Solo Traveller Setting Part 1: Klebe and the People’s Supremacy

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

From the History of the Harem Sector in Foreven by Dr. Hatishiv Logius

Once a Zhodani aligned state, even the Zhodani Consulate has distanced itself since the People’s Revolutionary Party seized power in a hard coup in 1082 (Imperial).

The genesis of the People’s Supremacy was a growing perception that those empowered with psionic abilities were innately better than non-psionic enabled people. While largely inline with Zhodani philosophy (reference the position of the proles), Minister Andyr Fualiz positioned the then People’s Party--a vaguely communist-anarchist oriented group--into a more aggressive, psion superiority party. When slapped with the term supremacist movement, Fualiz embraced the term.

In the early hours of day 1082.53 (Imperial), Fualiz and Admiral Habix Villous (a secret psion who had for years ensured the rise of fellow psions to high military ranks) seized the capital city, Nolar, and secured the system with cruisers under Villous' command. The prime minister, president, legislative representatives were all publicly executed--a bloodbath of several hundred broadcast across the system.  

Andyr and Villous established what was called the People's Revolutionary Council (popularly called just the Junta), which ruled Klebe for two years. The military and security apparatus was thoroughly corrupted. Villous established the Guardians, a paramilitary security team of psionics. Those who think the so-called Zhodani Thought Police are bad have not encountered the Guardians. They systematically rooted out thousands who dared question the Junta. Reports of mass graves in the baked lands in this tidally locked world are substantiated by foreign investigative journalists--some of whom ended up there themselves.

Premier Andyr pushed a series of policies elevating psions to lead all major organizations and radicalized the psions of Klebe. However, his policies began to interfere with Villous’s, who saw potential in a multisystem state. While Andyr wanted to consolidate power, Villous wanted to rule supreme. In 1084 (Imperial), Villous had Andyr arrested, along with his loyalists. They were never heard from again.

With an economy shattered by the destruction of civil government infrastructure and general harassment of out-of-system merchants, Villous chose a time-honored tradition and started blaming nearby systems for interfering in the system and determined to distract the populace with a war.

In 1087, Villous disbanded the Junta and established the Revolutionary Council, proclaiming that until psions ruled charted space, the revolution would be a constant. The invasion of Jora happened shortly thereafter. Despite Jora’s high population and tech level, it fell surprisingly fast. This was largely due to the infiltration of psionic agents high up into the power structure. The top leaders in both the military and civilian government were dispatched in the opening minutes of the invasion. While Joran defense forces put up a fight, the confusion and lack of decision making doomed their efforts. With the resources of Jora at hand, the People’s Supremacy conquered Uryuom (1088) and Carcharoth (1089-90) in quick succession.

The Revolutionary Council has consolidated these conquests, and the wars rejuvenated the economy though it saw no let up of the psionic supremacy laws or the cult-like status of Admiral Villous, who styles himself now as First Citizen. His portrait hangs in nearly ever residence. His Police for the Preservation of the Order (OPP)--the newest name for the Guardians--are nearly as ubiquitous.

However, the economy again faces trouble and the populace grows increasingly resistant to the state’s extreme laws. An insurgency in Carcharoth—though little covered in official news channels—has grown steadily. The Council is sending in large numbers of mercenaries and new recruits to fight in the deserts of Carcharoth as it prepares to invade Blerreon or Mukunga.

The future of the People's Supremacy is in doubt. No matter what, its future is rocky at best.