The Imperial Council of Planets

From Founders to Conquerers — Origins of The Imperials

The force that would eventually become the Imperial Council of Planets arrived in the Delta Space over 3,000 years ago. Among the original group of Founders, their primary goal was to map and settle within the area. At the time, they were simply Founders — one of many thousands seeking a place to call home among the stars.
A group of like-minded Founders soon gathered, weary of wandering aimlessly, and settled on what would later be known as Phorbaceus Imperia in the Founders’ Era Galactic Calendar Year of 142.
Originally called Bufo and populated by the amphibian Bufon race, the planet offered a temperate and comfortable environment. In the early years of cohabitation, the two races lived in relative peace, with minimal interaction. However, as the Imperial Founders’ population grew, their ideology shifted, and their desire for expansion placed the Bufon on a path toward extinction. Now, thousands of years later, the Bufon are a marginalized minority on the Imperial Council of Planets' capital world, nearing extinction.
The fate of the Bufon was an early indicator of the Imperial Founders’ future trajectory. Over the next several hundred years, the Imperial Founders adopted a heavily militaristic ideology, forming their stratocracy and initiating an aggressive campaign to colonize surrounding territories. This expansion quickly annexed hundreds of planets, establishing the Imperial Founders as the most powerful and expansionist Territorial Governance in the Delta Space nearly 1,000 years before any other major nation.
During this era of aggressive expansion, two key developments occurred that shaped the Imperial Founders’ current physical and mental forms.
Rapid Evolution:
Under mysterious circumstances, the Imperial Founders underwent sudden and rapid evolution, becoming physically enhanced and increasingly aggressive. They are now recognized as an official offshoot of the original Founders, called the Imperial Founders.
This sudden and dramatic change is often touted as the main driving force behind the Imperial's aggressive tendencies and obsession with territorial expansion. (see The Imperial Founders and Forcer Evolution sections for more details)
Conflict with the Lupine Democratic Monarchy:
The second critical event was the Imperials’ first military defeat and the start of their ongoing rivalry with the Lupine Democratic Monarchy. Located to the west of Imperial space, the Lupine are a steadfast and proud race of Lupine humanoids. Having existed in the Delta Space far longer than the Founders, the Lupine have fostered a deep connection with their territory and people.
Early interactions between the Lupine and Imperials led to fierce resistance from the Lupine, who opposed Imperial territorial encroachment. To this day, the two factions engage in relentless conflict, refusing trade or diplomacy. The rivalry has resulted in a constant state of hostility, with borders repeatedly contested over centuries.
While the Lupine historically maintained open borders with their neighbours, the expansion of the Imperial Founders forced the Lupine — and nearly every other governing power in the Delta Space — to establish firm territorial boundaries. Although these borders have shifted over time, the Imperial colonization efforts ignited countless years of territorial disputes throughout the region.
The only other nation to establish firm borders before the Imperial Founders was the Ka’yar Colonial Governance. Even they have experienced shrinking territories under pressure from their former allies in the Representative Democracy of Liberation.
Today, the Imperial Council of Planets stands as the most powerful military force in the Delta Space. Their armada includes an enormous fleet of warships, a near-endless supply of weaponry and technology, and numerous specialized units such as the Imperial Protection Federation (IPF), tasked with enforcing law and order across interplanetary Imperial territories.

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Imperial Council of Planet territory, highlighted in yellow

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A Military Oligarchy - The Imperial Stratocracy (Government)

