Third Imperium/meta

Developmental & Evolving Conceptual History of "The Imperium"

The original conception of the "Imperium" as originally presented in early Classic Traveller materials, such as Supplement 3: The Spinward Marches, Adventure 1: Kinunir, early issues of the Journal of the Traveller Aid Society (JTAS), and others was somewhat different to the form into which it later evolved conceptually as the background of the Charted Space setting continued to develop. This early, vaguely defined "Proto-Imperium" was somewhat darker in moral and ethical character, and the Emperor, Strephon, was a much more distant and shadowy figure on a far-away throne. The Spinward Marches was a true "frontier" partially bordering a hostile power and distant from the old and entrenched Imperial Core far to trailing.

Mike Wightman, a frequent poster on Citizens of the Imperium and the Mongoose Forums summarized the differences quite nicely in a thread posted on the Mongoose Forums entitled: "The Imperium that could have been.", reproduced below with permission.

The "Proto-Imperium:"

Cherry picking from Classic Traveller sources conjures a different image of the [proto-] Imperium.

LBB:4 Mercenary:

"Traveller assumes a remote centralized government^* (referred to in this volume as the Imperium), possessed of great industrial and technological might, but unable,due to the sheer distances and travel times involved, to exert total control at all levels everywhere within its star-spanning realm. On the frontiers^**, extensive home rule provisions allow planetary populations to choose their own forms of government, raise and maintain armed forces for local security, pass and enforce laws governing local conduct, and regulate (within limits) commerce. Defense of the frontier^** is mostly provided by local indigenous forces, stiffened by scattered lmperial naval bases manned by small but extremely sophisticated forces. Conflicting local interests often settle their differences by force of arms, with lmperial forces looking quietly the other way, unable to effectively intervene as a police force in any but the most wide-spread of conflicts without jeopardizing their primary mission of the defense of the realm. Only when local conflicts threaten either the security or the economy of the area do lmperial forces take an active hand, and then it is with speed and overwhelming force.^*** "

^* The empire is mostly "off board", so to speak.

^** The setting for adventure is the frontier, where the rules are different to the core worlds.

^*** The real reason for IN bases: to keep the locals in check.

Supplement 3: The Spinward Marches

The lmperium^* is a strong interstellar government encompassing 281 subsectors and approximately 11,000 worlds. Approximately 1100 years old, it is the third human empire to control this area^**, the oldest, and the strongest.^*** Nevertheless, it is under strong pressure from its neighboring interstellar governments and does not have the strength nor the power which it once had.^****

^* Not The Third Imperium, just the Imperium.

^** How have I not noticed this: the Spinward Marches, according to later canon, were never occupied by earlier versions of the Imperium. We are being lied to. Neither the Ziru Sirka nor the Rule of Man occupied the Spinward Marches, so who were these two previous human empires?

^*** We are told the Imperium is older and stronger, so this would imply younger but not as strong human empires occupied the Spinward Marches before the Imperium took over. That makes for a completely different history for the Marches to the one we have been fed. Psychohistory was in the 800s... did they write two previous human empires out of existence? For what reason? ¹

^**** The Imperium is in decline...

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¹ Editor's Note: These "Two Empires" may have been the two previous Imperia that we are familiar with from canon, but who had exercised some degree of hegemony in the Marches, now mysteriously half-forgotten.

Adventure 4: Leviathan

The "Outrim Void" (comprising Egyrn and Pax Rulin Subsectors and beyond in the Trojan Reach) is truly beyond the frontier and is genuinely a place of rumor and the unknown.

We know what the frontier is like, how about the core worlds?

Adventure 1: Kinunir

"Large numbers of colonists were recruited and shipped in cold sleep from the Imperial core, with arrival times set from 1110 to 1120.^* The Ministry of Colonization has established several programs to produce colonists. Most obvious is the colonize in lieu of prison term program. However, several other programs have also shown signs of success. In the unemployment insurance program, high population worlds^** have successfully used the colonization project as a means of reducing unemployment over the long term. In a similar medical insurance program, indigents unable to obtain medical treatment are provided with their needs in exchange for signing on to a colony. The needs of a colony for skills are met through the anagathics program; qualified (and aged) individuals can be provided with anagathics to extend their life spans in return for their providing such skills as administration, mechanical crafts, or medical expertise.^*** Finally land grants to retiring veterans has provided a cadre for the new colony's military and police forces.^***

^* Look at those days again and remember this adventure was 1105... the colonists were (past tense) recruited and will arrive in a ten year window from 1110 to 1120. Where are these poor frozen people?

