GUIDE TO THE KI-KI SECTOR

The Ki-Ki Sector, steeped in tradition and an urge create what they call the Puax Ki - or 'peaceful systems' - sits directly adjacent to the Setnin Sector along the Bordon and Kapfon Trade Routes. It is a large sector with varied planets and cultures, but many of the worlds are quickly stripped of their resources to feed the hungry Ki-Ki citizens. This, in turn, leads to continuous expansion.

POLITICS OF THE KI-KI SECTOR

THE PRIME LORD

The Ki-Ki Sector is ruled over by the Prime Lord on Fedarn, the capital system of this region of space. The Prime Lord is a hereditary title and is predominantly male, with only a few females in power over the sector’s 9,500 years of existence. It is not uncommon for the Prime Lord to marry but take on mistresses to try and guarantee the birth of a male heir to continue the line. Most Prime Lords can trace their family blood back to the original founders, the Kreaidens, but many say that the name is no longer an actual link to the blood of old but a name tacked on to claim such a nobility. Although Prime Lords are the overall rulers of the sector, they are still answerable to the Advisory Council and the People’s Congress.

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Smaller areas are controlled by Barons, titled by the Prime Lord and stationed on a key world. In truth, these are sectors that have been 'absorbed' by the Ki-Ki Sector to create the whole area as one as Ki-Ki tries to reach its ideal of a Puax Ki. They are allowed to run their own affairs and worship their own holidays and deities, but ultimately they are answerable to Fedarn. Each Baron controls his worlds as he sees fit and is also part of the Advisory Council that supports the Prime Lord. The Advisory Council meet very rarely and only when something threatens the stability of the Ki-Ki Sector. Each Baron is expected to oversee his own sector of space and maintain order, trade and tax income, and rule in the name of the Prime Lord. Although they are there to serve the Ki-Ki Sector, most Barons enjoy the luxury and status their position offers them.

PEOPLE’S CONGRESS

The voice of the people are the Members of Congress, people elected by vote to represent the citizens of the Ki-Ki Sector. These individuals enjoy privilege and status, but this is offset by the fact that most of their time is taken up by travelling to and from the capital to the planet they represent. Congress listens to the decrees and the intentions of the Prime Lord and the Advisory Council, takes this information back to their system and reports it to the people. The citizens then vote on the item, sometimes there is also an opinion poll taken for a more in-depth view of the proposal, and then take it back to the Advisory Council for review. This may sound a long-winded way to get a result, but the system actually works and the opinion of the people does make a difference to Council policy decisions. The rulers of the Ki-Ki Sector learned long ago that the happiness of the people is more important than the welfare of the ruling body.

THE ORDER OF MINDS

The Ki-Ki Sector expanded rapidly across many worlds and sectors, but the rush to occupy new areas of space did not match the rush to create or implement new technologies. Ki-Ki, steeped in tradition and a wish to live the glory days of the past, stayed with many outmoded and ancient modes of technology, including outmoded starships and weapons, but the oldest of them all is the enhancers.

Enhancers are huge machines that amplify the thoughts of a trained individual and transmit them instantaneously to a desired location as long as another enhancer is operating at the same time to receive the signals. Unlike modern communication, which can be used at any time to send a high number of messages at any one time, the enhancers can only send whatever the user of the machine has in his mind. Also, the user must have two special skills – the ability of both telekenisis and telepathy.

The Order of Minds was set up to control these enhancers and handle all communications between Ki-Ki worlds. To this end, citizens are screened at birth for the skill, and if they have even the slightest presence of the abilities required the Mindmoon adopts them, the home of the Minds over Fedarn, and integrated into the Order, seperated from their families forever. Sometimes, the skills do not mature until later in life, so a second screening is done when the citizens reach puberty. Minds are predominantly human, but some aliens who show such skills are also indocrinated. Minds are kept from the political machinations of the Ki-Ki Sector so that when they are stationed to a world to use an enhancer (worlds only have one enhancer each) there messages are unbiased and uncorruptable. They report the facts and are sworn to keep secret the messages they send.

The Minds realise that handling communications throughout the Ki-Ki Sector gives them a huge amount of responsibility but also a huge amount of power. Although the Mindmoon answers to Fedarn, the Minds are aware of their influence and use it to their own ends.