The Imperial Council of Planets even in its earliest incarnation was an oligarchy, a system in which only a few powerful individuals rule over the vast majority. In the past, this was a simple matter, those who led and were successful in providing for the rest of their people were left to do as they wished. The citizen population didn't care to peak around the corner, they just knew that the leaders provided and that was all they needed. This was simple enough in the earliest days before the official founding of the Imperial Council of Planets, once the Imperials hit space and began to focus on expansion, a more decisive, aggressive, and totalitarian style of governing was required.
That is when the Imperials developed their current style of stratocracy government, The Imperial Stratocracy, a government which, in simplest terms, is structured and led by the territory's military. This style of oligarchy benefits the Imperials greatly in their aims of conquest, subjugation, and control, it allows them to move about and do what they wish without having to bog themselves down with things like votes, elections, or other matters of public discourse.
The Imperial Stratocracy is a highly centralized form of governance where the state is administered by a military council of six leaders, each commanding a specific segment of the government. These six leaders, known as the Imperial High Consuls, collectively form the Imperial Control Council, which operates under the ultimate authority of the Imperial Emperor. The emperor serves as the Chief of Command and Grand Admiral, embodying both the executive and symbolic figurehead of the empire's rule. Each of the consuls carries a surtitle that represents the brand of government that they control, like the Bellatorum Consul Cassian Merex who is the current head of the Defence and Warfare segment of the Imperial Stratocracy.

The Six Segments of the Imperial Control Council

Segment Bellatorum

Defence and Warfare

Responsible for overseeing the empire's vast military forces, including fleets, ground armies, and advanced weapons development. This is arguably the most powerful segment and leadership position to hold outside of becoming the Imperial Emperor, in fact, many Defence and Warfare Consuls have become Emperor over the vast stretch of the Imperial Stratocracy's existence.
Current Leader - Bellatorum Consul Cassian Merex, a stoic man renowned for his cunning installer warfare knowledge, he is the current rival to the current Imperial Emperor and is earmarked to take over that role if Imperial Emperor Lucian Vyrex is ever deposed.

Segment Justicarum

Law and Order

Enforces imperial law, oversees military tribunals, and maintains internal security. This segment of the government is the only one that deals with internal security and protection affairs, including the Imperial Protection Federation, which serves as the governance citizen police force. If an internal issue arises that puts any segment of government or those involved within it in danger, the Segment Justicarum will involve itself and ensure the issue is dealt with.
Current Leader - Justicarum Consul Kyra Luceris, a harsh but fair individual who holds great loyalty to the emperor and the Imperial Stratocracy.

Segment Praevisum

Intelligence and Reconnaissance

Manages covert operations, intelligence gathering, and counter-espionage efforts across the Delta Space. Unsurprisingly they are the most secretive of the branches of the government, often having to keep their operations hidden from the rest of the Imperial Control Council. Even the Imperial Emperor doesn't know everything they are up to.
Current Leader - Praevisum Consul Selis Par, a surprisingly charismatic and chatty individual known for their ability to expertly extract information from even the most tight-lipped of individuals. Many of the other Consuls distrust Par and avoid them unless necessary.

Segment Economica

Resource Management and Logistics

Controls resource allocation, interplanetary trade, and the empire's war economy. This segment of the government works more closely with the rest than any other, as they are the ultimate authority when it comes to who gets what, including funding.
Current Leader - Economica Consul Aurel Vantor, an unsurprisingly shrewd and pragmatic administrator who is not easily swayed and only releases funds and resources towards what they feel is absolutely necessary. Is close to the current Bellatorum Consul Cassian Merex.

Segment Scientifica

Research and Technological Advancement

Oversees scientific research, technological innovation, and development of advanced weaponry and infrastructure. The Scientifica has dozens, if not hundreds, of ongoing experiments at any given time. They often bend the rules of morality in order to attain what they believe will benefit the Imperial force. The scientists of the Scientifica are rumoured to be working on the Imperials' next evolutionary step.
Current Leader - Scientifica Consul Kallus Bree, a visionary scientist who has led many of the Imperial Council of Planets' most innovative advancements in recent years. Bree is unafraid to conduct morally dubious experiments if it means the ultimate advantage for the Imperials as a whole. He has even been rumoured to have experimented on himself.

