay out of pocket to access. This led to the widespread destruction of much of historical Tajara texts following the uprising, as revolutionaries took it upon themselves to purposely gather and burn whatever books they could after taking a noble stronghold.

Traveling circuses have been present in the Tajaran culture since ancient times. Joining a troupe was one of the few available ways for a Tajara to escape the rigid roles of the caste system. Performances usually include trained animals, acrobatics, storytelling, puppetry, strength displays, magic performance, creep shows, and stores selling all kinds of food and curiosities. Since circus schools only started to appear after the First Revolution, artists frequently transmitted their techniques to their pupils. Due to the previous conflicts and the ongoing cold war, wandering troupes face large barriers than ever before. Some of the biggest circuses have left for the stars in search of a more welcoming audience than Adhomai.

===Music===

Tajaran music is modally based, with there being eight modes in total. A scale can be constructed from each Mode, which is the arpeggio of the mode. There are a total of four notes in one modal scale. Two are octave, and there are two in between. Microtones between the two notes in between are used frequently, which would sound very odd to human ears. This is done because Tajara perceives music as sadder with the flatter a pitch is, and happier with the sharper a pitch is. Depending on the mood of a song, a Tajara player may tune their instrument lower, to make the song sadder; the opposite is also true. A common tradition is to let the weather decide the tuning of an instrument. Cold weather naturally makes an instrument flatter, ergo colder weather makes songs sadder. And indeed, one may notice that if each note is perceived relative to the notes that come before it, there is always a happy and sad part integral to the song. This is on purpose, as it reflects the duality in sadness/happiness which is also found in S’rendarr and Messa. Some Tajara may also associate Dissonances with Raskara.

The eight modes are respectively named: Mrazur, Manur, Rrauor, Surour, Kaoel, Draeol, Aauol, Deor. They are associated with the main Ma’ta’ke deities: Mata’ke, Marryam, Rredouane, Shumaila, Kraszar, Dhrarmela, Azubarre, and The Dead Gods.

A side effect of the Tajaran caste system is the possibility for the ethnicities to usually have different possible ranges and timbres on their voice. Zhan-Khazan are commonly a Bass-Baritone voice. Hharar are Tenor-Alto. M’sai and Njarir are almost always Sopranos. The voice is the most universal Tajaran instrument. Due to traditional schooling, many children have at least basic singing skills, though this is fading away in the cities.

====Notable Folk Instrument====
[[File:Prrama.png|200px|thumb|right|The Pr'rrama.]]
*'''P'rrama:''' a plucked string instrument, with eight strings and four holes at its end. The holes on the bottom change the octave of the notes that are played, thus extending the range of the sounds. It is used both solo and with other instruments. Humans can play it, but the octave range is disabled due to a lack of a tail.

*'''Makkra Baq:''' this instrument hails from the island of Das'nrra, but it has long been a staple of Tajara everywhere. One plucks the strings, creating a meek and Harpsichord-like sound. It is almost always used in a solo or duet setting, as its small voice can easily be overshadowed by other instruments. In spite of this, it maintains quite a folky sound, and it is more common in rural areas than in cities.

*'''Mah Kii:''' the Mah Kii is an ancient instrument, used by Tajara since the Migration Period. Adapted from a horn used to rally soldiers, it has a strong divine connotation. Many believe that one hears its sound when entering the Holly Village or when joining Messa in the afterlife. Rhazar’Hrujmagh caravans still use this trumpet at the start of raids. Some have even attempted to incorporate it into Electro-Swing bands. However, due to its short-range and its connotation with the divine, it is not used often.

===Sports and Games===

Recreation time for most Tajara has always been limited. Oppressive work hours and strict caste rules disallowed leeway for what a Tajara could do in their free time. Organized sports were a product of the Njarir class, which would find themselves with more time on their hands. However, as time marched on, Tajara of lower classes found ways to still play. In modern times, any Tajara is usually able to participate in any sport they wish.

Tabletop RPGs and wargames are popular for Tajara in urban centers. The Tajaran tradition of storytelling lent itself to these games being easily understood and quickly enjoyed by players who saw them as an evolution of the tales that priests shared in their communities. The tabletop scene sprouted a few years following the First Revolution’s end with Siik’maas translated versions of human and skrell tabletops. These were adapted later into localized versions that then became entirely Tajaran systems. The most well-known of these games is “Global Conquest”, originally made by the PRA and then adapted by DPRA and NKA companies, this board game replicates the conquest of Adhomai by different armies. Another is “Explorators of the Unknown”, a modular game where players play as characters exploring or investigating a world of their design.

The notion of video games is unknown to the natives of Adhomai; as computers are usually seen as tools. However, the younger generations living in Little Adhomai have taken interest in electronic games and arcades. Many independent productions have started to appear, with software being shared through the extranet or data storage devices. One popular title is "The Bane of Rashashana": which follows the tale of an Adhomian folk hero attempting to save her village from a malicious monarch. The player can make narrative choices that affect the story, interspersed with objectives such as running and managing a limited time meter while avoiding obstacles.

====Notable Sports====

*'''Farehal:''' a sport focused on accuracy. It consists of the player throwing a disc through several hoops scattered around a course. The distance and the difficulty of the shoot influence the score. The player with the highest point value wins. Due to the amount of space needed for Farehal, especially for multiple matches on the same course, due to this, it was only practiced by the nobility at first. Large buildings were constructed to host Farehal, where noble competitors played. This game is seen as extremely pretentious, with critics claiming it requires no real strength or skill to win. It has not seen much popularity outside of S'rand'marr, but it is moderately popular on Adhomai, with players in the PRA and a larger following in the NKA. Al’mari Hadii used to be a famous Farehal player.

*'''Mahmrro:''' a sport requiring the Tajara to capture a ball and either run it to the opposite side of a field or throw it to a team member located on the other side of the field. This game is very popular among the youth of any Tajara generation, mostly with the lower class. It is very decentralized and has any number of regional rules depending on where you are. Mahmrro came to be associated with the lower classes towards the end of the Steeple Peace. This attitude is visible in the NKA where nobility largely avoid playing the game. Leagues exist in every country for the game with these Mahmrro Clubs gaining much fame.

*'''N'hanzafu Roping:''' a sport created by the [[Tajaran Ethnicities#Rhazar'Hrujmagh|rock nomads]], commonly used to settle disputes. Two or more riders can participate. Using Zhsram as their mount, they have to capture a N’hanzafu calf with a lasso and complete five rounds around a circular arena with it. Competitors are allowed to knock down each other or steal the other’s rope, but weapons are strictly forbidden.

*'''Baghrar:''' an ancient martial art from Adhomai primarily used for sport and contests of strength. The fighting style consists of strikes against the opponent from the waist up. The form of the attacks is primarily swiping motions that take advantage of a Tajara's claws to rake an opponent's torso or head. Other moves include punching for friendlier matches or stabbing forward with the claws in typical confrontations. Modern Baghrariri, or people who practice the Baghrar style for sport, usually fight with implements that cover and support their nails to avoid serious bodily damage. Modern Baghrar fights are decided upon with a point-scoring system over three 10-minute rounds, but historical victories were secured by knocking opponents onto the ground. Baghrar has been adapted into several different styles used by Adhomaian police and army units.

====Notable Games====
[[File:Suns and moon rules.png|200px|thumb|right|Suns and Moon rules.]]
*'''Suns and Moon:''' a very common dice game. It is played by all, though the lower classes have the tendency to gamble whereas the upper classes play it just for fun. The ease and universality of the rules have garnered it quite the reputation. Die usually has an image of Rredouane fixed upon them. Parks commonly have designated spots for people to play Suns and Moon. Disputes are also solved through this game.

*'''Traiaz:''' a game mixing intellectual and dexterity play. The board is similar to chess, though it is considerably longer, with a lot of extra space in the middle. All 10 pieces are essentially pawns, though each pair has a catch. Pieces are captured by moving horizontally on the board. Some pieces can only capture when moving diagonally, vertically, or sideways. There are several distinct regional rules influencing what kind of movements are allowed. A match is decided after all pieces have been eliminated.

=== Military ===
''For more information, see [[Tajaran Military Structures]]''

Warfare and militaries on Adhomai are catered to the environment demands of the snowy planet. Logistics are a prized necessity, with entire wars being won through denying the opposing side consistent access to heat and food. Since the First Revolution, guerilla warfare and mobility doctrines have defined Tajaran warfighting. With the end of the Second Revolution, previous doctrines were shattered. New realities have forced each nation's military into its own place, developing separately not for the war fought previously, but the war it anticipates. As a result, Adhomian military technologies have received some of the largest research and development. It remains to be seen how these advances will play out, or how each nation has prepared itself under the new geopolitical reality.

The military hardware of Adhomai is a blend of proven, if dated, technologies and advanced experimental concepts. The bulk of Tajaran soldiers across the 3 nations are armed with new semi-automatic rifles, or automatic rifles in the case of the People's Republic's Tsarrayut’yan rifle. These weapons, however, are based on reliable systems tested in the chaos of the Second Revolution. Weathered against the cold, and prepared for years of abuse, Adhomian rifles are among the sturdiest and most reliable in mass-production. Energy-based rifles are uncommon. Concerns of lasers reflecting off the snow, revealing one's positions, and the scarcity of reliable energy sources have pushed the new technology to the side. The People's Republic's Icelance rifle has beat the odds even if it is reserved for the elites of the Republican Guard. Partisans see use of the enduring Harrzhak bolt-action rifle. Special forces find their own in lever-action rifles, Hotaki sniper rifles, or other specialized weapons. Close-in engagements still make frequent use of bayonets and swords. Shotguns and submachine guns are, ironically, reserved for shock troops. Regardless of situation, Adhomai has a rifle that suits one's needs. They are cheap and reliable, albeit at times dated but no less effective.

Tajaran artillery is where the cunning of Tajaran engineering shines. Many mountain ranges of Adhomai have been lined with massive artillery guns. These weapons fire devastating artillery rounds capable of leveling small camps with a single shot, let alone a barrage. Artillery vehicles and mortar teams are almost always deployed in tandem with Tajaran infantry in order to shell enemy entrenchments and positions, and many Tajaran tacticians utilize artillery as their main killing force. Even as venerable howitzers and emplacements see use decades, sometimes nearly a century, of use, Tajara continue to expand their artillery repertoire. Massive self-propelled guns within the ALA ride alongside their fearsome tanks while the People's Republic develops exosuits carrying large artillery cannons. The New Kingdom has found use in large railway cannons, among the largest to be produced on Adhomai, alongside the mass of naval vessels capable of fire support.

==== Notable Weapons ====
'''Harrzhak Bolt-Action Rifle:''' A venerable design hailing from the mid-Steeple Peace era. It is a cheap bolt-action rifle designed the minimize exposure of the action to the outside elements. Despite the simplicity of the design, it is capable of great accuracy.

'''Adhokorr Sword:''' A sword pattern originating from, and associated heavily with, Amohda. It is a straight single-edged blade that extends roughly 1.5 meters in length. The grip is typically made from local wood and bound in fabric or leather. It is intended for use with two-hands but is capable of single-handed use.

'''Sahikorr Blade:''' A curved sword designed during the Warring Kings era. It features a long and thin blade of varying lengths. It is without a guard, with most modern variants making use of a metal-reinforced grip. All manner of Sahikorr blades exist, from ceremonial officer swords to cheap and mass-produced partisan blades.

=== Education ===
Tajaran institutions for education are woefully behind their counterparts in other species. Historically, Njarir’Akhran were often the only ones who became literate. Historians theorize this is tied to their alleged rise to nobility through their positions in early theological organizations. Officials from each faction agree that religious education has dominated most of Adhomai's academic history with heavy evidence from religious books which were largely able to survive the mass destruction of books by being sheltered in temples. Disagreements among academics arise when discussing the evolution of primary schools, secondary schools, and universities. Academicians in the New Kingdom of Adhomai assert that these institutions began to raise thousands of years ago during the Gunpowder Era and downplay the role of the nobility's suppression of educating the masses. However, intellectuals in the People's Republic of Adhomai and the Democratic People's Republic assert that these institutions were disingenuous social clubs at best and that schooling and formal education did not begin to arise until five hundred years prior. Hard information on the curriculum of pre-war institutions outside of theological institutions is difficult to find, however, archaeological evidence tends to support arguments that there was a heavy focus on the arts- especially musicals. Some artistic Hharar who lived before the war give accounts on nobles providing large patronage for painters such as in the modern sense with Al-Manq, but also for lavish concerts, operas, and ballets. Sculpting also came into prominence as evidenced by the intricate detail of various statues and gargoyle-like protrusions from an array of buildings in Nal'Tor and especially on the capital building in The People's Square: the aptly-named Steeple. Regardless of the details of pre-revolution educational institutions, the current face of Tajaran education outside of seminaries is primarily technical schools that focus on preparing young Tajara to work the various labor jobs around Adhomai.

=== Marriage and Relationships ===
Historically, the peasantry made due by uniting themselves as a workforce which has bred an intimate inter-person relationship among the families of most villages, towns, and cities. Regardless of the size of the population, pre-uprising Tajara were often well acquainted with families that may have lived on the other side of town. Arranged marriages were extremely common and were ways to improve relationships among families. However, this traditional practice has met with extreme criticism following post-uprising debates. The practice of arranged marriage was not feasible following the first revolution which effectively eliminated a generation of adult Tajara. This created a generation that had to largely create their own marriages, many of which passed on this emerging cultural norm to the next generation. Although the permanent pairing of Tajara is often colloquially referred to as "marriage" due to humanizing influences, there are a handful of different technical terms for it depending on the religion of the Tajara involved. S'rand'marr worshipers are typically brought together in temples by their local Brother of the Sun in a ceremony that symbolizes and glorifies S'rendarr and life. Their equivalent of Marriage is called "'''S'rendal'Matir'''" (The life of S'rendarr), named for the idea of continuing the life that the sun god S'rendarr celebrates. Tajara under the worship of Ma'ta'ke have a less celebratory and less ritualistic ceremony, instead, they have a simple meeting between families with a clergyman to proclaim the lovers "'''Zrrazhil Ekrratul'''" (Continuation of the families), named for the simple notion of propagating the blood of the families involved.

Throughout history, the concept of gender in Tajara society varied over time. Archaeological evidence suggests that before the Incarnate Dominion, multiple identities—often related to religious practices—existed. Like everything else, the nobility's breeding project also molded the perception of gender in Adhomai. Njarir’Akhran, with their great emphasis on their bloodline, were the ones with the strictest and defined gender roles. While the Zhan-Khazan rarely cared about these definitions, seeing little distinction between them. After the revolution, gender in the Tajara society changed as well, but it did not free itself fully from the shackles of the pre-contact oppression.

In history, transgender Tajara were more common among Njarir and Hharar due to their more defined gender roles. Before the revolution, these individuals were often in a nebulous state, as they were still obligated to participate in the eugenics program. While some could still find suitable partners, others had to find other outlets, such as joining religious societies or becoming outcasts. Ma'ta'ke priesthood is open to transgender Tajara who identify as their patron god's gender. The Church of S'rand'marr rejects these notions and maintains a strong distinction within its organization based on the gender assigned at birth of its members.

Third gender and nonbinary identities have historically been associated with religious and mystical perspectives. Those who could combine and balance both aspects were typically priests or mystics, known to have achieved some form of enlightenment. Only after the revolution are these identities now explored without the trappings of the occult. The older generations are usually confused by younger individuals who identify as such, with more religious Tajara being outraged at them for appropriating something that was once sacred.

Sexual orientation was a poorly defined concept for the Tajara until the contact. With the emphasis on the caste system, most individuals were expected to have a partner of the same ethnicity with whom they could reproduce, despite their preferences. The nobility often persecuted any relationship or behavior that threatened the caste project. The nobility strictly forbade any kind of relationship with a Tajara of a different ethnicity.

After the civil war, theories and studies about gender and orientation have begun to emerge among revolutionary thinkers. The most radical theorists argued that such concepts were constructions of the old nobility to further their control, calling for forgetting such ideas in favor of new visions. Currently, the Tajara society still upholds gender roles similar to those before the contact, mainly based on one's heritage. The concept of a defined and clear sexual orientation is still fairly new. Only now free of the oppressive Njarir system, the Tajara are free to think about these matters as they develop further socially, even if frequently tainted by the lingering old prejudices. The other species' vision of these matters is seen as alien; even a traditional Tajara would not care to pass judgment on anything that does not involve their people.

Because of the Tajara's recent history as a repressive, conservative species, they still carry many prejudices from the period before the revolution. Overt displays of affection, xenophilia, and interracial relationships among Tajara are looked down on and treated as deviancy. The pre-contact nobility purposefully encouraged these sentiments to further preserve the caste system.

[[File:Adhomai render 2.png|240px|thumb|right|An Adhomian city.]]

===Architecture===

Adhomai's architecture is marked by the swift historical changes that the planet suffered in the past decades. Pre-contact buildings - ostentatious monuments built by the Njarir'Akhran and wooden hovels inhabited by peasants - stand alongside modern edifices constructed by the early People's Republic and the modern Tajaran nations. Because of the destruction brought by two global conflicts, the Tajara had plenty of opportunities to experiment during the reconstruction. Most urban landscapes are a mosaic displaying the styles of whoever controlled them at a given time.

===Holidays===

Tajaran holidays center around the celebration of their nations, faith, or community. Many of these holidays have existed for centuries if not millennia, with a host of smaller rural holidays which vary from village to village. While priests of the Ma'ta'ke pantheon and the Parivara alike speak out against holding non-Tajaran holidays on Adhomai, such as Nal'tor's annual [https://forums.aurorastation.org/topic/2839-wwwadhomaichroniclecomnews/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-104944 Halloween] fundraisers, the vast majority of Tajara are usually indifferent towards celebrating these holidays when in Tau Ceti or other alien systems. Denying an invitation to a celebration for an alien holiday is still considered rude. Only hardliners become angered at the idea of celebrating non-Tajaran holidays off Adhomai.

*'''Armistice Day (November 26th):''' while the signing of the Armistice had led the nations to declare its date a holiday, the hopes for massive celebrations for the first anniversary were crushed quickly. The Solarian collapse had diverted the attention of the Tajaran governments towards trying to ensure their people in Tau Ceti were safe. Despite this, smaller and personal celebrations of the signed peace were still held on Adhomai. For the Tajaran community in Tau Ceti, Armistice Day became a symbol of unity in the face of the Solarian incursion. Rival gangs and communities set aside their differences and prepared for a possible invasion of Biesel together, a unity that unfortunately did not last after the rogue fleet was pushed out.

*'''Ma'ta’kyr (March 24th to 30th):''' for an entire week, followers of the Ma’ta’ke pantheon hold celebrations for their gods. The first day is for Azubarre, which is filled with dazzling performances and unsurprisingly marriages. The second day is for Dhrarmela, whose followers present well-made crafts to donate to their community. The third day is Kraszar, whose priests hold elaborate theatre performances to tell stories and share wisdom with the people. The fourth day is Shumalia's, and is spent repairing the broken homes of the poorest while also ensuring important buildings are maintained. The fifth is Rredouane’s, and a day consisting mostly of war stories and gambling. The sixth day is Marryam’s, where families spend the day connecting with one another and holding personal celebrations. The final day is dedicated to Mata'ke. It is on this day that an enormous fair is held within a community, organized by all Ma’ta’ke pantheon priests, celebrating the splendor of Mata’ke and his fellow gods. Within urban centers these fairs can become massive, sprawling over blocks and streets. D6’s Mata’ke following population celebrates this week fully, with workers taking days off or reduced shifts to enjoy it.

*'''Coming of Dawn (January 9th):''' a holiday commemorating the founding of the modern Parivara, the Coming of Dawn is when the worshippers of the Suns pay respects to Dirrnavirr'Almalik. Proclaimed as the prophet of the Suns, priests share stories about Dirrnavirr’Almalik’s history from his birth to establishing the Dominion of southern Ras’nrr, the first empire. It is said that it was there that he spread the faith of the suns and the priesthood was established and entrusted to guide the Tajara people. Services include performances from choirs and communal singing led by priests. Idols were once brought out depicting Dirrnavirr’Almalik, a Njarir King. Many of these icons were smashed apart in the First Revolution. What few still exist are artifacts in museums, kept in Sana Sahira, or brought out in Kaltir lands where the practice continues. The echo of the choirs can be heard wherever this is held, and within D6 one could hear the ringing of hymns throughout the entire district.

