The Commonwealth of Deneb
The Commonwealth of Deneb is an interstellar, multi-species government.
- The Commonwealth of Deneb is a Federal Republic founded in 1242 at the conclusion of the Crucible War (not canon).
Goals
No information yet available.
History & Background (Dossier)
No information yet available.
Deneb Commonwealth Overview
The existence of this state is considered to be both an accident of history, and a wish fulfillment of progressive elements in the preceding Regency of Deneb. The genesis of this country lies in the reformist program of the First Regent, Norris Aella Aledon. The First Regent was charged by the last emperor of the Third Imperium, Strephon Aella Alkhalikoi, with the task of reforming Imperial culture, and creating a lasting state and nation that would embody a more authentic culture and political system than that which had existed under the Imperium. Norris managed to only accomplish half of this vision, through the re-legalization of psionics and the advent of more "democractic" government in the 1150s. The struggle against Virus and nagging internal conflicts prevented Norris from instituting anything more than this prospectus, and critics charged that the Regent had retained many aspects of the old autocratic manner of rule in his own administration. However, historians now accept that his caution kept the Regency together under difficult circumstances, and the slowness of actual reform was offset by the slow emergence of a more binding nationalism and collective identity.
Deneb Commonwealth & Regency
In the end the Regency was a nation that existed in a semi-completed state between the worst excesses of the Imperial past and the unrealized goals of its founders. The tension between these irreconcilable forces eventually polarized the Regency people, and led to the emergence of feuding reformist and conservative factions late in its history. This split in turn led to the emergence of unenlightened leadership that sought to exploit this gap to enshrine a reactionary state. Under the influence of a reactionary faction of embittered nobles and unprincipled entrepreneurs calling itself the Purifiers, the Black Regent of the Regency attempted to intervene in the growing disorder of the Zhodani Consulate in a last stab at uncontested control of the region Behind the Claw in hopes of unifying all of charted space under a new Imperium. But their campaign reaped a whirlwind instead of a bounty.
The Consulate was divided between an increasingly impotent Consulate government, ambitious nobles and a violent cult calling itself the Rantledr Ilzhents, or the Dawn Heralders. The latter worshipped the visions experienced in its psionic adherents by their direct immersion in the encroaching Empress Wavefront, and their "prophets" had made steady inroads among the Consulate's increasingly anomistic masses. The Heralders filled the gaps between the feuding nobility and the disintegrating central government, providing both the necessary services once the exclusive domain of the Consulate government, and a new community vision that was now lacking in their society. Unlike the civil authorities, the Heralders was free of the nonpsionic xenophobia that had insulated their society for centuries. But they still believed in psionic supremacy, and their increasing hostility towards the Regency and other Non-Zhodani states created an escalating cycle of tensions and low-level insurgency even before the ascension of the Black Regent. The nobles and the central government were hamstrung by their mutually hostile ambitions, their disorganization, and their fear of a Heralders inspired holy war against them.
When the last Aledon regent was assassinated at the hands of DH inspired terrorists, the Black Regent and his allies were able to take virtual control of the Regency, and quietly prepared it for war against the Zhodani. They did so laboring under false assumptions about the state of the Consulate. It seemed at the outset that it would be an easy war against divided opposition. When they moved against the Consulate in the late 1220s, the Regency military proved too small, their political arrangements with Zhodani nobility too fragile and naive, and their understanding of Zhodani nationalism too limited for a decisive victory.