^** Remember these are core worlds with high population, an Imperial Ministry is operating just fine on these worlds.

^*** Not bad bribes for new PCs, anagathics, land grants... Land grants - I thought the Imperium didn't own planets, how can they grant land?

JTAS: TAS News

"A decision has been made to deploy Jump-6 L-Hyd drop tank express boats on all major express boat routes.^* L-Hyd drop ships have only been in service for the last dozen years in the interior^**, Commercial vessels equipped with the new generation of long-storage jump capacitors carry jump fuel in specially designed L-Hyd drop tanks in excess of their rated tonnage^*** Officials of the General Shipyards on Regina today announced that they have completed negotiations with Tukera Lines to locally manufacture L-Hyd drop tanks for use on high-capacity commercial vessels.^**** The first production examples are expected to be available within six months, at which time Tukera Lines will begin high capacity service from the interior.^***** "

^* Does this imply jump-6 x-boats have been common in the core sectors for a lot longer?

^** A dozen years for commercial civilian vessels, we know drop tanks have been used for a lot longer than that (see the Gazelle). 1105-12=1093

^*** Commercial vessels, freight carriers and passenger liners.

^**** So Tukera can expand its comercial arm and enable the Imperial government to also reduce communication lag with the core...

^***** Sadly the locals objected, sorry there were accidents. Then increased Ine Givar activity (denied by the IN so must be true), then a frontier war, it's almost as if the natives of the Spinward Marches don't want more direct Imperial control...

And now Rumours and Library Data from Adv 1: Kinunir -&- Sup 3: The Spinward Marches:

Regina Subsector

The hub of new development in the Spinward Marches is the Regina subsector. Located at the very edge of the Imperium, it serves as a contact point with the Vargr to coreward and the Zhodani to spinward; the result is considerable trade activity through the starports of the region. Much of the upper strata of Zhodani society are extensively trained in, and commonly practice the Psionic Heresy.

• The lmperium has been suppressing political dissent in order to keep peace in the Regina subsector.

• A reward has been offered by the subsector government for the location of a senator who has been missing since 1102.

• A recent uprising at Feri (0405) has cut the Imperial communication jump route from Regina (0310) to Efate (0105).

• The government of Roup (0407) has made a subsector-wide call for surplus starships to supplement its local forces. There has been no opposition from the subsector government.

• The Forboldn Project is the primary colonization project within the Regina subsector. Originally conceived in 987 to utilize the resources of Forboldn (0208), the project began its execution phase in 1089, shortly after the Fourth Frontier War. Large numbers of colonists were recruited and shipped in cold sleep from the Imperial core, with arrival times set from 1110 to 1120. Simultaneously, preparations on Forboldn began, with detailed planetary surveys to pinpoint resources and initial building projects to prepare industry and quarters for the arrival of colonists.

• Interdicted worlds are interdicted because the lmperium is trying to conceal its mistakes in social and political planning.

• Exile Camp. A location committed to the containment of individuals guilty (or presumed guilty) of political crimes of discontent. Governmental controls are usually restricted to the retention of inmates, and a general oppression of the population.

• lmperial Prison. A penitentiary or rehabilitation centre for those guilty of lmperial crimes.

• lmperial Reservation. A location, usually very large, under lmperial jurisdiction and restricted to use only by members of the lmperial family, or those authorized by a member of the lmperial family.

• lmperial Way Station. A base established for the repair, maintenance, and overhaul of lmperial equipment. It may include provisions for Army troop barracks, naval and scout ship overhauls, and intelligence operations.

• The lmperium has long maintained (since 556) a research station in the Retinae system for the purposes of communications research. Accessed from Frenzie/Vilis via Thanber, the station has frequently figured in Zhodani diplomatic protests. Its long-standing presence at Retinae and the steadfastness of the Emperor has served to maintain its continued operation.

• Asmodeus is recovering from a nuclear war which ended in 1005.

