Faction Lore Guide

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This is my first edition of a guide intended to expand the characterization of minor factions found throughout the galaxy. What intricacies can hide behind the variables of name, title, paragraph of description and how a single given faction type interacts with her neighbours? I went and took a dip into these deep waters, and present my speculations on the subject.

All 27 pages of it so far on PDF.

 

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Disclaimer: This guide is work of a fan based on product of Frontier Developments. It does not reflect official opinions of the company. Information herein is either presented as-is from the game or elaborated upon from information available within Elite: Dangerous. This guide does not incorporate knowledge from any official Elite: Dangerous novels or other related products. Information herein may be rendered obsolete or inaccurate upon actions of Frontier Developments by updates, clarifying statements or retcons.

Lore guide to minor factions in Elite: Dangerous
First edition​

Minor factions that populate the myriad star systems of inhabited space come in many flavours, but their immediate characterization is left to the right-hand panel’s infobox.
This lore guide intends to give these factions more depth by observing how they act and drawing from background material supplied by Frontier Developments for the game and found within in. Information gained from permitted and banned goods lists, presence of black markets, conflict resolutions and historical tourist beacons was used in compiling this guide.
A future version will incorporate information derived from faction mission dialogue.

 

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Anarchy​

A group or organization of dubious reputation, involved in criminal enterprise. A thin legal veneer may exist to hide their obvious illegal activities, but not all groups bother with the masquerade.

Anarchy faction names usually feature their home system, possibly a colour and one of the following words: boys, brothers, camorra, cartel, clan, council, crew, dragons, drug empire, family, (hand) gang, mafia, organization, partnership, pirates, posse, raiders, rats, society or syndicate.
Markets in anarchy control deal openly in everything but toxic waste and unknown probes, and even they are accepted by fencers operating the ”black” markets.

Anarchies never hold elections. They will always go to war with other factions, even other anarchies.

Alliance Freemen​

A group that refuses to recognize the legal construct as defined by the Alliance of Independent Systems. Often, but not always, these groups act as front to some form of organized criminal syndicate.

Entrepreneurs, smugglers, assassins and opportunists who have founded a manner of quasi-legal front within the Alliance’s patchwork society. Very often a facade on grey zone between legal and illegal conceals a full-blown criminal enterprise hellbent on stealing, dealing in stolen and illegal goods and murdering. However, some insist the rare freemen faction’s dissent only goes as far as political protests against prevailing laws of the Alliance.

Federal Rebels​

A faction that engages in activity that quite often places them at odds with members of Federation law enforcement agencies.

Bane of megacorporations and citizenry alike, these enterprises of spacefaring smugglers and pirates openly defy federal system security and other more respectable factions in their quest to control spaceports, trade lanes and exchange of illicit goods that the Federal congress on Mars and its symbiotic megacorporations have declared harmful to their interests.

Imperial Rebels​

An organization that is actively engaged in activity that goes against the Imperial status quo. Members openly defy Imperial law, although not all known associates are involved in criminal activity.

Occupying a niche in Imperial society similarly to their Alliance Freemen brethren, these rebels possess a pretense of legal establishment marred by rampant criminality and dishonorable behaviour. Exhibiting similar social structure as their law-abiding peers under patronages, these Imperials maintain an informal network of patrons and clients, obligations of different services binding the two together. In this particular case, the clients can often find themselves accessories in crimes of their protectors if they are not directly committing them.

Independent and Unfettered​

This group is known to have a disdain for any laws outside of its own attempts to govern its members' behaviour.

Unbound and undefined by the major powers’ societies, these criminals lead existences of parasitism and defiance of any ordered society they prey upon. What can be taken will be taken, be it trade goods, real estate or even liberty of individuals. These pirates and marauders usually content themselves to pillaging, stealing and taxing what societies they are able to exert control over, but where right industry and relieved burden of legislation meet, new enterprises can rise under guidance and participation of these hoodlums. Narcotics like onionhead, formerly restricted weapons, dangerous nerve agents and other unsavoury trade goods will appear at unfettered markets.

 

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Cooperative​

Mutual aid societies and joint projects of different actors in space. These cooperatives regardless of their background societies believe in pooling of individual resources to achieve greater mutual benefit, especially to participating enterprises. Involved parties in cooperatives find sharing is good, and especially good when it leads to boom in trade.

Cooperative faction names usually consist of their home system name and one or combination of the following words: (as) one, allied, collective, co-op (of), (People’s) co-operative (of), coordinated, friends of, integrated, shared, stakeholders, unified, united, uniting.

