H'Oskhikhil: Indigenous to Storm (1404
Reavers' Deep), the members of this minor race are disk-shaped, .5
meters high and 1.5 meters across. Their world's eccentric orbit
has molded their lifecycle into two major phases: the civilized
adult which, after reproducing, is consumed by the voraciously
hungry juvenille. This process has kept the race from developing an
enduring technological society until relatively recent times, when
the adults have been constructing armored, air-conditioned refuges
where they can live to pass on their culture and technology to the
next generation. -rd TD 16
Haden (0830 Daibei X66A630-6): Red Zone. A
few hundred sea-faring ship captains rule the three million
inhabitants of Haden's islands. They hunt the gatuf (a local sea
creature) for its valuable oil, which is the planet's prime source
of fuel. The sea captains are also the only ones who can fight off
the tarmo, a savage deep-sea creature that often lurks near beaches, attacking beach walkers, swimmers, and boats.
Before this world was declared a red zone,
naive off-worlders would visit Haden, only to disappear from the
island beaches with shocking regularity. Only a shred of clothing
or other belongings near tell-tale tarmo marks on the beach would
testify to their fate. The local sea captains forbade further
landings and dismantled the rudimentary starport. They requested
the Travellers' Aid Society to classify the world a red zone.
The council of sea captains is the only
constituted authority on the planet, when they are away at sea the
islands are without leadership. Orderly behavior is necessary to
counteract the threats of this environment, so even when the
captains are away at sea, society remains organized and structured.
-dai TD 15
Halfview, Admiral Moshe:
Prominent loyalist naval commander in the closing days of the Interstellar
Confederacy Civil War. The Admiral rallied the remnants of over a dozen
planetary fleets into an efficient fighting force and routed the rebel forces
to the Sketola (0622 Core) system. The resulting Battle of Magnia Sketola
caught the rebels off-guard, and crushed the rebellion once and for all.
Historical records indicate the Admiral had an
unusually high percentage of prosthetic body parts. His prosthetics
included his right eye, his right arm, both his legs, and several of his
internal organs. The replacements were needed to repair severe
injuries he had sustained on several different bold police actions against
pirates. The Admiral was well known and feared by many pirates - he
relentlessly raided interstellar pirate bands in the years prior to the Civil
War.
At the age of 132, the Admiral was killed by his
fifth wife in -115. His body is currently on display in a cryogenic case at
the Confederacy Naval Museum on Lalandra (0821 Core). -core TD 9
Halo (0805 Reavers' Deep E677000-0): One of
the largest concentrations of accessible mineral ore and refinable
gases in any system of this sector, the Halo system has five gas
giants and two metal-rich asteroid belts. Only recently surveyed by
the human firm of Travis Commodities, the Halo system has been the
site of increasing amounts of mining activity sponsored by the
Aslan Khotoa'ya clan. The system's remote location gives each party
equal rights to exploitation of Halo's resources, but the
Khotoa'ya's resistance to Travis' presence has become increasingly
hostile. -rd TD 16
Hamilcar (1738 Solomani Rim A26A9AA-E):
Subsector Capital. Hamilcar was settled early in the Rule of Man by
a cultural group from Terran Polynesia. Terran dolphins were also
transplanted here before they were made sentient.
Now that sentient dolphins also exist,
populations of both types are found on Hamilcar, coexisting with
relative ease. Two million of the world's two billion inhabitants
are sentient dolphins. Most of the humans live in ship-cities and
consequently share some of the dolphin attitude toward ownership of
property.
In an astonishing political coup, the
dolphins have put one of their own into power on Hamilcar. The
dolphin, Keekiiteep, is widely acclaimed as a wise ruler, even on
other worlds of the subsector. Of course, politics is not a typical
dolphin interest, but getting sophonts to cooperate and live harmoniously is a worthy goal, even to a dolphin. The heritage of the
easy-going Polynesian culture makes the human population more
receptive to Keekiiteep's guidance.
The high law level reflects primarily the
taboo on violence; personal freedom is very little restricted. -sr TD 13
Hanuman Systems: Member state of the
Solomani Confederation. The Hanuman Systems lie at the Confederation's
trailing border. The Hanuman Systems owe their name to the local
religion, an unusual mix of old Terran Hinduism and modern evolutionary theory. The Systems' inhabitants believe Hanuman - the
Hindu monkey god - to be the patron deity of all primates,
including humans. They have gained a widespread reputation for
their frequent ceremonies and devotions.
Interestingly, the Hanuman religion intrigued
Hiver merchants across the border. While Hiver culture as a whole
ignores religion, many Hivers found their curiosity and need for
individuality engaged. One trader nest invented a deity, Palibat,
to serve as racial patron for the Hivers. Worship of Palibat spread
as the Hiver merchants travelled, and the priests of Hanuman
eventually saw fit to officially endorse it.