*'''Dholma Festival (Third Week of October):''' a week-long celebration to honor the harvest and prepare for the oncoming winter. During this period, Tajara will participate in large communal feasts, food fairs, and alcohol festivals. Drinking, eating, and spending time with friends and family are the main activities during this period; religious Tajara also visits local temples to offer donations to thank the Gods for the bountiful harvests.

{{Navbox Tajara Lore}}
{{Navbox Lore}}
[[Category:Species]]
[[Category:Pages]]
[[Category:Tajara]]
''Al'Mari Hadii picture created by SleepyWolf''

Outer Eyes

2026-09-18T16:41:05Z

Fyni: /* The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera */

Sol Alliance

2026-09-18T16:35:51Z

Fyni: typo fix

{{Outdated (Phoron Scarcity)}}
{{Navbox Lore}}
{{Navbox Human Lore}}
{{Infobox Nations
|Nation = Alliance of Sovereign<br>Solarian Nations
|Shortname = Sol Alliance
|Flag = Sol Alliance Flag.png
|Galatic Position = Position Sol.png
|Capital City =Unity Station
|Capital Planet = [[Earth]]
|Language = Sol Common
|Species = Human (Majority)<br>[[IPC]] (Minority)<br>[[Skrell]] (Minority)
|Religion = None
|Demonym = Solarian
|Government = Federal Republic
|Head of State = Prime Minister Hendrik Strom
|Legislature = Congress
|Upper House = Solarian Senate
|Established = 15th June 2132
}}

Though its power has waned following the disastrous events of late 2462, this federal union remains the home of humanity and the one of the premier powers in the Orion Spur. Formerly held back by bureaucratic corruption, administrative inefficiency, an overstretched legal system, systemic political infighting, and economic troubles that led to over a century of decline and waning influence culminating in its retreat inwards, many now look to reform the Alliance into a more effective political force.

The Alliance of Sovereign Solarian Nations (ASSN), commonly referred to as the Solarian Alliance, the Sol Alliance, or simply the Alliance, is a federal union of 70 member state star systems, and 198 dependencies including the Eridani Corporate Federation. Dependencies vary between undeveloped star systems and outposts on asteroids, to sprawling space stations and include the capital of the Solarian Alliance: the bustling Unity Station in orbit over Earth. The Alliance is divided into two administrative sections known as the Inner and Middle Rings.
{{TOC Hidden}}
==Demographics==
The Solarian Alliance is either the most populated or second most populated nation in known space, though due to the lack of accurate census-taking in the Coalition of Colonies, this is hard to fully determine. As of its retreat from the Middle and Outer Rings, the Alliance has between 40 and 65 billion citizens, and roughly 10 billion residents, with the most recent census having been in 2454. Due to mass defection of many Middle and Outer Ring colonies, these census numbers are no longer considered to be accurate. The Alliance's next census will come in 2464, but experts regard its current population as anywhere between fifty and seventy billion individuals. By breadth of controlled territory, the Alliance is the largest human-majority sovereign state in the Spur, with innumerable ethnicities, religions, cultures, and languages found within its borders. Governed from the massive Unity Station in orbit of Earth, hundreds of systems and dozens of member states find representation in the Alliance.

==The Colony Rings==
The Alliance is divided into two major administrative rings, based on time of colonization and distance from [[Sol]].

===Inner Colonies===
Also known as the Inner Ring, these colonies lie within five light years of [[Sol]]. These planets are the oldest settlements outside of the Solar System, and typically have the highest quality of life. It is the most populous of the three rings. Solarians from these systems are broadly in favor of Alliance rule, with much of Unity Station’s policies focusing on these areas. Very few aliens reside in the Inner Ring, with most being skrell. On the other hand all [[IPC]] frames can be found throughout the Inner Ring. Citizens of these areas push the most for expansion of Alliance authority over human areas outside its control.

====Notable Inner Colonies====
*[[Earth]]
*[[Luna]]
*[[Venus]]
*[[Mars]]
*[[Jupiter]] and its moons
*[[Epsilon Eridani]]

===Middle Colonies===
Also known as the Middle Ring, these colonies lie between five and twenty light years from Sol and are the most average areas of the Alliance. Citizens of this ring felt neither the benefits of Alliance rule nor the benefits of distance from Unity Station prior to the general Solarian retreat from the Middle Ring, leading to many defecting to the Republic of Biesel or, less commonly, the Coalition of Colonies. Some simply fell into a vacuum of no control known as the Wildlands, where they remained until the end of the Solarian Civil War in July 2465. For those Middle Ring worlds remaining with the Alliance, the quality of life in this area is as high as the Inner Ring with plenty of security provided by the mighty Solarian Navy. The separatist [[Republic of Biesel]] was considered part of these middle colonies prior to its independence.

====Notable Middle Colonies====
* [[Silversun]]
* [[New Hai Phong]]
* [[San Colette]]
* [[Visegrad]]
* [[Solarian Reconstruction Mandates#New Peoria|New Peoria]]
* [[Solarian Reconstruction Mandates#Lycoris|Lycoris]]
* [[Solarian Reconstruction Mandates#Lkokgun|Lhokgon]]
* [[Solarian Reconstruction Mandates#Novo Igman|Novo Igman]]
* [[Solarian Reconstruction Mandates##Sankt Frederick|Sankt Frederick]]

==Economics==
The '''Solarian Standard Credit''' (民/SSC) is essentially the Orion Spur's standard currency due to the prevalence of the [[Sol Alliance|Solarian Alliance]] prior to its collapse in 2462. Outside of the Alliance, use of the SSC is common throughout certain parts of the [[Coalition of Colonies]], the [[Empire of Dominia]], and the [[Corporate Reconstruction Zone]] of the [[Republic of Biesel]]. Within Sol's collapsed warlord states, it has lost much of its value due to the lack of central authority. The SSC is available in electronic, bankcard and traditional notes forms. Responsibility for the currency falls to the Solarian Central Bank, which is located on Unity Station in the Sol System. The Central Bank manages monetary policy and the supply of the Solarian Standard Credit for the Alliance and greater Spur, and this management of supply and interest rates ensures that the Solarian Credit is able to function as a fiat currency. The SSC is worth less than the Biesel Standard Credit.

The economy of the Alliance was, prior to the recently-passed '''Industrial Reclamation Mandate of 2463''', dominated almost entirely by megacorporations. [[Hephaestus Industries]], [[Idris Incorporated]], [[Zavodskoi Interstellar]], and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals]] increasingly find themselves pushed aside by the massive [[Einstein Engines]], which stands above other megacorporations in the Alliance. Due to its involvement in the Republic of Biesel and continued meddling in Solarian affairs the [[Nanotrasen Corporation]] has been banned from operating within the Alliance itself, and the majority of its assets have been seized by the Alliance. Many suspect Einstein Engines as being behind the Alliance's aggressively anti-NanoTrasen stance. Despite its retreat from the Middle and Outer Rings Sol remains the Orion Spur's second largest economy, trailing only slightly behind the Republic of Biesel.

In recent times the Alliance has pushed forward an aggressive campaign of nationalisation following its retreat from the Middle and Outer Ring. The now centralised and more authoritarian Alliance has, for the most part, managed to make good on many of its nationalistic promises but has been forced to make some compromises with the corporations that remain within its systems of control. Hephaestus Industries stands out among these corporations and has retained of its control over New Hai Phong due to compromises with Senator Hendrik Strom, one of the main drivers behind the '''Solarian Corporate Authority''', the government entity now responsible for much of the now-nationalised assets from corporations present in Solarian space.

The Alliance has not fully recovered from the Second Great Depression of 2260. The economic collapse and the resulting civil war left confidence in the Alliance economy extremely shaky. The Alliance has an extremely condensed cycle of boom and bust, with a brief year of growth followed by two years of recession, on average. This is partially the reason that trans-stellar corporations are so powerful and influential: With Solarian Alliance bonds or ventures radically decentralized and untrustworthy, the resilient economic strength of trans-stellar corporations makes them a much more lucrative investment. The prosperity of the Alliance is extremely centralized following its retreat, and its remaining systems benefit from their proximity to the Sol System. Most remaining Solarian systems are major commercial and industrial centers, such as New Hai Phong.

==Politics==
Having successfully endured the disastrous years of the Michael Frost administration (2461-62) and following civil war (2462-65), the Alliance has successfully reemerged as a democratic — if xenophobic and anti-corporate — nation which seeks to place itself at the forefront of humanity in the modern Spur, and stands to once again become a peer rival to the Coalition of Colonies and Republic of Biesel. With the dissolution of the emergency government after the 2466-67 federal elections, the Alliance is once again ruled by a Prime Minister, Hendrik Strom, and the Solarian Senate, currently ruled by a Solarian populist and conservative coalition government.

===Government===
[[File:Strom.png|thumb|Prime Minister Hendrik Strom of the Alliance of Solarian Sovereign Nations, as depicted in his official portrait.]]
<center><i>“These halls will endure long after you have departed,”</i> - Message engraved above the main entry to the Solarian Senate.</center>

The Solarian government is a representative institution which has historically been dominated by the Sol System and Inner Ring, the Alliance’s most densely-populated region. The modern government traces its lineage to the founding documents of the Alliance in 2127, which form the basis for its modern structure and the '''Solarian Federal Constitution''', which lays out the government’s structure and rights granted to Solarian citizens and legal alien residents, both permanent or temporary. De jure '''the Solarian Federal Constitution grants no rights to aliens aside from skrell''', as it specifies humans in its entirety.

The '''Solarian Senate''' is the main body of the Alliance’s legislative branch, and seats in it are determined by population — with the most recent census having been conducted in 2466, before the election. It is a single-chamber body where at least a 55% majority is needed to pass any legislation, and a 50% "majority" is the minimum required to form a government. Members of the Senate are known as '''senators''', and serve for two years before being up for reelection. Senators can serve as many terms as they are elected, which has led to criticism within the Alliance of political entrenchment. The leader of the senate is known as the '''Senatorial President''', with the leader of the opposition being the '''Shadow President'''. The densely-populated Inner Ring has long dominating the Senate. Known as “Sol’s Tyranny” by some reformist politicians before the Solarian Civil War, this state of domination is likely to persist in the postwar era as the Inner Ring now makes up more of the Alliance than ever before.

At the head of the government is the '''Prime Minister''', the head of government and state, who is elected by a pure majority vote of eligible Solarian citizens. They are the head of the Alliance’s executive branch and appoint the heads of its departments, though they must be confirmed by the Senate. The PM has broad executive powers and is considered to be the head of the Alliance’s military, though historically the Navy has often bent the PM to their will or made them into puppets. They have the power of veto and can reject legislation passed by the Senate if it is below an absolute majority of 75%. The PM serves a four year term and cannot be reelected — every Solarian Prime Minister gets one shot at leading the Alliance, and leaving a legacy behind. Most PMs have been from the Inner Ring, with few having originated from more distant worlds such as [[Visegrad]] and [[Mictlan]].

====Political Parties====

The '''Solarian People’s Party (SPP)''' is the largest party in the Alliance after the 2466-67 elections. It ran on a Solarian populist platform and is a “big tent” coalition party with multiple ideologies under its umbrella, ranging from more left-leaning populists to nationalists who were opposed to ATLAS during its regime. Its leader is '''Hendrik Strom''', current prime minister of the Alliance and a [[Venus#Jintarian Culture|Venusian Jintarian]], who represents its more center-left traditions, though with anti-corporatist and xenophobic leanings. Representing the right wing of the SPP is Senator '''Erkan Muhtar''', a veteran politician from Luna and prior member of the SFP who holds national conservative views with a populist leaning. The SPP lacks a decisive majority and instead governs through a coalition with the more conservative Sol First Party. It is a recent party, having only been established in the 2450s after its core — including then-Senator Strom — broke with the SDPD, though it peeled some members of the SFP and independent politicians under its wing. The SPP has the largest share of the Senate, at 30%.

The '''Sol First Party (SFP)''' is the junior party of the coalition government, having made modest gains in the recent elections. It is the continuation of a conservative Solarian tradition dating back centuries. Its leader is Toshiyuki Sumida, a senator from [[Luna]]. It serves as the Alliance-wide representative for conservative parties across the nation, such as the Colettish Republican Unity Party (PUR). Sol First is the oldest party in the Alliance, and the only still-active party to be established before the Interstellar War. The SFP is the third-largest party in the Senate, at 22%.

The '''Solarian Socialist Unity Party (SSUP)''' is part of the opposition coalition, and performed unexpectedly poorly in the elections, lagging behind other parties despite its recent prominence. Its leader is Le Hanh Trang, a senator from [[New Hai Phong]] — the core of the party’s support. Regarded by some as a competitor to the SPDP and the CPASSN, the SSUP formed in the 2450s from defectors of both parties. The party dates back to shortly after the end of the Interstellar War, when the Alliance turned inwards and began to lick its wounds. The SSUP is the fourth-largest party, holding 15% of the Senate.

The '''Solarian Popular Democratic Party (SPDP)''' is the current leader of the three opposition parties, having performed well in the recent elections and re-established itself after defections in the 2450s. Its leader is Anastasie Renaud, a senator from [[Callisto]]. The SPDP experienced setbacks as the Alliance shifted to the right in the 2450s, but retained a strong base in the Sol System — something which has benefited it with the Alliance’s shrinking in 2462. It serves as the Alliance-wide representative of many left-leaning parties, such as the Colettish Progressive Party (PPC). The SPDP is the second-largest party in the Senate, holding 28% of seats. It leads the opposition and is in a coalition with the SSUP and CPASSN.

The '''Communist Party of the Alliance of Sovereign Solarian Nations (CPASSN)''', also known as the Solarian Communist Party, is the smallest opposition party. Its leader is Kliment Pavlov, a senator from [[Pluto]]. Never expected to become a major party in the recent elections, the communists have done better than expected and have a niche in the opposition as a potential spoiler — if they abstain and the conservative-populist alliance votes no, they have just enough votes to sabotage opposition legislation they disapprove of. It is the smallest party, holding only 5% of seats.

=====Defunct Political Parties=====

'''All Together for Lasting Alliance Security''', better known as '''ATLAS''', is a disbanded fascist Solarian political party first established by [[Mars#Blue Arcologies|Martian “Blues”]] — those loyal to the Alliance — after the Interstellar War and Martian civil war. Initially a national conservative party formed to represent loyalist Martians after the New Dresden nuclear incident, ATLAS shifted further to the right following the [[Sol Alliance History#18 May, 2289: Naval Coup Attempt|attempted coup of the Solarian government]] by the [[Solarian Armed Forces#The Solarian Navy|Navy]] and became the de facto Navy-aligned party in the Senate. Known for its hardline policies on immigration and use of a paramilitary force — known as Artemis (stylized ARTEMIS) — to influence elections. ATLAS reached its zenith during the 2450s, when it used allies in the military, its paramilitaries, and corruption to rig elections and seize power across the Alliance. In 2460 Michael Frost — its most powerful figure — was elected PM in an election called a sham by many outside observers, and ATLAS began to carve up the Alliance into its own domains. The party would fall soon after, undone by the Solarian Civil War and a coup by anti-ATLAS elements, and was declared illegal and forcibly disbanded. Its symbol was a white Solarian sun on a black background, symbolizing its mourning of what the Alliance lost after the Interstellar War.

===Member States===

The building blocks of the Alliance’s federal system, Solarian member states are constituent members of the Alliance with a population considered significant enough to warrant their confirmation as a member by the Department of Interior. Member states have a degree of autonomy from the central government on Unity Station — with some, such as [[Pluto]] and the Eridani Federation, diverging significantly — but are expected to utilize the Solarian Credit, act in union with the Alliance, pay federal taxes, and cooperate with all federal agencies, among other conditions. Solarian member states, while sovereign, are significantly less independent than the members of the Coalition of Colonies. While generally planets or moons, some member states — such as Saturn’s moon, Titan — are space stations or other deep-space structures.

===Solarian Civil Society===
The Alliance is home to a vibrant civil society – the largest in the Spur – which successfully endured the oppression of Michael Frost’s prime ministership (2460-61) and the following civil war (2462-65). While not part of the government, they often work to influence it and thus carry out the will of the people. It covers a broad spectrum of entities, from tiny human rights organizations to the Solarian Federation of Labour Unions – an organization intended to represent all unions in the Alliance, and one which has been historically able to swing elections with its endorsements.

====The Solarian Alliance News Network====

Commonly known as the '''SANN''', or the Sol News Network, the SANN is the oldest continuous news network in the human Orion Spur. Established in 2127 to serve as a news source for the entire Alliance, it was initially headquartered in Harmony City, [[Luna]], due to the heavily damaged climate of [[Earth]] making the planet difficult to work on. It has since relocated to [[Callisto]]’s New Edinburgh District, where it broadcasts to this day. The SANN is the most widely watched news service in the Orion Spur, and broadcasts daily on a variety of platforms, being viewable almost everywhere in the Spur aside from [[Gadpathur]].

The arguable face of the SANN is '''Harold MacMillan''', host of its most popular news program: ''The State of Sol'', a two-hour news broadcast every weekday which covers domestic and interstellar news. A native of Callisto and veteran newscaster, MacMillan is easily recognizable by his mustache, Callistean flag lapel pin, and the serious look he gives the camera before pointing at it. His expression — and point — have become the subject of artistic depictions throughout the Alliance, particularly on [[Konyang]], where the SANN’s advertisements often have him depicted in the style of Konyangimation (a general term for the stylized art featured in Konyanger media).

The other arguable face of the SANN is its ace reporter, '''Cèline Eylenbosch'''. A [[Venus#Cytherean Culture|Venusian Cytherean and former idol]], she has reported on everything from the [[Amor Patriae Arc|Solarian Civil War]] to elections to the two invasions of Biesel — all seemingly without having [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|aged a day]]. Eylenbosch is known for her blonde hair, use of “dear viewers” to describe her audience, and for wearing nothing but the latest fashion trends — and is rumored to receive a commission from [[Idris Incorporated]] for doing so. The ace reporter keeps much of her life private, but is known to respond to most of the fan mail she receives from her viewers.

===Departments===

The Alliance's primary method of internal governance and management, the Alliance's departments are massive, Spur-spanning entities which are often regarded as corrupt and inefficient due to their sheer sizes. Below are some of the major departments in the Alliance.

====Department of the Interior====

Perhaps the largest government entity in the entire Spur in terms of employees, the Department of the Interior (DoI) is responsible for ensuring the Alliance’s infrastructure is maintained. It is the single oldest Solarian department, as its establishment was a condition for the Alliance’s formation, which ensures it is as old as the Alliance is. The DoI’s duties have gradually become more and more complex over the centuries, (though colonization itself was handled by a separate department until fairly recently), which has led to its immense size and reputation for inefficiency and corruption, particularly in the Outer and Middle Rings after the Interstellar War. The War devastated the Alliance’s infrastructure and the DoI’s budget, which resulted in it neglecting much of the Alliance’s more remote infrastructure throughout the following centuries. Those who did wish for something to be done to their Outer or Middle Ring infrastructure often had to pay costly “consulting fees” to the DoI, which only led to further neglect and growing corruption.

By the 25th century the DoI had effectively split into two major sections, the Outer and Core sections, in addition to subordinate departments such as the Department of Energy — responsible for fuel production and management — and the Department of Education — responsible for Solarian education outside of private schools. The Core Section served the Inner Ring, and some sections of the Middle Ring, continuing the DoI’s reputation for excellence in these regions while remaining untangled from the Navy and other elements. The Outer Section, due to lacking the wealth, influence, or manpower of its counterpart, had the Middle and Outer Ring regions it was responsible for fall into neglect and slowly become more and more corrupt. Navy actors in the Outer Section’s areas of responsibility often dominated and bent the Section to their will, further eroding its effectiveness while increasing corruption. [[Sol Alliance History# 2460-61: Michael Frost Ascends to Power|Frost’s administration]] fired many of the Outer Section’s more qualified personnel when they protested some of his decisions and instead replaced them with loyalist flunkies, which only exacerbated the Section’s corruption problems and contributed significantly to the territorial losses of late 2463.

The Inner and Outer Section division is mostly irrelevant post-2462 as all of the Outer Section, aside from the area responsible for [[New Hai Phong]], was lost during the Collapse. The Inner Section has remained intact and has, perhaps due to its lesser corruption, mostly endured both the Collapse and the Frost administration’s rampant mismanagement relatively intact. The DoI is heavily involved in both [[Solarian Reconstruction Mandates]] and has promised to avoid the mistakes of its prior staff in these areas. However, only time will tell if the new regions under the DoI’s control will be more effective than their precursors.