Sales of battle weapons, slaves of both kinds, narcotics, bootleg liquor, combat stabilizers, nerve agents, toxic waste and unknown probes are banned under cooperatives’ jurisdictions. Black markets still accept these goods in cooperative-ruled stations.

Cooperatives find elections best tools to resolve differences in opinion, strategy and real estate ownership with their fellow demoratically ruled factions, the confederacies, communists, democrats and theocrats. They will resort, or find themselves forced into war with anarchies, corporations and the autocratically ruled dictatorships, feudalists, patronages and prison colonies.

Alliance Brokers​

A faction that actively engages in alliances with a wide variety of other organizations in order to incubate and influence local enterprise.

Like microcosm of their background society, cooperatives in Alliance space are top-level organizations coordinating collaboration of lesser like-minded organizations in their pursuit of their jointly agreed goals. These goals often concern acquisition and defence of vital spaceport facilities, influencing legislation to become more favourable to the cooperative’s members’ activities and facilitating development of services that the individual members might be unable to do on their own.

Cooperatives in the Federation​

No cooperatives associating themselves with the Federation are known to exist. It is likely that any efforts of Federation citizens and organizations that would form a Federal cooperative are channeled to factions more suited operating in Federal space.
 

Independent Brokers​

An organization that specializes in promoting synergy between disparate groups in order to incubate social and commercial growth.

A common undertaking of disparate groups for mutual benefit. Cooperative in its most basic and pure form, as seen without influences of any major powers. Often involved in acquiring and defending spaceport facilities, facilitating trade legislation to suit its needs and offering services an individual member of the cooperative might be unable to accomplish.

Imperial Cooperatives​

A faction which works to the common goals of its members. They are considered unusual in Empire space, but not unknown.

A modern myth shared between indentured servants, according to which there existed a lone Imperial cooperative government. It would have been a rare contrarian to the stratified society of the Empire. Instead of seeking prestige, wealth and power through serving one’s betters and thus ascending the hierarchy, members would’ve pool their resources together for common good of all participants. This horizontalism and negation of client-patron model of social relations would have spelled endless wars against its more authoritaritively governed Imperial peers.

 

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Confederacy​

An union of sovereign parties, executing agendas jointly agreed by its constituents. Two strong points of contrast set them apart from cooperatives. Firstly, confederacies are formed for more generic purposes whereas cooperatives have strong economic focus. Secondly confederacies’ members retain strong powers of self-rule, including the right to secede, when cooperatives focus on empowering their top-level organization with pledged resources.

Confederacy faction names usually feature their home system name and one of the following words: alliance (of), coalition (of), confederacy (of), confederation (of), league (of) and partnership (of). They may be also preceded by words: people’s, independent, movement for, new, revolutionary, social, union of, united or workers of.

Sales of personal weapons, land mines, slaves of both kinds, narcotics, bootleg liquor, combat stabilizers, nerve agents, toxic waste and unknown probes are banned under confederacies’ jurisdictions. Black markets still accept these goods in confederacy-ruled stations.

Confederacies resort to elections to solve disputes with their fellow democratically ruled factions, the communists, cooperatives, democrats and theocrats. They resort to wars when facing anarchies, corporations and the autocratically ruled factions of dictators, feudalists, patronages and prison colonies.

Alliance Unionists​

An organization that engages in activities designed to strengthen ties with other independent groups in order to increase influence of the Alliance of Independent Systems.

Parties and organizations who wouldn’t be strong enough alone to constitute a faction, but chose to establish one together to further their agenda. The unionists emulate their parent superpower’s formation and tactics in negotiating, bribing, cajoling and finally forcing matters with their factional peers to share the Alliance’s perspective on things that matter. While they are a grassroots initiative, their goals can put them on the same line as other top-directed subversive methods to install favourable governments into place.

An application of membership to the Alliance of Independent Systems may result from persistent work of these unionists.

Federal Venturists​

A faction that, in conjuction with a number of similarly aligned organizations, promotes their agenda by manipulating the application of capital being channeled to local business and social ventures.

The closest analogue to a Federal cooperative or feudal government, depending on perspective. A collection of resourceful organizations and persons with commonly agreed rules to govern their actions in framework of their confederacy, that pursues its goals through promises and realizations of funding and asset transfers to other parties. Their title of venturists alludes to the venture capitalists, who invest in up and coming enterprises in hopes of profiting through successful maturation of the company. These venturists’ goals may range from charitable philanthropy to pragmatic political action committee work.

