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Overview: |
The DSCA is one of the few truly ideally democratic organizations that exist within the greater galaxy. Every issue that faces the Commune is voted on by all citizens, with each citizen who wishes to speak on the matter given the opportunity to do so. The votes are tabulated and the results executed by the Tal’Sherai.
The Tal’Sherai is made up completely of androids and is therefor viewed as incorruptible. However, despite the total equality this system has created, the drawbacks are obvious. It takes many months for the Aalaey to reach a decision about any matter, and debates have been known to go on for years and even decades before important or controversial matters are able to be brought to vote. This system was greatly expedited when communication network implants were implemented, however, the process is still far too slow. Therefore, many of the day to day and even year to year matters of running the Commune have been handed over to the Tal’Sherai to deal with until different directives can be debated and voted upon. This often leads to problems for the Commune -- as it is often unable to change its policies fast enough to react to the changing forces inside and outside of its own borders. However, despite the inherent weaknesses of the system, the average citizen of the Commune is content with their government and with their lives in general. The incredible ease of communication, along with the mind development programs of the Commune, has increased the speed of the DSCA’s technological development far beyond that of their neighbors. Also, the Commune’s great concern with improving the quality of life of the average citizen has ensured that no hunger and very little extreme poverty exists within the Democratic Social Commune. The Aalaey, themselves, are an easy-going race, although, if roused to deep emotions, they can work and fight passionately for a cause. Those who can inflame this passion in the common man are the leaders of the Commune, but it is too often the case that these demagogues use their ability for their own personal gain instead of to the benefit of the state. However, this same passion, along with their highly advanced technology, has also time and time again saved the Commune when its destruction seemed inevitable. Currently, the Aalaey are members of the Elessar sponsored Alliance of Light. They are officially at war with the Shadakar. However, as with the Elessar, the front has been quiet ever since the Shadakar attack on Elessar Prime. Although their government is relatively weak, the Aalaey contribute most to the Alliance by virtue of their highly advanced technology, which is used to upgrade the larger fleets of the other nations in the Alliance. |
Index:Q-dex / Technology / Magic
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Q-dex: |
T 806.6231/123.894O M 635.7635/752.46 |
Technology: |
The Commune relies almost completely on technology, as Magic is viewed as an instrument of the elite (see History). The freedoms of the DSCA have prevented a highly structured form of technological development, however, the capitalist, free-market style economy has encouraged rapid growth in many areas. Military weaponry and technology is looked down upon as a threat to freedom, although some research is necessarily conducted in that area, while advancement in the areas of communication are seen as good because they open new avenues for even greater citizen participation in the democracy and greater research capabilities.
The greatest technological achievement of the Commune occurred in the year 3 when every citizen of the Commune was linked to every other citizen through a bionic implant which connected the host to an Empire spanning, multi-channel telecommunications network (see Society). From that point on, the DSCA achieved a virtual hive mind -- in that each member was a part of the greater whole. At the same time each member also retained some individuality and hence -- by keeping the best of both worlds -- the Commune created the closest attempt ever to a true democracy. This communication network also had the effect of allowing drastically increased speed of technological development within the Commune because all citizens are able to contribute their suggestions and ideas; while at the same time the entire scientific community is able to effect communication with a thought. The other main thrust of the DSCA’s current technological development has been into artificial intelligence. Since androids cannot go beyond their original programming, the Commune, in the year 6, voted to use them to perform any function where corruption might exist in the government. Obviously, this was eventually extended to include all offices. So, with the DSCA’s military and government totally dependent on androids to function, the development and improvement of artificial life has become a major priority within the DSCA. |
Magic: |
After the revolution against the Lama’Deral in the year 0 (see History), magic has ceased to be used within the Commune. There is no law against it, since magic does not inherently promote the creation of a new ruling class. However, since the power of the old regime was in part based on its members use of magic, the arcane arts have become a symbol of anti-democratism and hence are looked down upon by all good Aalaeyan citizens. |
Size & Population: |
Although the Commune itself has engaged in no expansion, the DSCA still controls all the territory that was colonized by the Aalaeyan Imperial Military under the old regime. Also, private interests within the Commune are still creating colonies which almost universally will ask for admittance into the DSCA once they have reached sufficient population levels.
