Touring the Stars with Bertram Habeas
We began on Terra, millions of years ago. Today, mankind stretches out among the
stars of the Milky Way, touching thousands of worlds, as far from our home as Clan
space, more than 2,000 light-years distant. Yet who are we, really? What have we
become in our relentless push outward and onward? I’m Bertram Habeas, and
tonight, let’s find the answers to these and many other fascinating questions
together, as we tour the stars!
Volume XVIII: Eternal Balance—The Ways of House Liao
stars of the Milky Way, touching thousands of worlds, as far from our home as Clan
space, more than 2,000 light-years distant. Yet who are we, really? What have we
become in our relentless push outward and onward? I’m Bertram Habeas, and
tonight, let’s find the answers to these and many other fascinating questions
together, as we tour the stars!
Volume XVIII: Eternal Balance—The Ways of House Liao
Zi-jin Cheng (Forbidden City), Sian, is a city of remarkable beauty and
grandeur—as might well be expected of the home of the Celestial
Throne, and the heart of the Capellan Confederation. Nestled between
of Terra’s once-mighty Great Wall of China, every structure in Zi-
jin Cheng features the delicate lines of classical Han Chinese
architecture. Gardens, painstakingly landscaped for maximum effect,
are common throughout the city, but few are so resplendent or so
lush as those surrounding the soaring heights of the Celestial Palace,
which dominates the city’s western edge. Nowhere in this
spectacular place can one find evidence of its near extinction during
the Jihad, for House Liao invested billions of C-Bills in its
reconstruction, down to the very last brick.
All over Sian, monumental cities mimic the style of Zi-jin Cheng, a
style revived by the efforts of Sun-Tzu Liao, He Who Ascended. Even
in death, visitors to Sian can easily understand how his people deify
him, the Celestial Wisdom, who guided the Confederation away from
a cycle of self-destruction, rebuilt and revitalized in the spirit of Xin
Sheng (Rebirth). Were it not for him, who could imagine the
Confederation’s fate?
grandeur—as might well be expected of the home of the Celestial
Throne, and the heart of the Capellan Confederation. Nestled between
of Terra’s once-mighty Great Wall of China, every structure in Zi-
jin Cheng features the delicate lines of classical Han Chinese
architecture. Gardens, painstakingly landscaped for maximum effect,
are common throughout the city, but few are so resplendent or so
lush as those surrounding the soaring heights of the Celestial Palace,
which dominates the city’s western edge. Nowhere in this
spectacular place can one find evidence of its near extinction during
the Jihad, for House Liao invested billions of C-Bills in its
reconstruction, down to the very last brick.
All over Sian, monumental cities mimic the style of Zi-jin Cheng, a
style revived by the efforts of Sun-Tzu Liao, He Who Ascended. Even
in death, visitors to Sian can easily understand how his people deify
him, the Celestial Wisdom, who guided the Confederation away from
a cycle of self-destruction, rebuilt and revitalized in the spirit of Xin
Sheng (Rebirth). Were it not for him, who could imagine the
Confederation’s fate?
In the Confederation today, Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao’s name is still revered,
uttered as if sacred for what he accomplished in his six-decade rule. It was he who
reclaimed St. Ives, he who brought a cultural renaissance to a broken people, he who
led his nation to throw off the yoke of Blakist oppression during the Jihad—with little
help from Stone’s coalition. These are the reasons the citizens of the
Confederation praise Sun-Tzu, but for all Liao chancellors before and since one might
find the same reverent tone. Indeed, to the people of the Confederation, all Capellan
chancellors, as the Chinese emperors before them, hold the same godlike standing—
above reproach, above shame, and above all others—but none so much as the Liaos.
uttered as if sacred for what he accomplished in his six-decade rule. It was he who
reclaimed St. Ives, he who brought a cultural renaissance to a broken people, he who
led his nation to throw off the yoke of Blakist oppression during the Jihad—with little
help from Stone’s coalition. These are the reasons the citizens of the
Confederation praise Sun-Tzu, but for all Liao chancellors before and since one might
find the same reverent tone. Indeed, to the people of the Confederation, all Capellan
chancellors, as the Chinese emperors before them, hold the same godlike standing—
above reproach, above shame, and above all others—but none so much as the Liaos.
Only four times in Capellan history has the Confederation lived under
the rule of a non-Liao, and few of them have been viewed as positive
for the nation. Adren Baxter, the first of these, may in fact be the
single most reviled chancellor in Confederation history, because of his
pathological hatred of the Liao family and all it stood for. Thanks to
the near-disastrous effects of his rule, he had the Confederation and
the Federated Suns ready for war on the eve of what many experts
call their golden opportunity for peace.