The ruling body of the Minds is a single man, the Lordmind, who controls the entire moon through Chiefminds, who take care of certain aspects of the Order. There is also a Mothermind who takes care of the female body of the Order, overseeing a birthing program set up to produce powerful Minds.

THE KI-KI MILITARY

The military arm of the Ki-Ki Sector is surprisingly simple – there are ground troops ruled over by the Advisory Council and the Prime Lord, and the fleet, which transports the ground troops, is merely an extension of that. There is no ‘navy’ per se, but more of a whole unified body of military might that works as one.

Ki-Ki soldiers are lifers – they join the military as they come out of their teens and are expected to serve in the armies until they reach an age where they are no longer fit enough to serve or they are given more lucrative jobs.

Ground troops are a breed apart from most other military organisations as they are trained not only to perform their duties as a soldier but also as a peacekeeper – Ki-Ki soldiers are often used as a policing force on many worlds. They also prefer to fight hand to hand – most soldiers are equipped with vibroswords and wrist shields. The shield emit a circular barrier that the soldiers can use to protect themselves, which, whilst not very effective against modern weapons, is excellent in hand to hand. Military personell feel that hand to hand is a much more honourable way to fight as ranged weapons remove a fighter from the combat and makes the whole things impersonal. Ki-Ki soldiers believe that to live the up-close horrors of warfare makes you a much more efficient fighting machine, and also presents war as it is – horrendous.

Ground troops are supported by Striker-class repulsortanks, a fast and heavily armoured vehicle that can cary up to ten troops, and TAP’s (tripod assault pods), three legged war machines designed to move quickly through enemy units and use it’s anti-personnel cannon.

The starships of the Ki-Ki military are old Vodon-class warships, an outdated but hardy battle cruiser. It is small for it’s class, and can carry very few wings of fighters, but the sheer number of vessels more than makes up for the lack of ability. Vodon-class warships can interlock with each other so that on long-range sensors they appear as one ship – an excellent surprise tactic. These warships carry Screamer fighters, a long-range fighter/bomber combination vessel capable of long-range interception. Faster than many other starfighters in the region, the Screamer surprises many tailing enemies with rear cannons that lock and fire automatically. There are also a smattering of gunboats and dropships, but these vary in design and ability as the Ki-Ki military gets what it can from neighbouring sectors. It does not rely on its ‘navy’.

Every soldier’s dream is to attain the greatest position of the military – the position of Prime Warrior. Prime Warriors are an elite guard created to protect, first and foremost, the Prime Lord. Prime Warriors also protect important dignitaries and Barons, but the best troops are kept for the Prime Lord’s personal guard. Prime Warriors get the best of everything – weapons, great hulking suits of power armour, training. Their positions whilst in service are one of loyalty and nothing else – Prime Warriors are proffesional soldiers and are not allowed to covet belongings or people. Upon retirement or an act of great bravery and sacrifice, however, Prime Warriors are shown great respect and given titles and lands. Being a Prime Warrior is hard work, but the rewards are great.

There are three ways to become a Prime Warrior – either by birth, wherin the sons or daughters of nobles become Prime Warriors to prove their parents own loyalty; By bravery, where an act of bravery or sacrifice deems a soldier of any rank worthy to be a Prime Warrior; By design, where a baby is taught the ways and responsibilites from birth. The Prime Lord is more inclined to use a Prime Warrior from birth, as loyalty to the throne will be all the warrior will have ever known. No-one is ever forced to be a Prime Warrior in any circumstances – if the individual does not want to wear the suit then they are of no use to the throne.

THE CITIZENS OF THE KI-KI SECTOR

The citizens of the sector are a very simple and unassuming breed of beings. The cultures and races are mixed wildly although, because of the overwhelming domination of the core of the Ki-Ki ruling body, the predominant species is human.

The majority of Ki-Ki citizens enjoy life within the borders of their sector as the state does all it can to keep them happy and on the side of the ruling body. Taxes are high – there is no doubting that the Ki-Ki political machine needs plenty of credits to keep it oiled – but the benefits are high. Facilities, jobs, entertainment, health, all are provided to the citizens by the state and, in turn, the citizens feel as though they are part of the sector. With the People’s Congress they feel as though they actually have a hand in the shaping of the sector. This is wildly innacurate, but the state does not dissuade this feeling.