The Regency of Deneb launched an invasion of the Consulate's core sectors in 1233, after years of escalating warfare between their allies and Dawn Heralder guerrillas, in an action that would later be called the Crucible War. Overextended supply lines and Purifier overconfidence resulted in a decisive defeat of Regency forces, and a subsequent military invasion of the Regency by Dawn Heralder-led Zhodani forces. During the height of this crisis, Arthurian's government and allies were deposed by an alliance of Deneb-sector reformists and Marches conservatives led by Grand Admiral Elizabeth Bonesteel in a lighting strike against the Purifier's remaining power center in the Sabinar Main. A de facto government was cobbled together out of the remnants of the Regency Senate and executive bureaucracy, calling itself the Federation of Deneb. Victory over the Zhodani at Rhylanor and the Great Race allowed the Federation to ratify the Mora Conventions, with several modifications and a new Bill of Rights attached, as the Convenant of Deneb in 1240. As the Zhodani were pushed back, the magnitude of damage inflicted upon the other Spinward states became evident, as was the scope of the displaced persons problem. Despite major reservations, the governments of the Sword Worlds and Darrian Confederacy accepted their impending political demise, and assembled other political and diplomatic elements from Trojan Reach and Foreven sectors at Mora in NE 1240 to sign the Convenant as the supreme law. This Accession of the Spinward States led to further annexations of the Federation of Arden and Zhodani space in 1242 under the name of the Commonwealth of Deneb.
Commonwealth & Crucible War
The Crucible War virtually annihilated every state behind the claw. The Dawn Heralders attacked virtually everyone of their neighbors out of their zealotry, and this created a coalition of foes that eventually crushed them and their ambitions. It also created the impetus for a more unified government among the peoples of the Regency and its immediate neighbors, as the Sword Worlds and the Darrians were nearly destroyed by the conflict. Building upon decades of shared history and the Regency's traditions of cohesive multiculturalism, the framers of the new state were able to bind together traditional Imperials, Zhodani, Darrians, Sword Worlders and large groups of Vargr and Aslan under the new flag of the Commonwealth. This was not possible without enshrining basic freedom and rights for individual citizens, and creating pluralistic regional governments to replace the old subsector governments.
The new state is a federal republic organized around a tripartite democratic government. The old Imperial nobility was virtually extinguished by the Crucible War, and the remaining militaristic and dictatorial governments left over from the Imperial past have either reformed or disappeared. The culture is a melange of traditional Imperial politics, Zhodani social insurance and community centered welfare programs, Vilani conservatism, and a heavy dosage of Aslan and Vargr culture in regions that abut their traditional states. The heavy damage inflicted by the Zhodani and Purifiers has left the Commonwealth people dauntingly anti-authoritarian to the point of hair trigger paranoia in some regions concerning government policy. Regionalism has emerged, giving the new member-states a distinctive feel, but Commonwealth culture has proven surprisingly cohesive.
One of the most significant changes is the "Zhodani" feel of local society. The absorption of billions of refugee Zhodani has made Commonwealth culture significantly different from its Imperial parent. Commoners are more honest, though they tend to be more prickly than Zhodani as a result. The old "Thought Police" have been replicated, in a more benign fashion, as cadres known popularly as The Brotherhood, which use natural and artificial psionics to detect antisocial behavior, and reinforce the bonds of community. Local society has also become very democratic, with Vilani style bureaucracies being supplanted by vigorous local councils that take a very proactive (some would say meddlesome) interest in securing their societies. But as a counterpoint to this ingrained conservatism is an interstellar marketplace of ideas supercharged by the existence of so many different cultural groups under one flag. Commoners tend towards ablative identities of multiple layers, reflecting the overlapping loyalties of their country.
Deneb Commonwealth Origins
The Commonwealth constitutes the former Regency of Deneb, Sword Worlds, Darrian Confederacy, unabsorbed territory in the Great Rift and Trojan Reach, the Avalar Consulate in Foreven sector, rimward regions of Tuglikki and Provence sectors, and a large swath of Zhodani territory in Iadr Nsobl province (ZIafrplians, Foreven and Spinward Marches sectors). Most of this territory is self administering, though periphery regions in former Consulate and Vargr space are mainly under the direct rule of civilian administrations supervised by military or civilian governors appointed by the Commonwealth government.