The Commune is based in the Arantaor Quantum Zone, where it shares a border with the Shadakar Imperium. It also has smaller territories in the Nura- Meral and Uruk-Hai Zones and a trading post in the Cyrania Zone. Currently, it controls six major systems, eight minor systems, and countless colonies which are too small to be given full system status within the Commune. There are also several colonies of Aalaey outside of the borders of the DSCA, in the area near the territory of The Graal. However, their admittance into the Commune is still being debated by the population. The total population is estimated at 600 billion Aalaey with fifty percent in the major systems, thirty-five percent in the minor systems and fifteen percent on smaller colonies. Major colonies are: Aalaeyan (Capitol), Forikan, Kelekan, Xergena, Jaraghon, and Yargov. Minor colonies are: Lemure, Venari, Altanar, Tahoma, Ultaj, Ygorvia, Oranorak, and Zeran. |
Climate and Geography: |
The Aalaey thrive on worlds with climates approximating terran conditions, with average daytime temperatures around 25 Celsius, abundant water and nitrogen\oxygen based atmospheres. The major systems all contain at least one planet with such conditions, and several more with conditions that allow survival of Aalaey.
The Commune controls territory in four quantum zones. The majority of Aalaey colonies are located in the Arantaor zone, including the capitol of Aalaeyan. The lower areas of Arantaor are controlled by the Shadakar Imperium, and the front between the two nations divides the zone in half. Since expansion south, into hostile Shadakar territory, was impossible for the old Empire, they expanded into their neighboring zones, creating a foothold major colony at Yargov in the Nura-Meral zone. The rest of the territory in the zone is not well developed. The Empire’s expansion into the Uruk-hai zone was halted by the revolution, and hence no major footholds have been established there. However, two minor military colonies have given the Aalaey enough leverage to maintain a front in the zone. The most recent addition was a trading post, Tahoma, which was created in the Cyrania zone to facilitate greater trade with the Commune’s northern neighbors. |
Flora and Fauna: |
The Flora and Fauna of the Commune have been making a resurgence since the demise of the Lama’Deral. However, up until the fall of the Empire, environmental issues were not even considered in the decision making processes. Due to this, the environments on most of the major systems in the Commune are severely damaged from the over-industrialization of the final days of the Empire.
However, those systems which are not too damaged to be salvaged are being slowly, but diligently ecologically repaired in order to provide worlds which members of the Commune can visit as vacation spots. Several of these worlds exist, the most important being the Zeran system in the Nura-Meral zone. This system contains virtually no industry, but is heavily commercialized -- to the point that the entire system is much like a giant recreation area. Each year, over 100 billion Aalaey and 25 billion others visit the site, making it the largest and most lucrative tourist attraction in the sector. |
History: |
The history of the DSCA itself is a very short one, as it was only created twenty-six years ago. For this reason, many aspects of the Commune today are, in fact, reactions to and repercussions from the actions of the old Empire in its closing days.
