| Senate Factions and Their Power |
| A brief note on the main senate factions and their general power therein. The Corporate Cartels (The Cartels) ----------------------------------- The Corporate Cartels are probably the oldest group on the Senate and the first to reestablish contact with the Imperium. Though often thought of as one cohesive group, that is far from the truth; in reality, they are a loose group of corporations with a few as a dominating head. They are apt to squabble amongst themselves almost as much as they do with the other factions of the Senate. This has, in the past, flared up into open war. Each corporation employs its own armies and have their own fleets. This is contrary to standard Imperial doctrine, but age-old treaties signed by Robout Guilliman still allow this to be. Granted, all armed forces are still expected to respect all Imperial commanders, and are often drafted just like any other PDF. Cartel trading tactics have left them with more the a few "unhappy customers". Chiefly amongst them is the Royal triarch of the Three Sisters subsector. They would like nothing better than to see the cartels lose all their trade licenses. This mutual animosity dates back to at least the trade wars of M39. The current hotspot between these two factions is the disputed planet of Pharis, which currently is under Cartel control. Based in the Herkamer subsector, the Cartels have in their posession some of the most productive and profitable planets in the sector, plus a score of others they have exclusive trade pacts with. Herkamer itself also happens to be the sector capital and home of the Senate. This subsector also has the most stable warp gate out of the sector, leading to it dominating most export and import trade. All of this leads the Cartels to be one of the most dominating factions on the Senate, challenged only by the Royals. The Royal Triarch (The Royals) ------------------------------ The three royal families of the Triarch date back to the founding of the Imperium, and probably beyond. They have ruled the Three Sisters subsector for as long as history records, and it is thought to be the namesake for the subsector as well. It is said that it was three sisters of royal decent that lead the first settlers here. Owning some of the finest shipyards in the sector and a eye for detail and workmanship has put their exports in high demand. This has lead to direct conflict with the Cartels. After the Tradewars of M39, there has been much resentment between the two. In 990M41, the Cartels invoked thier right in an obscure trade agreement and violently took control of Pharis from the Royals. This has been a bitter thorn in their side, and there is talk of seizing it back. Their trade in excellant equipment and luxuries has rocketed up in power recently, and their holdings in several subsectors and many trade pacts have put them in the forefront of the Senate, rivaled by only the Cartels. Lord Admiral Terkel, Fleet Commander of Paradise Sector ------------------------------------------------------- It is whispered that the Admiral was put in command of the Paradise sector to get him out of the way, for it has been an uphill struggle for any Imperial Commander in this unruly backwater sector. Having only one real goal, to bring back a more Imperial (and military) order to things, he has not been the most liked of men. However, as per the laws, he was given a seat on the Senate. More recently, he has been on campaign in the Phalanges. There, he hopes to drum up support for his cause and maybe get a little wealth, but so far things haven't gone quite the way he planned. Right now, his best allies in the Senate is, oddly enough, the Ecclesiarchy, who want his order more than he does, and Rho to a lesser extant, who hope that he will offer the free market they are looking for. Rho Subsector ------------- A fairly new member of the Senate, Rho doesn't command as much power as some of the others, but with its armed forces and the backing of two forge worlds they are starting to grow. Trying to keep its free market, they are constantly working to undermine the Cartels and Royals by getting to the source first. This tends to put them in the front lines of most conflicts, but so far this has been working. Arch Prelacy of Paradise ----------------------- The Ecclesiarchy have had a rough time in this sector. At first arriving in force during the Age of Apostasy, their baptism by fire has left a bitter taste in the mouth of many. Granted, over the years they have become more relaxed in their pursuit of purity. As it stands now, they have been granted a seat in the Senate and are trying to get more missionaries out to the many new subsectors. They have little real power in the Senate, but are a strong influence on the common people, and even many in the upper echelons, and can easily sway votes, so are often courted by the Cartels, Royals, and the Admiral for support and approval. Valtan Drumm, Subsector Governor of the Phalanges ------------------------------------------------- Having just taken the seat gained for him by the example of the Rho subsector, there is little known about Valtan Drumm. With its narural resources and newly opened trade lanes, there lies in the Phalanges the possibility to gain much power, but they are currently struggling for their own survival, with many wolves at their door. The other factions are looking to further their own power within this subsector, many just to keep another upstart Rho from upsetting the balance of the Senate further. |
| THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: "Do not wait for death" |