This unorthodox, jointly held creed has long
helped smooth relations between the Solomani and the Hive
Federation. For this reason, it has withstood the disapproval of
conservative Party officials dismayed by the cultural merger of
Solomani and non-humans. Most Party members see the Hanuman-Palibat
faith as beneficial, however. In addition to the thousands who
visit annually as diplomats and businessmen, many more come simply
as tourists. -sta S&A
Harbu: Hot, brown beverage containing
moderate amounts of binaraffein, a caffeine-like substance. Very
common in Domain of Deneb and Corridor sector, especially among
starship crews and law-enforcers. -cam MS
Harp plant: This flowering plant is native to
Chemi (2530 Daibei C888413-9), a world owned by Indec Corporation,
a well-known manufacturer of pharmaceuticals in Daibei. The plant's
method of attracting pollinating insects is by sound rather than
scent or color.
The fine strands stretched between its
upright stems vibrate in the wind, at a pitch which attracts native
insects. When the insect responds, it makes a meal of the harp
plant's pollen as well as spreading it around.
The sap of the harp plant is used by Indec
Corporation as a base for many of their antiviral and antifungal
drugs. -dai TD 15
Havary (1416 Gateway C553259-9): A largely
unexplored world lying well off any of the main trade routes, the
formidable nature of the native ecology has so far prevented large-scale exploration or exploitation of this world. The sole human
colony is Fortress, a lone settlement at the spaceport consisting
of 80 people, mostly scientists studying the planet's spectacularly
diverse flora and fauna. -gat MTJ 4
Hazador, Admiral Lon:
Renowned leader of the Confederate Navy. The Admiral lead an inspired
defense of the Sketola (0622 Core) Orbital Union Starport during the
opening attack of the Confederate Civil War (-239 to -237). Killed during
the siege, the Admiral is revered as a hero in a large shrine at the rebuilt
Sketola Orbital Union Starport. -core TD 9
Hegemony of New Albion: This cluster of
Solomani member states occupies a small corner of the Staai
subsector of Dark Nebula. Rather than each world in the Hegemony
sending a representative to Terra, they banded together under the
leadership of New Albion, a planet in the Oskkan system (2834 Dark
Nebula). -dn S&A
Hellhole (0423 Core B400555-F):
Hellhole's crust abounds with exotic minerals and heavy metals, making it
one of the most profitable mining worlds in the Core Sector. In the tech
level 11 civilization of the old Interstellar Confederacy, Hellhole was a
dangerous planet on which to mine. Today, with modern TL 15 technology,
the vacc miners of Hellhole rarely have to enter the mines.
-core TD 9
Heptad Worlds of Windfleet: Tovis (1412
Gateway), Vosrin (1512 Gateway), Ganyvar (1612 Gateway), Windfleet
(1413 Gateway), Tash (1513 Gateway), Anaxar (1613 Gateway) and
Foriv (1514 Gateway).
Seven inhabited systems, formerly the
Windfleet Concourse, now part of the Plavian League. They are
currently recovering from a vicious interstellar war with the
Hochiken People's Assembly, which claims them as part of the
Assembly's empire. Plavian battlefleets are currently positioned
within each system, and visitors are boarded and searched for
evidence of contact with the People's Assembly. -gat MTJ 4
Heraklion (3221 Solomani Rim D343312-E):
Planet in the Arcturus Subsector of the Solomani Rim. A poor, non-industrial planet, the world is given over to ressource
exploitation. Heklion is currently owned and operated by Lamarck
Minerals, LIC.
The planet is largely unremarkable, though
the culture which has developed is of some interest to
sociologists. A rough, poorly policed society, the planet has
fostered the development of a strong streak of self-reliance. Most
of the inhabitants are accustomed to bearing arms from an early
age; this is less noticable in the men (who instead tend to be
trained in various types of unsophisticated hand-to-hand combat)
than in the women. Most women on Heraklion carry daggers of a
distinctive and highly useful design. A woman of Heraklion caught
without her dagger in public (or deprived of it against her will)
is subjected to considerable shame and humiliation. -ld MAS
Heraldia (1622 Core C120576-D):
A small desert world, Heraldia's atmosphere was irrevocably
tainted be nearly a century of raids and battles fought between
the Sylean Federation
and the Interstellar Confederacy (circa
-201 to -100). Prior to this time, the surface was livable, having
a thin atmosphere and a 13% hydrosphere.