Segment Ordinatum

Civil and Colonial Affairs

Manages civil administration, interplanetary governance, and the integration of conquered worlds. Likely the busiest of all segments of government, the Ordinatum must ensure that all planets both well-established and newly integrated into the Imperial Council of Planets has the resources they need. Often times the Ordinatum fails in this due to a lack of resources and many integrated planets do not have all they require.
Current Leader - Ordinatum Consul Tiber Quorax, a frantic individual who is often overwhelmed by the many tasks at hand. Often comes into conflict with the Economica Consul Aurel Vantor over funds and resource availability. The council has been less than impressed with Quorax, and their current status on the Imperial Control Council is in jeopardy.

The Imperial Emperor

The Imperial Emperor wields indefinite authority and decision-making power, constrained only by the advisory voices and collective influence of the six Imperial High Consuls.
The emperor is granted his title by the agreement of the Imperial Control Council and the six Imperial High Consuls. Typically an emperor is only granted this role if they have accomplished many a great deed, primarily of military and government importance, and only when all six Consuls agree.
The emperor's removal is possible under three rare circumstances: a unanimous vote by the council, voluntary abdication (an exceedingly uncommon occurrence), or death.
While the position of Imperial Emperor is highly coveted, it is fraught with peril. Internal coups and political machinations are common as rival factions vie for power. Despite the absence of a formal term limit, few emperors maintain their rule for extended periods. With the average emperor only serving for three to four years.
Notably, the populace of the empire's vast territories plays no role in selecting the emperor, reinforcing the top-down nature of the regime. Any attempt at political reformation from the citizens of the Imperial Council of Planets is met with swift and often violent suppression.

Imperial Emperor Lucian Vyrex

Imperial Emperor Lucian Vyrex defies the norm. Now in his tenth year, he is one of the longest-reigning leaders in the empire's history.
A charismatic yet stoic figure, Vyrex commands both loyalty and fear through a combination of pragmatic governance and military triumphs. His tenure is marked by a rare alignment of the council’s support and consistent successes in both domestic and interplanetary affairs.
He is most well-known for his successful gambits against the Imperials' rivals to the west, in the Lupine, and for his shrewd business dealings particularly with the Ka'yar Colonial Governance. He has also expanded the Imperials' exploratory efforts, giving the authority to the Segment Scientifica to delve back into the mysterious and dangerous Unknown Space.

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Phorbaceus Imperia — capital of the Imperial Council of Planets

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Imperial Protection Federation (I.P.F)

The Imperial Protection Federation (I.P.F.) serves as the primary law enforcement and security arm of the Imperial Council of Planets. Subordinate to the Segment Justicarum, the branch responsible for overseeing law and order, the I.P.F. operates with discipline, efficiency, and ruthless effectiveness. Its officers, are a constant presence across Imperial-controlled sectors, patrolling interstellar trade routes, urban centers, and penal colonies to maintain the Council’s iron-fisted grip on its territory.
While outwardly projected as a force of stability and protection, the I.P.F. is infamous for its unyielding brutality and pervasive corruption. Their mandate emphasizes loyalty to the Imperial Council above all else, often leading to actions that prioritize control over justice. I.P.F officers often act as judge, jury, and executioner, making the I.P.F. a symbol of fear throughout Imperial territory. Citizens know all too well that any act of defiance or lawbreaking — even suspected — can result in harsh and immediate consequences.
The I.P.F. also manages, with the Segment Justicar as ultimate overseers, the territorial governance's sprawling prison and penal systems, including labour-intensive mining colonies and high-risk correctional facilities. Convicted individuals are typically sentenced to gruelling terms of servitude, working off "debts to society" that are deliberately designed to be insurmountable. The lucky few who survive these conditions rarely return to freedom. Those deemed too dangerous, influential, or unpredictable for standard colonies are instead sent to facilities like the NX7 High-Risk Security and Correctional Station, a notorious prison shrouded in secrecy and whispered horror.
Despite their reputation for violence, the I.P.F. are vital to maintaining the Imperial Council of Planets’ expansive regime. With ranks numbering in the millions, they represent not only the Imperials’ enforcement arm but also a tool of systemic oppression. The Federation’s patrol ships, officers, and outposts serve as constant reminders of Imperial authority, where compliance is demanded and resistance is crushed.