As long as a Ki-Ki citizen gets what they want they when they want it they are happy. The lack of extreme technology makes their lives simple and therefore keeps costs down. There have been rumblings of dissent, especially during protracted military engagements, but the state is always quick to put down such troubles, either by giving the people what they want or by turning up in their systems with a fleet of starships and readied troops – the people know better than to voice too much of an anti-establishment position.

In general, Ki-Ki citizens are proud of their sector and, whilst they are not simple sheep, they do tend to follow the wishes of the many, a veritable ‘mob mentality’.

KI-KI EXPANSION

The area of space the Ki-Ki Sector is situated in is not rich with natural resources. Ki-Ki politics demand fresh metals and trade all the time, so therefore the Ki-Ki ruling body expands into other territories three ways – by trade agreement, by absorption or by invasion.

Trade agreements are just that – the Ki-Ki Sector sets up routes between itself and a neighbouring sector and trade items based on requirement. Usually, the main Ki-Ki export is weapons, culture and art.

Absorption is the sucking in of systems on the borders of the sector, either by commercial strength or invitation. The Ki-Ki choose sytems not affiliated with any organisation so that outside political pressure is minimised and they inject capital, trade and culture into the world’s own government. Slowly, over a period of years, Ki-Ki influence is exerted until the world accepts member status and becomes a permanent part of the Ki-Ki sector. Typically, the ruler of the new world is made a Baron.

Invasion is an extreme but sometimes neccesary form of expansion. If a world has resources required by the Ki-Ki Sector, or they present a threat to Ki-Ki stability, then armed forces are sent in to overrun the system. The military are under orders to sweep over the whole area and suppress any defence as bloodlessly as possible, quickly establishing a governor over the world and injecting as much Ki-Ki culture as possible. Although a military presence is maintained, the ruling body of the Ki-Ki try to make sure that the citizens of the subjugated world retain as much of their own identity as possible. This makes them easier to control.

When the Ki-Ki Sector takes on a new world they do not suppress beliefs and traditions unique to that world. In fact, they encourage the world to continue their own way of life as long as they answer to the Ki-Ki government. This way, the people believe they are benefitting from the culture and strength of the Ki-Ki Sector and this, in turn, makes ruling easier for the state. They even take some of the world’s own traditions and inject them into their own culture, so expansion not only increases resources and wealth but it also diversifies the identity of the sector as a whole.

KI-KI CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

The Ki-Ki Sector is steeped with tradition and customs dating back to the early days of the sector. Below are just a few examples –

Marriage – Ki-Ki citizens are expected to marry once in their lifetime, although some species within the borderes are allowed latitude. The state makes divorce very difficult for citizens, especially nobles. Such things are considered scandalous and the seperating parties can stand to lose both wealth and social standing if they go through with such a thing.

Slaves – Enforced labour is an everyday thing within Ki-Ki’s borders, the beings unfortunate enough to become slaves traded and used like any other commodity. Slaves are, surprisingly, well looked after by their owners, as they are valuable in both use and credits. Slave abuse is frowned upon by the state but is practiced by some to keep their belongings in line.

Celebrations – No matter what the reason, the citizens will find a reason to celebrate something. On some worlds, there can be as many as one a week, for a governor and Barn’s birthday, the birth of a new child, a marriage; any excuse to break open honeywine bottles and eat and drink into the early hours.

Games – Ki-Ki citizens love games, and they like nothing better than to be entertained by their wealthy patrons. Riddabeast cart racing, mock ariel combat, gladiator fighting… any and all forms of entertainment are used. Gladiator fighting is a subject of much controversy outside the Ki-Ki Sector’s borders, but the Ki-Ki Sector sees it as a honourable form of combat. Condemned prisoners fight to win their freedom, men even volunteer to fight for fame and fortune, some fight to settle differences. Slaves are also used as fighters, usually ones with no worth or little ability. Not all combat is to the death, unless it is a condemned man or chosen by the combatants (especially in revenge challenges) but generally it is. The Ki-Ki see it as a form of justice – if the courts cannot decide, then the arena shall. Only prisoners are forced to fight, although people refusing a challenge are usually shunned socially and so, to maintain their status, they usually accept, either to fight themselves or to choose a champion, whatever the challenger chooses. The citizens demand just one thing – no ‘droids.