But more than that, he gave the succeeding Liaos all the ammunition
they needed to curtail the House of Scions, perhaps the only check on
the chancellor’s authority placed in the Confederation’s
charter. By the time of Edmund Salindar, who was technically not a
chancellor, but a Liao regent, the House of Scions—once the voice
of the Confederation nobility—had been reduced to a rubber-stamp
office, with almost dictatorial power in the hands of House Liao.
Their authority was so absolute that it would not be until Chancellor
Normann Aris’ reign began in 2599 that anyone would think to
change the path the Liaos had set, and even then it was only to strip
away more of the powers of the Capellan people in favor of the state.
When Normann Aris died—a most untimely death, I might add—he
left behind a system the Liaos used to further cement their
authoritarian regime.
—Pedro Anderson, Tyrants and Treachery: A Capellan History, SPC
Publications, 3121
the rule of a non-Liao, and few of them have been viewed as positive
for the nation. Adren Baxter, the first of these, may in fact be the
single most reviled chancellor in Confederation history, because of his
pathological hatred of the Liao family and all it stood for. Thanks to
the near-disastrous effects of his rule, he had the Confederation and
the Federated Suns ready for war on the eve of what many experts
call their golden opportunity for peace.
But more than that, he gave the succeeding Liaos all the ammunition
they needed to curtail the House of Scions, perhaps the only check on
the chancellor’s authority placed in the Confederation’s
charter. By the time of Edmund Salindar, who was technically not a
chancellor, but a Liao regent, the House of Scions—once the voice
of the Confederation nobility—had been reduced to a rubber-stamp
office, with almost dictatorial power in the hands of House Liao.
Their authority was so absolute that it would not be until Chancellor
Normann Aris’ reign began in 2599 that anyone would think to
change the path the Liaos had set, and even then it was only to strip
away more of the powers of the Capellan people in favor of the state.
When Normann Aris died—a most untimely death, I might add—he
left behind a system the Liaos used to further cement their
authoritarian regime.
—Pedro Anderson, Tyrants and Treachery: A Capellan History, SPC
Publications, 3121
Regardless of who was ultimately served over the centuries of Liao rule, the formative
Capellan society still seen today. The absolute rule of the Liao family, for instance, and
other Asian faiths are not mandatory, those who seek the favor of the Capellan
leadership often worship as the chancellors do. Unlike the brutal imposition of
Japanese traditions on the people of the Draconis Combine, the fact that most of the
Capellan worlds already leaned toward Terra’s Eastern nationalities made this
cultural dominance a fairly painless process. Still, the fact that this facet of
Confederation life rises from the personal beliefs, traditions, and upbringing of a single
ruling line demonstrates the power of the chancellors over those they rule.
The rigid, caste-driven system, another major part of Capellan society, arose from the
combined systems of controlled peerage established by past rulers, which limited the
powers of all nobility, and established requirements to attain the privilege of citizenship
in the Confederation. Unlike other realms, the right to the basic liberties as a citizen of
the realm is available only to those who first serve the Confederation. Established both
as a control measure and as a means to stave off economic collapse, this system
assures that every Capellan has his or her place in society, and that all contribute for
the betterment of the whole.
Reinforcing these beliefs, the Confederation formally adopted the Korvin Doctrine and
the Sarna Mandate, two philosophies that loosely state that the role of the citizen is to
serve. These rules helped to establish the rules for citizens that have gradually given
rise to the caste system. The Troika, the realm’s three-branch ruling body,
described by the Chancellor, the Prefecturate (legislature), and the House of Scions
(nobility), forms the unofficial ruling class, but the actual castes of Capellan society
are known by different titles. There is the directorship, which consists of highly
placed administrators and bureaucrats, followed closely by the intelligentsia, who
represent the Confederation’s intellectual elite. After them are the supporters, the
professionals such as business leaders, teachers, and other aides to the intelligentsia
and directorship. Then come the entitled, who include medical professionals, and
finally the commonality, which represents the lowest of the Confederation’s
official castes. Below them are those who do not have Capellan citizenship. Often
known as servitors, this class has none of the rights and privileges of the others,
occupying a role somewhere between criminal and slave. Changing castes is a tricky
business, but not as difficult as it might be in a Clan structure. Nevertheless, most
Capellan citizens born into one caste will live out their lives within it, and carry their
expected societal role with them all the way to the grave. Such is the life of a Capellan
citizen.
But the rights of the citizens are not overlooked, contrary to popular belief.
Capellan society still seen today. The absolute rule of the Liao family, for instance, and
other Asian faiths are not mandatory, those who seek the favor of the Capellan
leadership often worship as the chancellors do. Unlike the brutal imposition of
Japanese traditions on the people of the Draconis Combine, the fact that most of the
Capellan worlds already leaned toward Terra’s Eastern nationalities made this
cultural dominance a fairly painless process. Still, the fact that this facet of
Confederation life rises from the personal beliefs, traditions, and upbringing of a single
ruling line demonstrates the power of the chancellors over those they rule.