====Department of Justice====

The Alliance’s Department of Justice is responsible for policing and court systems across the Alliance. It is younger than the Department of the Interior as it was formed in the late 2100s due to issues between the Soviet bloc and the Western bloc’s justice systems. The DoJ supervises [[Solarian Security and Law|Solarian multi-planetary policing agencies]] such as the Solarian Interstellar Security Agency (SISA), but has no authority over the Solarian Interstellar Intelligence Bureau (SIIB), which has little oversight. Its duties of police and court supervision have remained the same throughout the centuries and the DoJ has a reputation as a relatively non-corrupt Solarian department, but has often found itself brutalized by political figures seeking to undermine its authority and credibility.

By the mid-2400s the Department of Justice had found itself tested by decades of ATLAS-aligned governments which had sought to erode its authority while corrupting the Department at all possible levels, but it remained mostly independent and uncorrupted until the election of Michael Frost in 2460-61, when ATLAS finally gained a supermajority in the Solarian government. Frost’s regime furloughed or sacked much of the DoJ and replaced those it fired with loyalists. The followers of Prime Minister Frost now found themselves effectively insulated from the threat of investigation and prosecution by authorities in the Alliance. Corruption began to grow unchecked and public trust in the government sharply dropped. Ironically, many corrupt officials put into place by ATLAS and Frost readily defected to Biesel during the Solarian Collapse of 2462 despite their professed loyalty to ATLAS and Sol. Some have speculated this is due to bribes, and these individuals being more loyal to Credits than country.

Anti-Frost elements in the Department of Justice were a major force behind the coup which seized power following his death in 2462. The post-Frost Department has rapidly resumed its former prestige and role as an enforcer of justice, starting with a massive purge of its ranks to remove remaining loyalists to the now-banned ATLAS. Some of these individuals then joined the Solarian Restoration Front and now find themselves the target of the DoJ once again as the Alliance re-exerts its authority over the Northern Reaches and seeks to punish those involved in the Front’s criminal actions.

The current head of the Department of Justice is '''Attorney General Henri Fontenot'''. Born on 24 May, 2413, in New Orleans, [[Earth]], Fontenot rose to prominence as a stringent and incorruptible prosecutor who fought against corruption in the Solarian government’s Outer Ring. Recalled to the Sol System by Frost’s government in the summer of 2462, presumably to be punished for his role in dismantling an ATLAS-led voting machine, Fontenot’s fortunes were rapidly reversed by the coup against Frost and he has since found himself the Alliance’s Attorney General. During his tenure as AG Fontenot has continued his crusade against corruption and now finds himself leading the Alliance’s tribunals of criminals in the Northern Reaches.

====Department of State====

The oldest continuous diplomatic service within human space, the Solarian Department of State is responsible for maintaining and promoting Solarian interests and relations abroad. It is also responsible for ensuring Solarian citizens can receive the services abroad they need: its offices, and their [[Solarian Armed Forces#The Solarian Army|Solarian Army]] guards, are common sights across the Orion Spur. Employees of the Solarian Department of State are members of the Solarian Foreign Service — a government organization with an infamously difficult entry exam which requires the applicant to be at least trilingual. The Department of State is known as the least corrupt Solarian department due to its high barrier of entry and often difficult postings which can be light-years away from the Alliance’s borders.

The Department of State is the most recently created department and was only established in 2287 after the Treaty of Zurich ended the Interstellar War and Solarian hegemony over humanity. Looked down upon by Solarian hardliners who advocated for a policy of no diplomacy with the ex-Solarian [[Coalition of Colonies]], the Department proved its worth by stabilizing relations with the Coalition and ensuring the free passage into the Alliance for all Coalitioners who wished to become Solarians. It was instrumental in ensuring the [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] secession did not destabilize into another all-out war and did much to normalize Sol-Coalition relations during the 2300s. However, the Department was consistently defunded and neglected by Solarian governments after the Tau Ceti Accords, which it was scapegoated for. What Foreign Service staff refer to as the “decade of humiliation” only ended in December 2462 following the death of Frost and the anti-Frost coup.

In the post-Frost era the Department finds itself scrambling to reassert Sol’s position in the broader Spur after a decade of diplomatic neglect and the devastating Solarian Civil War of 2462-65. Its officers are incredibly busy crisscrossing the Spur, from [[Assunzione]] to [[Moroz]] to [[Biesel]], to once again represent what seems to be an ascendant Alliance after two-hundred years of decay. Whether they can keep the Alliance’s foreign diplomacy remains to be seen, particularly with it now once again sharing a border with the Coalition.

====Department of Commerce====

An old department which dates to the foundation of the Alliance, the Department of Commerce is responsible for managing the Solarian Credit and the overall economic policies of the broader Alliance such as trade agreements, taxation, and other forms of monetary policy. One of the largest Departments by sheer number of staff, it was nearly destroyed by the Second Great Depression and the economic fallout of the Interstellar War. The secession of the Coalition arguably saved the Department as it significantly reduced its workload.

However, the secession of the Coalition did not reduce the Department’s total staff as it was mostly based within the Solarian Core Worlds. In the chaotic political aftermath of the Interstellar War and the[[Sol Alliance History# 18 May, 2289: Naval Coup Attempt|Navy’s coup attempt]], the Alliance was unwilling to fight with its own department and conceded to it retaining its grossly overinflated staff. The Department quickly found itself filled with unqualified and unreliable individuals put into these positions through either bribery or nepotism, and remained inefficient as a result. Over time this inefficiency turned into corruption, such as paying benefits to avoid taxes and counterfeiting by some banks. By the time Frost seized power much of the Department was effectively rotten outside of the Solarian core, and many Department staff defected to the Republic of Biesel in exchange for retaining their positions and salaries.

What remains of the Department after the [[Sol Alliance History#2462: The Solarian Civil War|Solarian Collapse]] is the best and brightest of its bloated staff: the Core Worlds Division. The Core Division is responsible for many of humanity’s oldest fiscal institutions and is notably less corrupt and more efficient than its counterparts due to managing space near Unity Station and the Sol System. With the collapse of Frost’s government and the subsequent anti-Frost coup by reformists it now finds itself the only division of the Department of Commerce, and has been given the monumental task of rebuilding it. To the frustration of some Department members the Solarian Corporate Authority (SCA) has been allowed to operate without any oversight from the Department of Commerce, with the Solarian government consistently stating the SCA is far too important to be restrained by checks and balances on its actions. For the moment, the SCA answers directly to the Prime Minister’s office and completely bypasses any other authorities.

====Department of Defense====

The Solarian Department of Defense (DoD) is an entity with a long history of success, failure, and cronyism. Headquartered in Harmony City, [[Luna]], the Department is responsible for ensuring the [[Solarian Armed Forces]] — perhaps the largest organized fighting force in the Orion Spur — remain ready for duty and easily able to defeat any who would contest them. The Department is subdivided into the Department of the Army, headquartered on [[Earth]], and the Department of the Navy, headquartered on Luna. The Department has long been another arena of the Solarian Army-Navy rivalry which has defined the SAF since the Interstellar War, and the Navy has historically been the more powerful subdepartment of the Department of Defense.

Established on 17 July, 2143, shortly after the Alliance’s founding it has long been allowed to act with a degree of independence from the broader Alliance and, due to being headquartered on Luna, has always been dominated by Lunarians — residents of Luna, Earth’s only moon. Historically the Department has been a breeding ground for radical Solarian nationalists such as Michael Frost and [[Sol Alliance History#8 October 2278: The Bombing of Gadpathur|Terrence Hopper]], the latter of which established much of the ideological foundations later used by ATLAS to take over the Solarian government in the late 2450s. Prime Minister Michael Frost, an ideological follower of Hopper, further empowered the radical wing of the Department at the expense of its efficiency and credibility, ultimately turning much of it into an enforcement tool for ATLAS. It was only with Frost’s death and a Navy-led counter-coup that the Department began to right its course and reckon with its more radical elements.

The contemporary Department, under Minister '''Lucien Courtois''', a Lunan and reformist naval officer, has done much to improve its efficiency and destroy the remaining loyalists of Frost and ATLAS. Massive purges carried out of Navy and Department staff have allowed it to essentially “clean house” but have left some aspects of the Department shorthanded, particularly as it now moves to assist in the Solarian Reconstruction Mandates and re-exert Solarian influence on the galactic stage. The Department has much work to do, but many — particularly its Minister — are more than willing to do whatever it takes for the Alliance’s military to succeed.

====Department of Colonization====

A now-defunct department which has been integrated into the Department of the Interior, the Department of Colonization was — at its peak in 2259 — the most important part of the Solarian government as it managed colonies and colonization. Its influence stretched from Solarian Core to the [[Sol Alliance History#Historical Solarian Sectors and Regions|Solarian Frontier]], and it managed the welfare of thousands of worlds ranging in size from the populous [[Xanu Prime]] to refueling stations staffed by under a hundred Solarian citizens. Its personnel could be found nearly anywhere in the Spur, and were renowned for their dedication and efficiency.

The decline of the once-mighty Department of Colonization began with the [[Sol Alliance History#18 June, 2260: The Second Great Depression Begins|Second Great Depression]] and was accelerated by the [[Sol Alliance History#25 March, 2278: Outbreak of the Interstellar War|Interstellar War]]. At the War’s end the Department was a shadow of its former self and unable to carry out any major colonial efforts or expeditions, such as the expedition which eventually would become the nomadic [[Scarabs|Scarab Fleet]]. Ultimately it was integrated into the Department of the Interior and faded into history as the Alliance became more corrupt and insular, forgetting its hegemonic era and eventually collapsing into civil war in 2462. The Department of Colonization is, for most, a distant memory and a reminder of better times for the Alliance.

===The Solarian Foreign Service===

An entity under the Department of State, the Foreign Service is the umbrella term for the diplomatic corps of the Alliance and dates back to the early years of it, where it initially served to negotiate relations between the various member states of the Alliance. Since the Interstellar War it has served as the external diplomatic arm of the Alliance, and its Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) can be found in every embassy and consulate run by the Alliance. All Solarian foreign service buildings are guarded by [[Solarian Armed Forces#The Solarian Army|Solarian Army]] personnel.

The embassies of the Alliance are found in nearly every nation of the modern Orion Spur, aside from the [[Democratic People's Republic of Adhomai]] — which only has a consulate due to the lack of formal ties between the nations. These embassies are typically located in the capital cities of capital planets — such as Nova Luxembourg, [[Moroz]] — with consulates on other planets and cities — such as [[Aemaq]]. A notable exception to this rule is the [[Coalition of Colonies]]. Here, due to its decentralized nature, the Alliance maintains embassies on major member states, and consulates on smaller ones — and in the non-capital cities of major member states. While most embassy staff are foresight service officers or their support employees, it is not uncommon for the Alliance to have military attachés and intelligence personnel from the [[Solarian Security and Law#The Solarian Interstellar Intelligence Bureau|Solarian Interstellar Intelligence Bureau]] at their embassies. The [[Solarian Security and Law|Solarian Interstellar Security Agency]] maintains small offices in every Solarian embassy for the purpose of cooperating with local authorities and ensuring the safety of Solarians abroad.

Solarian foreign service officers are known throughout the Spur for their professionalism and resistance to corruption, with all prospective FSOs required to take a grueling multi-phase examination to enter the service. They are assigned their first posting at random and are required to have at least some knowledge of the [[Languages#Human languages|local language]], assuming it can be spoken by humans. If the local language cannot be easily spoken by a human, they are issued with a machine translation system and expected to have it on them (or easily accessible) at all times. The diplomatic service’s language training system is considered to be one of the best in the Spur, and has become the basis for many contemporary language training programs. FSOs serve under an ambassador, who is appointed by the Prime Minister and confirmed by the Senate.

==[[Solarian Armed Forces|Sol Alliance Military]]==
[[File:Sol Navy.png|thumb|alt=Flag of the Navy of the Sol Alliance.|The ensign of the Solarian Navy, once flown from Earth to the human frontier.]]
The Solarian Armed Forces has a history going as far back as the onset of the [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Sol_Alliance_History#The_United_Nations_New_Mandate new mandate]. Although originally created as a peacekeeping force it developed over time into a professional military force with fleets capable of projecting the Solarian Alliance’s power on a galactic scale. While the Alliance has significantly reduced its size its military is hardly a shadow of its former self, and the Solarian Navy's one-hundred fleets - freed of their obligations to patrol seemingly endless amounts of space - now stand perhaps stronger than ever. The only military entity capable of rivaling the Solarian Navy is the Nralakk Federation’s Navy.

A standard Solarian Navy fleet consists of roughly one-hundred ships for a main fleet, and fifty ships for a patrol fleet. A Solarian battlefleet is one of the most intimidating organizations in the Orion Spur, and consists of four main fleets with one supporting patrol fleet. Though many Solarian Navy vessels are presently hamstrung by their lack of phoron thanks to an ongoing phoron embargo by the Republic of Biesel they are increasingly being retrofitted with the Einstein Engines-produced [[Einstein Engines#Products|Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive]], a recently-invented Helium-3 burning engine that is advertised as rivalling the best phoron-fueled bluespace engines. With Einstein Engines continuing to support the Alliance, the matter of a fully-modernized Solarian Navy is one of when not if.

While the Alliance has shrunk dramatically in recent years, it remains the strongest human naval power in the Orion Spur even after its retreat to its core worlds. If anything its military is, arguably, stronger than ever - territorial consolidation and constant combat experience along the borders with the human wildlands have dramatically increased the effectiveness and readiness of the Solarian Navy's hundred fleets. However the Navy remains plagued with political factionalism, with many supporting warlords in the wildlands and others dueling over power in the current emergency military government.

The Alliance sees the independence of [[Republic of Biesel|Biesel]] as a serious mistake; during a crisis where there was a very real prospect that the entire human galactic economy would cease to exist, NanoTrasen used its considerable influence and power to coerce the Alliance to grant independence to Tau Ceti in 2452.

==IPCs in the Solarian Alliance==

The Alliance is the birthplace of [[IPC|integrated positronic chassis]] and they have found a place in almost every level of society, offering relatively cheap, autonomous, and skilled labour. The discovery of ancient drones in 2406 led to the development of the [[Positronic_Brain#Software|positronic brain]] which provided manufacturers with a processor capable of holding AI that could consume knowledge and control a humanoid body with the same level of competence as a human. Owing to their cost, the majority of the Alliance’s robotics’ needs are fulfilled by simpler, human-designed AI or unreliable and controversial cyborg processors. Positronic intelligences are instead used in roles which require a high degree of autonomy and adaptability, or simply replace humans directly, especially in dangerous fields.

Though patently rejecting the idea of synthetic personhood, IPC treatment within the Alliance is characterized much more by bureaucratic apathy than by true malice. Positronics are considered exceptionally useful tools by most of the Alliance, and afforded a similar degree of respect as any particularly expensive electronic device. The treatment and restrictions placed upon an IPC vary based upon their owners, with a notable divide between corporate and government-owned IPCs versus privately-owned positronics. IPCs owned by large corporations and the Solarian state are held to much higher standards of control, with implanted directives, tracking beacons, and movement restrictions enforced to minimize the risk of an IPC acting outside of its orders, or, in the case of major corporations, to reduce liability in the event of unwanted behavior. By contrast, private citizens have much more flexibility in their treatment of IPCs, with many privately-owned domestic IPCs being given extensive freedom of movement and action by their owners. Such flexibility comes at a cost in security, with private owners lacking the extensive legal mechanisms to protect them in the event their IPC performs a criminal act.

In both of the above cases, however, extreme measures such as the [[Burzsia|Burzsiean Method]] are considered wasteful and counterproductive by the Alliance, as repeated memory wipes and personality erasure has the side effect of removing much of the unique capabilities which make a positronic AI system attractive in the first place.

All foreign-owned IPCs entering the Alliance must be accompanied by an organic handler for the duration of their stay, or be refused entry outright. Free IPCs are categorically banned from entry into Solarian space, except in cases where such an IPC is acting in an official capacity from a foreign government. Though these IPCs are granted freedom of movement due to their status, they will still face frequent spot checks, heightened security attention, and widespread suspicion from the Alliance populace. The sole exceptions to this rule are free synthetics employed by [[Eridani Federation]] [[Eridani Federation Military|PMCs]], who have their free movement within the Alliance guaranteed by the Byzantine arrangement of legal contracts binding Eridani to Sol, provided they are on official EPMC business and accompanied by a designated handler responsible for their actions. Free IPCs who violate Alliance law will face unceremonious deportation back to their home country, with their tag recorded to ensure they do not return.

==IPC in the Solarian Military==

'''Overview'''

Technological progress has seen Humanity starting to employ all sorts of machines and especially robotics, especially since the creation of the Positronic brain. Self thinking synthetics have been recognised as offering unique solutions to complicated problems in a military setting, making them a powerful asset when coupled with the robustness of an artificial chassis. As such, the Alliance Army and Navy was bound to adopt them. Today, IPCs are utilised as specialised equipment in a variety of dangerous and demanding settings, mostly in a technical and auxiliary role rather than frontline combat. From spaceship maintenance to clearing minefields, synthetics are favoured in these circumstances due to being less important than the well-being of human service members. The majority of positronic frames in the military is dominated by Baselines and Industrials, though Mobility and Shell frames are also encountered as paramedics and clerks.

'''Ranks'''

Positronics in both the Army and Navy are not considered equal to their human counterparts, and are officially classified as equipment, much like a weapons system belonging to the ship or military formation under which they are assigned. As such, they are enlisted under the rank of '''Synthetic Auxiliary''', clearly distinguished from the rest by gray highlights attached to their uniform, a standardised designation across the Alliance's branches. These IPCs are tightly controlled by human operators, but in cases where contact is expected to be hampered or severed, a trusted synthetic may be put in command of a squad or detachment of synthetics. These are "promoted" to '''Synthetic Lead''', receiving a gray chevron on their shoulder as a mark of seniority. Indeed, many years of service and experience are usually required for a positronic to achieve this position, in a conservative Solarian culture that both distrusts and undermines self-thinking IPCs.

Solarian Military Synthetics use a standard format of a designation followed by a singular name for identification. Whilst the assigned names of IPC can be greatly varied their designation is chosen based on their branch of service. With the Navy using NU (Navy Unit), Army AU (Army Unit) and Marines MU (Marine Unit).

'''Treatment'''

Positronics serving within the Solarian Military experience harsh treatment in accordance with their designation as equipment rather than personnel. Accommodations are kept to a bare spartan minimum and luxuries are unheard of amongst IPC service members, with only the equipment required for their tasks being provided, while free time is minimized. This attitude also affects the standards positronics are held to in terms of presentation and behavior, being even more strict than those given to human personnel, with deviations from expected behavior being seen as a sign of potential disloyalty or future trouble. Social interactions between Human and IPC service members are discouraged and monitored. Human service members are instructed to view these synthetics as tools to be used, and considering them otherwise will likely result in disciplinary action.

Punishments inflicted on Positronics range from slaps on the wrist to mind-wiping or forcible retirement, however more extreme disciplinary measures are considered very rare and often only used in cases of outright disloyalty. Despite the harsh line the Solarian Military takes towards their Synthetic service members, there is some good for those IPC who end up in this environment. The Solarian Military ensures that its Synthetics are well-maintained, powered and repaired as they would any other piece of equipment and abandonment of IPC personnel is only done when there is no other option available, and significant risk to human life would be present in attempting to recover them.

'''In the Warlord States'''

Since the breakup of large swaths of Alliance space from the main core, military synthetics were included as part of the naval formations that came to rule these areas. A general breakdown in communication, coupled with the lack of proper maintenance facilities and spare parts have made the upkeep of these Positronics a costly affair, while generally casting them fully to the mercy of local officers. Indeed, Solarian military IPCs in Warlord jurisdiction are met with different and unexpected fates. In what was the '''Southern Fleet Administration''', IPC units were either quickly sold off for profit or worked to destruction, the disorganised and bandit-like vessels having few resources to put towards their proper maintenance. In the '''Southern Military District''' on the other hand, treatment of synthetics remains in line with proper Solarian guidelines, with machinist depots on Visegrad being utilized by the fleet.