• World 728-907, recently surveyed, is a large inhabitable world with no evidence of higher animal life although extensive forestation and insect presence have been noted. The Ministry of Colonisation has designated the world for seeding within the next century, with a view to colonisation upon availability of personnel and funds.

• Collace is the site of one of several lmperial scout bases in the district. Application has been made for membership in the Imperium, which is pending.

• Tureded, a small agricultural world, has recently become of increasing importance as a trade and shipping centre because it lies at a junction for jump-1 travel from rimward to the Regina, Jewell, and Rhylanor subsectors. It is expected that Tureded will be upgraded to a class B starport within the next decade. The Scout Service is currently negotiating the establishment of a Scout base, with the apparent intention of an xboat link from Rhylanor to Dinomn and Regina.

• The Ling Standard Products shipyards at Lunion and Strouden are the major shipbuilding points within the entire Spinward Marches. The excellent workmanship, combined with level D technology, makes LSP products highly sought after.

• The asteroid belt at Zaibon was once the largest deposit of copper on record, but the lode has dwindled to virtually nothing, and the facilities are deteriorating.

• Wardn is a small world notable primarily for its intricate patterns carved in its desert plains. One hypothesis holds the runes are marks left by anaerobic life, while another claims that they are artifact results of an ancient culture.

• The government on Quiru is a military junta which is the result of a mercenary operation. Imperial force has not yet been brought to bear.

• Egypt has been selected for a Ministry of Colonization training base.

• Mithras is the site of an Imperial exile prison; convicted individuals are deported to the world where they begin life anew. Although environmental conditions are harsh, the opportunities on Mithras have made it a showcase of rehabilitation.

• The Imperial Research Station at Duale has reportedly suffered extreme damage from an explosion of undetermined origin in 1102. A high degree of military security has been present in the system since that date. The nature of the research being undertaken is not known.

• Nexine is an underpopulated water world currently being used by the Ministry of Conservation for reseeding efforts using biologically altered humans.

• The desert world of Thisbe has undertaken a long-term project to divert large numbers of frozen water and gas asteroids from the Thisben belt to the planetary surface; the intention is an improved atmosphere and hydrographic percentage."

The Library Data supplements - note that these came later but there are still some interesting tie-ins with the proto-Imperium.

"Feudalism: With such great distances separating stellar systems, individual responsibility and authority become of great importance.^* The lmperium is divided into sectors (twenty of them), each about 32 parsecs by 40 parsecs in size. Each sector is divided into sixteen subsectors (8 by 10 parsecs). And within a [sub]sector^** are perhaps thirty or forty systems, each with a star, worlds, and satellites. Individual worlds, and even entire systems, are free to govern themselves as they desire, provided that ultimate power is always accorded the Imperium.^*** Interstellar government begins at the subsector level - on one world designated the subsector capital. The ruling figure at the subsector capital is a high-ranking noble selected by higher levels of government.^**** This duke has a free hand in government, and is subject only to broad guidelines from his superiors.^***** But at the same time, the duke owes fealty to the higher levels of government, ultimately to the Emperor himself. The feudal approach depends greatly on a sense of honor, one cultivated by the hereditary aristocracy. This sense of honor is very strong within the Imperium; it has proven essential to the survival of such a far-flung community."

^* Individual authority and the responsibility to use it in accordance with Imperial rules

^** Should be subsector not sector

^*** This is where it all starts going horribly wrong. It should say "on the frontier", as it will do so later...

^**** Are the higher levels of government higher ranking nobles or are we missing something, does the sector and above Imperial bureaucracy have a say in who is the appointed noble? Who are the faceless bureaucrats above the subsector level that run the Ministries and Imperial government apparatus?

^***** At this point either the authors are trolling us or they are being deliberately unreliable narrators.

And lest you think these men of honour are all piety and virtue:

Re: Fleet Intruder "Children of the March", FI-6355: "Instead, the sector government came up with the idea, and implemented it at the highest levels.^* Given a population of 783 billion in the Marches (under direct Imperial rule)^**, children in school amount to about 10% of that population. Assuming a contribution of a quarter credit per student, the campaign could produce the sum of 19.575 billion credits.

- The bureaucracy simply deducted this sum from funds budgeted to education^***; the responsibility for replenishment fell upon educational administrators, who could solicit donations from students (or others) for the shipbuilding campaign.