The rigid, caste-driven system, another major part of Capellan society, arose from the
combined systems of controlled peerage established by past rulers, which limited the
powers of all nobility, and established requirements to attain the privilege of citizenship
in the Confederation. Unlike other realms, the right to the basic liberties as a citizen of
the realm is available only to those who first serve the Confederation. Established both
as a control measure and as a means to stave off economic collapse, this system
assures that every Capellan has his or her place in society, and that all contribute for
the betterment of the whole.
Reinforcing these beliefs, the Confederation formally adopted the Korvin Doctrine and
the Sarna Mandate, two philosophies that loosely state that the role of the citizen is to
serve. These rules helped to establish the rules for citizens that have gradually given
rise to the caste system. The Troika, the realm’s three-branch ruling body,
described by the Chancellor, the Prefecturate (legislature), and the House of Scions
(nobility), forms the unofficial ruling class, but the actual castes of Capellan society
are known by different titles. There is the directorship, which consists of highly
placed administrators and bureaucrats, followed closely by the intelligentsia, who
represent the Confederation’s intellectual elite. After them are the supporters, the
professionals such as business leaders, teachers, and other aides to the intelligentsia
and directorship. Then come the entitled, who include medical professionals, and
finally the commonality, which represents the lowest of the Confederation’s
official castes. Below them are those who do not have Capellan citizenship. Often
known as servitors, this class has none of the rights and privileges of the others,
occupying a role somewhere between criminal and slave. Changing castes is a tricky
business, but not as difficult as it might be in a Clan structure. Nevertheless, most
Capellan citizens born into one caste will live out their lives within it, and carry their
expected societal role with them all the way to the grave. Such is the life of a Capellan
citizen.
But the rights of the citizens are not overlooked, contrary to popular belief.
The mid-twenty-fifth century was a defining time for House Liao,
especially in regard to its relationship with the common folk. Having
just been pushed to the brink by Chancellor [Arden] Baxter’s best
begin to describe the social unrest that affected the nobility and the
lower classes equally.
Chancellor Jasmine Liao’s brutal imposition of her authority over
the House of Scions and the Capellan military, curbing the powers of
the nobility and the armed forces alike, helped stabilize the
government, but more was needed to stabilize the people. Wisely, she
enacted the Capellan Concordat, affirming the rights of all Capellan
citizens to fair and just treatment by the military and ruling classes.
Though one might have trouble believing it, more often than not these
rules are followed—“state emergencies� notwithstanding.
—Vanessa Cedrik, PhD, Professor of Capellan Studies, Cambridge
University, Terra.
especially in regard to its relationship with the common folk. Having
just been pushed to the brink by Chancellor [Arden] Baxter’s best
begin to describe the social unrest that affected the nobility and the
lower classes equally.
Chancellor Jasmine Liao’s brutal imposition of her authority over
the House of Scions and the Capellan military, curbing the powers of
the nobility and the armed forces alike, helped stabilize the
government, but more was needed to stabilize the people. Wisely, she
enacted the Capellan Concordat, affirming the rights of all Capellan
citizens to fair and just treatment by the military and ruling classes.
Though one might have trouble believing it, more often than not these
rules are followed—“state emergencies� notwithstanding.
—Vanessa Cedrik, PhD, Professor of Capellan Studies, Cambridge
University, Terra.
Confederation are promised free education, free health care, social security, and even
the right to own properties free of government interference. Though, from time to
time, many of these rights have been set aside for the duration of a state emergency,
the most law-abiding and honest of the Confederation’s citizenry may generally
expect a remarkably high standard of living.
For all this, the people of the Confederation seem to be secure—perhaps even
content—in the strict way of life they live. Though, in many ways, this police-state
mentality may seem brutal and oppressive, it has accomplished the one thing the
Confederation’s founders set out to do: secure the freedom of the Capellan nation.
In part three of our four-part series on the Confederation, The Liao Himself brings
rebirth and hope to a downtrodden people, guiding the fate of millions in a time of
chaos and horror. Please join us as we continue our tour of the stars! I’m Bertram
Habeas.
the right to own properties free of government interference. Though, from time to
time, many of these rights have been set aside for the duration of a state emergency,
the most law-abiding and honest of the Confederation’s citizenry may generally
expect a remarkably high standard of living.
For all this, the people of the Confederation seem to be secure—perhaps even
content—in the strict way of life they live. Though, in many ways, this police-state
mentality may seem brutal and oppressive, it has accomplished the one thing the
Confederation’s founders set out to do: secure the freedom of the Capellan nation.
In part three of our four-part series on the Confederation, The Liao Himself brings
rebirth and hope to a downtrodden people, guiding the fate of millions in a time of
chaos and horror. Please join us as we continue our tour of the stars! I’m Bertram
Habeas.