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Complicated Relationships - Partnerships and Rivals

Partnership with the Ka’yar Colonial Government

It would be an understatement to say the Imperial Council of Planets has a complicated relationship with its neighbours. The Imperials don’t often play nice with others, even among their allies and subordinates. And even then, any cooperation comes with a heavy caveat: the Imperial Council of Planets will only remain amicable if it benefits them.
This is the case with their current and strongest ally, the Ka’yar Colonial Government. The Ka’yar, the only true military and colonial rival of the Imperials, are currently embroiled in a civil war with their closest neighbour and former siblings in the Representative Democracy of Liberation.
As a result, the Ka’yar are stretched thin; decades of civil war have severely depleted their resources, especially military assets. Worse still, control over their shared borders with the Representative Democracy of Liberation has frustratingly stabilized in favour of their enemies. In a bid to bolster supplies, improve military capabilities, and shift border control to their advantage, the Ka’yar have entered into a partnership with the Imperial Council of Planets.

The current king of the Ka'yar Colonial Governance, King Ta'liote Myridos XIV

This agreement has established a favourable trade and travel arrangement between the two major powers. In particular, it grants the Imperials significantly greater access to the Ka’yar’s vast reserves of ignition crystals — a resource highly valued and sought after by all governing bodies.
In return, the Imperial Council of Planets has agreed to assist in the Ka’yar's war effort against the Representative Democracy of Liberation. The Imperials have deployed numerous warships to pressure the Representative Democracy of Liberation's northern border, hoping that forcing them to split their forces will weaken their defences and break their resolve.

This intervention has allowed the Ka’yar Colonial Government to reclaim ground, placing the Representative Democracy of Liberation in a dire situation: squeezed between two large forces and backed into a corner of the Delta Space with no allies to assist them.
For now, as long as ignition crystals, and other trade, continue to be traded at a favourable rate, the Imperials are content to maintain the partnership. But if the supply were to stop, the Imperials’ favour would stop with it.

Endless Rivals: The Lupine Democratic Monarchy

Neighbours of the Imperial Council of Planets are commonly hostile or, at the very least, extremely wary of the militaristic governance. Most bordering Territorial Governances tread cautiously in their dealings with the Imperials, fearing that any misstep could provoke the military giant into a violent frenzy. As a result, many nations either acquiesce to the Imperials’ demands or try to remain unnoticed in the hope of avoiding their attention.

One notable exception is the noble and iron-willed Lupine of the Lupine Democratic Monarchy, located along the Imperial Council of Planets’ western border. Since their first encounters with the Imperials many generations ago, the Lupine have steadfastly resisted any attempts at westward expansion into their historic territory.
From their earliest interactions, the Lupine have pushed back against Imperial encroachment, and to this day, the two powers remain locked in frequent and bitter conflict. They do not trade, they do not negotiate, and they do not engage diplomatically. They only fight. Even in moments of uneasy peace, both sides remain on the brink of renewed hostilities.

The current queen of the Lupine Democratic Monarchy, Queen Galina Kos, the Matriarch

While the Lupine traditionally did not enforce strict borders with their neighbours, the rapid growth and expansion of the Imperials prompted the establishment of firm territorial lines throughout the Delta Space. Though these borders have shifted over the years, it was the Imperials’ colonization efforts that sparked countless territorial disputes in the region.
The Lupine Democratic Monarchy, alongside the Ka’yar, is one of the oldest species in the Delta Space, having lived in the area for thousands of years longer than the Imperials and the Founders as a whole. They believe their historic, cultural, and spiritual connection to their interstellar territory far outweighs any claims the Imperials attempt to impose.
Moreover, the Lupine are philosophically opposed to the Imperials’ aggressive methods, which involve bullying their way across space, taking whatever they want without concern for others. In contrast, while they are not free from controversy, the Lupine generally embrace a thoughtful and careful approach to governance. They prioritize collaboration with their citizens and work to ensure the well-being of their people and territory, fostering a culture of mutual respect and stewardship.