==Alliance Anthem==

“Our United Alliance” - ASSN Anthem

Our Solarian Sovereignty undisputed
Our vision, transcendent
Our heads high, our will strong
Arise my Alliance, for we are supreme
From Sol to the frontier, our right

We are humanity, our vision great
The stars, our destiny manifest
Through the toil of our people
We expand to the horizon
For our Humanity, we expand

Our Solarian Sovereignty undisputed
Our vision, transcendent
Our heads high, our will strong
Arise my Alliance, for we are supreme
From Sol to the frontier, our right

We are humanity, our vision great
Proud people under your leadership
Through the blood of our people
Always ready to give our due
For our unity, we stand strong

==[[Languages]]==
Sol Common is, unsurprisingly, the dominant language of the Alliance across all classes of society. Tau Ceti Basic is commonly available in schools, though it is generally regarded as a second language for Solarians. Tradeband is uncommon outside certain areas such as the Sol System and the Eridani Corporate Federation but, thanks to the economic power of these systems, remains a common language for interstellar trade. Freespeak, otherwise known as Gutter, is viewed as the language of lower-class individuals, such as now extinct Martian separatists, Eridanian dregs, and the barely-civilised frontiersmen from the Coalition of Colonies. Solarian Sign Language is a popular elective course in higher education in the Sol Alliance and can be found throughout the Alliance itself, in addition to forming the basis of modern Galactic Sign Language.

==[[Sol Alliance History]]==

The Sol Alliance's relatively long history holds the origins of many of the current nations, megacorporations, and current conflicts within it. For a detailed overview, see the [[Sol Alliance History|Sol Alliance history page]].

{{Navbox Human Lore}}
{{Navbox Lore}}

[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Pages]]
[[Category:Humanity]]

Outer Eyes

2026-09-18T16:34:50Z

Fyni: /* The Ennead */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[Republic_Security_%26_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_Bureau|BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karszekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrell planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop during their time at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]], which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrell history and the discovery of [[phoron]], the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the [[Skrell]], the then newly discovered [[tajara]] and [[unathi]] was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper, which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity from an "objective outside perspective" speculates that such a war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimised, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war - that such a thing was impossible.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this extreme rhetorical philosophy as the founding principle of their new organisation. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it may seize what power is needed in one move.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* Its main body must be apart from the Spur, and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply, and the finalisation of a hypothetical project to use psirens as controlled bioweapons to spark chaos.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans, and still believe the accelerated war would have them rise from the ashes. Even as the Provost died, and the Ennead fractures, it is rumoured some of that number continue this accelerationist policy, though with much diminished resources.

==The Ennead==
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]] The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
[[File:Harmonious eyes.png|thumb|The nature of Harmonious' dual positronic arrangement remains a mystery.]]
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrell Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the ''SAMV Obsidian Arrow'' in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.

During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrell researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-18T16:34:36Z

Fyni: /* The Harmonious Eye - Gambit */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[Republic_Security_%26_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_Bureau|BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karszekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrell planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop during their time at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]], which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrell history and the discovery of [[phoron]], the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the [[Skrell]], the then newly discovered [[tajara]] and [[unathi]] was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper, which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity from an "objective outside perspective" speculates that such a war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimised, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war - that such a thing was impossible.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this extreme rhetorical philosophy as the founding principle of their new organisation. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it may seize what power is needed in one move.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* Its main body must be apart from the Spur, and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply, and the finalisation of a hypothetical project to use psirens as controlled bioweapons to spark chaos.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans, and still believe the accelerated war would have them rise from the ashes. Even as the Provost died, and the Ennead fractures, it is rumoured some of that number continue this accelerationist policy, though with much diminished resources.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
[[File:Harmonious eyes.png|thumb|The nature of Harmonious' dual positronic arrangement remains a mystery.]]
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrell Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the ''SAMV Obsidian Arrow'' in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.

During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrell researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-18T16:34:28Z

Fyni:

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[Republic_Security_%26_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_Bureau|BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karszekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrell planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop during their time at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]], which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrell history and the discovery of [[phoron]], the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the [[Skrell]], the then newly discovered [[tajara]] and [[unathi]] was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper, which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity from an "objective outside perspective" speculates that such a war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimised, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war - that such a thing was impossible.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this extreme rhetorical philosophy as the founding principle of their new organisation. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it may seize what power is needed in one move.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* Its main body must be apart from the Spur, and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply, and the finalisation of a hypothetical project to use psirens as controlled bioweapons to spark chaos.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans, and still believe the accelerated war would have them rise from the ashes. Even as the Provost died, and the Ennead fractures, it is rumoured some of that number continue this accelerationist policy, though with much diminished resources.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
[[File:Harmonious eyes.png|thumb|The nature of Harmonious' dual positronic arrangement remains a mystery.]]]
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrell Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the ''SAMV Obsidian Arrow'' in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.

During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrell researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

File:Harmonious eyes.png

2026-09-18T16:33:58Z

Fyni:

Harmonious Eyes, member of the Outer Eyes Ennead. By Dessy/Remratsuken.

Outer Eyes

2026-09-17T22:46:03Z

Fyni: /* The Modernist Philosophy */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[Republic_Security_%26_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_Bureau|BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karszekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrell planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop during their time at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]], which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrell history and the discovery of [[phoron]], the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the [[Skrell]], the then newly discovered [[tajara]] and [[unathi]] was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper, which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity from an "objective outside perspective" speculates that such a war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimised, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war - that such a thing was impossible.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this extreme rhetorical philosophy as the founding principle of their new organisation. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it may seize what power is needed in one move.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* Its main body must be apart from the Spur, and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply, and the finalisation of a hypothetical project to use psirens as controlled bioweapons to spark chaos.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans, and still believe the accelerated war would have them rise from the ashes. Even as the Provost died, and the Ennead fractures, it is rumoured some of that number continue this accelerationist policy, though with much diminished resources.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrell Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the ''SAMV Obsidian Arrow'' in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.

During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrell researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-17T22:43:30Z

Fyni: /* The Provost's Tenets */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[Republic_Security_%26_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_Bureau|BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karszekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrell planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop during their time at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]], which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrell history and the discovery of [[phoron]], the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the [[Skrell]], the then newly discovered [[tajara]] and [[unathi]] was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper, which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity from an "objective outside perspective" speculates that such a war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimised, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war - that such a thing was impossible.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this extreme rhetorical philosophy as the founding principle of their new organisation. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it may seize what power is needed in one move.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* Its main body must be apart from the Spur, and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrell Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the ''SAMV Obsidian Arrow'' in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.

During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrell researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-17T01:09:55Z

Fyni: /* The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[Republic_Security_%26_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_Bureau|BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karszekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrell planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrell history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrell Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the ''SAMV Obsidian Arrow'' in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.

During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrell researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-16T23:27:38Z

Fyni: /* The Shadowed Eye – No One */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[Republic_Security_%26_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_Bureau|BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karszekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrell planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrell history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrell Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrell researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-16T23:27:31Z

Fyni: /* The Harmonious Eye - Gambit */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[Republic_Security_%26_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_Bureau|BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karszekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrell planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrell history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrell Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-16T23:27:22Z

Fyni: /* The Provost's Tenets */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[Republic_Security_%26_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_Bureau|BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karszekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrell planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrell history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-16T23:27:12Z

Fyni: /* Modus Operandi */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[Republic_Security_%26_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_Bureau|BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karszekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrell planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-16T17:49:18Z

Fyni: /* History */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[Republic_Security_%26_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_Bureau|BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karszekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrellian planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-16T17:49:07Z

Fyni: /* The Purple Market Dossier */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[Republic_Security_%26_Law_Enforcement#Biesel_Security_Services_BureauBSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karszekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrellian planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-16T17:48:40Z

Fyni: /* Operation Deep Dive */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karszekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrellian planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-15T00:35:22Z

Fyni: /* Operation Deep Dive */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst the failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognised such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrellian planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-15T00:28:54Z

Fyni: /* Founding */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[The_Orion_Spur#Light’s_Edge|Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrellian planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-15T00:28:36Z

Fyni:

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[The_Orion_Spur#The_ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrellian planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

The Orion Spur

2026-09-15T00:26:49Z

Fyni: /* Lemurian Sea */

{{Outdated (Phoron Scarcity)}}
{{Navbox Lore}}
==Orion Spur==
{{toc_right}}

[[File:Orionspurindicator.png|thumb|left|An indicator for where the Orion Spur is in the Milky Way.]]
=Overview=
This is a page for the regional descriptors and '''starmap''' of the Orion Spur, the setting of the Aurora server's universe.

'''[[The Orion Spur#The Starmap|At the very bottom of this page is a fully interactive map of the region that will be updated as time goes on. To access it, hit expand on the right of its collapsible box.]]'''

The Orion Spur is the center of all things familiar in the galaxy, yet is largely unexplored by even the most noteworthy Skrell and Human expeditions. It represents a tiny portion of a much larger galaxy that is indicative of a thriving and lush interstellar community. At least, the hope is that whatever lay beyond could be considered such.

The Orion Spur is traditionally charted in a horizontal two-dimensional fashion imposed over the Milky Way. This is due to the fact that the density of noteworthy locations is rather thin and spread out evenly across its internal regions. This is not to say the galaxy is not three dimensional - however for your ease of comprehension, it will not be treated as such.

To the Galactic North of the Orion Spur (closer toward the galactic center in this definition) is the Sagittarius Arm, and to the Galactic South (further from the galactic center) would be the Perseus Arm.

Details as to the background of the Orion Spur can be found [[Background summary|here.]] This region of space (or perhaps all of space if this is any indicator) is particularly anomalous, and some of its anomalies can be detailed on the [[Deep Space]] page.

Details on the regions of, and factions within the Orion Spur can be found below.

=Regions=
==[[Sol Alliance|Solarian Alliance]]==
The Alliance of Sovereign Solarian Nations is the single largest political entity in known space. Nearly half of Humanity can trace their home to here.

===Jewel Worlds===

Centered in the heart of the Sol Alliance and safe from any common galactic dangers, the Jewel Worlds are the historical home of humanity and stand as the most developed and populous region in the entire Orion Spur. Though humanity has since split into a multitude of nations many still view the Jewel Worlds – particularly the Sol System – with a hint of reverence due to the storied history of this region.

Major worlds in the Jewel Worlds include the entirety of the Sol System, the [[Eridani Federation|Epsilon Eridani]] system, [[New Hai Phong]], and [[Silversun]].

Two bluespace gates – massive structures which rely on phoron to provide faster than light travel – exist within the Jewel Worlds. The first, from Epsilon Eridani to Qerrbalak, is still functional if mostly used for government vessels due to the high price of phoron. The second, from the Sol System to [[Konyang]], currently sits inactive and partially dismantled due to Konyang’s formal secession from the Alliance in 2462.

===Alliance Neutral Zone===

A massive region of neutral space established over two hundred years ago during the time after the Interstellar War, the “ANZ” is a testament to the Coalition’s fear. Both the Alliance and Coalition have long since built their borders around this demilitarized zone, taking great care to not officially overstep their boundaries and create hostilities. However, it is very clear the Alliance itself has long cared little for this zone, regularly “accidentally” pushing survey fleets into its boundaries. The ANZ entirely encompasses the Weeping Stars region.

''As of the [[KING OF THE WORLD]] arc's finale in late 2462, the ANZ no longer exists.''

===Northern Reaches===

Prior to 2462 the Northern Reaches — named so due to their status as the furthest point of Solarian control in the galactic north — were an area of immense post-Interstellar War investment by both the Solarian Alliance and the various megacorporations which had come to pull the strings of its economic system from behind the scenes. This investment allowed for the region to be heavily developed over the 2300s and 2400s, though large amounts of funds disappeared due to increasingly large amounts of government corruption, and resulted in it being the most prosperous sections of the Alliance outside of its Inner Ring.

Following the Solarian Collapse of 2462 the Northern Reaches have been divided between the Coalition, Biesel, and the post-Solarian statelets of the Northern Wildlands, which has caused it to be wracked by instability. As of 2465 the regionhas become the site of the largest conflict in the Spur since the Interstellar War: the War in the Northern Wildlands, or Solarian Civil War. This War has seen the Wildlands ripped apart by violence and looting, with many concerned the conflict will spill over into neighboring states.

Major worlds in the Northern Reaches include [[San Colette]], [[Human Wildlands#The Solarian Restoration Front|Lycoris]], and [[Konyang]].

===Southern Reaches===

While it never had the development of its counterpart to the galactic north, the Southern Reaches were considered a critical part of the Alliance prior to the Solarian Collapse and great efforts — featuring the corruption typically associated with the post-Interstellar War Alliance — were made to ensure it remained secure and safe as this region was the southernmost section of the Alliance. These defensive efforts would greatly benefit the Alliance in 2462 when, despite losing nominal control over the area, two Sol-aligned statelets — the Solarian Provisional Government and Southern Solarian Military District — emerged from the aftermath of the Collapse, securing most of the region for the Alliance de facto if not de jure.

But the furthest reaches of this area were not so lucky. Lacking significant infrastructure and ineffective local military forces, the southernmost region of the Southern Reaches found themselves under the control of the Biesel-funded Southern Fleet Administration, a bandit group which destroyed much of the region through rampant looting and has caused it to be known as the Pustkowie, or Wasteland, by pro-Solarian forces in the region. Even though the Pustkowie is nominally claimed by the Alliance most doubt it will make any serious effort to claim this now mostly depopulated and decivilized region.

Major worlds in the Southern Reaches include [[Visegrad]] and [[Human Wildlands#The Solarian Provisional Government|Sankt Frederick]]. The Pustkowie, its south, is home to no major population centers.

==[[Coalition of Colonies]]==
The Coalition of Colonies is the largest Human entity in known space, regarded highly in the Frontier as a bastion of hope against the burgeoning Solarian Alliance. Over 85 billion people reside across the entire Coalition, with all relatively evenly spread out.

===Liberty’s Cradle===

The beating heart of the modern Coalition of Colonies, Liberty’s Cradle is home to many of the Coalition’s most developed and influential worlds. In contrast to the Solarian stereotype of the frontier as a decivilized wasteland populated by roving bands of pirates and petty warlords, Liberty’s Cradle is a prosperous and safe region which has a higher standard of living than much of the former Middle and Outer Ring possessed prior to the Solarian Collapse of 2462. Post-Collapse the area has continued to prosper and, now that it dwells far behind the Coalition-controlled Weeping Stars, is more secure than it has ever been before.

This region, prior to the Interstellar War, was divided between the Inner and Central Solarian Frontier. During the Interstellar War both regions were the site of intense fighting between the Alliance and Coalition, which ultimately secured total control over the area through the Treaty of Xansan. In the 25th century the distinction between these two frontiers has disappeared and the entire region is simply referred to as Liberty’s Cradle in honor of the sacrifices made by the Coalition during the Interstellar War.

Major worlds in Liberty’s Cradle include [[Xanu Prime|Xanu]], [[Himeo]], and [[Vysoka]]. [[Orepit]] can additionally be found within its borders.

===Weeping Stars===

The region most devastated by the Interstellar War, the majority of the Weeping Stars has yet to recover from the damage it suffered during the War and much of it remains underdeveloped and sparsely inhabited. During the hegemonic era of the Solarian Alliance, when the Alliance stretched from Sol to the edge of known space, this region was known as the Inner Solarian Frontier and was intended to serve as a highly-developed region for humanity to thrive in. Massive amounts of funds were used to build an infrastructure which was still incomplete when war broke out in 2277, and the shattered ruins of long-lost Solarian hegemonic era structures and projects are present throughout the region.

The Weeping Stars served as the Alliance Neutral Zone until 2462, when the Solarian Collapse saw the region fall out of Solarian control.

Major worlds in the Weeping Stars include [[Gadpathur]] and [[Burzsia]].

===Light’s Edge===
[[File:Light's Edge.png.png|thumb|Light's Edge - Waiting to be Explored.]]
An unusual region which is sparsely populated even in the 25th century, Light’s Edge was the furthest extent of the Alliance’s hegemonic era exploration efforts in the southeastern Spur. Few attempts were made to colonize it prior to the Interstellar War and even fewer of these attempts were successful, with [[Assunzione]] being the most successful of all hegemonic era colonies in the region. Light’s Edge derives its name from its position next to Lemurian Sea, a vast and mostly uncharted region which is entirely devoid of stars. Both Light’s Edge and the Lemurian Sea are home to a variety of unusual stellar phenomena which have attracted widespread scientific interest.

====The ICSR====
The Inter Coalition Sea Region, or ICSR, denotes a small region of Light’s Edge along its border with the Lemurian Sea. Despite it’s proximity to the dangerous Lemurian Sea, it is one of the more densely populated regions of Light’s Edge, with Assunzione debatably lying within it, along with the modern colony world of Meropis.

====Lemurian Sea====
''Main Article: [[Lemurian Sea]]''

Often categorized as a part of Light’s Edge, the Lemurian Sea is an astrological curiosity which is entirely free of stars. This region is a relatively new discovery and classification, having only been officially broken off of Light’s Edge by most astrographical institutions following the rediscovery of Assunzione and limited exploration beyond its position on the border of what would become the Lemurian Sea. Most astrological charts advise avoiding the region as travelers are known to report a feeling of general uneasiness while passing through it and many vessels are known to have disappeared within the Sea.

Major worlds in Light’s Edge include Zaurghis, Meropis and Assunzione, which sits on the very edge of the Lemurian Sea. No known settlements exist within the Lemurian Sea.

==Human Frontier and Colonial Space==
The Human Frontier consists of any amount of open space that is charted but is left without any major galactic sovereignty. This is seen as lawless, wild space to some while untold billions call it home. Colonial territories such as Elyra or Dominia are the few bastions of solid civilization in this chaotic place.

===The Clash===
The Clash is the farthest point of the Human Frontier and the closest settlement of Human territories to Nralakk Federation space, with some independent factions practically floating on the border of it.

===Arusha===
Arusha is a truly alien sector within the Orion Spur, known for its great many barely-habitable planets populated by xenoflora that is like nothing ever seen elsewhere in charted space. Presumably anomalous in nature or spread by a now long-gone civilization, these Arushan plant species are widely famous for their odd appearance, high luminescence and very specific compatible habitats. The products of harvesting Arushan plants are seen as delicacies across charted space.

===Badlands===
The Badlands are home to some of the Orion Spur’s most savage flora and fauna, a phenomenon that attracts only the wildest and wisest of the system’s inhabitants - xenobiologists, weapon scientists, there’s even a market for mercenaries, in the hunting of the particularly large and lethal creatures. Of course, there are also those looking to make a life for themselves, but natives aren’t known to treat settlements kindly.
[[File:Perispolis2.png|Persepolis, capital of Elyra and a major political player in the Badlands.|thumb]]
The majority of the [[People's Republic of Adhomai]], [[Karszekani Moghes]] and the [[Republic of Elyra]]’s space finds itself positioned in the Badlands.

'''The Badlands are accessible by a set of bluespace gates leading to and from Tau Ceti and Persepolis/New Ankara.'''

===Valley Hale===
Nestled in the narrow Frontier space between the [[Republic of Elyra]] and the former borders of the Solarian Alliance is Valley Hale, a large region filled with a large amount of old, dying stars and impassable nebulae. Due to close proximity to patrols on either end of this space, it isn’t frequented much by criminal elements and is one of the safer parts of the known Frontier. After 2462, the Republic of Elyra has occupied the majority of Valley Hale, now bordering the [[Republic of Biesel]].

===Orion’s Scar===
Found in a sector of space between the Badlands and Light’s Edge. It is named for the higher density of stars in the region, forming a brighter “scar” when observed from a distance, especially in contrast to the darker Lemurian Sea behind it when viewed from the Spur’s more southward populated planets.

Its location and the higher density of stars makes it a prime candidate for colonisation efforts for the [[Tajara]] and [[Unathi]] people – both close to [[Adhomai]] and [[Moghes]] and more likely to harbour those rarer, perfect planets for colonisation.

Some early exploration was undertaken during the Solarian hegemonic era, though never extensive and the start of the interstellar war saw these projects cancelled, like many other Solarian frontier missions. Modern exploration of the sector began in earnest in the past thirty years, with plenty of exploration ships comb Orion’s Scar seeking a new potential home.

Several smaller “stepping stone” colonies and stations already established in the sector close to the Spur’s nations, though the intrepid explorers who have ventured further from civilisation have yet to find anything of note. On the northern fringes of the sector, independents and pirates ply their trades and there are rumours of great [[Einstein Engines]] involvement in the sector.

===Sparring Sea===
A large region of heavily contested space, mostly avoided, barring those with lofty goals or sinister dealings. It is populated by all sorts of outcasts and outlaws, but notably Unathi pirates and exiles, Dominian edict breakers and even the scarce eccentric band of Skrell are all known to seek refuge here. Though piracy is common, plenty of stubborn colonies of all backgrounds make stakes here.