Since the time of the Sylean
Expansion wars, the remaining inhabitants of the world have
been forced to survive in protective domes and underground
structures, away from the blazing solar radiation. The current
inhabitants of Heraldia are particularly proud of their
battle-scarred past. -core TD 9
Hewlett (2031 Diaspora A110748-F): The
other choke-point of Eberly Gap, Hewlett is known for its lax
customs officials, whose eyesight gets blurrier with every credit
they're given. Despite thriving black and "gray" markets, there is
very little crime planetside, where the local government strictly
enforces the few laws it imposes. -AGD
Hideki: Admiral Hideki Morimotu, emperor
of the Rule of Man, born -2080, proclaimed emperor -2029, died -2018.
Having seized the centre of power and emasculated the Council of Noble
Officers, Hideki was forced to deal with the regional and provincial powers
in order to secure the throne. During his rule, the provincial Naval
commanders forced Hideki to reconstitute the Council of Noble Officers as a
body with somewhat more clout than he had envisaged. Furthermore, the
Council was now composed almost exclusively of provincial commanders and
governors, forever breaking the power of the General Staff at the highest
levels of Imperial politics.
Hideki survived no less than nine recorded
assasination attempts during his
rule before dying of heart failure in -2018. After his death, the rumour
that his demise was the result of a tenth, successful attempt persisted.
-mick
Hiilev (1635 Core C62757B-A): Hiilev
was colonized in two vastly seperated periods. Early in the First
Imperium, colonists settled in the lowest valleys they could find.
Over several thousand years of living on Hiilev, they adapted to
the planet in some unique ways, including strict breeding laws.
Today the descendants of these early colonists are barrel-chested
and leather-skinned, with large ears and small, dark eyes. Their
blood carries an extaordinary amount of hemoglobin and their skin
is rich in melanin. Calling themselves Hiidamo, they have virtually
forgotten that they were ever strangers to the planet.
After the First Survey in 420, newcomers
were attracted to Hiilev by the biological wealth in its oceans. But
these settlers were standard humans, using technical equipment
to survive in the very thin atmosphere. Many new colonists felt the
Hiidamo were odd freaks. Their attitude was subtle at first, but
ultimately degraded into outright racial war.
It took many deaths to see that the races
just could not settle their differences, and could not live together.
The Hiidamo claimed one major continent, leaving the newcomers
the other continent. The two races have little contact; they do not
trade or otherwise deal with each other. Even this has not entirely
stopped the killing, but it has been reduced to one-at-a-time murders
rather than running battles. -core TD 10
Hiroshi I:
Hiroshi Tokugawa Estigarribia, first emperor of the Rule of Man, born in -2260,
reigned from -2204 to -2182.
Also known as 'Hiroshi the Uncrowned' (due to the fact that he never
formally claimed the title of Emperor). Born on the Terran island of Cuba.
Graduated from the Terran Confederation Combined Naval Academy in -2238,
16th in his class. Hiroshi displayed tremendous ability during the Nth
Interstellar War (-2235 to -2219), rising rapidly through the ranks (even
for a period of near-constant warfare). By the war's end, the then
Vice-Admiral Estigarribia was in command of Task Force Gabriel, which had
mounted a highly successful offensive into the Delphi Sector to link up
with and support the Geonee Revolt against Vilani rule.
Following the Vilani surrender, Estigarribia was made Governor Pro Tempore
of a huge swathe of territory encompassing parts of the Delphi, Core, Old
Expanses, Massilia and Ley Sectors. The imaginatively named
Administrative Sector Bravo was governed with a relatively light hand, and
many worlds remained effectively under the control of their civillian rulers.
Estigarribia was recalled to Terra in -2212 to oversee a massive
restructure of the military command. While the old structure had served
well in the war against the Ziru Sirka, it was inadequate for the task of
administering the conquered empire. At the end of this period, he was
promoted to Grand Admiral of the Terran Confederation Navy, a post that he
held until his death.
As Grand Admiral, Estigarribia became increasingly disenchanted with the
policies of the Confederation government. This disenchantment, combined
with a growing rift between Terra and her daughter worlds in the
Confederation led to the Coup of -2204, in which Estigarribia led a largely
bloodless overthrow of the Confederation government. Later that year, he
proclaimed himself Regent of the Vilani Imperium and Protector of Terra,
inaugurating the Rule of Man.
Early in his rule, Hiroshi moved his capital to Fleet Headquarters at
Dingir, although his empire was still largely ruled by the bureaucratic
structure centered on Vland. He also moved quickly to dissolve the
shackles placed on many other races by the Pax Vilanica (an act his
sucessors had cause to regret), instituting autonomous rule in large
sections of the Rule of Man. In -2196, Hiroshi codified the succession
procedures for the Rule of Man, establishing the Council of Officers (later
renamed the Council of Noble Officers by Hiroshi II).
During the remainder of his reign, Hiroshi created many of the institutions
of the Rule of Man. Monetary policy, hitherto in the hands of the Vilani
bureaux and Terran financial combines, became the province of the Central
Bank, established in -2189. The court of Civil Justice was created in
-2185 (although the military maintained its own judicial system).