Confederacies in the Empire​

No confederacies associating themselves with the Empire are known to exist. The existing frameworks between local Imperial governments fulfill already all functions a potential confederacy would.

Independent Unionists​

An organization that engages in activities designed to strengthen ties with other independent groups in order to maintain certain level of independence from the three great powers.

Parties and organizations who wouldn’t be strong enough alone to constitute a faction, but chose to establish one together for serve the greater cause of independence. These unionists have come together to fight the influence of the great three superpowers and harmful side effects that follow after coming within their spheres of influence. In practice this means peaceful and non-peaceful resistance to expanding factions of superpower allegiance, smoking out established representatives of them and negotiations to ensure integrity of the independent systems against Alliance, Federal or Imperial ambitions.

Both ordinary citizenry of the galaxy and prestigious commanders of the Pilots Federation have been known to form confederacies to combat power play of the superpowers in their home systems.

 

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Communism​

A political party or labour organization that has announced common ownership for means of production as their primary policy. This may be complemented by other egalitarian or utopistic goals, such as post-scarcity society or fully horizontal (or equal) society.

Communist faction names usually feature their home system and singular mention or combination of the following words in free order: citizen party, labour union, left party, people’s party, republic party, revolutionary party, union, union party, unionists, worker’s party. They may also be preceded by: citizen party of, independent, labour union of, left party of, movement for, new, people’s, people’s party of, republic party of, revolutionary, social, union of, union party of, unionists of, united, worker’s party of, workers of.

Sales of combat stabilizers, narcotics, slaves, toxic waste and unknown probes are forbidden in communist markets. Black markets still accept these goods in communist-ruled stations.

Communist governments resolve their differences via elections with their other democratically governed governments of confederacies, cooperatives, democracies and theocracies. They go to or are forced into war with anarchies, their nemesises the corporations and the autocratically ruled dictatorships, feudalists, patronages and prison colonies.

Alliance Communists​

A group that promotes the idea that all members are created equal, even though clearly some members are more equal than others.

Communist government found in the Alliance of Independent Systems that adheres to common ownership and advocates fully equality, albeit fails to implement it succesfully.

A potential reason to this failure of promises could stem from dissonance between the stated political goal of equality and reality of Alliance Assembly councilorship seats being limited, thus Alliance communist councilors and civil servants gaining power in the larger polity that is not available to their ordinary peers. Whatever the true cause or causes are behind the betrayed promise, it can be argued that these governments are degenerated and have institutionalized a new social class of bureaucrats above the common citizenry to rule as opposed to the idealized and marketed direct democracy.
 

Independent Communists​

A faction that believes all assets should be communally owned and that resources should be fairly divided amongst all members by judging each individual's true needs.

Communist government that exists without obligations or privileges to the superpowers. Unlike their Alliance peers, these ideologues emphasize free and reasonable access to the communal resources and assets, and the reasonability being decided amongst the citizenry themselves. It can be interpreted as an advanced form of cooperative government, that has gone further with sharing of jointly held assets.

A typical communist faction is found participating in an extraction, refinery or industrial economy, reflecting their origins as radical labour organizations. More rare is system with advanced tourism, service or high-tech economy which can be taken to represent a mature and nearly post-scarcity society.

Communism in the Empire and Federation​

The premise of egalitarian society with commonly shared property makes this form of government highly disliked by both superpowers.

For the Imperials it is an affront to their stratified cliens system and wealth that its higher echelons wield. However, this has not prevented Princess Aisling Duval from working with democratic government to promote her progressive goals.

For the Federation and its intertwined corporations that rely on quick turnover consumerism, having whole systems abandon the highly profitable concept is toxic.

 

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Corporation​

A sufficiently major corporation which is able to command space ports and fleets of space ships to propagate its wealth, influence and commerce. Historically they have been long competing on par with superpowers and independent governments over control of humanity, and hold remarkable populations under their sway.

Corporation faction names usually consist of their home system name, possibly a colour and one or combination of the following words: advanced, allied, bridge, central, co, company, comms, commodities, corp, corporation, creative, electronics, exchange, federal, fortune, general, group, holdings, hldgs, inc, incorporated, industries, int, interstellar, legal, life, limited, ltd, major, natural, netcomms, network, org, organization, partners, plc, power, public, services, solutions, state, systems, transport, travel, universal, vision.