===Crescent Expanse===
A large, mostly uncontrolled area, the Crescent Expanse represents the furthest stretches of human colonization and stretches to the border of the Nralakk Federation. This area was in the process of development by the Solarian Alliance prior to the Interstellar War and half-complete relics of the Alliance's hegemonic era can be found scattered across its planets and floating in long-abandoned systems. The Coalition of Colonies, Nralakk Federation, and Solarian Alliance are currently attempting to expand their influence into this region with varying degrees of success.

==[[Skrell|Nralakk Federation]]==
The Nralakk Federation is an authoritarian, centralized union of star systems. Although humans have fractured heavily in their expansion, Skrell have remained in a largely singular government through strict reinforcement of education, travel, technology and research, while its laws and planned economy organised by the Grand Council further allow the Federation to control the direction of the nation. Social media is maintained by the Federation government, which gags unacceptable discussions or thoughts and instead encourages people to be like the Idols that they reward with credits, high-quality housing, and fine living.

===The Homeworld===

The geographical and strategic centre of the Nralakk Federation, the Homeworld region encompasses the entirety of the Nralakk system, the origin point for the Skrell species. The region is considered the "jewel" of the Federation, being both the most affluent and most influential system of the nation, as well as housing almost a quarter of the Orion Spur's total Skrell. It has a single Bluespace gate, connecting the system to Humanity's [[Eridani_Federation|Episilon Eridani]].

[[Qerrbalak]], [[Qerr'Malic]], and [[Aliose]] are noteworthy planets within the Homeworld region.

===Inner Systems===

The Inner Systems are parts of the Nralakk Federation that were the first to be colonised by Skrell, and have had centuries, if not thousands of years of development. This region sees a high quality of life and technological standing on par with the Homeworld, which gradually begins to decline as one reaches the border with the Traverse. Older colonies have become specialised in one way or another, while the "newer" colonies focus almost purely on manufacturing as they transition from resource extraction to refining and production. The Inner Systems are divided between the [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Elemental_Systems:_The_First_Waves|'''First Waves''']], colonies that were established early in the age of Skrell colonisation, and the [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Contingent_Systems:_The_Second_Waves|'''Second Waves''']], which were established much later to further support Qerrbalak and its colonies.

[[Aweiji]] is located in the Inner Systems.

===The Traverse===
The Traverse is the frontier of Federation society. Research and mining outposts, newly-established colonies, and manufacturing facilities can be found dotted throughout this large-spanning section of Federation space. While the quality of life and purpose of settlements in the Traverse vary drastically, they will all follow similar trends based on which [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Tetramerous_Systems:_The_Traverse|district]] they are in. The Traverse is also home to independence movements, resistance cells, and other [[Federation_Crime_and_Resistance|criminal]] organisations that operate in Federation space.

[[Tattuqig]] and [[Xrim]] are located in the Traverse.

====Pluat Ven’qop - The Pluat Cooperative====

The “crown” of the Traverse, the Pluat Ven’qop (or the Pluat Cooperative) is host to much of the Traverse’s industrial facilities. Besides Pluat itself, several other planets and megafactory stations take in raw resources imported in from other areas in the Traverse or the Spur at large for manufacturing civilian and military goods for the Federation. Though, the majority of the goods produced here are necessities rather than luxury items.

The standard of living is comparable to living within the Contingent Systems, thanks to the importance and support the Federation places on the district. Qukala Patrols are a common sight here and piracy rates are extremely low. Technologically speaking, citizens enjoy advanced industrial designs and slightly outdated, but enjoyable luxury devices.

====Qukala-Median Treqki - The Median====
Also known as the Median Naval District, it was created shortly after first contact with the Solarian Alliance, this district was to serve as a firm wall between human and skrell territory. The Qukala established several military bases and patrol outposts in the region to handle potential piracy, be it Humans preying on Skrell or vice versa. The region was largely unoccupied prior to the Qukala’s establishment in the area, outside of a few mining and agricultural colonies. Thanks to warm relations with the Alliance, the Qukala never had to make much use of their power here, until the Solarian Warlord States arrived in force. Recently, occasional skirmishes have broken out in the Median as opportunistic raiders swelled in numbers in the wake of the collapse of Solarian authority.

Skrell from the Median are few and far between, especially those that decided to venture out in the Spur. Most of the population are farmers, miners, Qukala, and those that make up the services to support them. The planets in the district were developed enough for the Qukala to purchase local food rather than importing it from the inner worlds, but little more support than that has been received from the Federation.

====Q'elpi - The Q’elpi Basin====
The Skrell residing in the “Basin” of the Traverse do not often feel the touch of Nralakk’s hand in their affairs, for better or worse. The region is largely decentralized with administrations being planetary in nature rather than covering large swathes of space. The Basin is home to barely habitable planets and plenty of asteroid fields. Outside of initial construction and colonization efforts, the Federation has provided nearly no extra support to the Basin. Most colonies and habitats get by via trading minerals and valuable gasses for food and domestic goods.

During the [[The_Phoron_Scarcity:_Skrell_Arc|phoron crisis]], it was revealed that around a dozen systems in the Q'elpi region were secretly collaborating with the Ti'Rakqi, the largest group of Marauders in Federation space. When the Qukala and local Nlomkala attempted a mass arrest of the civilian Government for their part in the collaboration, the systems quickly broke into open defiance of the Federation Government. The '''"Marauder Systems"''', as they came to be known, are currently under martial law as slow progress is being made to pacify them. The Federation has publicly stated its intention to return the systems back to a civilian Government once the collaborators have been detained and "dissident activity" has ceased.

====Zeiqi-Trqn - The Deadspace Spine ====
The portion of the Traverse situated towards galactic west near uncharted space is aptly dubbed the “Deadspace Spine” when translated from Nral’Malic. The region was one of the first colonization targets of pre-Glorsh skrell. The colonies and installations here are very old, very occupied, and very lawless.

Due to the Tri-Qyu incident, much of the skrellian infrastructure in place to keep their interstellar empire intact was rendered inoperable, setting the species back with resounding force. Due to the distance, the Zeiqi-Trqn was one of the final areas of pre-Glorsh space to be “reclaimed” by the Nralakk Federation.

This reclamation took quite some time though, and during the decades prior, the skrell in the Zeiqi-Trqn recovered their ability to traverse the stars earlier than most due to their distance from the Tri-Qyu system. They lacked sufficient industrial power to produce the fuel and other necessities required to return to the core worlds, and instead opted to engage in communal trade to keep the region breathing until they could be found.

A few decades before rediscovery, a plague swept through the Zeiqi-Trqn. Its origins are unknown and widely speculated about, popular theories being that it was a Glorsh-Omega bio-weapon or some unknown bacteria from Deadspace. Regardless, the “Black-Blood” caused the blood of a victim to cease transmission of oxygen to the cells, eventual corruption of DNA and caused the body to use carbon instead of mercury in its blood, causing its infamous black color. The plague wiped out a few of the fledgling colonies completely and severely damaged the populace of the remaining planets and stations. Authority collapsed and the region descended into anarchy.

Desperate skrell turned towards piracy and exploitation to stay alive. Colonies were raided and burned, rival pirate fleets fought for any scraps of fuel or food, and countless others died from the indiscriminate conflict. When the Federation arrived, little was left to save. The Grand Council condemned the area as a “lost cause” and enacted measures to destroy colonies, ships, and stations suspected to contain traces of the Black-Blood. To this day, there is no cure to the disease, only early treatment can prevent cases from becoming terminal. Any skrell suspected of visiting the region is subject to screening to avoid spreading it to the Federation core.

Inside the Zeiqi-Trqn itself, skrell who refuse to bend the knee to Nralakk, prefer to live more criminal lives, or simply lack the power to go elsewhere live in squalor. The region receives no support from the Nralakk Federation, and no regular patrols outside of the ones on its border.

====Estuaries====

The Estuaries are considered the final frontier for Skrellian expansion, being one of the few directions the Nralakk Federation can expand without encroaching on its neighbour's borders. The region is mostly comprised of small developing colonies, termed "Boundary Worlds" or "Boundaries" for short. The Estuaries are almost a perfect location for independence movements and other illegal operations to flourish; the lack of infrastructure and value found in the Estuaries has resulted in Qukala patrols being few and far between, allowing for Marauders, Lyukal cells, and anti-Federation agitators to operate with unparalleled freedom.

The Estuaries have learned to rely less on the Federation, with colonies adopting a more "generalist" plan compared to the specialised societies found elsewhere in the Federation to facilitate trade and survival. Technology and quality of life within this segment of the Traverse can vary wildly, but usually ranks lower than elsewhere in the Federation as a result of the colonies here either being newly established or lacking the resources to develop to what's considered standard in the modern-day.

==The Starmap==
{{Template:Aurora_Starmap}}

The Orion Spur

2026-09-15T00:26:43Z

Fyni: /* Lemurian Sea */

{{Outdated (Phoron Scarcity)}}
{{Navbox Lore}}
==Orion Spur==
{{toc_right}}

[[File:Orionspurindicator.png|thumb|left|An indicator for where the Orion Spur is in the Milky Way.]]
=Overview=
This is a page for the regional descriptors and '''starmap''' of the Orion Spur, the setting of the Aurora server's universe.

'''[[The Orion Spur#The Starmap|At the very bottom of this page is a fully interactive map of the region that will be updated as time goes on. To access it, hit expand on the right of its collapsible box.]]'''

The Orion Spur is the center of all things familiar in the galaxy, yet is largely unexplored by even the most noteworthy Skrell and Human expeditions. It represents a tiny portion of a much larger galaxy that is indicative of a thriving and lush interstellar community. At least, the hope is that whatever lay beyond could be considered such.

The Orion Spur is traditionally charted in a horizontal two-dimensional fashion imposed over the Milky Way. This is due to the fact that the density of noteworthy locations is rather thin and spread out evenly across its internal regions. This is not to say the galaxy is not three dimensional - however for your ease of comprehension, it will not be treated as such.

To the Galactic North of the Orion Spur (closer toward the galactic center in this definition) is the Sagittarius Arm, and to the Galactic South (further from the galactic center) would be the Perseus Arm.

Details as to the background of the Orion Spur can be found [[Background summary|here.]] This region of space (or perhaps all of space if this is any indicator) is particularly anomalous, and some of its anomalies can be detailed on the [[Deep Space]] page.

Details on the regions of, and factions within the Orion Spur can be found below.

=Regions=
==[[Sol Alliance|Solarian Alliance]]==
The Alliance of Sovereign Solarian Nations is the single largest political entity in known space. Nearly half of Humanity can trace their home to here.

===Jewel Worlds===

Centered in the heart of the Sol Alliance and safe from any common galactic dangers, the Jewel Worlds are the historical home of humanity and stand as the most developed and populous region in the entire Orion Spur. Though humanity has since split into a multitude of nations many still view the Jewel Worlds – particularly the Sol System – with a hint of reverence due to the storied history of this region.

Major worlds in the Jewel Worlds include the entirety of the Sol System, the [[Eridani Federation|Epsilon Eridani]] system, [[New Hai Phong]], and [[Silversun]].

Two bluespace gates – massive structures which rely on phoron to provide faster than light travel – exist within the Jewel Worlds. The first, from Epsilon Eridani to Qerrbalak, is still functional if mostly used for government vessels due to the high price of phoron. The second, from the Sol System to [[Konyang]], currently sits inactive and partially dismantled due to Konyang’s formal secession from the Alliance in 2462.

===Alliance Neutral Zone===

A massive region of neutral space established over two hundred years ago during the time after the Interstellar War, the “ANZ” is a testament to the Coalition’s fear. Both the Alliance and Coalition have long since built their borders around this demilitarized zone, taking great care to not officially overstep their boundaries and create hostilities. However, it is very clear the Alliance itself has long cared little for this zone, regularly “accidentally” pushing survey fleets into its boundaries. The ANZ entirely encompasses the Weeping Stars region.

''As of the [[KING OF THE WORLD]] arc's finale in late 2462, the ANZ no longer exists.''

===Northern Reaches===

Prior to 2462 the Northern Reaches — named so due to their status as the furthest point of Solarian control in the galactic north — were an area of immense post-Interstellar War investment by both the Solarian Alliance and the various megacorporations which had come to pull the strings of its economic system from behind the scenes. This investment allowed for the region to be heavily developed over the 2300s and 2400s, though large amounts of funds disappeared due to increasingly large amounts of government corruption, and resulted in it being the most prosperous sections of the Alliance outside of its Inner Ring.

Following the Solarian Collapse of 2462 the Northern Reaches have been divided between the Coalition, Biesel, and the post-Solarian statelets of the Northern Wildlands, which has caused it to be wracked by instability. As of 2465 the regionhas become the site of the largest conflict in the Spur since the Interstellar War: the War in the Northern Wildlands, or Solarian Civil War. This War has seen the Wildlands ripped apart by violence and looting, with many concerned the conflict will spill over into neighboring states.

Major worlds in the Northern Reaches include [[San Colette]], [[Human Wildlands#The Solarian Restoration Front|Lycoris]], and [[Konyang]].

===Southern Reaches===

While it never had the development of its counterpart to the galactic north, the Southern Reaches were considered a critical part of the Alliance prior to the Solarian Collapse and great efforts — featuring the corruption typically associated with the post-Interstellar War Alliance — were made to ensure it remained secure and safe as this region was the southernmost section of the Alliance. These defensive efforts would greatly benefit the Alliance in 2462 when, despite losing nominal control over the area, two Sol-aligned statelets — the Solarian Provisional Government and Southern Solarian Military District — emerged from the aftermath of the Collapse, securing most of the region for the Alliance de facto if not de jure.

But the furthest reaches of this area were not so lucky. Lacking significant infrastructure and ineffective local military forces, the southernmost region of the Southern Reaches found themselves under the control of the Biesel-funded Southern Fleet Administration, a bandit group which destroyed much of the region through rampant looting and has caused it to be known as the Pustkowie, or Wasteland, by pro-Solarian forces in the region. Even though the Pustkowie is nominally claimed by the Alliance most doubt it will make any serious effort to claim this now mostly depopulated and decivilized region.

Major worlds in the Southern Reaches include [[Visegrad]] and [[Human Wildlands#The Solarian Provisional Government|Sankt Frederick]]. The Pustkowie, its south, is home to no major population centers.

==[[Coalition of Colonies]]==
The Coalition of Colonies is the largest Human entity in known space, regarded highly in the Frontier as a bastion of hope against the burgeoning Solarian Alliance. Over 85 billion people reside across the entire Coalition, with all relatively evenly spread out.

===Liberty’s Cradle===

The beating heart of the modern Coalition of Colonies, Liberty’s Cradle is home to many of the Coalition’s most developed and influential worlds. In contrast to the Solarian stereotype of the frontier as a decivilized wasteland populated by roving bands of pirates and petty warlords, Liberty’s Cradle is a prosperous and safe region which has a higher standard of living than much of the former Middle and Outer Ring possessed prior to the Solarian Collapse of 2462. Post-Collapse the area has continued to prosper and, now that it dwells far behind the Coalition-controlled Weeping Stars, is more secure than it has ever been before.

This region, prior to the Interstellar War, was divided between the Inner and Central Solarian Frontier. During the Interstellar War both regions were the site of intense fighting between the Alliance and Coalition, which ultimately secured total control over the area through the Treaty of Xansan. In the 25th century the distinction between these two frontiers has disappeared and the entire region is simply referred to as Liberty’s Cradle in honor of the sacrifices made by the Coalition during the Interstellar War.

Major worlds in Liberty’s Cradle include [[Xanu Prime|Xanu]], [[Himeo]], and [[Vysoka]]. [[Orepit]] can additionally be found within its borders.

===Weeping Stars===

The region most devastated by the Interstellar War, the majority of the Weeping Stars has yet to recover from the damage it suffered during the War and much of it remains underdeveloped and sparsely inhabited. During the hegemonic era of the Solarian Alliance, when the Alliance stretched from Sol to the edge of known space, this region was known as the Inner Solarian Frontier and was intended to serve as a highly-developed region for humanity to thrive in. Massive amounts of funds were used to build an infrastructure which was still incomplete when war broke out in 2277, and the shattered ruins of long-lost Solarian hegemonic era structures and projects are present throughout the region.

The Weeping Stars served as the Alliance Neutral Zone until 2462, when the Solarian Collapse saw the region fall out of Solarian control.

Major worlds in the Weeping Stars include [[Gadpathur]] and [[Burzsia]].

===Light’s Edge===
[[File:Light's Edge.png.png|thumb|Light's Edge - Waiting to be Explored.]]
An unusual region which is sparsely populated even in the 25th century, Light’s Edge was the furthest extent of the Alliance’s hegemonic era exploration efforts in the southeastern Spur. Few attempts were made to colonize it prior to the Interstellar War and even fewer of these attempts were successful, with [[Assunzione]] being the most successful of all hegemonic era colonies in the region. Light’s Edge derives its name from its position next to Lemurian Sea, a vast and mostly uncharted region which is entirely devoid of stars. Both Light’s Edge and the Lemurian Sea are home to a variety of unusual stellar phenomena which have attracted widespread scientific interest.

====The ICSR====
The Inter Coalition Sea Region, or ICSR, denotes a small region of Light’s Edge along its border with the Lemurian Sea. Despite it’s proximity to the dangerous Lemurian Sea, it is one of the more densely populated regions of Light’s Edge, with Assunzione debatably lying within it, along with the modern colony world of Meropis.

====Lemurian Sea====
''Main Article: [[Lemurian Sea]]''
Often categorized as a part of Light’s Edge, the Lemurian Sea is an astrological curiosity which is entirely free of stars. This region is a relatively new discovery and classification, having only been officially broken off of Light’s Edge by most astrographical institutions following the rediscovery of Assunzione and limited exploration beyond its position on the border of what would become the Lemurian Sea. Most astrological charts advise avoiding the region as travelers are known to report a feeling of general uneasiness while passing through it and many vessels are known to have disappeared within the Sea.

Major worlds in Light’s Edge include Zaurghis, Meropis and Assunzione, which sits on the very edge of the Lemurian Sea. No known settlements exist within the Lemurian Sea.

==Human Frontier and Colonial Space==
The Human Frontier consists of any amount of open space that is charted but is left without any major galactic sovereignty. This is seen as lawless, wild space to some while untold billions call it home. Colonial territories such as Elyra or Dominia are the few bastions of solid civilization in this chaotic place.

===The Clash===
The Clash is the farthest point of the Human Frontier and the closest settlement of Human territories to Nralakk Federation space, with some independent factions practically floating on the border of it.

===Arusha===
Arusha is a truly alien sector within the Orion Spur, known for its great many barely-habitable planets populated by xenoflora that is like nothing ever seen elsewhere in charted space. Presumably anomalous in nature or spread by a now long-gone civilization, these Arushan plant species are widely famous for their odd appearance, high luminescence and very specific compatible habitats. The products of harvesting Arushan plants are seen as delicacies across charted space.

===Badlands===
The Badlands are home to some of the Orion Spur’s most savage flora and fauna, a phenomenon that attracts only the wildest and wisest of the system’s inhabitants - xenobiologists, weapon scientists, there’s even a market for mercenaries, in the hunting of the particularly large and lethal creatures. Of course, there are also those looking to make a life for themselves, but natives aren’t known to treat settlements kindly.
[[File:Perispolis2.png|Persepolis, capital of Elyra and a major political player in the Badlands.|thumb]]
The majority of the [[People's Republic of Adhomai]], [[Karszekani Moghes]] and the [[Republic of Elyra]]’s space finds itself positioned in the Badlands.

'''The Badlands are accessible by a set of bluespace gates leading to and from Tau Ceti and Persepolis/New Ankara.'''

===Valley Hale===
Nestled in the narrow Frontier space between the [[Republic of Elyra]] and the former borders of the Solarian Alliance is Valley Hale, a large region filled with a large amount of old, dying stars and impassable nebulae. Due to close proximity to patrols on either end of this space, it isn’t frequented much by criminal elements and is one of the safer parts of the known Frontier. After 2462, the Republic of Elyra has occupied the majority of Valley Hale, now bordering the [[Republic of Biesel]].

===Orion’s Scar===
Found in a sector of space between the Badlands and Light’s Edge. It is named for the higher density of stars in the region, forming a brighter “scar” when observed from a distance, especially in contrast to the darker Lemurian Sea behind it when viewed from the Spur’s more southward populated planets.