- Aside from the initial notification from sector government, no further effort was necessary, no further credit transfers were needed, and the campaign was allowed to go on for however long was necessary. Reportedly, some backwater school districts still collect for the "Starship Fund".^****

^* The sector government of the Marches appears to be able to get away with quite a bit here, ignoring subsector dukes' authority.

^** And there we have it ladies and gentlemen, it is all a sham, all of this talk of autonomy and home rule, the worlds of the Marches are under direct Imperial rule, they're just granted the illusion of self determination...

^*** The bureaucracy, not the sector duke, and this bureaucracy is able to instruct education departments all across the worlds of the Marches. The sector bureaucracy has a budget for the education of the citizens on the sector's worlds. This implies the Imperium controls the curriculum of the education establishments across the Marches, I wonder what they have to teach? Does the sector duke set policy for the bureaucracy?

^**** Nice to know political grift is still alive and well in the 57th century

Look what shows up again:

"On the frontiers, extensive home rule provisions allow planetary governments to choose their own forms of government, raise and maintain their own armed forces for local security, pass and enforce laws governing local conduct, and regulate (within limits) commerce."

- Which, as we have seen above, is a sham. Wonder if the Marches are still being used as a psychohistory test area?

Then there is this bit about the relationship between megacorporations and the Imperium:

"A small number of lmperial regulatory agencies^* have power over megacorporations, and they are subject to any applicable local taxes, but, provided they do not blatantly violate lmperial sovereignty, regional managers can usually conduct their company's business as they see fit. Because a direct confrontation with the lmperium would be bad for business, intentional violation of lmperial laws is done only on a covert basis."

^* I wonder which agencies?

On to the next Library Data book.

"The lmperium is best considered to rule the space that separates the stars rather than the worlds themselves.^* Individual worlds are left to their own devices, providing they pay their taxes, acknowledge the power of the Imperium, and obey the basic laws it promulgates.^** The lmperium wields power in space, protecting trade, encouraging travel and commerce, and controlling diplomatic relations.^*** lmperial power is present on worlds in the form of consulates, bureaucratic offices, and bases^****; occasionally larger enclaves of lmperial power are placed where they can enhance the empire's strength".^*****

^* A load of old twaddle

^** We now know this is explicitly false

^*** Which includes the diplomatic relations between adjacent worlds...

^**** Consulates - diplomats, nobles, bureaucrats; Bureaucratic Offices - the Ministries?; Bases - Naval bases, depots, waystations, scout bases

^***** Larger enclaves? The personal estates of Imperial nobles?

Odd that in an Imperium that doesn't rule worlds:

"Archdukes maintain their hereditary lands and their incomes".

- So at some point the Imperium came into possession of land it could grant in perpetuity.

Core sector is very different to frontier sectors...

"After thirty years of economic and diplomatic maneuvering (and occasional military action), Cleon had increased the size of the [Sylean] Federation, extending its control to the edge of what is now Core sector."

- Note that the Sylean Federation directly controlled the worlds it ruled, so this little tidbit may prove that the Core Sector should be all Imperial owned, controlled, and governed worlds. After a couple of centuries the entire Domain of the Archduke of Sylea is likely to be directly under the Archduke's control.

Now something else that is contradicted by modern authors:

"However, attempts by extra-planetary forces to seize control of a world's affairs are beyond the scope of the "safety valve" rationale. Recognizing that often some community of interest exists between a faction or state on a planet and some off-planet organization, the lmperium tolerates "assistance" as long as it is deemed appropriate to the level of legitimate interest in the affairs of the world held by the extraplanetary organization. When it has appeared that the primary burden for the conduct of the war has been carried by an extra-planetary power, the lmperium has intervened."

- This surely also means one member world cannot invade another member world without the Imperium becoming involved?

- One or two things noticeably absent - Ministries and the Bureaucracy - especially how they tie in with the "Feudal" system. Ministries are mentioned in S:3, the Bureaucracy remains a completely faceless entity.

And as I like to do let's take a look at the cherry-picked cherry pickings:

• Individual responsibility and authority become of great importance.

• Provided that ultimate power is always accorded the Imperium.

• The ruling figure at the subsector capital is a high-ranking noble selected by higher levels of government. This duke has a free hand in government and is subject only to broad guidelines from his superiors.

