The Empty Quarter
The Principality of Petra
The Principality of Petra is one of the successor states formed following the final breakdown of central authority within the Belkan Empire in the 4760s. It lies deep within the Empty Quarter, a cold and desolate region on the edge of the Osiran System that is far removed from the bustling civilizations of the inner worlds. As one of the most remote of the former imperial possessions from the centers of power, Petra has never had much political or cultural significance in the past, but in the aftermath of the dissolution of Belkan power it has become a haven from which a considerable portion of the former empire's military leadership and nobility entertain dreams of restoring their former positions.
Petra was originally settled following the successful conclusion of the Vulperion Suppression as the centerpiece of the empire's newly formed Osirian Military Frontier. Although imperial leadership was unwilling to expend the energy necessary to pursue the Vulperions into their final boltholes or to attempt to impose their authority on the savage Ymirons, neither was it content to leave the region completely without imperial oversight. The colony on Petra and later the settlement of the surrounding archipelago gave the empire a series of bases from which it could patrol Osirian System and if necessary stage future campaigns.
Despite its military origins, Petra saw little in the way of serious conflict for most of its history and it was not until the Atlantean Wars and then the General War that it was put to the test as a bulwark of imperial power on the frontier. One of the first targets of the initial Atlantean attack, Petra was nearly overrun during the First Orbit and survived only perhaps because the enemy diverted more of its resources against the richer inner worlds. During later orbits a heavily reinforced Petra served as a base for the first wave of victorious Belkan anti-comet operations. With the outbreak of the General War, its modernized facilities made it a key base for the empire in the outer worlds and Petra was one of the last of the Empire's provinces to break away from what was left of the empire's central authority.
- The House of Corinn-Balzer
- Petra's nominal ruling family is the House of Corinn-Balzer, a branch of the Empire's former Imperial Dynasty that failed to seize power in the turmoil following the death of the Empress Dejah. Sidelined during the reign of the last emperor, following his assassination they made a successful bid for control at Petra. The present head of the family is Grand Duke Spiro Corinn-Balzer, an old man more obsessed the with missed opportunities and might have beens of the previous decades than the actual business of the present.
- The Military
- As befitting its status as one of the Empire's premier naval bases, some of the most modern and powerful Belkan ships were based at Petra. Although the Petran Fleet's strength was sapped as units were called away to fight around the inner worlds, in the postwar years Petran General Command has worked tirelessly to increase their military potential. Whether or not this is out of worry about the impending return of the White Comet or out of an ambition to see a renaissance of Belkan power is open to debate.
- The Petran Archipelago
- Cold and often shrouded in darkness, the icy rocks of the Petran Archipelago are an inhospitable place that if not for political and military concerns would likely never have been so heavily developed. The majority of the population remains concentrated in and immediately around the warmth and light of the major cities on the planetoid itself and on the largest of the islands, but over the centuries a number of smaller towns and outposts have grown up out in the long night.
