The Grand Human Empire of Gliese 581 G

The Gliesian Empire

The Human colonists that arrived some 300 years ago in Gliese 581 gained sovereignty based on three core things: loyalty to the Emperor, honor and freedom through bloodshed, and Human superiorty. When the system was united by the original colonists on G, they began to look outward. As they expanded, they met alien races, who welcomed them at first into the Galactic community. When a alien delegate was brought before the 2nd Emperor, Flavias Mulias, the Emperor's advisors demanded that the alien bow. When he refused to do so, he was struck down- and so began their history of xenophobia and hatred of aliens. They soon began to believe that they were the superior race, and the ultimate evolution of the old Human race, seeing them as infidels to be re-educated in the proper ways.

They now stop at nothing to achieve that goal to unite humanity, even if that means annihilating an entire species if it gets in their way.

Important Places

Gliese 581 G: Considered the cradle of the proper Human race, it is considered a blessing to live there, but also a curse in some ways. It is a tidally locked planet, which means it always faces its star- this means that one side fries while another freezes. The only habitable places on land are on the twilight zones between the two sides. It is here, near the equator of one side of the planet, that the Imperial tombs of each Emperor is kept along with the Emperor's Palace. On the rest of the planet, huge honeycombed areas of underground cities sprawl out, getting less and less safe and clean the deeper you go. Deep enough, it is like a living hell- there is no law, no light. The families living there have done so for more than century, and they have degenerated into huge, glassy eyed, thin, weak and starving offshoots of the Human race, considered monsters and often killed on sight if they do not run back into the darkness. Nonetheless, it is considered a dream by those who do not live on it within the Empire to visit it, and is considered an obligation by some.

Moons of Gliese 581 C: A gas giant within the same system, the moons house huge mining facilities and small colonies around them. They supply the Empire with many of its raw materials, such as uranium.

Culture

• Language

Following the 1st Decree of the 1st Emperor, one of the laws set down made Latin the only language in the Empire and outlawed all others. Their culture was very Greco-Roman from the start- columns and huge palaces all went up, covered in brilliant white marble with giant statues and engravings. These old artifacts are long lost now, but that style carries on.

• Food

Gliesian food is mostly made of thick stew and roasted animal, along with grains and small plants at times. Salad is unheard of. They typically raise animals and plants on farm worlds. Meats are typically heavily stuffed with spices and then roasted. It is often cut up and put on skewers as well. Gliesian stew typically incorporates heavily spiced meats, but also includes grains such as various rice-like plants found on Gliese 581 that is often introduced to farm worlds. The stew itself can go any direction past this.

• Atmospheric Tolerance

Gliese 581 G has a atmosphere similar to Earth, but somewhat different- however, not different enough to the point where they could not breathe it. Early on, small breathers were required to filter out toxins within the air. Eventually, the people gained a tolerance to this. You would think that this would mean it let them breathe a wide range of atmospheres- but this is not so. Instead, the fact they could breathe the air came at the cost of not being able to naturally breathe a normal, Earth-type atmosphere. As such, most colonies, except ones in the very inner areas, (which are mostly urban sprawl and government buildings) have not yet been terraformed to the point where they could breathe it. This means that for some, a gasmask is nearly a second skin.

Timeline

Year -100: This is the year in which the first colonists set out in cryo-sleep to Gliese 581. Because of this, there is nothing of note until the arrival at Gliese 581. FTL Drives were not developed on Earth at this time and had to be made by the Gliesians themselves, hence the fact they have only emerged into deep space relatively recently.

Year 0: The colonists arrive. A small city is made in the twilight zone of the planet.

Year +25: Deep-radio stations give up attempting to contact Earth.

Year +60: A Roman-esque culture begins to take prominence on the quickly growing colony.. This is also the year that the future 1st Emperor, later known as the Nova Caesare, is born.

Year +75: Most of the Gliese system is colonized at this point. Stellarism begins to arise around this time. The Nova Caesare begins to rise in prominence in academics.

Year +80: The developing Roman culture is near-dominant on the planet. The Nova Caesare joins the local militia, quickly rising in the ranks.

Year +82: The main colony, home to the Nova Caesare, goes to war with a nearby city founded shortly after the first one was laid down.

Year +83: The war drags on. Many people are left homeless as the rest of the planet picks a side and fights. The Nova Caesare begins to plot his coup and control of the whole planet with a large contingent of forces.

Year +83.5: The coup happens.

Year +86: The entire planet is united, the 1st Decree is put down. It is as follows:

• You shall worship the planet, and nothing else- do not worship me.

• Instead you shall follow me to salvation in the name of the planet- I am Nova Caesare and will live on with you in death.

• The other planets shall be worshiped as deities, but Holy Gliese-G shall be the foremost one.

• You shall speak the Holy Language, Latin, and all are expected to speak it within the time the next generation of children arrives.

• You shall not dirty your tongue with any other heathen language.

• Every man shall take it upon himself to be his life's duty to further the cause of uniting all Mankind and exterminating all who oppose it.

• Finally every man shall be considered and equal, and those who do not accept the Right Path will die.

Year +100: The Nova Caesare dies. Another man, Flavius Caesarus, holds the throne. This year is considered a year of huge changes in many ways. Room on Gliese 581 G runs out- as people starve, huge underground cities are franticly carved out. A group of scientists, directed by the Nova Caesare himself, finally finish his dream and make a FTL Drive.

Year +110: The Gliesian humans have barely escaped mass starvation and most people live in the underground cities that web across the planet. They also encounter an alien race for the first time. They make first contact and an alien emissary goes to G itself. He is asked to bow before the emperor, but instead stands stalwart. He is executed and the 1st Great Stellar Crusade starts, which wipes out 5 small alien races in the nearby area.

Year +130: The wake of destruction caused by the 1st Great Stellar Crusade is followed up by a massive wave of colonists. Cities are built on top of the alien ruins in many places.

Year +160: The fact Gliesian humans can no longer breathe 'normal' atmospheres becomes clear.

Year +180: A large alien conglomerate comes across the growing Gliesian empire and attempt to absorb it. The first true Legions are formed and the 2nd Great Stellar Crusade is announced. The aliens are exterminated within the end of the year.

Year +181: After leading the 2nd Great Stellar Crusade, the very old Flavius Caesare dies. His son, Lucius Caesare, becomes the new Emperor.

Year +195: The empire grows at an astounding rate, with planets being colonized within each year.

Year +200 (Present Day): The Empire finally finds other humans in the Aeveria Confederation, but is horrified to see them under alien rule and living amongst them. The 3rd Great Stellar Crusade begins and they are engulfed in the... EPIC WAR.