Stricken in his later years by an incurable neural degenerative disorder,
Hiroshi became increasingly dependant on his chief of staff, Admiral Yev
Gennaz. He named Gennaz as his successor in -2184, by which time he had
effectively ceased to function as ruler. Hiroshi's death in -2182 was
mourned throughout the Rule of Man, although strangely more in the old
'Vilani' empire than on Terra itself. He was survived by four daughters
(Maria, Nina, Kobe and Maragarite) and a son (Hiro). -mick
Hiroshi II:
Yev Menachem Gennaz, second emperor of the Rule of Man, born
-2234, reigned -2182 to -2162.
Born in the Terran city of Tel Aviv in -2234. Gennaz' father was killed
fighting the Vilani when Yev was 3. He entered the
Terran Confederation
Combined Naval Academy in -2216, and graduated 1st in his class.
While a solid, if uninspiring commander, Gennaz proved to be a gifted
administrator, and spent much of his career attached to the General Staff
and the Naval Political Directorate, and later as one of the countless
administrators of the conquered Vilani empire. Gennaz was serving as a
junior adjutant to Grand Admiral Hiroshi Estigarribia during the coup, and
caught his superior's eye as a skilled political operator with a cool head
in a crisis.
Gennaz was promoted to the General Staff as Admiral in -2194. He was a
'political' admiral, and served as advisor to Hiroshi I. He became
Hiroshi's chief of staff in -2190, becoming effectively the second most
powerful figure in the Rule of Man. Due to Hiroshi I's increasing
infirmity, Gennaz was effectively ruler for a number of years before his
predecessor's death. Following Hiroshi I's death in -2182, Gennaz was
named Regent and Protector by a unanimous vote of the Council of Officers.
Following the surrender of the last pocket of Vilani resistance in -2180,
Gennaz assumed the title of Emperor, crowning himself in a ceremony on
Dingir and taking the name Hiroshi II. As emperor, he largely continued
the policies of his predecessor, continuing the liberalisation of the old
Vilani power structure. His major activity began in -2177, when he began
relocating the Rule of Man's capital to the more centrally located
Hub/Ershur. The move, which was eventually to encompass both the military
government on Dingir and the bureaucracy on Vland, took almost three
quarters of a century to complete.
Late in his reign, outbreaks of rebellion by some elements of the
Darmine
were suppressed, largely using Vilani forces in the area commanded by the
Terran Admiral Teresa d'Entrecastaux. Around this time, the Vilani
scientist Duskir Isilguur developed the broad-spectrum antiviral drugs that
finally brought the Plague of Duskir to heel.
Hiroshi II's reign was largely stable, although it's later years saw some
unrest. In -2164, Admiral d'Entrecastaux was promoted to Chief of the
General Staff of the Rule of Man, and the following year was named
Empres-in-waiting by the ailing Emperor.
Hiroshi II died of congestive heart failure in -2162. -mick
Hiroshi III:
Admiral Severin Estigarribia, emperor of the Rule of Man, born
-2158, proclaimed emperor -2108, abdicated -2071, died -2060.
Following Michael's death, the Council of Noble Officers met to consider
his successor. Michael had named his eldest son, Captain Andrew O'Connor,
as successor. Deeply divided after the turbulent times of Michael's rule,
they were ill-disposed to ratify his choice and perhaps institute an era of
dynastic succession. Although Andrew was a capable officer, his fitness as
a ruler was also questioned. Fortunately, Andrew was not nearly as stubborn
as his father. In a short speech to the Council, he withdrew his claim to
the throne, asking only that his career not be prejudiced by the succession
crisis.
To succeed Michael, the Council chose Admiral Severin Estigarribia, the
popular hero of the Battle of Muurim. A dashing figure, and direct
descendant of Hiroshi I, Admiral Estigarribia was a relatively easy choice
for all factions of the council. He was also isolated from the politics of
the Imperial court, and it was hoped that he would prove to be more
malleable than his predecessor.
One of his first acts as Emperor was to deal with the Vargr. Despite their
defeat at Muurim, they continued to raid across the Empire's coreward
borders. The Vargr Campaigns (-2107 to -2099) saw the full might of the
Rule of Man directed against the raiders. A buffer zone was established
beyond the frontier, and many Vargr states immediately coreward of the
empire became satrapies of the Rule of Man.