Sales of battle weapons, combat stabilizers, narcotics, tobacco, slaves, toxic waste and unknown probes are forbidden in corporate markets. Imperial corporations, as per Imperial laws are permitted to deal in regulated slaves. Corporate enforcers shut down black markets in their jurisdiction.

Corporations arbitrate their differences peacefully only with other corporations, in a process akin to elections where shareholders vote on future course of both corporations. Other factions corporations engage through war with impunity.

Alliance Corporations​

An Interstellar business organization that has incorporated in accordance with the terms laid out by the Alliance of Independent Systems.

A corporation that operates in accordance to laws set by Alioth and the Alliance Assembly. Despite these codifications, they often wrestle control of common Alliance assets through violence to themselves even from their fellow Alliance governments.

Since the advent of prime minister Edmund Mahon’s strong pro-business platform as way to foster closer unity between independent systems and the Alliance, many systems have come to discover the lucrative trade contracts usually lead to participating corporations growing bold and instigating coups to gain control of key starports in systems targeted by Mahon’s political machine.
 

Federal Corporations​

A business orientated organization that has been incorporated as per the Federation Charter of Free Commerce. Members of this faction are representatives of a Corporate Entity and are seen as such in the eyes of the law.

A representative of the Federation’s ubiquituous corporations. Backed by strong laws and the parliament on Mars, their reach is wide and influence commanded is noteworthy.

The corporations were there, when the Federation began its drive to expand into space. Many colonies were chartered under corporate charters. In the Birthright Wars running roughly for a century from 2621, the corporations seized lands and assets from prominent colonial families who had inherited them through the founding charters, and the Federal Navy turned a blind eye to these seizures. President Gellan’s impeachment in 2866 exposed the lengths corporate lobbyists went in bribing Federal congressmen to gain preferential rights for their employers. President Grant Keller’s sizeable downsizing of Federal government in 2976 slashed many public services to balance the budget exhausted from waging war. It were the corporations who expanded into the vacuum left by political decisions. In the present, Federal corporations are so intertwined into the society they inhabit and shape, that the Federation itself would risk falling apart if they were to be removed.

Imperial Corporations​

An organization that has been granted rights of an Imperial Corporation. They are likely to have business interests that extend beyond a single station or a planet.

An interstellar corporation that the Imperial Senate has recognized legally to have certain privileges and duties in pursuit of commerce.

Not as prevalent as their Federal kin, the Imperial Corporations still aspire to achieve same prestige and control in space ruled by Her Imperial Majesty with help of Imperial neo-feudalist factions. The corporate culture is different from other parts of the galaxy with imperial slaves in the workforce, but the pursuit of wealth and profit is no different. Entrapment of select independent systems like Durius or Quivira are recent examples of what the Imperial corporations can do at their worst, followed by invested Imperial Senators moving in to collect on defaulted debts with their private fleets and immunity from Imperial laws.

Independent Corporation​

An Independent business corporation that has incorporated with its respective home government.

An interstellar corporation that operates outside legal frameworks of the three superpowers. They range from small frontier establishments with negligible presence to historic juggernauts like the Sirius Corp or Mastopolos Mining that consider the entirety of human-inhabitated space as their market segment.

They may nominally observe laws of their home systems’ governments, but depending on the corporations’ own influence, the legislators could be subject to very strong and unrefusable lobbying in favor of relaxed regulations that turn blind eye to starport-related invasions and conflicts.

While negative consequences and effects of corporate ambition and warfare are widely known, positive efforts of Sirius Corp must not be neglected to mention either. Their internal rules, known as the Sirius Convention or Sirius rule that forbid them from exploiting any deals negotiated by the corporation have set a high standard of ethical commerce.

 

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Democracy​

A democratically elected government or a political party participating in a star system-wide democracy. Their political agendas and flavours of democracy differ, but all employ voting under universal suffrage to resolve internal disputes and to set goals for themselves.

Democracy faction names usually consist of their home system name and one or combination of the following words: democrats, democratic party, free, for equality, future, green party, independents, labour, liberals, progressive party, republic party, resistance, revolutionary party, values party. They may also be preceded by words: democrats of, future of, green party of, independent, independents of, labour of, liberals of, movement for, new, people’s, progressive party of, revolutionary, revolutionary party of, social, union of, united, values party of, workers of.

Sales of battle and personal weapons, land mines, slaves of both kinds, narcotics, bootleg liquor, combat stabilizers, nerve agents, toxic waste and unknown probes are banned under democracies’ jurisdictions. Federal democracies have also banned sales of tobacco, much like their corporate peers. Black markets still accept these goods in democracy-ruled stations.

