Disclaimer
This is in no way the be-all-end-all guide to Varati lore nor would I have any final say in the matter if it was. Consider this my interpretation of a system and faction that I have grown to love dearly, enough to make up a bit of lore in my head as I traverse the stars of the NGC 6357 nebula. I encourage everyone to engage in a therapeutic creative writing exercise by inventing your own blurb for each faction, or by composing any other kind of Varatian Lore!
This is in no way the be-all-end-all guide to Varati lore nor would I have any final say in the matter if it was. Consider this my interpretation of a system and faction that I have grown to love dearly, enough to make up a bit of lore in my head as I traverse the stars of the NGC 6357 nebula. I encourage everyone to engage in a therapeutic creative writing exercise by inventing your own blurb for each faction, or by composing any other kind of Varatian Lore!
Half way between Sol and Polaris, Varati is the furthest human settlement towards the North Star. Varati has a similar F class star as Polaris and features a natural Earth-like world which early settlers from a Generation Ship colonized. After the invention of the Frame Shift Drive, a band of pirates running from the law made their home in Varati. These pirates started a war with the settlers who split in to two groups as a result of the conflict.
As the settlers branched out from Varati A 6 to other worlds within the system new faction identities began to emerge. Without much contact with other systems Varati produced its own traditions, politics, and even sciences. After the FSD was perfected a new faction of explorers settled in the system and made use of the previously untouched water worlds in Varati where they managed to avoid the conflict between the local factions.
Much later, Canonn would enter the system in 3301, assume complete control of the previously quiet Varati, and bring it to the forefront of Galactic affairs.
Canonn
Originating as a group of nomadic explorers and pirate raiders, this group has set aside social and political norms to establish an open foundation of knowledge. Although the group has existed unofficially since April 3301, the disastrous event known as the "Play of Powers" forced several key members of this group from their various home systems. Downtrodden, they regrouped and began searching for peace, truth, and knowledge. The Canonn Commanders retreated towards the north star, Polaris. Finally, after a grueling exodus they came across Varati, the last civilized system on the edge of humanity in August of 3301.
Here they would establish their now famous culture of Art, Math, and Science away from the Secrecy, Domination, and Pettiness that had befallen man kind's so-called rulers. Acknowledging no authority outside of Nature itself, this group would go on to form the largest and most well known body of knowledge in the Galaxy by any means necessary.
One might find it best to view the Canonn as the body of knowledge, and each member as servants to that body of knowledge. Testing, proving, and building the body of knowledge has given them the ability to transcend factions allowing anyone with true curiosity a chance to better mankind. There is only 1 truly golden rule within the Canonn: Knowledge for all.
Labour of Varati
Historians tend to agree that the people of the Labour of Varati party are direct descendents of the first human settlers in Varati. Preferring high metal content worlds they developed a keen affinity for mining and metal work. Their sister faction, the Varati Independent Union, are also direct descendants of the early settlers.
Not much is known about why the early settlers split into the two distinct factions we have today. One theory suggests the arrival of what is now known as the Varati Ring faction may have caused a rift in how to deal with the new threat. LoV are typically a peaceful nation and rather than fight the Ring they began work to terraform Varati A9 in an attempt to secluded themselves from the raiding pirates. Their natural knack for all things dirt, metal, and rock makes the gargantuan task of terraforming the aforementioned planet more akin to a religious calling than a labour of hardship. This faction also makes use of the 3 systems that house pristine metallic rings within 33 light-years of Varati.
Canonn often find themselves at odds with this faction as recent Canonn expansion into Varati A1 sparked brief military conflict between the outsiders and the native LoV. The Labour of Varati are also fiercely proud of their democratic political system which sparks even more conflict between the generally peaceful Canonn and LoV factions. The LoV do not believe that a political structure like Canonn can last forever. The natives watch Canonn closely.
Varati Blue Public Limited
This faction took its name from the 3 blue water-worlds within the Varati system. Little is known about the origins of the "Blue" group but one can assume that they started as an expeditionary unit after the invention of the Frame Shift Drive. Scholars conclude that they must have ended up in Varati, found it to be hostile due to the local raiding tribes, and so they set up to live on the water-worlds for safety. Though the exact date of arrival is unknown, VBPL must have been the last faction to arrive in Varati "Before Canonn" (or BC) as the Varatians say.
Living on a water-world requires very special equipment and as such they managed to avoid the lawless tribes within the system for centuries by secluding themselves. Even to this day the culture idolizes famous explorers and it can be said that the main income of this groups stems from private, federal, empire, and alliance investors who routinely request information about the region around Polaris.
Despite Canonn being a direct financial competitor in the Exploration industry there has been little to no conflict between VBPL and the Canonn. However, given that VBPL are highly secretive about what they know concerning Polaris, choosing only to give information to their clients and not the public at large, Canonn are at odds with them over their policy of withholding information. What this means for future relations between the two groups remains to be seen.
Varati Independent Union
Ruled by the matron Iceni (not her real name) this faction's roots can be traced back to the original human settlers of Varati. From what we have learned, the arrival of the barbaric Varati Ring faction caused a split in the original settlers. One side, the Labour of Varati party decided they would try to live in peace with the Varati Ring bandits. However the second half of the first settlers now called the Varati Independent Union formed war parties to combat the raiders. The VIU became a hearty group, living on the predominantly ice worlds on the border of Varati Ring territory.
Constant war between the Ring and the VIU has ensured safety for the rest of the factions, however, it has also caused VIU to turn down a dark path embracing slavery, assassins, and brute economic tactics to maintain an edge against the Ring. The fighting also sparked a brief arms race. Though the Independent Union are generally peaceful toward LOV and VBPL, nothing will stand in the way of VIU bounty hunters and soldiers of fortune. To them a wanted target is nothing more than a paycheck. In their heavily war based culture they only look out for themselves at the end of the day.
Canonn and the VIU have a very complex peace. When the Canonn first set up in Varati they put an end to the VIU slave trade at Thompson Dock. This would have caused an all out war if Canonn hadn't also helped the VIU repel the Ring from Bond Hub. While the Independent Union seems to have forgiven the Canonn for trespassing right now, it is unclear what the future holds for the two factions. There have been unconfirmed reports that VIU are trying to get weapons of mass destruction from Canonn labs (by legal means) in the war against the Varati Ring. This peace between Canonn and VIU is likely only a means to an end for the Varati Independent Union.
Varati Ring
Named for the habit of inhabiting rings and belts clusters, the Varati Ring are divided into 4 main tribes without a central leadership structure. Each of the four tribes can be found in their respective ring or belt and have been known to attack and rob anyone, even each other. From what scientists have gathered, this faction was the 2nd faction to enter Varati and appeared within the system after the invention of the FSD. Seemingly simple pirates, thieves, and murders, this group boasts a highly secretive "spy-like" network of infiltrators.
Despite their primitive methods they have proven effective at amassing devastating weapons to assert their dominance by force. They can be seen using large vessels as mobile stations and are even rumored to possess a "ghost ship" that can be found hidden deep within the asteroid belt around the Varati C star. Living inside their ships and hiding in the rings they have developed a natural affinity for combat within the various Resource Extraction sites that they call home.
Aggressively attacking miners and military ships alike, they are greatly feared and are often regarded as mysterious. Though not much is known about the political structure, if any, it can be said that they were once a single tribe until the death of their leader sometime before December of 3300 which resulted in 4 separate tribes vying for power of the whole faction and perhaps one day, the whole system.
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