Its location and the higher density of stars makes it a prime candidate for colonisation efforts for the [[Tajara]] and [[Unathi]] people – both close to [[Adhomai]] and [[Moghes]] and more likely to harbour those rarer, perfect planets for colonisation.

Some early exploration was undertaken during the Solarian hegemonic era, though never extensive and the start of the interstellar war saw these projects cancelled, like many other Solarian frontier missions. Modern exploration of the sector began in earnest in the past thirty years, with plenty of exploration ships comb Orion’s Scar seeking a new potential home.

Several smaller “stepping stone” colonies and stations already established in the sector close to the Spur’s nations, though the intrepid explorers who have ventured further from civilisation have yet to find anything of note. On the northern fringes of the sector, independents and pirates ply their trades and there are rumours of great [[Einstein Engines]] involvement in the sector.

===Sparring Sea===
A large region of heavily contested space, mostly avoided, barring those with lofty goals or sinister dealings. It is populated by all sorts of outcasts and outlaws, but notably Unathi pirates and exiles, Dominian edict breakers and even the scarce eccentric band of Skrell are all known to seek refuge here. Though piracy is common, plenty of stubborn colonies of all backgrounds make stakes here.

===Crescent Expanse===
A large, mostly uncontrolled area, the Crescent Expanse represents the furthest stretches of human colonization and stretches to the border of the Nralakk Federation. This area was in the process of development by the Solarian Alliance prior to the Interstellar War and half-complete relics of the Alliance's hegemonic era can be found scattered across its planets and floating in long-abandoned systems. The Coalition of Colonies, Nralakk Federation, and Solarian Alliance are currently attempting to expand their influence into this region with varying degrees of success.

==[[Skrell|Nralakk Federation]]==
The Nralakk Federation is an authoritarian, centralized union of star systems. Although humans have fractured heavily in their expansion, Skrell have remained in a largely singular government through strict reinforcement of education, travel, technology and research, while its laws and planned economy organised by the Grand Council further allow the Federation to control the direction of the nation. Social media is maintained by the Federation government, which gags unacceptable discussions or thoughts and instead encourages people to be like the Idols that they reward with credits, high-quality housing, and fine living.

===The Homeworld===

The geographical and strategic centre of the Nralakk Federation, the Homeworld region encompasses the entirety of the Nralakk system, the origin point for the Skrell species. The region is considered the "jewel" of the Federation, being both the most affluent and most influential system of the nation, as well as housing almost a quarter of the Orion Spur's total Skrell. It has a single Bluespace gate, connecting the system to Humanity's [[Eridani_Federation|Episilon Eridani]].

[[Qerrbalak]], [[Qerr'Malic]], and [[Aliose]] are noteworthy planets within the Homeworld region.

===Inner Systems===

The Inner Systems are parts of the Nralakk Federation that were the first to be colonised by Skrell, and have had centuries, if not thousands of years of development. This region sees a high quality of life and technological standing on par with the Homeworld, which gradually begins to decline as one reaches the border with the Traverse. Older colonies have become specialised in one way or another, while the "newer" colonies focus almost purely on manufacturing as they transition from resource extraction to refining and production. The Inner Systems are divided between the [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Elemental_Systems:_The_First_Waves|'''First Waves''']], colonies that were established early in the age of Skrell colonisation, and the [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Contingent_Systems:_The_Second_Waves|'''Second Waves''']], which were established much later to further support Qerrbalak and its colonies.

[[Aweiji]] is located in the Inner Systems.

===The Traverse===
The Traverse is the frontier of Federation society. Research and mining outposts, newly-established colonies, and manufacturing facilities can be found dotted throughout this large-spanning section of Federation space. While the quality of life and purpose of settlements in the Traverse vary drastically, they will all follow similar trends based on which [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Tetramerous_Systems:_The_Traverse|district]] they are in. The Traverse is also home to independence movements, resistance cells, and other [[Federation_Crime_and_Resistance|criminal]] organisations that operate in Federation space.

[[Tattuqig]] and [[Xrim]] are located in the Traverse.

====Pluat Ven’qop - The Pluat Cooperative====

The “crown” of the Traverse, the Pluat Ven’qop (or the Pluat Cooperative) is host to much of the Traverse’s industrial facilities. Besides Pluat itself, several other planets and megafactory stations take in raw resources imported in from other areas in the Traverse or the Spur at large for manufacturing civilian and military goods for the Federation. Though, the majority of the goods produced here are necessities rather than luxury items.

The standard of living is comparable to living within the Contingent Systems, thanks to the importance and support the Federation places on the district. Qukala Patrols are a common sight here and piracy rates are extremely low. Technologically speaking, citizens enjoy advanced industrial designs and slightly outdated, but enjoyable luxury devices.

====Qukala-Median Treqki - The Median====
Also known as the Median Naval District, it was created shortly after first contact with the Solarian Alliance, this district was to serve as a firm wall between human and skrell territory. The Qukala established several military bases and patrol outposts in the region to handle potential piracy, be it Humans preying on Skrell or vice versa. The region was largely unoccupied prior to the Qukala’s establishment in the area, outside of a few mining and agricultural colonies. Thanks to warm relations with the Alliance, the Qukala never had to make much use of their power here, until the Solarian Warlord States arrived in force. Recently, occasional skirmishes have broken out in the Median as opportunistic raiders swelled in numbers in the wake of the collapse of Solarian authority.

Skrell from the Median are few and far between, especially those that decided to venture out in the Spur. Most of the population are farmers, miners, Qukala, and those that make up the services to support them. The planets in the district were developed enough for the Qukala to purchase local food rather than importing it from the inner worlds, but little more support than that has been received from the Federation.

====Q'elpi - The Q’elpi Basin====
The Skrell residing in the “Basin” of the Traverse do not often feel the touch of Nralakk’s hand in their affairs, for better or worse. The region is largely decentralized with administrations being planetary in nature rather than covering large swathes of space. The Basin is home to barely habitable planets and plenty of asteroid fields. Outside of initial construction and colonization efforts, the Federation has provided nearly no extra support to the Basin. Most colonies and habitats get by via trading minerals and valuable gasses for food and domestic goods.

During the [[The_Phoron_Scarcity:_Skrell_Arc|phoron crisis]], it was revealed that around a dozen systems in the Q'elpi region were secretly collaborating with the Ti'Rakqi, the largest group of Marauders in Federation space. When the Qukala and local Nlomkala attempted a mass arrest of the civilian Government for their part in the collaboration, the systems quickly broke into open defiance of the Federation Government. The '''"Marauder Systems"''', as they came to be known, are currently under martial law as slow progress is being made to pacify them. The Federation has publicly stated its intention to return the systems back to a civilian Government once the collaborators have been detained and "dissident activity" has ceased.

====Zeiqi-Trqn - The Deadspace Spine ====
The portion of the Traverse situated towards galactic west near uncharted space is aptly dubbed the “Deadspace Spine” when translated from Nral’Malic. The region was one of the first colonization targets of pre-Glorsh skrell. The colonies and installations here are very old, very occupied, and very lawless.

Due to the Tri-Qyu incident, much of the skrellian infrastructure in place to keep their interstellar empire intact was rendered inoperable, setting the species back with resounding force. Due to the distance, the Zeiqi-Trqn was one of the final areas of pre-Glorsh space to be “reclaimed” by the Nralakk Federation.

This reclamation took quite some time though, and during the decades prior, the skrell in the Zeiqi-Trqn recovered their ability to traverse the stars earlier than most due to their distance from the Tri-Qyu system. They lacked sufficient industrial power to produce the fuel and other necessities required to return to the core worlds, and instead opted to engage in communal trade to keep the region breathing until they could be found.

A few decades before rediscovery, a plague swept through the Zeiqi-Trqn. Its origins are unknown and widely speculated about, popular theories being that it was a Glorsh-Omega bio-weapon or some unknown bacteria from Deadspace. Regardless, the “Black-Blood” caused the blood of a victim to cease transmission of oxygen to the cells, eventual corruption of DNA and caused the body to use carbon instead of mercury in its blood, causing its infamous black color. The plague wiped out a few of the fledgling colonies completely and severely damaged the populace of the remaining planets and stations. Authority collapsed and the region descended into anarchy.

Desperate skrell turned towards piracy and exploitation to stay alive. Colonies were raided and burned, rival pirate fleets fought for any scraps of fuel or food, and countless others died from the indiscriminate conflict. When the Federation arrived, little was left to save. The Grand Council condemned the area as a “lost cause” and enacted measures to destroy colonies, ships, and stations suspected to contain traces of the Black-Blood. To this day, there is no cure to the disease, only early treatment can prevent cases from becoming terminal. Any skrell suspected of visiting the region is subject to screening to avoid spreading it to the Federation core.

Inside the Zeiqi-Trqn itself, skrell who refuse to bend the knee to Nralakk, prefer to live more criminal lives, or simply lack the power to go elsewhere live in squalor. The region receives no support from the Nralakk Federation, and no regular patrols outside of the ones on its border.

====Estuaries====

The Estuaries are considered the final frontier for Skrellian expansion, being one of the few directions the Nralakk Federation can expand without encroaching on its neighbour's borders. The region is mostly comprised of small developing colonies, termed "Boundary Worlds" or "Boundaries" for short. The Estuaries are almost a perfect location for independence movements and other illegal operations to flourish; the lack of infrastructure and value found in the Estuaries has resulted in Qukala patrols being few and far between, allowing for Marauders, Lyukal cells, and anti-Federation agitators to operate with unparalleled freedom.

The Estuaries have learned to rely less on the Federation, with colonies adopting a more "generalist" plan compared to the specialised societies found elsewhere in the Federation to facilitate trade and survival. Technology and quality of life within this segment of the Traverse can vary wildly, but usually ranks lower than elsewhere in the Federation as a result of the colonies here either being newly established or lacking the resources to develop to what's considered standard in the modern-day.

==The Starmap==
{{Template:Aurora_Starmap}}

The Orion Spur

2026-09-15T00:26:22Z

Fyni: /* Coalition of Colonies */

{{Outdated (Phoron Scarcity)}}
{{Navbox Lore}}
==Orion Spur==
{{toc_right}}

[[File:Orionspurindicator.png|thumb|left|An indicator for where the Orion Spur is in the Milky Way.]]
=Overview=
This is a page for the regional descriptors and '''starmap''' of the Orion Spur, the setting of the Aurora server's universe.

'''[[The Orion Spur#The Starmap|At the very bottom of this page is a fully interactive map of the region that will be updated as time goes on. To access it, hit expand on the right of its collapsible box.]]'''

The Orion Spur is the center of all things familiar in the galaxy, yet is largely unexplored by even the most noteworthy Skrell and Human expeditions. It represents a tiny portion of a much larger galaxy that is indicative of a thriving and lush interstellar community. At least, the hope is that whatever lay beyond could be considered such.

The Orion Spur is traditionally charted in a horizontal two-dimensional fashion imposed over the Milky Way. This is due to the fact that the density of noteworthy locations is rather thin and spread out evenly across its internal regions. This is not to say the galaxy is not three dimensional - however for your ease of comprehension, it will not be treated as such.

To the Galactic North of the Orion Spur (closer toward the galactic center in this definition) is the Sagittarius Arm, and to the Galactic South (further from the galactic center) would be the Perseus Arm.

Details as to the background of the Orion Spur can be found [[Background summary|here.]] This region of space (or perhaps all of space if this is any indicator) is particularly anomalous, and some of its anomalies can be detailed on the [[Deep Space]] page.

Details on the regions of, and factions within the Orion Spur can be found below.

=Regions=
==[[Sol Alliance|Solarian Alliance]]==
The Alliance of Sovereign Solarian Nations is the single largest political entity in known space. Nearly half of Humanity can trace their home to here.

===Jewel Worlds===

Centered in the heart of the Sol Alliance and safe from any common galactic dangers, the Jewel Worlds are the historical home of humanity and stand as the most developed and populous region in the entire Orion Spur. Though humanity has since split into a multitude of nations many still view the Jewel Worlds – particularly the Sol System – with a hint of reverence due to the storied history of this region.

Major worlds in the Jewel Worlds include the entirety of the Sol System, the [[Eridani Federation|Epsilon Eridani]] system, [[New Hai Phong]], and [[Silversun]].

Two bluespace gates – massive structures which rely on phoron to provide faster than light travel – exist within the Jewel Worlds. The first, from Epsilon Eridani to Qerrbalak, is still functional if mostly used for government vessels due to the high price of phoron. The second, from the Sol System to [[Konyang]], currently sits inactive and partially dismantled due to Konyang’s formal secession from the Alliance in 2462.

===Alliance Neutral Zone===

A massive region of neutral space established over two hundred years ago during the time after the Interstellar War, the “ANZ” is a testament to the Coalition’s fear. Both the Alliance and Coalition have long since built their borders around this demilitarized zone, taking great care to not officially overstep their boundaries and create hostilities. However, it is very clear the Alliance itself has long cared little for this zone, regularly “accidentally” pushing survey fleets into its boundaries. The ANZ entirely encompasses the Weeping Stars region.

''As of the [[KING OF THE WORLD]] arc's finale in late 2462, the ANZ no longer exists.''

===Northern Reaches===

Prior to 2462 the Northern Reaches — named so due to their status as the furthest point of Solarian control in the galactic north — were an area of immense post-Interstellar War investment by both the Solarian Alliance and the various megacorporations which had come to pull the strings of its economic system from behind the scenes. This investment allowed for the region to be heavily developed over the 2300s and 2400s, though large amounts of funds disappeared due to increasingly large amounts of government corruption, and resulted in it being the most prosperous sections of the Alliance outside of its Inner Ring.

Following the Solarian Collapse of 2462 the Northern Reaches have been divided between the Coalition, Biesel, and the post-Solarian statelets of the Northern Wildlands, which has caused it to be wracked by instability. As of 2465 the regionhas become the site of the largest conflict in the Spur since the Interstellar War: the War in the Northern Wildlands, or Solarian Civil War. This War has seen the Wildlands ripped apart by violence and looting, with many concerned the conflict will spill over into neighboring states.

Major worlds in the Northern Reaches include [[San Colette]], [[Human Wildlands#The Solarian Restoration Front|Lycoris]], and [[Konyang]].

===Southern Reaches===

While it never had the development of its counterpart to the galactic north, the Southern Reaches were considered a critical part of the Alliance prior to the Solarian Collapse and great efforts — featuring the corruption typically associated with the post-Interstellar War Alliance — were made to ensure it remained secure and safe as this region was the southernmost section of the Alliance. These defensive efforts would greatly benefit the Alliance in 2462 when, despite losing nominal control over the area, two Sol-aligned statelets — the Solarian Provisional Government and Southern Solarian Military District — emerged from the aftermath of the Collapse, securing most of the region for the Alliance de facto if not de jure.

But the furthest reaches of this area were not so lucky. Lacking significant infrastructure and ineffective local military forces, the southernmost region of the Southern Reaches found themselves under the control of the Biesel-funded Southern Fleet Administration, a bandit group which destroyed much of the region through rampant looting and has caused it to be known as the Pustkowie, or Wasteland, by pro-Solarian forces in the region. Even though the Pustkowie is nominally claimed by the Alliance most doubt it will make any serious effort to claim this now mostly depopulated and decivilized region.

Major worlds in the Southern Reaches include [[Visegrad]] and [[Human Wildlands#The Solarian Provisional Government|Sankt Frederick]]. The Pustkowie, its south, is home to no major population centers.

==[[Coalition of Colonies]]==
The Coalition of Colonies is the largest Human entity in known space, regarded highly in the Frontier as a bastion of hope against the burgeoning Solarian Alliance. Over 85 billion people reside across the entire Coalition, with all relatively evenly spread out.

===Liberty’s Cradle===

The beating heart of the modern Coalition of Colonies, Liberty’s Cradle is home to many of the Coalition’s most developed and influential worlds. In contrast to the Solarian stereotype of the frontier as a decivilized wasteland populated by roving bands of pirates and petty warlords, Liberty’s Cradle is a prosperous and safe region which has a higher standard of living than much of the former Middle and Outer Ring possessed prior to the Solarian Collapse of 2462. Post-Collapse the area has continued to prosper and, now that it dwells far behind the Coalition-controlled Weeping Stars, is more secure than it has ever been before.

This region, prior to the Interstellar War, was divided between the Inner and Central Solarian Frontier. During the Interstellar War both regions were the site of intense fighting between the Alliance and Coalition, which ultimately secured total control over the area through the Treaty of Xansan. In the 25th century the distinction between these two frontiers has disappeared and the entire region is simply referred to as Liberty’s Cradle in honor of the sacrifices made by the Coalition during the Interstellar War.

Major worlds in Liberty’s Cradle include [[Xanu Prime|Xanu]], [[Himeo]], and [[Vysoka]]. [[Orepit]] can additionally be found within its borders.

===Weeping Stars===

The region most devastated by the Interstellar War, the majority of the Weeping Stars has yet to recover from the damage it suffered during the War and much of it remains underdeveloped and sparsely inhabited. During the hegemonic era of the Solarian Alliance, when the Alliance stretched from Sol to the edge of known space, this region was known as the Inner Solarian Frontier and was intended to serve as a highly-developed region for humanity to thrive in. Massive amounts of funds were used to build an infrastructure which was still incomplete when war broke out in 2277, and the shattered ruins of long-lost Solarian hegemonic era structures and projects are present throughout the region.

The Weeping Stars served as the Alliance Neutral Zone until 2462, when the Solarian Collapse saw the region fall out of Solarian control.

Major worlds in the Weeping Stars include [[Gadpathur]] and [[Burzsia]].

===Light’s Edge===
[[File:Light's Edge.png.png|thumb|Light's Edge - Waiting to be Explored.]]
An unusual region which is sparsely populated even in the 25th century, Light’s Edge was the furthest extent of the Alliance’s hegemonic era exploration efforts in the southeastern Spur. Few attempts were made to colonize it prior to the Interstellar War and even fewer of these attempts were successful, with [[Assunzione]] being the most successful of all hegemonic era colonies in the region. Light’s Edge derives its name from its position next to Lemurian Sea, a vast and mostly uncharted region which is entirely devoid of stars. Both Light’s Edge and the Lemurian Sea are home to a variety of unusual stellar phenomena which have attracted widespread scientific interest.

====The ICSR====
The Inter Coalition Sea Region, or ICSR, denotes a small region of Light’s Edge along its border with the Lemurian Sea. Despite it’s proximity to the dangerous Lemurian Sea, it is one of the more densely populated regions of Light’s Edge, with Assunzione debatably lying within it, along with the modern colony world of Meropis.

====Lemurian Sea====
Main Article: [Lemurian Sea]
Often categorized as a part of Light’s Edge, the Lemurian Sea is an astrological curiosity which is entirely free of stars. This region is a relatively new discovery and classification, having only been officially broken off of Light’s Edge by most astrographical institutions following the rediscovery of Assunzione and limited exploration beyond its position on the border of what would become the Lemurian Sea. Most astrological charts advise avoiding the region as travelers are known to report a feeling of general uneasiness while passing through it and many vessels are known to have disappeared within the Sea.

Major worlds in Light’s Edge include Zaurghis, Meropis and Assunzione, which sits on the very edge of the Lemurian Sea. No known settlements exist within the Lemurian Sea.

==Human Frontier and Colonial Space==
The Human Frontier consists of any amount of open space that is charted but is left without any major galactic sovereignty. This is seen as lawless, wild space to some while untold billions call it home. Colonial territories such as Elyra or Dominia are the few bastions of solid civilization in this chaotic place.

===The Clash===
The Clash is the farthest point of the Human Frontier and the closest settlement of Human territories to Nralakk Federation space, with some independent factions practically floating on the border of it.

===Arusha===
Arusha is a truly alien sector within the Orion Spur, known for its great many barely-habitable planets populated by xenoflora that is like nothing ever seen elsewhere in charted space. Presumably anomalous in nature or spread by a now long-gone civilization, these Arushan plant species are widely famous for their odd appearance, high luminescence and very specific compatible habitats. The products of harvesting Arushan plants are seen as delicacies across charted space.

===Badlands===
The Badlands are home to some of the Orion Spur’s most savage flora and fauna, a phenomenon that attracts only the wildest and wisest of the system’s inhabitants - xenobiologists, weapon scientists, there’s even a market for mercenaries, in the hunting of the particularly large and lethal creatures. Of course, there are also those looking to make a life for themselves, but natives aren’t known to treat settlements kindly.
[[File:Perispolis2.png|Persepolis, capital of Elyra and a major political player in the Badlands.|thumb]]
The majority of the [[People's Republic of Adhomai]], [[Karszekani Moghes]] and the [[Republic of Elyra]]’s space finds itself positioned in the Badlands.