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Loyalists - Imperial General Populace

While many might assume that the iron-handed rule of the Imperial Council of Planets would provoke widespread discontent among its citizens, that perception is largely incorrect. Most Imperial Founders are raised under strict nationalist and loyalist teachings, groomed to fully support and believe in the protections and rights provided by the expanse and power of the Imperial Council. For the majority of Imperial Founders, whether they reside on their capital planet, Phorbaceus Imperia, or elsewhere, life is relatively comfortable and secure.

However, this comfort comes with caveats. Citizens must conform to a rigid way of life, strictly adhering to orders with unwavering loyalty and gratitude toward their stratocratic leaders, particularly the Imperial Emperor. Those who fail to follow the Imperial way, voice grievances, or act in opposition to the system are swiftly and often permanently silenced. The luckier dissidents face a lifetime of punishment in penal colonies, toiling in mines and other grueling facilities.
The situation is far worse for citizens of colonized planets who are not "native" Imperial Founders. Open disdain for the Imperial Council and its governance is widespread among these populations. Colonized planets often lack the resources and attention granted to planets inhabited by Imperial Founders. While many planets have become more demographically mixed, communities predominantly composed of non-Imperials are frequently left in squalor, with minimal support or infrastructure. This neglect fosters anti-Imperial sentiment and resistance, making these populations frequent targets of the Imperial Planetary Forces (I.P.F.) and the Segment Justicarum.
Penal colonies across Imperial-controlled space are disproportionately populated by citizens from colonized planets. In extreme cases, perceived anti-Imperial sentiments have led to such severe population culling on some planets that their native inhabitants have been nearly eradicated. This creates space for the relocation of "native" Imperial Founders, who often take over these planets entirely. In most instances, these new Imperial settlers remain completely unaware of the histories and former residents of their new homes.

Summary

The Imperial Council of Planets is one of the largest expanses of controlled territory in the Delta Space, they currently control the entire northeastern expanse of mapped space in the region. Commonly known as the Imperials, this geopolitical entity is highly militaristic, controlling the largest army in all the Delta Space, even rivalling the Ka'yar Colonial Governance. The Imperials run their section of space as a specialized form of Oligarchy called a Stratocracy — which is a form of government organized in a similar fashion as a military and is lead by military chiefs.
The Imperials are the most dangerous force in the Delta Space when it comes to firepower and control over their borders. It is rare for a territory to win back space once it has been taken by the Imperials, though there have been exceptions — which has been the case with the Imperials' rivals to the west in the Lupine Democratic Monarchy.
The Imperials have very few friends in the Delta Space, having made enemies of all of their neighbours at some point or another in their history. Even the allies they currently have are tenuous and only kept due to the potential gain it may provide. Including their current allyship with the Ka'yar Colonial Governance, fighting against the Representative Democracy of Liberation — they only hold this alliance due to the promise of access to the Ignition Crystal trade. Beyond this the Imperials are happy to do business with the evil collection of MegaCorpos throughout the Delta Space, doing whatever benefits them without care for how it affects the general populace.
The Imperial populace of the territory and generally quite loyal, having been heavily brainwashed since their youth. However, the vast collection of inherited citizens from the mass selection of planets the Imperials have conquered over the years feel quite different about their current overlords. However, any thoughts of rebellion are quickly stamped out.
Other than the Hivemind Sentius, they have the longest uninterrupted border with the unpredictable region known as Unknown Space, even the greedy conquerors of the Imperial Council of Planets have been smart enough to stay away from.

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Naming the Empire

The empire retains its name, the Imperial Council of Planets, to emphasize continuity and legitimacy despite its autocratic structure. The planets under its dominion are rarely represented within the upper echelons of power, reflecting a governance model that prioritizes central authority over local representation. This enduring imperial identity underscores the stratocracy’s intent to project order and dominance across its territories.