Promises – ‘As solid as a Ki-Ki promise’ is a favourite saying of many neighbouring sectors to the Ki-Ki and this is not without a basis of truth. There is one major thing that the citizens are passionate about – if they give their word they keep it. Breaking a solemn promise is a horrendous crime and, if an official promise, can be punished severely. Most oath breakers find themselves in the arena or on front-line duty, depending on the severity of the dishonour. Most of the time they have to give goods or their time in recompense, or are regarded as dishonest and never trusted again. If a Ki-Ki citizen of any rank begins their promise with ‘I swear by my family, my honour and my life…’ then that promise is as good as kept.

CHRONOLOGY - MAJOR EVENTS OF THE KI-KI SECTOR

-9,500 BBY - The sector is nothing but a smattering of warring planets. After a devastating eight-year war costing millions of lives the leaders of the worlds finally resolve their differences by trying to evenly divide territory and power. This proves to be a disaster as all the leaders wish to control the new sector of space. The Lords of each world gather to resolve the problem but are assassinated by the leader of the planet Fedarn, who declares himself Prime Lord and takes over the worlds.

-1,200 BBY - After a long period of relative peace between the systems, the newest Prime Lord, Hundaya Kreaiden, realises that resources are running low. To cut costs and make money they invest in a simple out-moded communication system called 'enhancers' which amplify the thoughts of telepaths that are rife throughout the worlds. The Order of the Minds is created to handle all comm traffic.

-1,160 BBY - The new communications layout is not enough to increase funds so the Prime Lord decrees that other worlds must be sought out and absorbed by the newly named Ki-Ki Sector.

-1,100 BBY- The Moorsh Conglomerate is invaded and forced into membership.

-900 BBY - The Three Star Assembly, afraid of the Ki-Ki war machine, actually requests membership into the Ki-Ki Sector.

-550 BBY - The Houses of Trade are created out of newly conquered worlds and these control all business with worlds beyond the Ki-Ki borders.

-300 BBY - The Ki-Ki Sector refuses membership of the Old Republic.

-175 BBY - The Games are created for the entertainment of the citizens of the Ki-Ki Sector. Once again, lack of resources threatens to split the sector so Prime Lord Kiri Kreaiden creates staged battles to remind the citizens of their duty to the sector and to honour the dead who created the sector. At first the Games are simply plays, but soon degenerate into actual deaths and combat in the arenas. The spectacle is condemned by the rest of the galaxy, especially the Old Republic, and Ki-Ki is all but shunned.

-90 BBY - A border skirmish between the Ki-Ki Sector and the Brother Sector almost leads to full-scale war but mediators from the Old republic and the Setnin Sector intercede to stop the possible conflict. The Ki-Ki Sector, hoping to use the skirmish as a justification to take fresh worlds from the Brother Sector, harbours a great resentment towards both Setnin and the Old Republic for their interference.

+20 ABY - Pede Familee of Chinngard falls in love with and marries Julid Kreaiden, the daughter of the Prime Lord, against the Prime Lord's wishes. The Prime Lord and his two sons, Atheus and Andrus, are angered at the development.

+22 ABY - Chinngard, a system of the Setnin Sector, is angered at the New Republic's easy access to and influence over Setnin and applies for membership to the Ki-Ki Sector. Pede Familee is made a Baron and their membership is accepted, mainly so that the Prime Lord can keep the new planet and his unruly daughter closer to him.

+30 ABY - Events unfold as described in 'And They Shall Have Their Revenge'. See the Chronology for future events as described in the Prelude to Invasion and New Underworld Age eras.

PLANETS OF THE KI-KI SECTOR

Planetary Chart

Each planetary entry is followed by a four-symbol description. This entry denotes the type of world and it's main type of rule.

First Entry - Technology Level - Describing what level of evolution the planet had reached before being absorbed as part of the Ki-Ki Sector.