Democracies employ elections to solve disputes with their democratically ruled peers of communisms, confederacies, cooperatives and theocracies. They resort to, or are forced to wage war against anarchies, corporations and the autocratically ruled dictatorships, feudalists, patronages and prison colonies.

Alliance Democracy​

A faction that actively follows the ideal that all members should be able to influence how their organization operates.

A democratic party or government that is a member of the Alliance of Independent Systems. As such it has a right to have representation on the Alliance Assembly, provided the faction agrees to abide by the charter and is on control of their star system. In practice this means fulfilling their promises to provide naval ships for Alliance Navy and observing humanitarian rights provided in the charter.

Alliance democracies for the time being are one of the most free societies in the known space. Corporate influence on politics is not as strong as in the Federation, and no one stands above the law as they would do in the Empire. However, the chaotic and sluggish workpace in Alliance Assembly marrs the desired image of perfection.

Federal Politicals​

Members of this organization are actively engaged in the promotion of a democratically approved political agenda.

A democratic party or government that is a member of Federation. Backed by the constitution, citizens of these factions have political rights and freedoms that their peers in the Empire lack. However, corporate influence is omnipresent and can manifest unfairly as political pressure to vote right, or vote oneself out of employment. Democratic principles exist and are practiced, but centuries long development and accumulation of wealth has made it sure, that political success does not come to those who cannot afford election campaigns, lobbying, or bribes.

A star system or its constituent state has representation on the Federal Congress, but it is highly slanted towards old members who may have multiple congress members. New and frontier systems have just a single seat, if it is not shared between their neighbours.

Democracies in the Empire​

As staunch believers in representative democracy, this faction often finds itself at odds with more traditional Imperial factions. Despite frequent clashes with members of the old guard, this group continues to try and implement various systems for devolving social responsibility to duly appointed members of the community without openly going against the established status quo. (People's Quivira for Equality)

Egalitarian democracy with equal, or perceivedly equal rights is antithetical to the Imperial cliens system and its stratified structure. As such no true Imperial democracies exist with legal recognition.

The one exemption to this rule is Quivira, which was brought violently into the Empire after its democratic government defaulted on payments that senator Denton Patreus was invested in. In result the Quiviran democracy has their patrons, clients and citizens of Imperial patronage, but these people tip-toe constantly on how much power they can devolve downwards without inviting punitive wars from other Quiviran imperials. Civil wars often occur as a result over starport ownership.

Independent Democracies​

A faction that actively follows the ideal that all members should be able to influence how their organization operates.

A democratic party or government that is its own master, and holds no allegiance to any superpower. This lack of constraint enables a wide variety of political agendas and methods divergent of superpowers’ preferred forms, but it comes with a downside of being at mercy of hostile factions without protection of the Federation or Alliance. As such, life in a frontier democracy can be very rewarding and perilous at hands of pirates.

 

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Dictatorship​

An authoritarian party or government, or a private military company indicated by its name. Power in its all forms descent from the top onto lower rungs of these factions’ hierarchies, and those on the bottom have only a choice to obey, ascend the structure or seek membership elsewhere.

Dictatorship faction names usually consist of their home system name and one or combination of the following words: autocracy, bureau, conservatives, constitution party, defence force, defence party, dominion, first, flag, focus, freedom party, front, justice party, law party, league, liberty party, nationals, nationalists, movement, order, party, pride, regulatory state. They may be preceded by: allied, autocracy of, bureau of, conservatives of, constitution party of, defence force of, defence party of, dominion of, freedom party of, justice party of, law party of, league of, liberty party of, nationalists of, nationals of, natural, new, official, order of, party of, regulatory state of, traditional, united.

Sales of slaves, toxic waste and unknown probes are forbidden in markets controlled by dictatorship. Alliance dictatorships, as mandated by their charter, also forbid Imperial slaves. State enforcers shut down black markets in their jurisdictions.

Dictatorships employ peaceful conflict resolution with their peers and other autocratically ruled factions of feudals, patronages and prison colonies. They will attack anarchies, corporations and the democratically ruled communists, confederacies, cooperatives, democracies and theocracies.

Alliance Authoritarians​

A faction that employs a strict top-down management style in order to maintain a tight control over its assets.