With the Vargr 'muzzled', Hiroshi set about launching a series of internal
reforms. The first, the decentralisation of the treasury system, had the
support of the senior military officers - largely because few of them had
more than a peripheral interest in economic matters. The second, more
contentious issue dealth with the Naval heirarchy. To this point, all of
the most senior naval officers (and therefore all of the members of the
Council of Noble Officers) were pure Solomani. Hiroshi promoted several
non-Solomani to key posts within the fleet, the most contentious of which
was the appointment of the Vilani Admiral Luushighil Ka Khalaami to the
General Staff. The move alienated some of the more extreme Solomani, but
shored up the loyalty of the Vilani majority at a time when continuing
reforms to their social structure were feared and disliked. Hiroshi's
popularity soared, and he was able to cement his authority as Emperor.
Hiroshi's reign marked the high water mark for the Rule of Man. External
threats had been dealt with, and informal dissent was at a low point. The
economic slump had appeared to have bottomed out, and hope was held that
a sustained boom was not far away. Hiroshi used his popularity to
strengthen the powers of the Emperor, while the authority of the Council
was reduced, particularly in the executive sphere of government.
Hiroshi was the only Emperor of the Rule of Man to voluntarily give up the
throne before his death. By -2071, he felt that his empire was secure
enough to pass on to his successor. He abdicated in that year, retiring to
estates on Varward/Old Expanses. He died nine years later, popularly
known as 'Hiroshi the Wise'. -mick
Hive Federation: Human term for the loose
interstellar community dominated by the Hivers; Hive Confederation
is also sometimes used. The Hivers have only one culture and one
language; the Hiver genotype (with individual variations similar in
degree to differences between individual humans of the same race)
is also constant.
The Federation government (if such a term is
at all applicable) is mostly concerned with maintaining the
uniformity of the Hiver culture and species. This is accomplished
by frequent reproductive embassies from one planet to another
Members of many different nests will shake hands with everyone
nearby in a sort of farewell party and will then board a large
embassy ship bound for a far-off world. Once there they will meet
with as many people as possible, shaking hands and exchanging news,
art, gossip, scientific information, political views, and so on for
about a year. They will then return home for another year-long
round of parties, discussions, and handshaking.
Most disputes among communities are handled
in these embassies; others, considered too urgent or transient to
wait for an embassy, are settled by judges. There is a considerable
body of Hiver common law and custom, and a judge is a person who
has spent years in study of the law; judges' decisions are not
necessarily binding and are open to compromise, but they carry a
great weight of custom.
The discovery of alien races and their
integration into society required a slightly more formal
organization, which grew out of the coordinating body which
schedules embassies. Two additional bodies were established: the
Federation Navy and a development agency.
The Hiver parental instinct was aroused by
the discovery of numerous intelligent species less fortunate than
themselves, and work began immediately to lift the "children" to
civilization. An early experience with an aggressive race led to
the establishment of a system of quarantined worlds, denied entry
to (or knowledge of) interstellar society.
Covert operations are in progress on
quarantine worlds to modify overly aggressive cultures into
acceptable members of the Federation, and several quarantined
planets have been opened since the beginning of the program. So
far, no quarantined race is close to achieving interstellar travel
on its own; public debate continues on what to do in such a case.
The navy is the main instrument of military
force. Hivers came late to the concept of war and are more
comfortable with high-tech, long-range oriented violence; they
dislike the personal approach of ground combat.
When ground forces are absolutely needed,
other races of the Federation generally supply the troops.
Federation armed forces are essentially a deterrent force and are
seldom used as an instrument of policy.
Other races of the Federation are equal
partners in society, although the structure of society is Hiver-generated, and those races able to adapt best to a Hiver way of
life and customs have been most successful. All races participate
in the embassies, although in a modified form.
Some associated species retain strong
internal governments or police forces to regulate the aggressive
tendencies of their members, but whatever solution is reached, all
Federation member societies are nonaggressive.
Most worlds of the Federation have
communities of several species; races inhabit the worlds they find
most pleasant. -ld IE
Hiver: Intelligent major race with a large
federation trailing the Imperium. Hivers average 1.5 meters from
ground to top of upraised head and weigh about 150 kg. Descended
from omnivore gatherer/scavenger stock, they are the most alien of
the major races. Hivers exhibit a modified six-fold radial
symmetry; the body has a calcareous internal skeleton consisting of
a series of rings supporting the limbs and a fused carapace
protecting the brain and internal organs.
The head is a modification of one of the
limbs and contains six eyestalks and six manipulative tentacles,
plus paired infrared sensor organs. The other five limbs are
identical (except for slight modifications of the hand opposite the
head) and are used as arms and legs indiscriminately. Each limb
ends in a six-fingered radial hand. Fingers are very flexible and
have muscular suction cups on the lower surface about halfway to
the tips. Hiver arms and hands are generally weaker than a human's
but are very tough and difficult to injure.
The mouth (digestive opening) is on the lower
surface of the body. There is no sound-producing organ, but hivers
do have three ears placed around the neck near the head.