The history of the Empire begins on the same day as the completion of one of the most important technological developments in the history of any race: interstellar flight. However, upon completion of the technology, the Lama’Deral, techno-magical scientific community, announced that no government would be allowed to use it, or any other technology controlled by the Lama’Deral until they agreed to submit to a world-government created by the scientific community. The objective of this was to take control of the interstellar exploration and expansion out of the hands of the decadent governments that ruled Aalaeyan at the time; thereby creating a new age of peaceful prosperity and expansion for the Aalaey. However, the dreams of peace were drowned in the cries of pain and suffering as the decadent and power-hungry nations one by one allied together in the Starshine Alliance and declared war on the new Enlightened Empire. The War of the Stars that followed was the most horrendous in the history of the Aalaey. The ill-equipped but massive armies of the nation states were pitted against the small, elite and well armed Imperial troops. Millions upon millions of Allied troops were killed before they even had a chance to be deployed and nearly every battle was won by the Empire. After only three years of fighting, three hundred million Aalaey were dead and the Enlightened Empire controlled the entire planet. However, with the planet under their control, the Lama’Deral, now also acting as the First Congress of the Empire, discovered the difficulties of ruling unwilling subjects. Interested in living up to their name, the empire allowed almost total autonomy to its subjects, and revolt after revolt prevented the Empire from beginning the colonization projects which it had fought so hard for. Eventually, the Lama’Deral was forced to accept the fact that opposing elements would have to be forcefully crushed or the Empire would be torn apart from internal struggles long before its intended goal of colonization was even begun. To achieve this, the Lama’Deral voted to appoint an Emperor, who would serve for three years, and be able to make the instant decisions that the Congress was incapable of. They also voted to organize the mages of the scientific community into a fighting force and direct all magical research towards military pursuits. This army would come to be known as the Lesleian. To compensate, all technological research into military weaponry was halted and changed to more humanitarian directions. The resulting repression was successful, and the Empire was finally able to begin its colonization. Many suitable planets were found, and the territory of the Aalaey expanded quickly. However, as the Empire expanded, so did the power of the Lesleian. With the Congress more and more inundated with different viewpoints from the vastly differing systems within the Empire, the Emperor was able to begin to take more direct control over events. His term was expanded to six years, then ten and finally to a lifetime office. At the same time, the Emperors began to adopt the Lesleian as their own private enforcers, and throughout the Empire garrisons of the Mage Armies were put up. Gradually, the freedoms of the Empire were taken away and the rule became more and more autocratic. These trends continued until The Peaceful Revolution. Roughly six hundred years after its founding and the founding of the Empire, the First Congress voted that stability had been established within the Empire, and that the need for an Emperor and the Lesleian no longer existed. Almost all powers of the office of Emperor were stripped and the Mages Army was dissolved. In response, the Emperor called for a plebiscite to determine if the people were of the same opinion as the Congress. With the Lesleian ‘supervising’ the elections, the vote was returned as a strong disapproval of the measure. Taking the initiative, the Emperor dissolved the First Congress of the Enlightened Empire and redefined the Lama’Deral from being the entire scientific community to only including the mages, or the Lesleian. Then, the new Lama’Deral elected the Second Congress of the Enlightened Empire which fully supported the policies of the Emperor. The technologists attempted a revolt, but that was brutally suppressed by the Lesleian and most of those remaining were forced to work as virtual slaves to the new government. However, even though the Lesleian was able to suppress the revolt of the technologists, the magical power of the mages was dwindling. Due to strict interbreeding, the genetic material of the Lesleian was being slowly weakened, and with it the magical power of its members. By the time of the Peaceful Revolution, only half of the members of the Mages Army were able to use magic effectively enough to make a practical weapon. This decline in power continued, and was accelerated by the pollution and contamination of the buildup period, until by the time of the Shadakar War, only 75% of the mages could use magic at all, one fourth could use it as an effective weapon and one in one hundred were powerful enough to have qualified to enter the Lesleian when it was founded by the First Congress. With Imperial power finally secure within the EE, the Emperors turned their sight towards organized expansion into alien and uncolonized territory. This began what is known as the Hundred Years buildup. The purpose of this buildup can never be known for certain, since it was interrupted by the Shadakar War and the overthrow of the Empire. However, it is believed that the Shadakar themselves were to be the target of the first offensive. Hence, the readiness with which the Emperor agreed to ally with the Elessar against the Shadakar. The buildup was, in essence, a planned, massive reorganization of the Aalaeyan economy. Every major system in the Empire was designated as a Heavily Industrialized System (HIS). These systems would contribute all of their resources to industrial development and production, ignoring agriculture, raw materials, and ecological impact. The second class of system was the Heavily Agriculturalized System (HAS). Generally, the less densely populated planets fell into this category. These planets would be terraformed into garden paradises that would supply the food for the massive populations of the Industrial Systems. The final designation was Raw Material Production Region (RMPR). These were the planets that would supply all of the raw materials needed by the HIS planets, as well as for terraforming or farming efforts. The HIS systems were by far the most successful of the three classes. Aalaeyan, Kelekan, Xergena, Jaraghon, Yargov, Murk and Forikan were designated as HIS planets. Within twenty years, the populations of these planets had increased by 300%, the worker productivity by 15% and the overall production by 1000%. However, the over-population, over-industrialization and over-mining of the systems led to destruction of the ecology of the entire system. The planets became almost uninhabitable, and most citizens were unable to go outside without gas masks; the greenhouse effect caused massive global warming; and the lax pollution controls killed off almost all other species on the planets. Imperial scientists predicted that the planet would remain habitable for roughly one hundred more years and a rehabilitation time of several billion before they would be useable again. Many of the HAS systems had to be terraformed, which is a long and arduous process. This meant that while the HIS system’s demands for food were skyrocketing with their population, the HAS were unable to increase the output. This caused a severe lack of food within the Enlightened Empire, that would continue until the revolution. Also, the immigration from the ruined HIS worlds to the other areas of the Empire used up a considerable amount of space on HAS worlds that was needed for food production. The RMPR Systems were able to keep up with the demand of the HIS systems in the beginning, but as production increased 1000%, so did demand for the dwindling known raw materials. Within thirty years production had dropped to only 150% about pre-buildup levels because of lack of raw materials. This gradually increased as more materials were found, but never past the 500% mark again. This demand for resources also increased the urgency with which the Empire needed to expand its territory. It was this state that the Empire was in when the Shadakar War broke out, and seeing a way to expand into new territory to gain more resources, as well as test out his new production systems, the Emperor eagerly agreed to ally with the Elessar. However, the weakness of the Lesleian, along with the general unhappiness of the people in the Empire severely hurt the war effort. The powerful Shadakar mages easily defeated the Lesleian, and the technological results of the buildup period proved useless against the energy based Shadakar. Within a year, the invading army of the Empire had been thrown back and the Shadakar were making moves into Aalaey territory, seizing the Murk, Orhne and Forikan systems. In this climate, the Great Revolution was begun, in favour of overthrowing the Enlightened Empire and replacing it was a democracy, that would work in the best interests of the people. With the Lesleian destroyed, the Emperor weak, and discontent almost universal the revolt was an almost bloodless success. Only the Lesleian troops within the capitol of Aalaeyan put up any resistance to the Democratic Forces. The Last Emperor, Deltrian XXIV, was executed on the first day of the new calendar, year 0. A provincial government was established, known as the Democratic Social Commune of the Aalaey. It immediately dissolved what remained of the Lesleian and attempted to reorganize the war effort. However, it was only through good luck that the Elessar and their Vadekite allies launched a major offensive; which allowed the DSCA to survive. During the next five years, the Shadakar front remained manageable due to attacks by the other allies, and the DSCA was allowed time to collect and establish itself. The synaptic communications network was established, and the provisional government was dissolved into the current system. However, the name DSCA was retained. The buildup projects were partially dismantled, although most of the existing structures remained to aid in the war effort. However, only two years after the synaptic communications network was completed and the current Commune created, the Shadakar once again attacked. With the new system untried, a year long debate ensued on whether or not and how the DSCA should defend itself from the Imperium. During this time, the Shadakar forces were able to move into position for an attack on Aalaeyan itself. It was this action that finally forced the movement to vote and in a large space and land battle, the Aalaey managed to defeat the invading armies. From this point forward, the general in command was able to retake all the systems seized by the Shadakar with the exception of Murk and Orhne. This victory was most likely due to the fact that at the same time as it was happening, the Shadakar were mobilizing their own troops for the final attack on Elessar Prime. Hence, when the Aalaey fleet’s advance was finally stopped at Murk, the Shadakar did not mount a counter-attack. From that point forward, neither the Aalaey nor the Shadakar have mounted offensives along the frontier. With the crisis behind it, the Commune voted to establish the Tal’Sherai, which would serve as a non- corruptible government bureaucracy and military. Its first directive from the Commune was to protect the Aalaey from all harm. Following that, the offices which the Tal’Sherai controlled, as well as its powers were increased. Currently, every function of government with the exception of international treaties can be handled by the Tal’Sherai until a vote can be held. After the Democratic Social Commune created the Tal’Sherai and gave it the powers of government, few actions of major import have occurred within the Commune. Several treaties have been ratified, including a continued alliance with the Elessar. Also, the minor systems of Zeran and Oranorak have been allowed into the DSCA. However, in general, the DSCA tends to be a reactionary power, only passing sweeping measures when no other option remains. |
Government: |
The Government of the DSCA is a total democracy. This system was made possible by the installation, in the Year 3, of the Synaptic Communications Network (SCN). This links every Aalaeyan citizen directly into several different channels of debate on various subjects, in real time. Each citizen that wishes to speak on a matter is given the chance to do so, however, by convention, everyone does not speak on every issue.