A specimen of the Alliance of Independent Systems’ pragmatic membership criterias. What would have been a fully realized dictatorship has been neutered by the Alliance charter to grant certain freedoms to its citizens, so the faction may have mutual defense benefits and councilors in the Assembly. Total ban on slaves is one example of these concessions. Individual freedoms and powers are still scarce in these governments, but censure and sanctions from the Assembly are strong incentives to not stomp on Alliance-guaranteed liberties.
 

Dictatorships in the Federation​

This group has recently begun openly expressing its dissatisfaction with Federal policy decisions. Rumours abound among the local populace about a potential split from the Federation, a rumour backed by the fact that an ever increasing amount of armaments and ships are working their way through the system's ports. (League of LTT 911)

Federal constitution forbids anything resembling a legitimate dictatorship from being part of the Federation. However, a slow creep towards it is possible, and some fringe factions in the Federation are actively working towards seceding and forming dictatorships in revolt from the parliament on Mars.

Imperial Dictatorships​

A faction that has been granted absolute power over a specific area of influence by decree of the Imperial Senate.

An entity that is not quite a political body as the other dictatorships, but a specially appointed organization to serve special interests of the Imperial Senate and Her Imperial Majesty. Imperial dictators thus have a clear goal what they are set to execute, and are subject to oversight by the senate.
Pacification of troublesome star systems, border march duties and systems of special interest that cannot be trusted to common patronages are just few examples of what the senate could appoint a dictatorship to oversee.

Independent Dictatorships​

An organization that engages in authoritarian activities in order to establish and maintain absolute control over its chosen field of interest.

A pure political dictatorship, political party promoting a path to such, or a military enterprise. Range from stable and long-living hierarchies to newly ascendant despotates that fall with their charismatic leaders. Life on the frontier is fraught with danger and competition, and these factions will fight to keep what they think is theirs and claim what others cannot defend.

 

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Feudal​

A faction whose power is based in estate and resource ownership, and leverage of that power to coerce unlanded and other less influencial population to serve the faction’s interests. Historically feudals existed in absence of strong central governance. Vast distances and weeks of travel time in early phases of interstellar colonization brought conditions suitable for development of (or degradation into) feudal order. With introduction of the new frameshift drive technology, aspirant star lords are just minutes away of being challenged by more complex governments. The feudal governments in space are looking at twilight of their power.

Feudal faction names usually consist of their home system name and of the following words: aristocrats, domain, dominion, dynasty, monarchy, noblement, nobles. The system name may alternatively be preceded by one of these: aristocrats of, barons of, dukes of, earls of, leaders of, lords of, marquis du, monarchy of, noblemen of, nobles of.

Sales of combat stabilizers, narcotics, battle weapons, slaves, toxic waste and unknown probes are forbidden by agents of the patricians. Alliance feudal governments are mandated by their charter to impose total ban in slave trade. Black markets in feudal jurisdiction are shut down.

Feudals employ peaceful conflict resolution with their autocratically ruled peers of dictatorships, patronages and prison colonies. They challenge anarchies, corporations and the democratically ruled communists, confederacies, co-operatives, democracies and theocracies to proverbial field of battle to decide the stronger party.

Alliance Feudals​

A group that leverages land based assets and corporate investments to exert control over systems that fall in their reach.

Wealthy land and estate owners with self-appointed titles of nobility, who exert control through unconventional channels. The Alliance charter imposes limitations on their conduct for benefit of their subjects, but they still remain at whim of people whose claim to power lies on a property deed and paid security, with minimal oversight.
 

Feudals in the Federation​

The federal constitution does not provide for existence of feudal organizations legally. What and whichever property-leveraging means of influence are utilized by existing confederacies and corporations within the Federation’s jurisdiction.

Imperial Neo-Feudalists​

A faction which actively engages in activity to ensure that Imperial Corporations are ceded more control over the day to day running of Imperial Worlds.

Clients and patrons of the Empire lobbying, purchasing and ceding properties and responsibilities to their favoured senate-approved corporations. They could be considered to resemble political action committees of the Federation, solely serving commercial interests. Anything handled by the Imperial government that could be privatized instead, will eventually be with help of these Imperial agents.

Independent Feudalists​

A faction which has built up a significant sphere of influence in the sector through a series of investments and acquisitions. As such they are able to use their portfolio of assets as leverage against local leaders.

A self-appointed court that has installed themselves in place by virtue of owning portion of their system which simply cannot be ignored. Be their origins in a corporate venture, military takeover or other similar top-heavy power arrangements, today they demand your fielty and respect, or dare you to face the wrath of these petty monarchies at periphery of settled space.