Territory
Petran Archipelago
Archipelago (40)
- Planetoid (50)
- Metropolis (8)
- Naval Yard (4)
- Mine (4)
- Mine (Free)
- Metropolis (8)
- Naval Yard (4)
- Mine (4)
- Cost: 122
- Output: 104 IP, 9 Claria, 4 Adamant, 6 Sakuradite
- Upkeep: 260
- Planetoid (50)
8 x Empty Zones (8)
- No Sites
- Cost: 8
- No Sites
Military
- Traits
- All or Nothing
- Focus Capital Ships
- Supplies
- Upkeep Used: 216
- Upkeep Total: 260
Surface Forces
40 Rifle Brigades
Type: Foot Brigade
- +1 Heavy Weapons
- +1 Armor
- +1 Sappers
Batch Cost: 15 IP, 1 Sakuradite, 1 Adamant
Upkeep: 2
18 Motor Rifle Brigades
Type: Cavalry Brigade
- +1 Vehicle Weapons
- +1 Armor
Batch Cost: 12 IP, 1 Sakuradite, 1 Adamant
Upkeep: 2
3 Tank Brigades
Type: Armor Brigade
- +1 Main Guns
- +1 Armor
Batch Cost: 12 IP, 1 Sakuradite, 1 Adamant
Upkeep: 2
5 Coastal Artillery Brigades
Type: Air Defense Brigade
- No Upgrades
Batch Cost: 6 IP
Upkeep: 2
The Space Fleet
Capital Ships
5 Admiral Junqueira Class Battleships
Type: Battleship
- +1 Gun Caliber
- +1 Secondaries
- +1 Armor
- +1 Shields
Batch Cost: 42 IP, 6 Sakuradite, 3 Adamant, 3 Sildron, 3 Claria
Upkeep: 6
- Admiral Junqueira, Admiral Elizalde, Admiral Zeimoto, Crown Prince, Empress Dejah
5 Mesarthim Class Battleships
Type: Battleship
- +1 Gun Caliber
- +1 Secondaries
- +1 Armor
Batch Cost: 36 IP, 6 Sakuradite, 3 Adamant, 3 Claria
Upkeep: 6
- Mesarthim, Kaus Media, Bellatrix, Al Kaphrah, Adamant Duke
3 Prince Vizcaino Class Battleships
Type: Battleship
- +1 Gun Caliber
- +1 Armor
Batch Cost: 30 IP, 3 Sakuradite, 3 Adamant, 3 Claria
Upkeep: 6
- Prince Vizcaino, Princess Imperial, Tejat Prior
Cruisers
1 Invincible Class Heavy Cruiser
Type: Heavy Cruiser
- +1 Heavy Magna Cannons
- +1 Shields
- +1 Armor
- +0 Plot Armor
Batch Cost: N/A
Upkeep: N/A
- Invincible
3 Bastion Class Heavy Cruisers
Type: Heavy Cruiser
- +1 Gun Caliber
- +1 Armor
Batch Cost: 12 IP, 1 Sakuradite, 1 Adamant, 1 Claria
Upkeep: 2
- Bastion, Broadsword, Bulwark
33 Assorted Light Cruisers
Type: Light Cruiser
- +1 Turrets
- +1 Electronics
Batch Cost: 12 IP, 2 Claria, 1 Sakuradite
Upkeep: 2
Escorts
200 Assorted Destroyers
Type: Destroyer
- +1 Wave Sensors
Batch Cost: 9 IP, 2 Claria
Upkeep: 2
Prowlers
6 E-300 Class Large Prowlers
Type: Marauder
- +1 Electronics
- +1 Torpedoes
Batch Cost: 12 IP, 2 Claria, 1 Sakuradite
Upkeep: 2
- E-302, E-306, E-307, E-310, E-311, E-313
Auxiliaries
3 Kingfisher Class Cosmocraft Motherships
Type: Escort Carrier
- +1 Air Wing
- +1 Electronics
Batch Cost: 12 IP, 2 Claria, 1 Sakuradite
Upkeep: 2
- Kingfisher, Snowy Owl, Sparrow
3 Assorted Assault Ships
Type: Marine Assault Ship
- +1 Armor
Batch Cost: 9 IP, 1 Adamant, 1 Claria
Upkeep: 2
20 Assorted Troopships
Type: Troop Transports
- No Upgrades
Batch Cost: 6 IP, 1 Claria
Upkeep: 2
30 Assorted Minelayers
Type: Destroyer
- +1 Mine Warfare
Batch Cost: 9 IP, 1 Claria
Upkeep: 2
5 Naval Infantry Brigades
Type: Marine Brigade
- +1 Heavy Weapons
- +1 Armor
- +1 Sappers
Batch Cost: 15 IP, 1 Sakuradite, 1 Adamant
Upkeep: 2
5 x Large Forts
Type: Cosmofort
- +1 Armor
Batch Cost: 9 IP, 1 Adamant
Upkeep: 2