United Sonic Principalities

The United Sonic Principalities is a confederation of twelve small, meteographically linked states located predominantly in the lower orbits of Ardjet. Faced with sustained climate cooling in much of its territory and foreign invasion, the people of the Sonic dominions have united and rapidly industrialized both to defend what is already theirs and to acquire resources and living space for future generations.

History

The constituent states of the United Sonic Principalities have been politically separate dominions for most of their history. Up to little more than a century ago, they spent most of their resources competing with one another as completely independent countries. From the second half of the 47th century, long-standing cooling of the climate became an increasingly significant impediment to the economies of several of these dominions, resulting in heightened agreements of trade and cooperation.

Faced with Imperial aggression under the dictatorship of Desslok, the Belkan War tested and intensified solidarity among the Sonikans, culminating the foundation of the United Sonic Principalities. The wisdom of the decision seemed confirmed on religious grounds when, shortly thereafter, the 11th Invasion Fleet was wiped out in a storm hailed as the intervention of the Divine Wind. With the time and space won by this upset victory and the collapse of the Belkar Empire, the Sonikans consolidated their military and financial resources for a series of fierce defensive battles and a program of rapid armament and industrialization that continues to this day.

In recent years, the United Sonic Guards have taken the former Belkan regional naval base. Renamed Sol Ciel, the isolated island has become a densely populated city with heavy emmigration from the Home Islands. Sonikans have also occupied several outlying territories composing Orbs-Ivlis-Dilete and is poised for further expansionism into the surrounding region.

Culture

Sonikans are culturally linked via spoken language, religion and race (being Apoions) but are divided by nation. Wing structure is the definitive identifier, affecting citizenship, inheritance of property and a host of other matters under traditional law. Each of the twelve nations speaks a different dialect of Sonico (all are largely mutually intelligible) and share a pantheon of celestial and meteological deities. Chief among these are Sonica – the Mother of Song, Eponym of Language and Koruga – the Cloud of Death. More recently, Dilete – the Divine Wind has become a strong figure in the wake of the Belkan War. Sonikans tend to be fairly devout compared to the people of similarly advanced states. Religion and superstition remain strong cultural and political forces.

Although commonly referred to as Sonikans abroad, most prefer to be referred to by their nationality, especially while in their homelands. Many are firm that their state is not one country but a collection of countries and while not formally correct, the usual Sonikan term for the unified state is the traditional 'Twelve Dominions'.

Government

Each member of the United Principalities runs its own local affairs, its own monarchy and the majority of Sonikans wouldn't have it any other way. The power of the princesses derives from the role as leaders and priestesses of the Sonikan pantheon. While their power is sometimes moderated, each is an absolute monarch within their dominion and submit only to their fellows in military and foreign affairs.

The archprincesses of each of the Twelve Dominions is collectively the Head of State to the United Sonic Principalities. While there are provisions for the extraordinary case of all twelve monarchs gathered in one meeting, this has never happened since the formation of the union. Under the constitution, if even a single one of the monarchs is unable or indisposed to attend, then none do so. Hence, all meetings are conducted behind closed doors by specially appointed civilian Presidents. Each session of the Union Council lasts two years with each of the principalities taking turns hosting. It is currently the 18th Session of the Union Council under the presidency of the Sankt Dominion. Having officially moved their royal court to the new city of Sol Ciel in the last few years, this is the first time the capital of the USP has been outside the capital.

The Twelve Dominions

Karino

Midchis

Azel

Floria

Nanasy

Sankt

Pucelle

Gremory

Dantalion

Vezendy

Lyzeille

Viede

Traits

Sky Knights
Apoions are natural fliers with compact bodies and, as a result, a high average G tolerance. To take advantage of this, the Sonic Guards employs high performance aircraft in support of all military operations. By customizing their payload for individual missions, Sonikan aircraft-carrying warships have unparalleled operational flexibility.

Zones

Points: 139
Industry: 99
Upkeep: 200
Materials

Claria: 15

Sakuradite: 12

Adamant: 3

Sildron: 3

Sonikan Home Islands

The original homeland of the Twelve Dominions occupying an isolated quadrant in the innermost orbit of Ardjet.

1 x Cluster (3 sakuradite)

5 x Reef (5 claria, 5 sakuradite)

6 x Empty

2 x Military Base

1 x Metropolis

Kanyca
Kanyca is the largest archipelago in Orbs-Sonia by far with approximately the landmass of all the others combined. It was once divided more or less evenly between the principalities of Lyzeille, Vezendy, Karino, Midchis, Pucelle and Sankt until a major war sparked by repeated harsh winters engulfed the cluster over a century ago. Presently, the Midchis dominion controls about 85% of the territory while Karino, the original architects of the USP, control the metropolis of Ven Ciel (which grew up in their post-war territory).

Orbs-Viede
The lowest altitude archipelago, Orbs-Viede now sees snow year almost year round. Almost 80% of the population has emigrated to higher ground.

The Robe

The Robe is a Tyrus-Lorenz type Claria condensation cloud that forms the natural outward border from the Sonikan Homelands

2 x Gas Cloud

1 x Military Base

Sol Ciel

A former Belkan regional naval base occupied some seven years ago and now a major destination for emigration from the home islands. It is a cosmopolitan city officially awarded to the Principality of Sankt which controls a little over half. Every other principality has at least a settlement area with larger sections for some of the smaller dominions. With the Principality of Sankt now considering the city its royal court, the capital of the United Sonic Principalities has moved out of the home islands for the first time. Its climate is comfortably tropical.

1 x Empty

1 x Military Base

1 x Metropolis

Orbs-Ivlis-Dilete

Literally "lands brought by Dilete, the Divine Wind", Orbs-Ivlis-Dilete is a region of island-hopped military conquests taken over the past fifteen years. The sole exception is the archipelago of Azel-Ivlis, the only part of the Sonikan Home Islands extending past the Robe.

1 x Reef (free; 1 claria, 1 sakuradite)

3 x Ring

1 x Metropolis

Military

90

The Lady Ionia is the U.S.P.'s only cloaking warship, a marauder-type ship bought under heavy secrecy several years ago. Rumors are that the mysterious vessel has an onboard AI capable of controlling all onboard functions and can more than adequately fight with a bare handful of officers onboard, along with an array of unusual weapons. Type: Marauder +1 Thanatonium Shockwave Torpedoes +1 Superheavy Claria-Induction Graviton Cannon +1 Spy Sensors