'''The Badlands are accessible by a set of bluespace gates leading to and from Tau Ceti and Persepolis/New Ankara.'''

===Valley Hale===
Nestled in the narrow Frontier space between the [[Republic of Elyra]] and the former borders of the Solarian Alliance is Valley Hale, a large region filled with a large amount of old, dying stars and impassable nebulae. Due to close proximity to patrols on either end of this space, it isn’t frequented much by criminal elements and is one of the safer parts of the known Frontier. After 2462, the Republic of Elyra has occupied the majority of Valley Hale, now bordering the [[Republic of Biesel]].

===Orion’s Scar===
Found in a sector of space between the Badlands and Light’s Edge. It is named for the higher density of stars in the region, forming a brighter “scar” when observed from a distance, especially in contrast to the darker Lemurian Sea behind it when viewed from the Spur’s more southward populated planets.

Its location and the higher density of stars makes it a prime candidate for colonisation efforts for the [[Tajara]] and [[Unathi]] people – both close to [[Adhomai]] and [[Moghes]] and more likely to harbour those rarer, perfect planets for colonisation.

Some early exploration was undertaken during the Solarian hegemonic era, though never extensive and the start of the interstellar war saw these projects cancelled, like many other Solarian frontier missions. Modern exploration of the sector began in earnest in the past thirty years, with plenty of exploration ships comb Orion’s Scar seeking a new potential home.

Several smaller “stepping stone” colonies and stations already established in the sector close to the Spur’s nations, though the intrepid explorers who have ventured further from civilisation have yet to find anything of note. On the northern fringes of the sector, independents and pirates ply their trades and there are rumours of great [[Einstein Engines]] involvement in the sector.

===Sparring Sea===
A large region of heavily contested space, mostly avoided, barring those with lofty goals or sinister dealings. It is populated by all sorts of outcasts and outlaws, but notably Unathi pirates and exiles, Dominian edict breakers and even the scarce eccentric band of Skrell are all known to seek refuge here. Though piracy is common, plenty of stubborn colonies of all backgrounds make stakes here.

===Crescent Expanse===
A large, mostly uncontrolled area, the Crescent Expanse represents the furthest stretches of human colonization and stretches to the border of the Nralakk Federation. This area was in the process of development by the Solarian Alliance prior to the Interstellar War and half-complete relics of the Alliance's hegemonic era can be found scattered across its planets and floating in long-abandoned systems. The Coalition of Colonies, Nralakk Federation, and Solarian Alliance are currently attempting to expand their influence into this region with varying degrees of success.

==[[Skrell|Nralakk Federation]]==
The Nralakk Federation is an authoritarian, centralized union of star systems. Although humans have fractured heavily in their expansion, Skrell have remained in a largely singular government through strict reinforcement of education, travel, technology and research, while its laws and planned economy organised by the Grand Council further allow the Federation to control the direction of the nation. Social media is maintained by the Federation government, which gags unacceptable discussions or thoughts and instead encourages people to be like the Idols that they reward with credits, high-quality housing, and fine living.

===The Homeworld===

The geographical and strategic centre of the Nralakk Federation, the Homeworld region encompasses the entirety of the Nralakk system, the origin point for the Skrell species. The region is considered the "jewel" of the Federation, being both the most affluent and most influential system of the nation, as well as housing almost a quarter of the Orion Spur's total Skrell. It has a single Bluespace gate, connecting the system to Humanity's [[Eridani_Federation|Episilon Eridani]].

[[Qerrbalak]], [[Qerr'Malic]], and [[Aliose]] are noteworthy planets within the Homeworld region.

===Inner Systems===

The Inner Systems are parts of the Nralakk Federation that were the first to be colonised by Skrell, and have had centuries, if not thousands of years of development. This region sees a high quality of life and technological standing on par with the Homeworld, which gradually begins to decline as one reaches the border with the Traverse. Older colonies have become specialised in one way or another, while the "newer" colonies focus almost purely on manufacturing as they transition from resource extraction to refining and production. The Inner Systems are divided between the [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Elemental_Systems:_The_First_Waves|'''First Waves''']], colonies that were established early in the age of Skrell colonisation, and the [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Contingent_Systems:_The_Second_Waves|'''Second Waves''']], which were established much later to further support Qerrbalak and its colonies.

[[Aweiji]] is located in the Inner Systems.

===The Traverse===
The Traverse is the frontier of Federation society. Research and mining outposts, newly-established colonies, and manufacturing facilities can be found dotted throughout this large-spanning section of Federation space. While the quality of life and purpose of settlements in the Traverse vary drastically, they will all follow similar trends based on which [[Notable_Skrell_Systems_and_Locations#The_Tetramerous_Systems:_The_Traverse|district]] they are in. The Traverse is also home to independence movements, resistance cells, and other [[Federation_Crime_and_Resistance|criminal]] organisations that operate in Federation space.

[[Tattuqig]] and [[Xrim]] are located in the Traverse.

====Pluat Ven’qop - The Pluat Cooperative====

The “crown” of the Traverse, the Pluat Ven’qop (or the Pluat Cooperative) is host to much of the Traverse’s industrial facilities. Besides Pluat itself, several other planets and megafactory stations take in raw resources imported in from other areas in the Traverse or the Spur at large for manufacturing civilian and military goods for the Federation. Though, the majority of the goods produced here are necessities rather than luxury items.

The standard of living is comparable to living within the Contingent Systems, thanks to the importance and support the Federation places on the district. Qukala Patrols are a common sight here and piracy rates are extremely low. Technologically speaking, citizens enjoy advanced industrial designs and slightly outdated, but enjoyable luxury devices.

====Qukala-Median Treqki - The Median====
Also known as the Median Naval District, it was created shortly after first contact with the Solarian Alliance, this district was to serve as a firm wall between human and skrell territory. The Qukala established several military bases and patrol outposts in the region to handle potential piracy, be it Humans preying on Skrell or vice versa. The region was largely unoccupied prior to the Qukala’s establishment in the area, outside of a few mining and agricultural colonies. Thanks to warm relations with the Alliance, the Qukala never had to make much use of their power here, until the Solarian Warlord States arrived in force. Recently, occasional skirmishes have broken out in the Median as opportunistic raiders swelled in numbers in the wake of the collapse of Solarian authority.

Skrell from the Median are few and far between, especially those that decided to venture out in the Spur. Most of the population are farmers, miners, Qukala, and those that make up the services to support them. The planets in the district were developed enough for the Qukala to purchase local food rather than importing it from the inner worlds, but little more support than that has been received from the Federation.

====Q'elpi - The Q’elpi Basin====
The Skrell residing in the “Basin” of the Traverse do not often feel the touch of Nralakk’s hand in their affairs, for better or worse. The region is largely decentralized with administrations being planetary in nature rather than covering large swathes of space. The Basin is home to barely habitable planets and plenty of asteroid fields. Outside of initial construction and colonization efforts, the Federation has provided nearly no extra support to the Basin. Most colonies and habitats get by via trading minerals and valuable gasses for food and domestic goods.

During the [[The_Phoron_Scarcity:_Skrell_Arc|phoron crisis]], it was revealed that around a dozen systems in the Q'elpi region were secretly collaborating with the Ti'Rakqi, the largest group of Marauders in Federation space. When the Qukala and local Nlomkala attempted a mass arrest of the civilian Government for their part in the collaboration, the systems quickly broke into open defiance of the Federation Government. The '''"Marauder Systems"''', as they came to be known, are currently under martial law as slow progress is being made to pacify them. The Federation has publicly stated its intention to return the systems back to a civilian Government once the collaborators have been detained and "dissident activity" has ceased.

====Zeiqi-Trqn - The Deadspace Spine ====
The portion of the Traverse situated towards galactic west near uncharted space is aptly dubbed the “Deadspace Spine” when translated from Nral’Malic. The region was one of the first colonization targets of pre-Glorsh skrell. The colonies and installations here are very old, very occupied, and very lawless.

Due to the Tri-Qyu incident, much of the skrellian infrastructure in place to keep their interstellar empire intact was rendered inoperable, setting the species back with resounding force. Due to the distance, the Zeiqi-Trqn was one of the final areas of pre-Glorsh space to be “reclaimed” by the Nralakk Federation.

This reclamation took quite some time though, and during the decades prior, the skrell in the Zeiqi-Trqn recovered their ability to traverse the stars earlier than most due to their distance from the Tri-Qyu system. They lacked sufficient industrial power to produce the fuel and other necessities required to return to the core worlds, and instead opted to engage in communal trade to keep the region breathing until they could be found.

A few decades before rediscovery, a plague swept through the Zeiqi-Trqn. Its origins are unknown and widely speculated about, popular theories being that it was a Glorsh-Omega bio-weapon or some unknown bacteria from Deadspace. Regardless, the “Black-Blood” caused the blood of a victim to cease transmission of oxygen to the cells, eventual corruption of DNA and caused the body to use carbon instead of mercury in its blood, causing its infamous black color. The plague wiped out a few of the fledgling colonies completely and severely damaged the populace of the remaining planets and stations. Authority collapsed and the region descended into anarchy.

Desperate skrell turned towards piracy and exploitation to stay alive. Colonies were raided and burned, rival pirate fleets fought for any scraps of fuel or food, and countless others died from the indiscriminate conflict. When the Federation arrived, little was left to save. The Grand Council condemned the area as a “lost cause” and enacted measures to destroy colonies, ships, and stations suspected to contain traces of the Black-Blood. To this day, there is no cure to the disease, only early treatment can prevent cases from becoming terminal. Any skrell suspected of visiting the region is subject to screening to avoid spreading it to the Federation core.

Inside the Zeiqi-Trqn itself, skrell who refuse to bend the knee to Nralakk, prefer to live more criminal lives, or simply lack the power to go elsewhere live in squalor. The region receives no support from the Nralakk Federation, and no regular patrols outside of the ones on its border.

====Estuaries====

The Estuaries are considered the final frontier for Skrellian expansion, being one of the few directions the Nralakk Federation can expand without encroaching on its neighbour's borders. The region is mostly comprised of small developing colonies, termed "Boundary Worlds" or "Boundaries" for short. The Estuaries are almost a perfect location for independence movements and other illegal operations to flourish; the lack of infrastructure and value found in the Estuaries has resulted in Qukala patrols being few and far between, allowing for Marauders, Lyukal cells, and anti-Federation agitators to operate with unparalleled freedom.

The Estuaries have learned to rely less on the Federation, with colonies adopting a more "generalist" plan compared to the specialised societies found elsewhere in the Federation to facilitate trade and survival. Technology and quality of life within this segment of the Traverse can vary wildly, but usually ranks lower than elsewhere in the Federation as a result of the colonies here either being newly established or lacking the resources to develop to what's considered standard in the modern-day.

==The Starmap==
{{Template:Aurora_Starmap}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-15T00:15:37Z

Fyni: /* The Ennead */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrellian planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Republic of Elyra|Elyran]] or [[Empire of Dominia|Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-15T00:15:11Z

Fyni: /* The Merciful Eye – Unknown */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrellian planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either [[Elyran]] or [[Dominian]] heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence organisations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-15T00:14:39Z

Fyni:

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongst the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrellian planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organisations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognised and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either Elyran or Dominian heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutinity from law enforcement and intelligence organizations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-15T00:14:18Z

Fyni:

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Modus Operandi==
Combined with the immense wealth granted by their own phoron find, the Outer Eyes were always defined by their obscured philosophy. The recruitment of individual agents was often likened to a cult, with layer of understanding and knowledge been granted as members proceeded, using the sense of belonging and knowledge of the future as incentive for recruits to fall further into the Eyes’ grasp. Experienced recruiters throughout the Spur would target vulnerable and isolated people, turning many to the cause. Even closer to their home in the Lemurian Sea, where the credits flowed more naturally and mercenaries did the Eye’s work directly, this process was repeated, leading to immense loyalty and willingness to commit graven acts in the name of the Provost and their tenets.

With equality amongat the species of the Spur been one of the tenets, the Outer Eyes saw their recruitment spread naturally even beyond human and skrellian planets, though the hatred the Celestial Creed held for the Eye “Intrusion” into the Sea saw few diona in their ranks.

Such agents can be planted in any area, fitting in without issue. Bribery, blackmail and assassination would ensure the progress of agents through important organizations to positions of power, meanwhile other agents would perform field work to further goals which were rarely fully shared with them. These systems were used largely unrecognized and undisturbed for thirty years, and the investigations of 2467 discovered such agents lying inside every megacorporation, including the SCC, alongside political positions inside many states. The full extent of this network was never uncovered, though the knowledge of their existence is likely to have hampered their growth.

When needed, the Outer Eyes would deploy teams of enforcers, outfitted with their signature armoured voidsuit and usually equipped with military grade gear of Coalition make. Usually fanatically loyal, but often mostly motivated by immense promised financial reward, the nature of Outer Eyes recruitment would often lead to mixed and varied teams.

Finally, most often close to the Sea, the Outer Eyes would indirectly direct and control pirate and freebooter ships, directing their raiding and attacks via incentive of rewards from the Eyes or a particularly tempting target.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either Elyran or Dominian heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutinity from law enforcement and intelligence organizations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-15T00:08:37Z

Fyni: /* The Ennead */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
[[File:Alexandra.png|thumb|The Generous Eye grew a reputation for bribery, becoming involved in numerous phoron siphoning operations throughout [[Elyra]] and [[Biesel]].]]Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either Elyran or Dominian heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutinity from law enforcement and intelligence organizations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

File:Alexandra.png

2026-09-15T00:07:11Z

Fyni:

The Generous Eye, cropped from the a Dream for Tomorrow cover art.

Outer Eyes

2026-09-15T00:05:41Z

Fyni: /* The Ennead */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officer|corporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in [[Mendell City]], Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfranchised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either Elyran or Dominian heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutinity from law enforcement and intelligence organizations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-15T00:05:06Z

Fyni: /* The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Seeing Eye create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen [[security officercorporate security]] after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in Mendell City, Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfrancised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either Elyran or Dominian heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutinity from law enforcement and intelligence organizations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-15T00:04:11Z

Fyni: /* The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an [[investigator]] in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Choosing instead to create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen corporate security after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in Mendell City, Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfrancised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either Elyran or Dominian heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutinity from law enforcement and intelligence organizations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-15T00:04:03Z

Fyni: /* The Ennead */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_Navy|SAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of [[purpose|synthetic]] [[hivebots|history]] and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in [[Tau Ceti]] in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for [[NanoTrasen]] as an investigator in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Choosing instead to create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen corporate security after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in Mendell City, Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfrancised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either Elyran or Dominian heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutinity from law enforcement and intelligence organizations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-15T00:02:15Z

Fyni: /* The Harmonious Eye - Gambit */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame [[IPC]] originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard [[Solarian_Armed_Forces#The_Solarian_NavySAMV Condor]], Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as nuclear war erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of synthetic history and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in Tau Ceti in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for NanoTrasen as an investigator in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Choosing instead to create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen corporate security after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in Mendell City, Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfrancised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either Elyran or Dominian heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutinity from law enforcement and intelligence organizations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-15T00:00:33Z

Fyni:

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame IPC originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard SAMV Condor, Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as nuclear war erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of synthetic history and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in Tau Ceti in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for NanoTrasen as an investigator in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Choosing instead to create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen corporate security after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in Mendell City, Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfrancised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[Tajara_Space_Capability#People's_Kosmonautical_Survey_Corps|PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either Elyran or Dominian heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutinity from law enforcement and intelligence organizations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-14T23:59:55Z

Fyni: /* The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame IPC originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard SAMV Condor, Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as nuclear war erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of synthetic history and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in Tau Ceti in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for NanoTrasen as an investigator in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Choosing instead to create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen corporate security after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in Mendell City, Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfrancised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, [[Adhomai]], Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating south into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed [[PKSC]] in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either Elyran or Dominian heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutinity from law enforcement and intelligence organizations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-14T23:49:06Z

Fyni:

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame IPC originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard SAMV Condor, Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as nuclear war erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of synthetic history and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in Tau Ceti in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for NanoTrasen as an investigator in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Choosing instead to create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen corporate security after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in Mendell City, Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfrancised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, Adhomai, Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating north into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed PKSC in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either Elyran or Dominian heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutinity from law enforcement and intelligence organizations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.
{{Navbox Lore}}

Outer Eyes

2026-09-14T23:47:57Z

Fyni:

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

The last iteration of the Ennead, in order of the date of their elevation to the position is as follows:

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame IPC originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard SAMV Condor, Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as nuclear war erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of synthetic history and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in Tau Ceti in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for NanoTrasen as an investigator in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Choosing instead to create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen corporate security after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in Mendell City, Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfrancised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

===The Watchful Eye – Haldaraasi Ron'tul-Samdynh===
Born 2429 in the city of Ron’tul, Adhomai, Haldaraasi had a tenuous childhood in the interwar period on a strategic border. At the age of 29, while still residing in the city, Haldaraasi lived through the siege and subsequent firebombing of the city, retreating north into the republican heartland.

Remaining records place Haldaraasi as serving in the various military roles, raising to the rank of Captain in the newly formed PKSC in early 2462. Early unsubstantiated rumours of phoron in the Lemurian Sea saw her ship deployed to the region and assumed lost in 2463. In reality, a stroke of luck saw her finding a previously unknown route to the Boneyard. Trapped in the very jaw of the Outer Eyes, she negotiated safety for her crew, who were forced into comfortable imprisonment at the Boneyard to ensure their discovery would not leak. Haldaraasi became a favourite verbal sparring partner of the Provost in this period, and deep-seated resentment from the second revolution and the firebombing of Ron’tul eventually saw her subscribe to the tenets, and she was made the Watchful Eye in 2465, the final addition to the Ennead and the Outer Eye’s representative for the Tajara people. As part of her work, she lead covert operations, often against corporate or government target, refusing aggressive actions against “innocent” targets.

During the civil war, she remained loyal to the Provost but was cut off from communication as Harmonious broke ties. Her current location and activity is unknown.

===The Merciful Eye – Unknown===
The Merciful Eye is rumoured to be a human of either Elyran or Dominian heritage, however they have retained their anonymity even as the Outer Eyes have come under greater scrutinity from law enforcement and intelligence organizations across the Spur. Evidence proves them working for the modernists during the civil war; however, their current activity and location remain unknown.

===The Shadowed Eye – No One===
A purposefully fluid seat, the Shadowed Eye’s role was to provide a counter position to the Provost and their tenets, a nay sayer who’s role is to ensure the others are not blinded by their own positions. There are multiple recorded people having taken this title, most recently a skrellian researcher who was killed in the Lemurian Sea during the civil war while working for the modernists.

Outer Eyes

2026-09-14T01:18:44Z

Fyni: /* The Ennead */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame IPC originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard SAMV Condor, Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as nuclear war erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of synthetic history and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in Tau Ceti in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for NanoTrasen as an investigator in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Choosing instead to create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen corporate security after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in Mendell City, Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfrancised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

Outer Eyes

2026-09-14T01:18:36Z

Fyni: /* The Ennead */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna=== [[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame IPC originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard SAMV Condor, Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as nuclear war erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of synthetic history and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in Tau Ceti in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for NanoTrasen as an investigator in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Choosing instead to create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen corporate security after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in Mendell City, Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfrancised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

Outer Eyes

2026-09-14T01:18:28Z

Fyni: /* The Ennead */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame IPC originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard SAMV Condor, Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as nuclear war erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of synthetic history and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in Tau Ceti in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for NanoTrasen as an investigator in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Choosing instead to create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen corporate security after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in Mendell City, Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfrancised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

Outer Eyes

2026-09-14T01:16:39Z

Fyni: /* The Ennead */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame IPC originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard SAMV Condor, Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as nuclear war erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of synthetic history and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in Tau Ceti in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for NanoTrasen as an investigator in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Choosing instead to create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen corporate security after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in Mendell City, Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfrancised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
[[File:Azarak.png|thumb|The Vengeful Eye was said to bare the exact resemblance of his late father, King Don'zai Azarak.]]
The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.

File:Azarak.png

2026-09-14T01:15:22Z

Fyni:

Soztal Azarak, cropped from the cover art for a Dream for Tomorrow.