Once everyone is satisfied that all angles of the proposal have been debated, looked at and answered fully, a vote is called. If the half citizenry agrees that the issue is ready to be voted upon, then another vote is held, with a sixty percent majority required to enact legislation. If over half do not feel the issue is ready for vote, then the debate is allowed to continue until a majority agree it should be ended. If, on the other hand, the issue is voted upon and passes, the measure is then given to the Tal’Sherai to enact and enforce. There is no limit on the time which an issue may be debated for, or a limit to the number of speakers. However, there is a one hour limit on speeches, to ensure that nothing is blocked from coming to vote by someone who refuses to relinquish the debate. Currently, the Commune’s lack of any real binding issue has caused immense fragmentation within the DSCA over relatively unimportant issues. Each of the myriad of viewpoints is usually led by a charismatic leader, known as a demagogue. Through their powerful oratory, they are often able to sway votes in one direction or another. However, despite the fact that a few of these demagogues are indeed working for a cause they feel is right, most are simply in the limelight for their own personal gain and will switch to a new issue as soon as their current one is voted upon or becomes unprofitable. With the incorruptible nature of the Tal’Sherai, the moneyed interests of the Commune will often go to these demagogues to argue their case before the people in exchange for money or benefits, thereby going over the head of the all too honest androids. It is the control of these demagogues that has more than any other factor contributed to the lack of real resolve towards any one direction of true advancement within the Commune. Foreign Policy:The Foreign Policy of the Commune is still controlled by the final policies of the Enlightened Empire. Its joining of the Alliance of Light caused permanent dislike to form between the Shadakar and the Aalaey, ensuring that that front of the Commune would always be hostile. The other nations of the Alliance had also entered into separate trade treaties with the Empire to further help the collective economy of the Alliance and thereby increase the effectiveness of the war effort. The Commune, in an attempt to curry favours with the alien governments continued these treaties, as well as even expanding some of the trading rights granted by them. Other than these treaties, the DSCA has made no foreign engagements, due to the reasons mentioned in Government, above. Domestic Policy:The Domestic Policy of the DSCA is one of the most enlightened in the galaxy, with respect to personal freedoms. Since most people are content with their lives in the Commune, and most are eager to simply get on with their business without government interference, the DSCA grants almost total freedoms to its peoples. Virtually anything short of a crime like murder is tolerated within the Commune. This liberal policy is due to three main reasons: the Commune is so recently founded that many of the restrictive laws have not been able to have been brought to vote, the absolute control of the people within the Commune has meant that they are willing to trust themselves with a lot more power than a government would, and the government of the DSCA is comprised completely of androids, hence they are unable to act to restrict rights to either gain power for themselves or to further the ‘best interests of the people,’ without a direct order from the Commune to do so. |
Society: |
The Society of the DSCA is one which depends almost completely on communication. With the SCN installed directly into the mind of every Aalaey, intra-imperial communication is possible for and to anyone for absolutely no price. Also, since at least three hundred channels exist within the SCN, each Aalaey is taught at a very early age to be able to assimilate information from many hundreds of sources at once.
