Arbehen Dominion

The Arbehen Dominion is many things, but it is among the main talking points for opponents of all transhumanism. Nominally a baseline-controlled state, the influence of transhuman servants has created a society of de facto equality. The first generation of interstellar rulers in the Dominion developed advanced bioroid designs that would reduce the burden on it's shrinking population. The shrinking population is also the reason why all bioroids are asexual - breeding is part of every Creator's responsibility. The bioroids were quite successful, in that they were as clever as predicted, and yet did not rebel against their role. However, the Servants desire to help their Creators was tempered with their own worldview. Naturally, the best way way to raise children was in the loving care of servants, and every person should have at least their own servant, of course. The result was as traditionalists predicted:

"If you let them raise your children and run your society, don't be surprised when the society changes to suit them."

Castes

Creator Caste

"We run Arbehen society, and don't let anyone tell you different. We are the descendants of the pioneers who developed the transgenic templates for the bioroids we love so much, and our wisdom ensures that our advancement continues. Of course the Servants and Soldiers are important, and we benefit from both their advice and their example of service, but it is our honor and responsibility to rule"

The most important thing to realize about Creators is that they are the only group that can create more Arbehen people, both by being fertile and having control over bioroid production. The second thing to realize is that by this time all of them have been raised mostly by Servants, grew up reading for the heroics of the Soldiers, and usually admire the virtues of the bioroids they rule over. In fact, religion among them usually emphasizes similar devotion to divine progenitors. They also are the only caste to possess the Gift, letting us see the thoughts of others and even possible futures. Note that Creators are between grades 1 and 2 in genetic/cybernetic enhancement.

Servant Caste

"We make Arbehen society a wonderful place to live. All of us help the Creators get the job done, while keeping Soldiers supplied and ready to fight. All we ask it that they take good care of us. Sure, we don't rule, but why would we ever want to do that? That's a Creator thing, just like mating is."

Servant bioroids are small, neotenic designs that are considerably more advanced than baseline humans. Servant are neuters, though they usually adopt a gender of convenience, and they dwarf the other two castes in terms of numbers. They are carefully designed to lack a desire to rule, and to enjoy their jobs. Servants take pride in serving as the retainers of important government officials, often indirectly playing politics through their advice.

Soldier Caste

"We defend Arbehen society. The first responsibility of a nation-state is to defend its citizens, and that is our honorable duty. We command a fleet like no other, and we will defend the other Castes to our last breath. While some of the Creators serve with us, we are the experts in warfare."

Soldier bioroids come in a variety of types, all cybernetically enhanced far beyond human. The average soldier is normal human size, but vastly different in appearance. Outside of bodyguard and police units, they are designed solely for practicality, often having modular limbs and MMI ports easily visible. Fighter pilots are often simply a pilot module that plugs into the fighter. Body guard, police, and leader units often look like humanoid suits of power armor.

Stat Block

Population 3 (5 pts)

Transhumanism 4 (6 pts)

Normal humanity is a distant memory, with bioroids and a caste system only as the beginning

Infrastructure 3 (2 pts)

Servants know how to crank out machinery in vast automatic construction facilities.

Growth Potential 3 (2 pts)

Most of the space that was inside the bubble was rich in habitable worlds and colonies

Military Support 3 (3 pts)

Space Fleet 3 (2 pts)

The various wars with the Qalbeq remnants and the Iron Hives have kept the Soldiers on their toes

Diplomacy 2 (2 pts)

The combination of normal humans and excessively cute assistants should be enough to keep most nations neutral.

Espionage 2 (2 pt)

Arbehen society has had no real need for espionage for a long time. The Qalbeq are not exactly subtle, and the Iron Hives are hardly sentient. The recently formed Ministry of Forewarning aims to correct this, and the new espionage bioroids are showing their value in the field.

General Advancement 1 (4 pts)

No glaring weaknesses here

Unique Technology 3 (5 pts)

Some of the technology of Arbehen is mind-bending for other powers, including inertialess drives, incredible combining fighters and ships, as well as some fairly bizarre weapon technology.

Emergent Technologies 1 (1 pt)

The use of nanotech is becoming more common. AI development is somewhat limited due to Servant worries about being replaced.

Magic 2 (3 pts)

The Gift is the sole province of Creators. Generally, it functions in three modes - Awareness (precog/scrying), Control (TK), and Transmission (Telepathy). Most people have only one mode, a few have two, and a literal handful have all three. Recent work with Tarans has begun furthering their understanding of the Gift and other magic.

Fleet

Starting Points 490 pts Current Fleet 600pts Fleet Support 600pts

Size 1 Multi-Fighter Squadrons

60 (60 pts)

Size 2 Bases

26 (52 pts)

Size 5 Destroyer Squadrons

44 (200 pts)

Size 7 Cruiser Squadrons

20 (98 pts)

Size 8 Explorers

6 (48 pts)

Size 10 Dreadnoughts

5 (50 pts)

Size 15 Flagships

2 (30 pts)

Dramatis Personae

• Commodore Pierre Jourdan - Commander of the ADS Explorer [i]Midlothian[/i]. Made first contact with the Tarans.
  • Cecily-8A0DC - Pierre's Retainer. Likes magic!
• Adept Raymond Idrac - friend and colleague of Pierre, Gifted in Awareness and Transmission.
  • Jacques - Raymond's Retainer
• Maurice Deleuze - Head of the recently formed First Contact Division.
  • Louise - Maurice's Retainer. Has fox ears now!
• Director Phillipe Aragon - Head of the Ministry of Forewarning
  • Claude 99330A - Phillipe's Retainer.
• Alice 99369A - Monitor specialist serving the Ministry of Forewarning
• Mistress Ferro - Ancient member of the Order, Highly Gifted in Awareness
• Senior Captain Luc Bressard - Commander of the ADS Explorer [i]Channahon[/i]
  • Maurice - Luc's Retainer
  • Captain Becker - Chief Soldier Officer on the [i]Channahon[/i]
• Yardmaster Galois - Head operator, Mardan 2 Naval Yards
  • Jean - Galois's retainer
  • Colonel Massena - Head of Mardan Naval Yards Security Detail
• Duchess Genevieve Colombeau - First Lady of the Admiralty, Governing Council member, and centuries old Heading the Crusade, because she can.
  • Marie - Genevieve's retainer. Almost as old as Genevieve.
• Captain Emile Fourcade
  • Melanie - Emile's retainer
• Mathilde Dumaine - Foreign Minister of the Arbehen Dominion.
  • Anders - Mathilde's retainer.