 

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Patronage​

A faction which can represent an informal social network founded by wealthy oligarchs, a political party heavily engaged in granting patronage, or lastly a formal Imperial form of civil government. Patronage as a political system has existed informally throughout human history in various forms of exchange between positions of power and those subservient to them. The most prominent contemporary characterization was created by secessionists of Achernar who would go later to form the Empire, where they socially engineered their society to likeness that of an ancient Earth empire.

Patronage faction names usually consist of their home system name and of the following words: assembly, bond, bridge, citizens’ forum, citizens of tradition, combine, consulate, dominion, emperor’s grace, governance, group, guardians, guardians of tradition, league, mandate, patrons of law, patron’s principles, pact, party, protectorate, society, union.

Additionally the name may contain a descriptor of Alliance, Empire, Imperial, Independent, Indie, Pro-Alliance or Pro-Independent depending on the faction’s superpower allegiance.

Markets operating under patronages ban sales of combat stabilizers, narcotics, personal weapons, battle weapons, landmines, slaves, toxic waste and unknown probes. Alliance patronages are also mandated by their charter to ban imperial slaves. Security services close down black markets in their jurisdiction.

Patronages utilize peaceful conflict resolution with themselves and their autocratically ruled peers dictatorships, feudals and prison colonies. Against anarchies, corporations and the democratically ruled communists, confederacies, co-operatives, democrats and theocrats they resort to violence.
 

Alliance Lobbyists​

A group that is known for leveraging its economic resources in order to influence actions of others.

Individuals of wealth and power not unlike contemporary feudals, who exercise their will through an elaborate network of contracted clients working usually towards economic goals. Possessess a refined framework and set of rules to its mode of operation, which is augmented by the Alliance charter to guard against most blatant abuses of power and human rights. Could be likened to a self-sustained political action committee.

Patronages in the Federation​

The Federal constitution does not recognize patronage as legitimate form of governance given its anti-democratic function, and historical grudge towards the rebels who founded the Empire. Despite of this, elements of patronage are present throughout the Federation in corporations and political nominations, with persons of note giving and taking favors above and below their strata.

Imperial Patronage​

A group that is actively engaged in the governance of local Imperial cliens. Representatives of this group should be treated with respect that befits the rank of organization's master.

A formal network of interconnected patrons, clients, and a senator on top of the structure, in charge of representing and providing for the Imperial citizenry. Bound by obligations to provide wealth and services down below in the hierarchy and in return bound to be served for, voted for and assisted for, an individual in an Imperial patronage has to contend with these vertical interactions. A failure to comply is a stain on one’s honour, a concept far more nebulous and temperamental than a credit rating, and rehabilitation waits behind indentured service. These shifting allegiances that rely on web of both material and personal merits may seem difficult for an outsider to navigate.
 

Independent Investors​

A group that invests significant resources into independent projects in order to incubate growth of civilization in the supposedly untamed areas of space.

Angel and venture investors, industrial magnates and other wealthy people who’ve joined together to develop new colonies, and all the contractors brought along to make that reality. Unlike corporate, co-operative or confederate factions, this one lacks a binding framework for its internal activities which makes the faction resemble structured independent feudals, who still maintain contacts to greater sphere of civilization.

 

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Prison Colony​

An organization dedicated to incarceration of dangerous convicts in remote locations, and extraction of commercial labour from their rehabilitative work. Usually restricted to housing the most dangerous or scandalous persons whose executions would be more troublesome than seeing them off permanently, yet housing them on inhabited planets would be an unacceptable security risk.

Prison colony names, save for few unique cases, always consist of the system name followed by the title of prison colony.

Markets operating under correctional facility management ban sales of combat stabilizers, narcotics, tobacco, beer, wine, liquor, bootleg liquor, personal weapons, battle weapons, land mines, consumer technology, slaves of both kinds, toxic waste and Wuthielo Ku Froth. No black market activity is possible in their jurisdiction.

In the unusual cases of prison colony management being contested, they employ peaceful conflict resolution solutions with their autocratic peers of dictatorships, feudals and patronages. They reserve the right to use force against anarchies, corporations and the democratically ruled factions of communists, confederacies, co-operatives, democracies and theocracies.

Imperial Watchmen​

An organisation that has been commissioned to ensure that the Emperor's Justice is meted out at an officially sanctioned Imperial Penal Colony.

Commissioned by the Imperial Senate or one of many government bodies such as the Imperial Internal Security Service to incarcerate and rehabilitate criminal hoodlums, who were not shot dead on the spot as punishments in space tend to go. General population is treated like an indentured workforce, if they are not confined to isolation due to their dangerous temper.