This development of the Aalaey mind has allowed for even faster developments of technology, as well as ensuring that every Aalaey will be well informed about virtually every issue within the Commune, scientific or otherwise, and be able to competently vote on almost all political ones. The society values most the power of oratory, since the government is currently under the control of the demagogues who are merely extremely capable orators. Generally, the goals of the society is an interesting mix between desires to work for the benefit of oneself, left over from the Empire, and to work for the benefit of the race as a whole, created by the SCN union. The catch phrase of the Commune now is “Work to better the race, and you’re doing yourself a favour.” The culture is a popular one, in keeping with the demagogue style rulership, since people are still wanting to enjoy life after the final days of the Empire and then the horrendous Shadakar War. However, as it has been almost twenty years since the war, the people are beginning to tend towards a more progressive attitude and a desire for general advancement instead of mere enjoyment of life. Languages:The Aalaey had several major languages at the time of the advent of the Enlightened Empire. However, as one of its main policies, the Empire forced the language used by the scientific community on to the rest of the society. The process was a slow one, but over the course of two hundred years, the other main languages were exterminated. By the time of the Peaceful Revolution, the Aalaey were united under one language. The language itself is a vocal one, depending mainly on sounds to convey messages. Originally, it also depended on gestures to indicate certain meanings, but as the technological means to communicate by sound became increasingly more available than those which utilized both sight and sound, the language evolved into a completely spoken one. The scientific language also included a very primitive written language, as scientists had to have a way to record their data. However, this written language became obsolete after sound recording devices were created. During the period of the Empire, and even more strongly after the revolution and advent of the SCN, the need to write things down became obsolete and the transfer of visual images became more and more difficult. Hence, today, the Aalaey have no written language and rely completely on the spoken form. Religion:Traditional religion was another casualty of the Enlightened Empire. With the power of science waxing to encompass everything, the gospel of science became the new religion of the people. Its doctrine was dictated by the Lama’Deral and all were expected to have faith that it would work. Eventually, technology took on an almost god-like form in the Empire. Albeit, it was not worshipped, but its powers were constantly praised and those who disputed the validity of it were removed just as ardently as those who had disputed the existence of a higher being before. The DSCA has no real place for gods either, since the god of a democracy is the people. Since the scientific community no longer holds absolute power within the Commune, the absolute acceptance of everything the scientists say has stopped. However, there is still a reverence for technology within the Aalaey. A few fringe groups have revived the beliefs of the old traditional religions, but the movement is still very new and lacking in mass appeal. Most Aalaey are content with the lives that their own technology has made possible and they have made a reality through their own democracy. Hence, they see no real need to look to a higher being unless they can’t handle it themselves. Castes:There are no real castes within the society, as that would be undemocratic. However, there are several classes, which are based on monetary holdings. The most powerful people in the Commune are the Corporate interests. Most of their wealth was acquired during the build-up programs of the Empire, however, it was retained through the revolution and is now being reinvested by these interests to even further expand their operations. In general, the incomes are equivalent the GPP (Gross Planetary Production) of a minor system. The amount of money held by these corporations in assets is at least 50% of the money supply of the Commune. Under these is the wealthy class, which is larger than the Corporate class, but still only a fraction of a percent of the population. They are usually landlords whose main income comes from their farming lands and businesses on the HAS worlds of the old Empire. These landlords often control smaller industrial interests on the HIS worlds, but nothing to compare to the Corporations. The middle class is made up of merchants, who generally are in service to the Corporations or the Rich, instead of in private business. The expense of purchasing the materials and ships needed for interstellar travel has been prohibitive for most of the middle class. The research class is near to the middle class in its actual quality of life, except that instead of working for a corporation and simply being paid, the research class is provided for completely by the corporations. The income is smaller, but the housing, food, laboratory, vacation and almost all other expenses are paid for as benefits to the scientists. The lowest class in the Commune is the working class. This class, although it is relatively poor, does have enough resources to acquire housing and food. Most of the food has to be imported from the Independent States on the borders of the Commune, since the HAS worlds are still not up to their full production. However, despite the relative sparseness of the luxuries of this class, most people who are members of it are content with their lives because they view their purpose as to work for the greater good of the race, instead of themselves. However, it is also this extremely numerous class that is the most strongly affected by the demagogues. All the classes of the Commune are required to be educated in all major areas of politics, as well as the basis for science, math, and the fine arts. They are also all taught from a very early age to work with the SCN, and hence are all able to participate in the democracy. |
Economy: |
The economy of the Commune has been experiencing rapid growth since the fall of the Empire. Most of the major fields are controlled by corporate interests, however, some of the newer ones are still held by relatively small companies, usually owned by the landed class. The major industries are computer and android development and production, communications research, recreational consumer goods production, starship development and production, and raw material refining.