Hivers have only one sex. Reproductive cells
are exchanged each time that hivers meet, using the modified rear
hand (the process has been termed by humans "shaking hands"). The
cells are kept in a reproductive pouch on the lower body surface
where they conjugate and exchange genetic material. Once every
forty days or so, a cell will develop into a larva, which then
drops from the parent's body.
Hive planets are mostly wilderness, and the
larva enter the wilds, where most are killed. After about a year,
survivors return to civilization, where they are welcomed into any
nest and begin their education as citizens. Parental instinct in
hivers is very strong, and the young are adopted by the entire
nest. (Note that this instinct applies only to the year-old
returnees; Hivers have no concern for the younger larvae, and in
fact they consider them minor pests.)
Hiver language is a combination of
arm/tentacle waving and physical contact. The written language is
ideographic and is used as a standard language among the races of
the Hive Federation. Hivers talking among themselves use all three
aspects of language (gesture, touch, and writing) at once, a
process capable of great subtlety and sophistication, but
unintelligible to the outsider.
Hivers are unique among major races in that
they had a complex culture before becoming sentient. Originally,
they lived in the tunnels and built-up mounds of a large (1000kg)
burrowing animal. In exchange for shelter, they gave food. They
farmed fungus and foraged outside for decaying vegetation and dead
animals as a source of food for the fungus.
Burrowers were allowed to graze in the farm
tunnels. Hivers ate the fungus and whatever fresh food they could
find outside. Intelligence arose as the outside environment
changed, forcing the foraging parties to travel farther to discover
new sources of food and fertilizer; foragers advanced from simple
scavenging and gathering efforts to complex cooperative efforts of
hunting and trapping live game.
Today, fungus remains the staple of the Hiver
diet; fungus growing is a highly developed art. Most buildings
retain the beehive shape and large underground tunnel complexes of
the original burrowers, but they are constructed by machines; the
burrowers (known as snohl) are now reduced to the secondary
function of keeping the tunnels clean. Hiver attachment to them is
essentially nonrational; they just feel more comfortable with snohl
around.
Society: Hive society is highly
individualistic. The term "Hive" results from an early human
misconception which stems from the appearance of the Hivers'
building and tunnel complexes. Nests contain from five to five
hundred individuals, who are usually centered around some common
endeavor.
While one hundred is an average size for a
nest (and was the size in precivilized times), larger groups may
come together for some civilized purpose such as large
manufacturing companies or universities. Small nests are usually
spaceship crews or isolated research parties. A young hiver will
spend his first fifteen years in his home nest; thereafter, nest
changes may take place as often as a modern human might change
jobs.
Because of the nature of their reproduction,
hivers never experienced the population pressures so important to
human history. The population of the homeworld is now only a few
hundred million, only ten times greater than it was in prehistoric
times. Predators control the young; when the adult survival rate
rises, thus increasing the numbers of young produced, the predator
population increases proportionately and the balance is maintained.
Space colonization arose not from pressure but from curiosity, with
which Hivers are amply endowed.
The Hivers have colonized only those planets
with climates most pleasant to themselves; if the planet has no
predators that like to eat Hiver larvae, they are imported. Because
of the high birth rate, a colony will rapidly fill up to its
maximum population level of a few hundred million and will then
stabilize. Hivers like planets of size 6 or less, with thin or
standard atmospheres and unvarying climates. Hiver enclaves, for
commercial or scientific purposes, are found on worlds of more
extreme characteristics.
Hive industry and business excels at
communications technology and robot construction. Major exports
include artificial and computer languages, translators, and
sophisticated electronic hardware of all types. Hiver mathematical
systems are much in demand for their power and elegance. -ld IE
Hkurlei (1517 Rifspan Reaches A3409JB-E):
Conditions have always been harsh on Hkurlei. Temperatures at the
equator frequently exceed 40 degrees Celsius, and cloudless skies
grant no protection from the blazing orange sun.
In 3638 Aslan (1106 Imperial) all surface
water was lost. During a period of peak solar activity, a
catastrophic fault crippled the planet's weather control system.
The few shallow lakes which had served as reservoirs began to
evaporate.
Panic might have ensued on a human world.
With few exceptions, however, the native Aslan settled themselves
to the drastic water rationing imposed by their clan leaders. In a
few isolated incidents, thefts of water were reported; as a whole,
though, the inhabitants refused to insure their individual survival
at the expense of their fellows.
The Aslan philosophy of taro - literally, "it
comes" - enabled the people of Hkurlei to weather the disaster. The
planet's hydrosphere never completely recovered, but today the
populace has adjusted. New safeguards have been implemented to make
sure a similar crisis never occurs again. -rr TD 19
Hlao (1719 Dark Nebula X7698CB-5): Hlao is a
world under strict control of the government. However, unlike on
most planets with restrictive laws, the people of Hlao are actually
happy with their rulers. Years ago, the world's economy was on the
verge of collapse, and crime was rampant, as was governmental
corruption. Through a bloodless coup, a small group of men, mostly
academicians, backed up by some high-level enforcers and army
officers, ousted the old government. Since then, through the
implementation of stringent controls, the economy has been turned
around, crime is virtually nonexistent, and the population once
more has faith in its leaders.