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Race - The Imperial Founders

When they first arrived in the Delta Space more than three thousand years ago, they were simply known as the Founders — a human-like species, unremarkable in appearance. They averaged 160 pounds and stood 5-foot-7, their skin tones spanning a spectrum dictated by melanin. Founders, to this day, are still one of the most prominent species that populate the Delta Space.
But after a few centuries, the transformation that would create modern-day Imperial Founders began — sudden, unsettling, and undeniable. The Founders of old twisted into something new: the Imperial Founders, driven by calculated aggression and a nigh-manic tyranny. Their focus shifted sharply to conquest, their ambitions consuming the northern reaches of the Delta Space. Expansion was no longer strategy but instinct, as if some deeper urge had awakened.
Their bodies followed suit, morphing with alarming speed. Their skin deepened to a dark, bruised maroon, their eyes hollowed into voids without pupils, and their forms grew stronger, harder, unnervingly resilient. Their minds sharpened too, gleaming with a ruthless intelligence. The metamorphosis — swift and total — was complete within a handful of generations. How it happened remains a mystery. Some whisper of genetic tampering, a silent rewriting of flesh and thought. Others point to the newly risen Imperial Council, suspecting deliberate manipulation — a hidden experiment unleashed upon an unsuspecting population. What is certain is this: whatever they once were, they are something else now. And they are not looking back.

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Tiber Kalix, an Imperial Founder and CECO of WhiteStar Militech

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Conspiracy Theory - Forced Evolution

A popular conspiracy theory lingers regarding the Imperial Founders’ sudden change in physicality and demeanour. While the theory has circulated among citizens of the Imperial Council of Planets, the Segmentum Praevisum has worked to suppress it. However, it has gained traction in other territories, spreading with little resistance to the consternation of the Imperial Council. The theory suggests that the rapid evolution of the Founders into the Imperial Founders was deliberate, orchestrated in secret by the upper elite and scientific community in the empire’s early days.
The details vary depending on the source, but the core story follows a general outline. In the earliest years of interstellar conquest, as the Imperial Founders began colonizing beyond Phorbaceus Imperia, a group of scientists was tasked with an exploratory mission to identify resources just beyond their borders. Unknown Space, an unpredictable and dangerous expanse, was rarely traversed. Most expeditions into it never returned. Yet, in a stroke of improbable luck, this mission succeeded — though at a great cost of life and resources.
Upon their return, the scientists brought with them a strange artifact discovered on a barren asteroid: a small box, no larger than a hand, etched with unfamiliar ridges and symbols. Its origin was unknown. Scientists could not determine if it was an Abnormality Object, an alien artifact, both, or neither.
Weeks turned into months as surviving scientists studied the box, unable to discern its purpose or a method to open it. However, they observed that the material composing the box carried distinct genetic markers—dozens of genetic codes embedded in its cellular structure. It was described as a library of genetic features condensed into an object no larger than a fist. Intrigued, the scientists conducted experiments on animals with short lifespans, testing the effects of consuming or incorporating the box’s genetic material. These experiments revealed that the material accelerated evolution, enabling targeted genetic changes to achieve specific traits.
The moral implications of such a discovery were profound. However, the Imperial Council, particularly the Segmentum Scientifica, saw its potential. A secret project was launched to curate a selection of desirable genetic traits, aimed at making the Founders stronger, faster, more strategic, and overall more powerful. Over the next few generations, these genetic enhancements—crafted using the artifact’s material — were introduced into the drinking water supply of Founder citizens. Within a few generations, the modern Imperial Founders emerged.
This project was never disclosed to the public. Today, the theory is officially dismissed as a conspiracy. Few openly discuss the lingering side effects allegedly tied to these genetic alterations, such as heightened aggression, emotional instability, and shortened lifespans due to increased physical strain. Some theorists believe the artifact still exists, hidden away, and speculate that it holds ongoing influence over the Imperial populace. These rumours, however, remain unverified and continue to fuel speculation.

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