Deneb Commonwealth Member States
Beneath the Commonwealth government, fifteen self ruling states are recognized. These are known as Federations, as their representatives were the original framers and signatories of the Covenant. These federations include the federations:
- High Zhdant: Constitutes former Consulate territory in Ziafrplians(Iavdeiev and Zdiadlevepra subsectors), Gvurrdon(Llanic), Foreven (Shial and Massina subsectors) and Spinward Marches (with the exception of Querion subsector). Capitol at Cronor/Cronor.
- Monoceros: State formed by the unification of Jewell and Regina subsectors. Includes territory in neighboring Lanth subsector. Capitol at Jewell/Jewell.
- Arden: Though the old Federation of Arden was a vehemently anti-Imperial state, most of its elite was extirpated by the Zhodani during the Crucible War. Arden includes all of Querion subsector, most of Vilis (except for trailing systems in the Abyss), the Entropic worlds, several coreward Sword World systems and the former Darrian worlds of Zamine and Nonym. Capitol at Arden.
- Abyss Federation: Populist rejection of Purifiers after the Crucible War led to a violent breakup of the Regina Military District. The leaders of this reaction concentrated in Vilis and Lanth subsectors, and they were allowed to form their own Federation. Besides all worlds nominally included in the Abyss, territory includes the Spinward Main worlds between Rech and Icetina, Rabwhar/Lunion, the cluster of worlds surrounding Natoko/Rhylanor, and four systems in Mora (Heroni, Byret, Fosey and Mercury). Capitol at Equus/Lanth.
- The Islands: The strangest political grouping in the Commonwealth. Despite its name, the Federation is actually consisting of Spinward Main worlds in Mora subsector, coreward Trin's Shroud and trailing Glisten, the "Isle" of Vincennes (those worlds connected to Vincennes by J-1, and from whom the Federation receives its name), the Islands of Rift, and territories in Reft and Verge sectors. Attempts to break up this Federation have been vigorously opposed by its partisans in spite of its strained internal politics. Capitol at Vincennes/Vincennes (though in practice they are all self governing).
- Enterprise Federation: The "Hub" worlds of Lunion, Coreward Glisten, Imperial culture worlds in rim-trailing Sword Worlds, and the coreward Spinward Main of Plankwell and Five Sisters subsectors. Capitol at Mirriam/Five Sisters.
- Peoples' Republic: The largest Federation in the Commonwealth. Spinward-rimward Glisten subsector, and all of human settled Trojan Reach (including the Borderlands and old neutral zone with Aslan Hierate) with the exception of trailing Tobia subsector. Capitol at Neumann/Gazulin.
- The Tribune: One of three "composite" states in the old Denebian Stronghold. Consists of a triumvirate of capitol worlds (Tobia, Lintl and Beaxon) governing Reft sector, and Gulf subsector in neighboring Deneb.
- Common's Crescent: Governing triumvirate of Askigaak, Dekha and Pikha. Star Lane, rimward Vincennes, Pikha and Kamlar subsectors.
- Gateway Federation: Usani, Atsah and Namidshur subsectors. Governed from Deneb (Deneb 1925).
- Pretoria: Aramis, Pretoria, Lamas, Antra and Millions subsectors, plus territory in neighboring Tuglikki sector. Capitol at Pretoria (Deneb 0406).
- Sabinar: The Sabinar Main worlds of Sabinar and Starn subsectors. Capitol at Starn/Starn.
- Drayne: Spinward subsectors of Corridor and Provence (Lighorz and Voudzeur subsectors). Capitol at Drayne (Corridor 0910).
- Corridor March: Trailing subsectors of the Narrows (Corridor and Provence between the Great Rift and Windhorn). Capitol at Lemish/Lemish. This is the newest Federation, having been admitted only in 1270.
After the Crucible War, severe damage incurred in Spinward Marches sector precluded self rule, and four military districts were established at each corner of the sector, and these have only been lifted in the last decade. Intercommunal violence between former Pro-Purifier groups led to creation of several of the Federations listed at the top of the above list.