The controls placed on daily life by the
oligarchy make things difficult for outsiders, and the punishments
are swift and harsh. The death penalty is often invoked for any
felony conviction. Because of the harsh, repressive laws, the
Traveller's Aid Society has classified Hlao as a Red Travel Zone.
-dn S&A
Hlaotiyoiho: Dominant clan of the Ealre
subsector of Dark Nebula, with holdings extending coreward and
spinward into Ealiyasiyw Sector. Hlaotiyoiho is an offshoot of the
Tralyeaeawi clan, founded in 2950 Aslan (502 Imperial) by an ihatei
and his followers.
While originally vassal to Hoihhwarilta clan,
Hlaotiyoiho has worked and fought its way to independence and high
status. This clan is a strong contender for a place in the Tlaukhu,
should any of the current Twenty-nine fall in prestige. Some recent
incidents between Hlyueawi and Hlaotiyoiho clans suggest a possible
clan war for this position. -dn TD 17
Hluahyahe (0222 Ealiyasiyw X5261L8-A): Once
declared a global hunting park, Hluahyahe was interdicted by the
Yerlyaruiwo in 3622 (1091 Imperial). Until that year, nearby port
authorities recorded an unusual number of disappearances in the
system. The disappearance ot a ship bearing an Eisohiyw diplomatic
party in 3620 sparked a full-scale investigation. The Hluahyahe
system was subsequently interdicted, and a Yerlyaruiwo military
research team was dispatched to find the cause of the
disappearances.
Five research teams have disappeared in
recent years, and the Yerlyaruiwo have announced no progress. Many
theories are offered by civilian scientists, but without positive
data from the Yerlyaruiwo team, none can be proven. -eal TD 18
Hlyueawi: Originally a vassal to Hrawoao
clan, Hlyueawi rose to power during the Yerlyaruiwo-Tralyeaeawi
War. Members of Hlyueawi were renowned experts in strategy and
political science, a few of whom produced classical and widely read
treatises on these subjects. The clan regularly provided advisors
to the rest of the Yerlyaruiwo bloc. But, during the growing
instability of the Yerlyaruiwo-Tralyeaeawi War, Hlyueawi struck out
on its own.
Through clever planning, the Hlyueawi
arranged the fall of Uawairlew, a major clan also of the
Yerlyaruiwo bloc, in 3120 Aslan (652 Imperial). It took over most
Uawairlew assets, and replaced that clan on the seat among the 29.
Hlyueawi quickly sided with the Isoihyro to consolidate itself,
quickly gaining a respectable ranking. -tlau S&A
Holiday Year: The year zero in the history of
the Third Imperium, established by Cleon I to commemorate the
establishment of the Imperium. Technically an aspect of calendar
reform, the use of the year zero provides a central date point for
counting years back into the Long Night and forward into the future
of the Imperium.
The actual advantages of a holiday year are
slight: centuries begin in the hundredth numbered year instead of
the first numbered year, and the number of years between any two
dates can be determined by subtraction.
More importantly at the time, the holiday
year was used as part of the public relations campaigns which were
impressing the authority of the Imperium upon local governments.
The minor requirement of changing to the new calendar was used to
determine cooperation by those governments. -ld IE
Home (1009 Aldebaran A86699A-E): In 5520 AD,
the Confederation selected Home as its capital, both for its similarity to Terra and its distance from the Imperial border. Prior to
that time, Home's history was uneventful. Small Sancaterrist
farming communities dotted the world, many of which still exist in
Home's scenic outback. In contrast to the farmers' simple shelters,
the Secretariat meets in mammoth chambers in Home's First City,
while the High Council convenes in orbit - adjacent to and
protected by a Confederation naval base. -sta S&A
Hortalez et Cie, LIC: Primarily a banking and
investment house, Hortalez specializes in loans to planetary
governments, underwriting of large-scale projects, and other fiscal
activities. Hortalez is one of the major insurance houses in the
Imperium.