Independent Wardens​

An organisation that has been formed to maintain control over a specific independent penal colony. Often such groups have sponsors that are decidedly not independent in nature.

A commercial, independently founded incarceration facility. Final depository for scum of the galaxy who didn’t die at hands of system security or various government law enforcement agencies. Here they are put to work to recoup operating costs from their containment, if the numerous government agencies and superpowers didn’t generously pay the correctional organization for their discreet and possibly controversial detention.
 

Prison colonies in the Alliance and the Federation​

Both superpowers and their respective member factions confine their criminals in planetbound incarceration facilities, and do not admit to owning any possibly controversial spaceborne prison colonies. However, persistent rumours speak of an unofficial Alliance facility located in Kan Aphu system, something which the assembly and prime minister Mahon consistently deny existing.

 

[Sitoutumaton]

Theocracy​

A spacefaring religious organization of sufficient size and scope, with capabilities rivaling those of governments. Cultists, devotees of cosmic mysteries and philosophies and adherents of faiths both descending from ancient Earthen religions and new ones that materialized to answer questions that rose from alien life and sheer immensity of universe.

Theocracy faction names usually consist of their home system name and one or more of the following words: angelic, brotherhood (of), chapter (of), church (of), cult(of), faith, faithful, god-fearing, godly, hallowed, holy, innocent, just, mission, moral, order (of), parish, pious, pure, puritans, revered, righteous, sanctified, sanctuary, sanctified, sect, shrine, spiritual, sublime, theocracy, virtuous.

Markets under theocratic control ban sales of combat stabilizers, narcotics, tobacco, liquor, bootleg liquor, personal weapons, battle weapons, landmines, consumer technology, imperial slaves, slaves, toxic waste and unknown probes. However, black markets remain capable of providing officially banned vices in theocracies.

Theocracies resort to elections with their democratically ruled peers of communists, confederacies, co-operatives and democracies. Against anarchies, corporations and the autocratically ruled dictatorships, feudals, patronages and prison colonies they resort to holy wars.

Alliance Theocrats​

An Organisation that has been recognized as an official religion by the Alliance of Independent Systems.

A religious organization that has received official recognition from Alliance assembly and its laws, in return of affirming the Alliance charter on human rights and rescinding possible restrictions against leaving the organization. They are also capable of sending representation to the assembly and acting as fully legitimate government in its eyes.

Theocracies in the Empire​

Her Imperial Majesty and the imperial senate have not chosen to recognize any religious organization in official capacity, that might grant it rights to sit in the senate or do anything else involving administration of imperial citizenry. As such, no imperial theocracy is considered to exist.

Federal Theocrats​

A faction that has been recognized as a Religious Organisation under Federation Law.

A religious organization that enjoys certain rights and autonomy from larger society as ruled by the Federal congress on Mars. The Sublime Order of Van Maanen’s Star is one of the best known examples of federally recognized religions, who can demand and issue permits to systems controlled by them, and subject citizenry under their jurisdiction to strict consumption laws.

Independent Theocrats​

An Independent group that claims to be religious in nature. It is possible that this group may not be an officially sanctioned religion.

A religious organization which does not enjoy any recognition from superpowers, or possibly even by their system’s home government. These range from real faiths who simply do not desire rules and recognition of the Federation or Alliance due to doctrinal differences or distance, to unstable cults and pyramid schemes shrouded in pseudo-religious trappings.

 

[Sitoutumaton]

Credits​

Commanders Vivien Gemai, Ishi-Limina, Jane Turner, Aris_, SaliVader, Blain Crighton, Endincite and Light Fingers, without whose assistance the intricacies of factional interactions would have been much more bothersome to uncover.

 

[aspiringexpatriate]

Well done. I'm sure I'm going to have a lot of addendum and suggestions as I keep reading this. I especially want to explore how the apparently random association of words making up the name can further describe the variation of the government type those factions support. i.e. Empire Consulate as compared to Citizens' Forum or Empire Assembly and Patron's Principles. There's at least a solid paragraph one could expound upon each set of names, and that should apply to all faction names, not just the ones I pay attention to the most.

 

[Sitoutumaton]

Thank you. I've a second spreadsheet with all dialogue that is offered upon docking and requesting missions from faction contacts, as there are nuances there between each type of government. However this I expect to take lot much longer as number of unique lines are going to be at least 248, with some having more than one comment per situation.