• The sector government came up with the idea and implemented it at the highest levels.

• The (Spinward) Marches (under direct Imperial rule).

• The bureaucracy simply deducted this sum from funds budgeted to education.

• Aside from the initial notification from sector government.

• On the frontiers, extensive home rule provisions allow planetary governments to choose their own forms of government, raise and maintain their own armed forces for local security, pass and enforce laws governing local conduct, and regulate (within limits) commerce.

• A small number of lmperial regulatory agencies have power over megacorporations.

• The lmperium wields power in space, protecting trade, encouraging travel and commerce, and controlling diplomatic relations. lmperial power is present on worlds in the form of consulates, bureaucratic offices, and bases; occasionally larger enclaves of lmperial power are placed where they can enhance the empire's strength.

• Archdukes maintain their hereditary lands and their incomes.

Now we know why there is this dichotomy between "extensive home rule" and "under direct Imperial rule".

- The Ministry of Colonisation identifies worlds for colonies, institutes programs to transfer colonists from core worlds (that they don't control remember) to colony worlds. They may even bioengineer the colonists if necessary. Land grants on the colony world (that the Imperium doesn't own) are offered to skilled personnel, veterans and the like. And at the end of all that investment the Imperium hands the world (that the Imperium doesn't own) over to the colonists...

- Meanwhile the sector bureaucracy is controlling the education budgets of every Imperial controlled world (that are not Imperial controlled; they have considerable autonomy, apart from what their children are taught about the Imperium...) with dictats from the sector government...

- The sector government teaches the school children of the Marches that their worlds are all important to the Imperium, that they all are willing members, that they all rule themselves, but the reality is very different.

- For 1100 years they have been promoting this myth that individual worlds have rights "provided that ultimate power is always accorded the Imperium" when the reality of the matter is "lmperial power is present on (all member) worlds in the form of consulates, bureaucratic offices, and bases; occasionally larger enclaves of lmperial power are placed where they can enhance the empire's strength. Afterall, the "Archdukes (must) maintain their hereditary lands and their incomes."

- I wonder if the subsector dukes (high-ranking nobles selected by higher levels of government), who are relied on to be the ruling figures at the subsector capitals, and who have a free hand in government, and are subject only to broad guidelines from their superiors, but must remember their individual responsibility and authority, become of great importance in order to act as a distraction from what the sector level bureaucracy gets up to in the name of the Emperor?

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(Additional thoughts by Mongoose Board poster "Actionman"):

The more I look at the Imperial feudal system, the more effective it seems.

• The honor nobles, who don't have fiefs, can be given fleet commands to keep the ranked nobles, who do have fiefs, under control.

• Honor nobles, who may be fleet commanders, can only receive fiefs from the Emperor. Therefore, it behooves them to be as loyal and effective as possible to prove themselves worthy of being rewarded with a landed title when they retire from military service.

• The fleet commanders are supposed to obey the ranked noble subsector and sector dukes, but if those dukes command them to disobey the Emperor, the fleet commanders can ignore such orders with impunity. If necessary, the fleet commanders can arrest the dukes who give treasonous orders. To have a chance, all the subsector dukes would have to go to war in support of their sector duke, and they still wouldn't have the capital ships that the sector fleets have. Even then they still wouldn't have a chance, because the Emperor would order his sector fleets in nearby sectors to put down the rebellion, and for good measure he could place the subsector fleets of nearby sectors directly under the command of the senior sector fleet admiral moving to put down the upstart sector. In one stroke the Emperor would assemble an overwhelming fleet and strip nearby sector dukes of the fleets they would need to support the upstart sector duke.

The reason fief-holding ranked nobles shouldn't have fleet command is because they need to be administering their fiefs. Fleet command and fief-holding are two jobs that are so demanding that they can't be done by the same person, especially if there's a military operation that takes the admiral / fief-holder away from his fief duties for any length of time. A fief-holder who doesn't manage his fief would soon find his title for that fief revoked and given to someone else.

All the incentives and military realities favor loyalty to the Emperor and don't favor rebellious vassals.

Enfeoffment and control of Imperial military power are fairly well-separated. He who controls worlds is not he who controls fleets. It's a pretty good check and balance.

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