Datu Kuchta

Datu Kuchta was the first child of Empress Ami Kuchta and Robert Churchill. Developed in vitro and born when his mother was only 15, Datu was raised under the direction of his grandmother, Mandike Kuchta. Datu was a product of the Kuchta genetic enhancement program begun by his great-great grandfather Sten Kuchta (123-237). Although Datu showed mathematical and pattern-forming abilities rivalling those of his mother, he turned out to be a shy, uncertain child who grew up to be a hesitant, indecisive adult.

As a child, Datu was dominated by his sister Calisay, three years his junior. Calisay was smarter, more outgoing, and had a stronger personality than Datu, so it was perhaps natural that he should follow her advice and wishes. Once he was Emperor, Calisay was one of his chief advisors.

Datu Kuchta's reign was largely peaceful, and devoted to consolidation of the policies begun by Tsung Dao Wu and Ami Kuchta, including continued consolidation & integration of regional cultures and economies.

While Sten Kuchta's genetic enhancement program formally ended with his death in 237, some of the personnel involved allied themselves with researchers who had conducted similar programs in other Idara, in a clandestine breeding program later called the Kala Phenkae. In 252, under the sponsorship of the Idara Kristeller, the Kala Phenkae found a permanent headquarters on the planet Obron.

Shortly after Datu took the Throne in 242, the number of worlds in the Empire passed the 4,000 mark. In TE 250, the Imperial Quarter-Millennial Celebration included the foundation of Cliodna, completing the settlement of all habitable worlds within 30 lightyears of Terra.

Datu Kuchta died in TE 254, at age 30, in a starship crash on Geled. Although foul play was suspected, no evidence was ever found. Datu was the first Emperor officially to die of a cause other than old age. (For reasons of security, Maj Thovold's death was officially recorded as old age.)

Datu was succeeded by his sister, Calisay Kuchta.