The situation is not helped by the disorder of other polities in Beyond, Far Frontiers and Foreven sectors. The Corelian League, after years of dictatorial government, exists only in name as local warlords feud for control. The Aslan Hierate has splintered into three different pieces, two of them actively engaged for control of other sectors far to spinward. Vargr corsairs have reemerged to coreward, some of them actively conspiring with remnant Viral intelligences on the other side of the Windhorn. Add to this refugee flows from the other side of the Claw resulting from wars between the new polities emerging out of the wreckage of the Third Imperium, and it seems that a constant rain of crisis threatens to consume the Commonwealth. Though not as active as during the Crucible, the Commonwealth military forces and services have responded admirably to putting out these brushfires, and it has emerged as the only working force of unity and order in some surrounding regions.
Demographics
Last Census 1270 enumerated 2,325,567,654,000 sophonts who are legalized or naturalized citizens of the Commonwealth, and about 54,190,000,000 others who are legal residents or asylum holders.
The population is:
- 88% human
- 7% Aslan
- 5% other (which includes sizeable populations of Vargr, K'kree, Droyne and variours non-human minor races)
The human population is overwhelmingly (61%) of purely Imperial cultural descent, with another 14% consisting of pureblooded Zhodani, and 16% of mixed Imperial/Zhodani or mixed Sword Worlder descent. The remainder are primarily Sword Worlders and refugees from other Spinward states. Interestingly, "Pure" Imperial culture humans constitute a bare majority (53%) of the Commonwealth population.
The largest populations of Aslan are found in Trojan Reach sector, primarily in Gazulin and Albe subsectors. with smaller groups scattered around rimward portions of the Marches, and Reft sector. Most of these (85%) are considered to be "Other" Aslan who mix their traditional culture with the necessary minimum of Imperial/Commoner culture for assimiliation. This usually means an abandonment of polygyny and excessive duelling over issues of honor and protocol. However, Commonwealth Aslan have certain advantages that have enabled them to prosper, and they dominate much of the People's Republic legal and lawyer community. The remainder are primarily Traditional Aslan among the occupied worlds of Trojan Reach sector, including the former Glorious Empire worlds.
The largest populations of Vargr are found primarily on certain high population worlds in Deneb sector, though several rural worlds have become dominated by immigrant and refugee populations. Though the Vargr Pack was destroyed during the Crucible, some residual nationalism is still found among Vargr communities in former Extent territories occupied or annexed since the war. This is particularly strong within the former territories of the Civil War Assemblage of 1116. By contrast, relations between Imperial humans and Vargr are probably at their best ever, and the Commonwealth has a Tetusu-Dene score of 8 overall, with 9 on worlds like Deneb and Urnas. Corsair activity is not tolerated in Commonwealth Vargr communities, and Vargr who indulge in such activities are shunned and ejected from the community.
The Sword Worlds, both those occupied by Regency forces and those nominally independent under the rule of Narsil, were devastated by the Dawn Heralders and their allies. Nearly half of the surviving Sword World population was rendered homeless or forced to flee the invaders, and have subsequently resettled in adjacent regions of the former Regency. Traditional Sword World culture has had to shed its xenophobia and "redneck" recidivism, though it remains strongly paternalistic and conservative. Most refugee Sword Worlders are found in the Enterprise Federation and the Islands, and have largely embraced Commonwealth culture. The group has the highest intermarriage rate for any Non-Imperial human group. Most of the Sword Worlds received extensive ecological damage during the war, and those worlds not apart of neighboring Federations are administered directly by the Commonwealth government.
Deneb Commonwealth Zhodani
The Zhodani of the Commonwealth are divided into three groups.
- The High Zhodani are the population of the High Zhdant Federation, and are a self-ruling and heavily mix traditional Zhodane traditions with Commonwealth culture, and continue to use the Tavrchedl patrols and a heavy overlay of psionics to define their culture.