Stock Ownership: Hortalez family, 74 percent;
Zirunkarish, 5 percent; Naasirka, 7 percent; Makhidkarun, 3
percent; Imperial family, 5 percent; other, 6 percent. -mc RC
Howood: Extremely dense, striated, lignous
material obtained from the trunk of the howood tree/ a rare plant
native to Pretoria/Pretoria (0406 Deneb) and known to grow on
Pysadi (3008 Spinward Marches) and Violante (2708 Spinward
Marches). The trees concentrate metals from the soil in their
extremely tough bark. Howood is aromatic and its scent is
especially pleasing to Vargr. It is also beautiful; the size,
colors, and intensities of its rings and striations vary
unpredictably with the characteristics of the environment in which
the plant grows. -ld TA
HRD (1623 Deneb A401654-F): HRD is the
sector's largest exporter of information. Although HRD was
originally settled as a research center for the Imperial Navy,
pressure from other elements of the sector government gradually
pushed HRD toward independence. However, the Navy maintains a
highly visible presence insystem, and its technical training center
is greatly renowned.
HRD is still Deneb's primary think tank, with
experts in every field applying their skills to the Domain's
problems. The world's economy is almost exclusively sustained by
the various research projects being conducted there. While the
exported data is mainly confidential, mostly slated toward the
Domain's defense, several local organizations research civil
subjects as well.
The world's political structure revolves
around several corporate centers, all vying for contracts and
engaging in industrial espionage. Overall government is supplied by
a council of corporate representatives, but individual companies
provide most of the infrastructure and basic services.
Since much of HRD's work is classified,
rumors abound as to what projects are actually being conducted
onworld. Media sources occasionally try to infiltrate HRD's web of
corporate intrigue, but they seldom manage to report anything
conclusive.
Recent rumors concern hidden installations
and unreasonably heavy Naval patrols. Other journalists have noted
the large number of transient Droyne that regularly pass through
the system. Accounts of small bodies insystem having been moved by
no identifiable means continue to circulate. -den TD 19
Hteoe (0117 Dark Nebula C5947H8-C): Most
animal life on Hteoe is subterranean, living in the vast systems of
underground caverns hollowed by ground water. The caverns, indeed,
are far better supplied with water than the surface is. Because of
this ecology, the Aslan of Hteoe have also become cavern-dwellers
- an unusual adaptation for Aslan on a world with breathable
atmosphere. -dn TD 17
Hudmill (0933 Core B88A104-B): Naval
and Scout facilities are split between orbital bases around Hudmill and
a few low-lying islands in the temperate zone of Hudmill's surface. The
few permanent residents are mostly retired officers and their families who
decided to occupy one of the islands the Navy wasn't using. Climate and
lifestyle here are reminiscent of Polynesia on Terra, but civilian
offworlders are not encouraged to stay. -core TD 10
Humaniti (former spelling Humanity):
Collective name for human races, including Solomani, Vilani,
Zhodani and others. -ld IE
-ld SotA
One of the Major Races. All of humaniti originated
from genetic stock on Terra, transplanted for reasons unknown by the
Ancients throughout this spiral arm of the galaxy. Parallel development
resulted in the predominance of essentially identical human races in the
worlds of this arm. Of all human races, three have gained major status:
Vilani, Solomani, and Zhodani. -ld TP
Humans: Intelligent major race dominating the
Imperium and several additional interstellar communities. Humans
stand approximately 1.8 meters in height and weigh about 100 kg.
Descended from omnivore gatherers, humans developed intelligence in
response to shifting climatological factors.
The most unusual aspect of humaniti is the
fact that humans are present on many different worlds and stand at
various levels of development on those worlds. The
Solomani Hypothesis states that Humans evolved on Terra (Solomani Rim/Sol)
and were scattered to many different worlds by the Ancients for
reasons currently unknown. The result is that many different,
parallel human races exist and coexist throughout known space.
The three most widespread human races are the
Solomani (humans from Terra), the Vilani (humans from Vland), and
the Zhodani (humans from Zhodane). -ld IE
Hunberri (0339 Massilia B-884622-A): The
people of Hunberri are famous for their honesty and their
stubbornness. It is an unbearable disgrace for a Hunberrin to be
found a liar or a cheat, and total ostracism is the least
punishment society will deal out to offenders. However, the desire
to fight and the desire to be right seem to have gotten mixed.
A Hunberrin will not admit to being wrong
when he has expressed an opinion, nor will he say he cannot do a
job that he has consented to take on, regardless of circumstances.
This has made business collaborations with offworlders trying at
times.
The drive behind native behavior seems to be
more to avoid ridicule than to act for one's own pleasure.
Curiosity and inventiveness are below average and technological
progress has been slow and largely imitative of outside work. This
does not imply poor technical skill, for Hunberri has a 100%
literacy rate and excellent technical schools. Art is based on
ideals of restraint and balance, as is philosophy and personal
life. -mas TD 11
Hunberri initially resisted siding with
Lucan, preferring to remain neutral. However, a show of force by
Lucan's forces in late 1117 convinced the Hunberrin that resistance
would not be in their best interest. Anti-Lucan uprisings and riots
are frequent on the world yet today, and the Hunberrin so-called
"allegiance" to Lucan is seen by many to be questionable. -mas K