Outer Eyes

2026-09-14T01:14:31Z

Fyni: /* The Ennead */

{{Navbox Lore}}
<center>[[File:Outer eyes banner.png|link=]]</center>
<center><i>“From the darkness, do you see the light most clearly.”</i> - Outer Eyes proverb</center>

[[File:Outereyeslogo.png|thumb|The symbol of the Outer Eyes since the early 2460s.]]
The '''Outer Eyes''' are a criminal syndicate with influence across much of the Spur. With a history spanning several decades, it worked undiscovered by many of the major powers of the Spur for much of its existence, controlling the lucrative ''Purple Market'' – the illicit trade of [[Phoron]] – which gave it incredible wealth.

Originally founded on the wealth generated from finding phoron deposits in the [[Lemurian Sea]], acted unobserved by many of the powers of the Spur, growing influence and directing the expansion of many of the frontier colonies in the [[Light's Edge#ICSR|ICSR]], where subtle political influences saw their power expand. Beyond the Lemurian Sea and the ICSR, they acted much more covertly, where blackmail, bribery and even assassination of people in power saw their network established all the way from the Sea to the fringes of the [[Solarian Alliance]].

Their original goal was to survive a predicted second interstellar war with their assets intact, so they could control the reduced population and guide them along an “enlightened philosophy” to prevent future such catastrophes, though the recent dissolution of the leadership has left their philosophy now undefined.

The Eyes recruited members in two manners. First, individual agents would be recruited in a manner which has been likened to a cult – where potential agents were targeted for exploitation based on fringe belief and societal rejection. The Eyes would use their obscure philosophy, the Tenets, to draw these recruits in, imparting a sense of purpose and higher knowledge. Many would be willing to commit heinous criminals acts for the Eyes, without fully knowing the immensity of the organisation they had been recruited to. The second method would be simple mercenary recruitment, using the Eye’s immense wealth.

==History==
===Founding===
In 2434, a secret expedition was launched by the [[Nralakk Federation|Second Nralakk Federation]] into the [[Lemurian Sea]] with the goal of recovering the [[Lemurian Sea#History|Maki’i Xau’an]] – a [[Generation Fleets|generation ship]] lost in the Sea over a thousand years earlier. Leading the expedition was Illzarth’go Valziop, then a provost at [[Federation_Education#The_Gliutip'lyaz_University|Gliutip'lyaz University]]. A former student, doing their second degree alongside Weashbi Jrugl themselves, Valziop was at the time one of the Federations leading historians and scientists, a well-respected academic reaching a peak of SCI 9.82.

The expedition met mixed success. Avoiding [[Assunzione]], it approached the Sea from further out in [[Light’s Edge]], seeking to explore a newly discovered haven in the Sea. However, it soon became apparent that the route provided was bunk. The three-ship expedition soon found themselves split up and out of contact, completely lost thanks to the effects of the Sea. The Provost, by chance or fate, found themselves inside a haven after several weeks lost to the fog. Here, they found a vast nest of [[psirens]] built in the mangled wreck of hundreds of ships. A ball of twisted steel tens of kilometres across, built from the carcasses of ships lost in the Sea and lured to their doom in this haven by the psirens living here. The Provost, fighting the voices in their own head, identified some wrecks with liveable atmosphere, and set up a new home.

This wreckage would come to be known as the Boneyard. The Provost would spend years piecing together the information contained on hundreds of ship computers, and come to map the Sea based on their failures, finding most importantly dozens of deposits of [[Phoron]] scattered throughout the Sea and the information required to reach them in relative safety.

With their position secure, and a sitting on potentially trillions of credits of Phoron, the Provost dwelled on situation. Turning the crew of the surviving ship to their personal loyalty, Valziop decided to put into practice the philosophy outlined in one of their many papers. The Phoron would be sold, slowly, safely to avoid the attention of greater powers. They would amass a fortune, watch the Spur from distant safety of the Sea, and prepare for the war they had long predicted. From this position of strength, they would lead the post war Spur into a new, better age as a benevolent autocrat. The Provost gathered around those who believed in their philosophy, and formed the Outer Eyes in 2436.

===The Eyes===
[[File:Provost.png|thumb|Illzarth’go Valziop, founder and leader of the Outer Eyes until 2468.]]
Expansion was slow at first. The Provost was far from the Federation, where they had trusted contacts, and content to allow them to believe they were lost to the Sea regardless. Instead, they probed the underworld on Assunzione, eventually coming into contact with Nomiki Mylonna, the leader of a smuggling ring on Assunzione. After months of negotiation, and a visit to the Boneyard, Mylonna eventually joined the Outer Eyes as the first of the Provost’s inner circle – the Seeing Eye. Their connections kickstarted the growth of the Eyes into Coalition markets, and was a catalyst which saw the smuggling side of the Eyes operation begin to grow exponentially.

During these early stages, the Eyes made early outreach into Light’s Edge itself. While an area with sparse, small colonies, the Provost sought to use it as a proving ground for their theories. Taking covert control of the [[Meropis]] colonial council in 2438, the planet would become an example of Outer Eyes rule and a valuable location where they could operate both without scrutiny and without the danger of the Sea.

Early attempts to probe beyond the [[Coalition of Colonies|Coalition]] lead to some fruit. The Provost themselves witnessed [[Contact War|nuclear war]] erupt on [[Moghes]] in 2439 – a fact which when later discovered led to the fringe theory from multiple groups that the Provost was behind the supply of excess nuclear weapons to the Traditionalists, an unlikely theory given the still nascent state of the Outer Eyes in 2439. During their observation however, the Provost aided in the rescue of a runaway [[IPC]] from the Solarian observers, known as Gambit. In 2444, Gambit enters the inner circle as Harmonious Eye.

The rumours behind the Provost’s links to the Traditionalists on Moghes extend to the acquisition of an egg from the Azarak clan in 2449. An opportune snatching of an egg, or a planned extraction demanded by the Azarak clan, whatever the truth an egg was secured, alongside a small cohort of Traditionalists. This egg would go on to hatch Soztal Azarak, who would be raised near the Sea on Meropis by a mixture of traditionalist exiles and the Provost’s academic circle, and much later join the Outer Eyes as the Vengeful Eye in 2460.

The next to join the inner circle was Alexandra Sanghera, a woman from [[Biesel]], in 2453. The Secession of Biesel was an opportunity for Eyes to break into a new market, as they had previously failed to penetrate the once Solarian market. Joining as the Generous Eye, she began to corrupt the Phoron supply chain and the Boneyard’s reserve was supplemented by off the records extras from extraction sites across Tau Ceti.

Eventually, the Outer Eyes operation spread into [[Sol]]. The chaos spread by the [[KING OF THE WORLD|Solarian blockade of Biesel]] in 2458 forced some drastic actions to protect Outer Eyes interests in the region. The exact nature of the activity is still unknown, as much of the records were lost during the invasion in 2459, however by the time of Violet Dawn in 2462, a Solarian captain, John MacGuffrey, had defected to the Eyes, and taken on the moniker the Enlightened Eye.

===The Purple Market Dossier===
The existence of the Eyes did not go completely unnoticed during their first thirty years. Some groups and megacorporations ranged from knowledge of the Eyes and their operations, leveraging in for their own gain, to only a vague understanding of a criminal underbelly in their areas of operation. The invasion of Biesel by Frost in 2458 was an opportune moment for the Eyes operating in Tau Ceti to clean up more than a decade of shoddier work, however this reprieve would not last forever.

More brazen acts to establish a wider criminal base led to increased scrutiny which the Eyes were eventually unable to shake. In 2467, a phoron siphoning operation in Tau Ceti was uncovered by the [[BSSB]], which quickly blossomed into a large network across the Republic of Biesel been uncovered. While the Generous Eye, then in charge of operations in the Republic, was able to sever many links to the greater organization of the Outer Eyes before BSSB agents routed them out, enough data was gathered to point to this wider conspiracy.

This information was eventually leaked from the BSSB in 2467. Dubbed the “Purple Market Dossier” by the intelligence community and it spread like wildfire, reaching far beyond their control. Most notable was the investigation into the Eye’s roots in the ICSR and the Lemurian Sea, and indication of a potential new phoron source in the region. Many of the groups who obtained a copy of the papers began their own investigation into the Eyes, and a general scramble of ships to the area began early in 2468.

===Civil War===
With the pressure ramping up, the Outer Eyes found itself split into two factions in 2467. The group who would become known as the Modernists began to act outside the direct orders of the Provost, pursuing a new accelerationist and more radically interventional approach. While there was not outright violent conflict within the Eyes itself at first, each side began to bring assets to their side as the split within the Eyes grew larger.

As outside powers such as the [[SCC]], the [[PRA]] and [[Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals|Zeng-Hu]] began to meddle in the ICSR more so then ever, violent conflict broke out between the two sides of the split, truly escalating the divide in philosophy into a civil war. Dozens of smaller naval conflicts took place, and the Loyalists provoked the violent revolution on Meropis, providing the colonists with arms and gear to fight against Modernist forces which had seized control of the vital phoron processing facilities on the planet.

Ultimately, the Provost’s twin bases of the Lighthouse and the Boneyard remained beyond the reach of the Modernists, and the increasing scrutiny on the region saw the Eyes unity fractured. During the summer of 2468, the surviving members of the Ennead, the inner circle, began to quit the region and consolidate their power in the rest of the Spur.

===Operation Deep Dive===
Working amongst failing unity of the Eyes, the SCC launched [[A Dream for Tomorrow Arc|Operation Deep Dive]] in 2468, a five ship mission headed by the [[SCCV Horizon]]. While the Eyes still commanded enough ships to destroy this force, the Provost recognized such an action would lead to inevitable large scale corporate involvement in the region, destroying any attempts to salvage the failing mechanism of the Outer Eye’s power and wealth.

In the end however, corporate involvement merely expedited the Eyes fracture, even been involved in the death of the leader of the Modernists, John MacGuffrey on Meropis. The civil war drew to an end, having merely destroyed the Eye’s unity. Left isolated, with their dream failing, the Provost at the end sough in desperation to use the Modernist method – the deployment of psirens as bioweapons to trigger an interstellar war, an act which was prevented by a joint squadron of ships including the SCC, [[Xanu_Prime#All-Xanu_Spacefleet|AXSF]], PRA and [[Karzekani Moghes|Karzekani]].

Operation Deep Dive drew to a close in August of 2468, as the weakened Boneyard was scuttled by the Provost in face of corporate seizure of the harvested phoron and the lanes leading to the confirmed phoron clouds. The Provost was killed in this action, officially ending the era of a united Outer Eyes.

===Successors===
Numerous members of the Ennead survive and some sought to continue the work of the Eyes, or merely to exploit the network built up over decades to further their own goals. The purple market, the source of the Outer Eye’s wealth, operates to this day, now relying on pirate seized phoron and corruption fuelled thefts directly from Tau Ceti and Elyra.

==Philosophy==
===The Provost's Tenets===
The Outer Eyes were formed around the content of several papers written by Provost Illzarth’go Valziop, which after the uncovering of the Outer Eyes were uncovered and re-examined. Using an examination of both human and skrellian history and the discovery of Phoron, the Provost assumed a Second Interstellar War, this time involving the Skrell, the then newly discovered Tajara and Unathi was inevitable, and a Third after that. Their original paper which examines the facts and history of the skrell and humanity speculates that such war can be delayed by perhaps centuries and its damage minimized, but it could not be averted.

The second paper examined the longer picture – the prevention of the Third Interstellar War while continuing the forward march of progress to improve the lives of all in the Spur. The Provost’s solution was considered extreme, and was framed to show the inevitability of the Third war: the forced regression of technology available to the masses and strict control of interstellar travel and communication, with the rise of a meritocracy valuing scientist philosophers with an enlightened autocrat at the head. Academics at the time took this as a clear hyperbolic take meant to push the Provost’s core prediction of the Third war.

Upon the formation of the Outer Eyes however, the Provost took this “extreme” philosophy as the founding principle of their new organization. The Outer Eyes was formed with these tenets:
* The Second Interstellar War is inevitable.
* To prevent a Third, and bring the best possible lives to the surviving masses, an enlightened regime must strictly control the survivors.
* For the regime to succeed, it needs to have the best possible start.
* It must seed itself across the Spur, so it is ready to spring into action when the time comes.
* It must enrich itself, so it may be dominant when all else has burned in the war.
* It must be apart from the Spur and above its politics and conflicts, so as to survive the war untouched.
* It must foster harmony. Peoples must transcend foundational politics and prejudice, and be equal under the future leader.

In 2467, the discovery of the Outer Eyes threatened many of these tenets. The Provost believed all they had built until that point could persist until the war came, forming the Loyalist philosophy, opposing the emerging Modernists.

===The Modernist Philosophy===
The group who came to believe the tenets were now out dated came to be known as the Modernists, opposed to those who still worked by them, the Loyalists. The Modernists advocated for greater involvement of the Outer Eyes in Spur politics – not just seeding their future and enabling their criminal operation, but acceleration of the Second Interstellar War.

They would cast aside the cloak of secrecy as needed to achieve their goals, best exemplified by the direct attacks on Elyran phoron shipping beginning in 2467, purposefully using false flags to escalate tension between Elyra and the Dominian empire while securing more phoron to supplement the Boneyard’s dwindling supply.

The Modernist philosophy, with its push for an immediate and much bloodier war to secure the Outer Eyes position, fundamentally did not alter the Provost’s post war plans.

==The Ennead==
The Provost as part of their paper speculated that a single autocrat could not rule with absolute certainty over as wide an area as the Spur, and that they must have a class of trusted and learned seconds to rule regionally. This basis formed the inner circle, named by the provost The Ennead, but also often called confusingly “The Eyes” due to their names. Each adopted a new title, chosen by themselves and the Provost equally, become one of a council of nine.

Given the Provost’s chosen name of the Ennead, it is likely they always intended to surround themselves by eight others – even during the early development of the Outer Eyes. It wasn’t until 2464 that the Ennead had actually solidified to eight members (including the Provost), plus the Shadowed Eye. With the death of the Provost in 2468, each of the remaining Eyes each controlled their own segment of the Outer Eyes operations, and continue to pursue their own agenda. To date, no one has taken the autocratic central role left empty by the Provost, and the Ennead has not been in quorum since late 2467.

===The Seeing Eye – Nomiki Mylonna===
[[File:Nomiki.png|thumb|The Seeing Eye often wore blindfolds in public, leading to speculation of augmented vision or even psionic vision.]]
Nomiki Mylonna was born in 2409 in the city of Dalyan on [[Assunzione]], and grew up admidst poverty and crime. By the age of fifteen, they had fallen in with small time smugglers, working as a mule. Their quick wit and talent for working people saw them come to lead the group by the age of twenty one. By 2438, she controlled much of the black marker on Assunzione and had started to branch out into Coalition territory when the Provost approached her. Convinced by their vision of a grand operation, they fell in with the Provost. With the wealth from phoron smuggling combined with their growing criminal enterprise, they saw the Outer Eyes flourish from an idea to a reality.

Over the years, Nomiki was at the head of expanding operations across the whole Spur, where she would come into conflict with law enforcement and intelligence agencies repeatedly, defeating them all in turn through guile. As the Outer Eyes split, she first joined the Loyalist philosophy and remained apart from the fighting, where she was last confirmed working on the securing the Phoron supply within Biesel.

===The Harmonious Eye - Gambit===
A baseline frame IPC originally constructed in 2435 to perform a none combatant role aboard SAMV Condor, Gambit had access to vast quantities of military information as part of these duties, which saw the formation of their prediction of the future – both in the short term, and long term. These calculations led to Gambit to begin to plan their escape from servitude, something accomplished with the help of the Provost in 2439 as nuclear war erupted on Moghes.

The two would often discuss matters of philosophy and predictions on the future. The Provost was quick to explain their own tenets, and by 2444, Gambit had joined the Ennead under the name Harmonious Eye. Tasked with exploration of synthetic history and the technology behind the positronic itself, a field in which the skrellian Provost had little experience, Harmonious quickly established a scholarly network within the expanding smuggling and criminal rings of the Outer Eyes. It was during this period that their frame was modified to carry another head and positronic.

During the civil war of 2468, Harmonious remained loyal to the Provost until determining they had become too unstable to logically carry out their original plan. Quickly pivoting, they aided in the fall of the Boneyard, before vanishing to continue their research.

===The Generous Eye - Alexandra Sanghera===
Born the same day as the completion of the bluespace ring in Tau Ceti in 2416, Alexandra Sanghera lives a life in the shadow of the megacorporations, culminating with working for NanoTrasen as an investigator in 2439. It was here during investigation into phoron siphoning in Tau Ceti that she came into contact with Outer Eyes agents working directly under the Seeing Eye. Choosing instead to create an area of safety around Sanghera, ensuring leads would come to dead ends and witnesses would vanish, a game which would last for over a year. Impressed by the investigator’s tenacity and ingenuity, Seeing Eye saw Alexandra snatched from NanoTrasen corporate security after she had assaulted a superior.

Wanted in Mendell City, Alexandra soon started working for the Seeing Eye, directly in touch with phoron facilities and their workers across Tau Ceti. Disenfrancised by the megacorporate domination, she came to abide by the Provost’s tenets and was made a member of the Ennead, as the Generous Eye, in 2444.

During the civil war, Generous did not pick a side, attempting to determine which would prove most likely to win. After an attack on her person by the SCC on neutral ground in the ICSR, she fled the region and is assumed to have returned to Tau Ceti to consolidate her position alongside Seeing Eye.

===The Enlightened Eye – John MacGuffrey===
Born 2407 on Mars in the Argyre arcology, John MacGuffrey joined a family with a long and proud history of service in the Solarian Armed Forces. Destined for the Navy, John grew up in a highly competitive environment. Pushed forward only by expectation, he joined the Solarian Navy in 2430 after a successful if short academic career, where he then joined a new competition for rank against Lunan junior officers. Seeking to advance his career, he joined patrol vessels in the outer rings, where he eventually made the rank of captain and was given command of the SAMV Obsidian Arrow in 2452, despite growing disillusionment at the Alliance.

In this command, he took part in the blockade of Biesel in 2458, and joined Frost’s invasion in 2459. Concerned for his crew and ship, MacGuffrey sought an early exit from the invasion. Following leads of ships who had fled Biesel prior to the invasion, he made contact with the Outer Eyes. Working together, The Obsidian Arrow quietly defected from the 33rd and made for the Lemurian Sea.

MacGuffrey witnessed the fallout of the invasion from a dozen lightyears away. Enraged at the rise of Frost, and inspired by the provost’s tenets of a wiser total government, MacGuffrey joined the Ennead in 2459, acting as an experience military advisor and taking up the moniker Enlightened Eye. In this position, free from the expectation of his family and the Navy, he suffered from ever increasing misanthropy, dedicating himself to his foreseen return to Sol amongst the ashes of the second interstellar war.
During the civil war, wishing to speed this process along he joined the Modernists, seizing control of Meropis and the rimward Lemurian Sea beacons. During the suppression of a worker revolt around Meropis’ equator, he was killed by an SCC force.

===The Vengeful Eye – Soztal Azarak===
The Fall of Darakath during the Contact War saw the long-rumoured smuggling of the final egg of Queen Wei’za Azarak into the wasteland by loyal soliders of the Azarak Kingdom. This rumour was only partly true, for the Queen had struck a bargain for a covert vessel to extract the Egg and dozens of loyal Sinta off of Moghes. This vessel belonged to the Outer Eyes, and the retainers and egg were brough to Meropis early in 2450, where the egg was hatched and the sinta within named Soztal Azarak, per their mother’s wish.

The arid climate around Meropis’ equator proved the ideal habitat for the growing Soztal Azarak, who grew up receiving a joint education from his mother’s retainers and the Provost’s own people. Word of the growing Azarak spread in hushed rumours, drawing in exiled Traditionalists to Meropis. By the age of fifteen, Azarak took up command of the warship of one of these groups, redubbed the Ashen Prince, and began to work under the Provost. The Provost in turn pledged support for the reclamation of Moghes under Azarak during the predicted coming interstellar war. They would eventually take on the title of Vengeful Eye in their duties for the Outer Eyes.

During the fracture of the Eyes, Azarak continued to follow the Provost’s orders, but remained distant from the growing Loyalist faction, conflicted between his own loyalty to the Provost and the wellbeing of his people. Eventually, as the civil war concluded, Azarak elected to lead the Sinta fleet he had built in the ICSR over the years back towards Moghes to shield them from the fracturing of the Outer Eyes and the growing attention of the Karszekani, rejecting the title of Vengeful Eye and seeking to reclaim the Azarak Kingdom and Moghes.