- The Plavokavl Zhodani are primarily descendants of those refugees that fled the Consulate during the Zhodani Exodus of NE 1 to 9 (IY 1201 to 1209). These are primarily Commoner in culture, with only a few traditional features of their father culture, and boast a high intermarriage rate with Imperial and Sword World culture humans.
- The Jarokavl Zhodani are more recent immigrants from devastated regions of the former Consulate, and show a bewildering array of customs that give a lie to the previous understanding of the Zhodani as a monolithic culture. For their part the High Zhodani seem to sniffily detest these immigrants as "farmers" and "recidivists".
Deneb Commonwealth Darrians
The Darrians are least assimiliated of all the alien populations, owing to their lingering bitterness over their severe political and economic losses during the Crucible. Though favorable towards the Commonwealth, they resent the Commoner Zhodani for their quick conversion to the new state, and sometimes have to be physically restrained by the security forces. They are more apt to practice their culture without modification, and show little tolerance for democratic traditions fostered since their accession. For that reason, the former Confederation remains administered territory.
Commonwealth of Deneb (Polity) Government & Politics (Leadership)
The Commonwealth of Deneb is characterized as having a high degree of centralization, which sets uniform policies that direct the entire multi-system state and disregards local/planetary differences. The Commonwealth of Deneb government is usually classified as a Democratic Republic, a form of a Unitary State.
The Commonwealth government is divided along an "Anglo-American Trinity" model of separate executive, legislative and judicial branches, with the presiding head of state and government rooted in the executive branch. Given the strong tradition of leadership constituted by the Regent's post, this was the best form of government for the circumstances.
Deneb Commonwealth Executive
The head of state is known as the Chancellor, which is an elected post of ten years' duration. Unlike its model, the Chancellor is elected directly, though individual Federation's must approve the popular choice through a plenipotentiary Electoral Council. The Chancellor is the supreme head of state, is commander in chief of the military, and overseer of the Commonwealth bureaucracy. The Chancellor is strictly prohibited from interfering in legislative affairs, though the scope of their power and responsibility is otherwise consistent with their Imperial predecessors. During wartime, the Chancellor has supreme military authority, but shares command responsibility with a special National War Council of supreme departmental, military and legislative personnel. The Chancellor may engage in diplomacy, propose budgets, nominate persons for the bureaucracy and praetorship, and pardon individuals.
Deneb Commonwealth Legislature
The Commonwealth legislature consists of the Common's Senate and the States Assembly. The Senators are elected to four year terms by the electorates of individual worlds, whose delegations number is equal to the exponent of their population. For example a world with a UWP population of 6 will have six senators. The Assembly is what remains of the Regency Moot; its members are elected in cohorts of four groups, on eight year terms. Unlike the Senate, whose membership is always fluctuating, the Assembly is elected at the Federation level, and each sends a delegation of ten members. The Convenant divides responsibility between the two bodies, with the Senate concentrating upon internal issues, and the Assembly primarily concerned with foreign policy and governmental philosophy and ethics.
Deneb Commonwealth Judiciary
The Supreme Praetorship is the supreme court of the Commonwealth. However the size and complexity of the Commonwealth is such that only the most important issues reach the top level. The Praetorship includes regional courts at Deneb, Regina and Neumann that handles most plenipotentiary issues; it takes a majority vote at this level for a few dozen major cases a year to be sent to the Apex Praetorship at Mora to decide weighty philosophical issues. Inferior Praetorships are represented at the subsector and planetary level, but are only involved in matters of Commonwealth law and authority.
Technology & Trade (Economy)
No information yet available.
Military & Intelligence (Force Projection)
No information yet available.
Worlds & Sectors (Astrography)
No information yet available.
References & Contributors (Sources)
- External Link: TNE RCES
- Author: Peter Gray