The economy is relatively strongly dependent on the economies of the other members of the Alliance of Light, most specifically, the Elessar. The food industry is also very large, although, most of its production occurs outside the borders of the commune. The stability of the economy is of high concern to the Commune because a stable economy means better lives for the people. Hence, many measures have been enacted and are being carried out by the Tal’Sherai to ensure that no major problems occur within the economic structure of the Commune.. |
Military: |
The military of the Commune is unique in that it is the only known military that is composed completely of artificial intelligence. After the Lesleian’s virtual control over the Empire, the people voted to replace all commanders in the military with androids. This proceeded well, until mass protests broke out within the military over the Aalaeyan army being subjected to commanders that were not even Aalaeyan. And, since allowing a powerful organization to be controlled by ambitious people was unallowable, the Commune voted to turn the rest of the positions in the army over to the Tal’Sherai.
This military has never been actively tested against a hostile opponent, since the transfer was not effected until after the threat of the Shadakar was dealt with. However, tests have shown the new system to be considerably more effective than the old one. The sole problem that the Aalaey have encountered is that their androids, not being alive, have difficulty crossing quantum fronts. This had been dealt with by simply placing separate armies in each zone, however, it does mean that the Aalaey will not be able to gather their full force to dispense with an enemy. The benefits of this system, though, are obvious in that the army does not eat, sleep or need pay, hence, larger armies do not require significantly more maintenance, hence, the Commune is able to constantly increase the size of its armed forces. |
Sports and Leisure: |
Leisure within the Commune is one of the largest pastimes. Popular methods of enjoying oneself include: tourism to the commercial worlds within the Commune, Zeran being the most popular. Usually, when an Aalaey vacations, he is given permission to turn off the SCN until the vacation is complete, thereby allowing him time to meditate and collect his thoughts from the months of constant communication and thought of life in the Commune. This time of turning off the SCN has taken on an almost religious significance to the younger generations, since they have had the implants from their first memories. The Silence is truly a welcome, if rare, time of singleness and escape from the omni-present concerns of an empire where one is never alone. |
Major Population Centers: |
Although there is no division given between the types of major population centers, the divisions created by the buildup of the Enlightened Empire still exist within the Commune.
[For a more thorough treatment of the HAS, HIS and RMPR systems, see history.] HIS systems are: Aalaeyan, Kelekan, Xergena, Jaraghon, Yargov, Murk and Forikan. HAS systems are: Altanar, Ultaj, Ygorvia, Oranorak and Venari. RMPR systems: are not listed, as they do not contain enough population to be considered an inhabited system. However, the Uruk-hai zone contains several of the major areas. |
Chronic Problems: |
The Commune’s chronic problems are rooted mainly in its system of government. Although it does allow freedom and a very enlightened rulership, the true democracy has caused a lot of problems for the Aalaey. The largest is the length of time that it takes for the Aalaey to make decisions. However, the other problems include the demagogues, the preoccupation with the present and the fact that the government is unable to make decisions without a vote because the government is made up completely of androids. |
Submission Information: |
Submitter's Name: Casey McCarty
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