First Empire

Primary of Keret.

70 Ophiuchi a binary star system located 16.6 light years away from the Earth. It is in the constellation Ophiuchus.

The primary star is a yellow-orange main sequence dwarf BY Draconis variable of spectral type K0, and the secondary star is an orange main sequence dwarf of spectral type K4. The two stars orbit each other at an average distance of 23.2 AUs. But since the orbit is highly elliptical (at e=0.499), the separation between the two varies from 11.4 to 34.8 AUs, with one orbit taking 83.38 years to complete.

Primary of Circe.

41 G. Arae or GJ 666 A is a binary star system in the constellation Ara. Although often called just 41 Arae, it is more accurate to call it 41 G. Arae, as the number 41 is the Gould designation (Flamsteed only covered the northern hemisphere).

The primary star in this system is a G-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of G8V. It has about 81% of the mass of the Sun, and 79% of the Sun's radius. The fainter member of the pair has a peculiar spectrum that shows a deficiency in metals, which, for astronomical purposes, are the elements heavier than Helium.

The two stars share a highly elliptical orbit that takes several centuries to complete. The estimates of the period range from 693 to 2,200 years, and the average separation of the two stars is about 210 AUs (or 210 times the average distance between the Earth and the Sun).

Founded on Promethia c. 2101 CE as a successor to the Walter and Kenan Marrel Academy, the Wakmarrel School's severe discipline and rigorous training procedures were designed for one purpose: to teach its students how to think, clearly and consistently. Surprisingly, the School seems to have succeeded.

In TE 3 (2156 CE), the School moved to a newfound planet which they christened Wakmarrel, and apparently dropped out of contact with the rest of the Galaxy. In TE 64, the Empire recontacted Wakmarrel, and the planet became part of the Empire. By then, the School was composed of well-trained, clear-thinking adepts from many different worlds, and their influence was felt throughout the Empire.

Advanced Wakmarrel School adepts continued the work that had led to the School's establishment, until one of the School's primary purposes was research into the nature of thought and the establishment of new and better methods of thought.

The Wakmarrel School discovered (or created?) a state of awareness called obdumat. Obdumat, or multiplex awareness, is a state in which the mind can comprehend various levels of reality simultaneously. More complex than simple multi-tracking, obdumat can be taught; the School insisted that if enough people in the Galaxy learned and used obdumat awareness, most social problems would disappear.

Naturally, Wakmarrel adepts (in their signature green capes) played an important role in Galactic society, with their subtle problem-solving techniques and their reasoning that resembled intuition. The services of a Wakmarrel adept cost greatly, but were more than worth the price.

After the fall of the Empire, the Wakmarrel School lasted until about 2850 CE, when the planet itself was conquered. Some of the School's literature and teachings survived, though, to ultimately provide one source for the teachings of Lorecanism.

A Wakmarrel School adept, Sanjay Lafevre, worked with Brynhilde and the Hoister Family Genetic Board to set up the guidelines for the rearing of the Hoister Eighth Generation. He spent much time on Helox helping to raise and train the children.

One of six co-orbital stations in orbit 20 million km from Mu Venarum. Operated by the Karphos Corporation, these stations mine the solar wind of Mu Venarum.

One of six co-orbital stations in orbit 20 million km from Mu Venarum. Operated by the Karphos Corporation, these stations mine the solar wind of Mu Venarum.

One of six co-orbital stations in orbit 20 million km from Mu Venarum. Operated by the Karphos Corporation, these stations mine the solar wind of Mu Venarum.

One of six co-orbital stations in orbit 20 million km from Mu Venarum. Operated by the Karphos Corporation, these stations mine the solar wind of Mu Venarum.

One of six co-orbital stations in orbit 20 million km from Mu Venarum. Operated by the Karphos Corporation, these stations mine the solar wind of Mu Venarum.

One of six co-orbital stations in orbit 20 million km from Mu Venarum. Operated by the Karphos Corporation, these stations mine the solar wind of Mu Venarum.

On 23 November 430, the Hlekkar L4 gengineering laboratory belonging to Hlekkar Geneotech Ltd. was holed by a meteor strike. Proper decontamination procedures were not followed, resulting in the release of the virulent disease which became known as the Hlekkarian Plague. Ultimately, the Plague destroyed about 13% of Galactic population in ten years.

About 570 planets were wiped out or abandoned during Hlekkarian Plague, TE 430-440 (2583-2593 CE)

A vaccine to Hlekkarian Plague was developed in 440 on Taglierre, and spread by Imperial Navy. Within four tendays, the Plague was declared over.

Symptoms

The Hlekkarian Plague was a particularly virulent form of influenza, with all of the attendant respiratory symptoms. However, the Plague organism had the ability, in some cases, to tailor itself to a particular host over time. Therefore, episodes of Plague had a tendency to recur, growing more virulent with each return. Individual episodes usually started at six to twelve days, then increased in duration with each subsequent episode. Recurrences came on the order of thirty to ninety days apart, although that time period tended to lengthen as the disease progressed.

The particular dread of the Hlekkarian Plague was that one could never be sure that one was rid of it. At any time, it could return, worse than before . . . and continue returning, until finally one died.