S - Stone (Crude axes, wheels)

F - Feudal (Warring city-states or countries)

I - Industrial (Basic machines and electricity)

A - Atomic (Energy-based commerce and basic computing technology)

In - Information (Knowledge of complicated physics and inter-planetary travel)

Sp - Space (Star-faring - on par with the rest of the galaxy)

Second Entry - Planetary Terrain - Describing the pre-dominant land type on the planet's surface.

I - Ice/snow

J - Jungle

M - Mountainous

P - Plains/grassland

D - Desert/scrubland

F - Forest/wooded

W - Water/maybe some small islands

B - Barren/wasteland

S - Swamp/humid

Third Entry - Number of Moons - Describing the number of satellites orbiting the world. If these satellites are populated or capable of sustaining life they will have their own entry.

Fourth Entry - Type of Government - Describing how the system ruler(s) controls the planet. The form of rulership varies, but all fall under the rules of the Ki-Ki Sector.

1 - Imperial - the rulers follow the doctrine of the Empire.

2 - Tyrannical - the rulers rule with an iron fist.

3 - Fair - the rulers treat each citizen equally.

4 - Monarchy - the ruler is chosen hereditarily.

5 - Profit Based - the rulers control through business dealings.

6 - Diplomatic - continuous votes and referendums keep the citizens in control.

7 - Dictatorship - the ruler's word is law.

8 - Tribal - the surface is split into groups which like/dislike each other.

THE PLANETS

Regions under the Ki-Ki Sector

The Moorsh Conglomerate

Ittu II - In-M-2-6

Trouv - I-J-1-4

Klaem - F-B-2-2

Lirise V - A-J-1-4

Moorsh - A-B-3-6

The Three Star Assembly

Cotti VI - Sp-W-5-1

Assor - In-F-0-1

Tietry - In-P-4-1

The Houses of Trade

Attasid - A-S-1-4

Aliass - Sp-S-13-1

Norkot III - In-W-2-8

Scoute - In-I-2-1

Serenn - In-D-6-5

Member Planets of the Ki-Ki Sector

Arond - In-M-2-6

B'mo III - In-S-0-1

Bettul - Sp-W-2-1

Busi III - I-D-2-4

Bivou III - I-F-2-7

Coquin - In-P-2-2

Ciat - Sp-S-0-5

Compta - I-I-2-2

Daccoll - Sp-J-4-3

D'car'kep - A-B-2-6

Essor - I-S-1-7

Epyt - S-F-1-3

FEDARN - Capital of the Ki-Ki Sector and home of the Prime Lord - Sp-P-1-4

Firr - In-B-6-6

Form - S-M-2-8

Gollub - I-B-0-6

Keyaman - In-D-1-2

Leppal VII - I-M-3-2

Leppis X - F-J-1-7

Marbul V - A-S-2-3

Moosa - Sp-F-2-6

Nebrassa - Sp-S-6-6

Nwek - Sp-J-1-5

Obelisk - Sp-J-3-3

Ootran II - Sp-M-1-5

Offre VI - In-D-7-7

Pernig - In-P-2-1

Pensa - Sp-B-1-1

Papii - A-P-1-1

Ranni - Sp-M-3-6

Suiv - In-P-3-2

Tirongate - A-D-1-2

Texul II - Sp-I-1-2

Tolsyot - I-W-3-2

Troin II - I-B-2-5

Trea - F-M-2-2

Tertop - Sp-B-5-1

Udjein Major – Sp-P-2-6

Voulu - In-I-2-6

Vilser  - A-D-2-7

Yiane - I-J-2-6

Zipp - F-P-2-4

(Note – the above work of fiction is based in no small part on the Roman Empire, and the author would like to thank – Ridley Scott and the amazing film ‘Gladiator’, Anthony Mann’s movie ‘The Fall of the Roman Empire’ and Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Spartacus’, Channel 4 and BBC 2 for their excellent series of Roman programs, H.V. Morton’s ‘A Traveller in Rome’, Pears Dictionary, Encylopedia Britannica, and Terry Gilliam, whose television program about Gladiators was entertaining, intruiging and educational, and was the single thing that began my passion for all things Roman. Strength and Honour to you all.)