Armed Forces
(Leave this blank until the main IC thread is up with details about the technology available k thx.)

Imperial Assessment

Ever since they were awarded control over the Exarchate for their support of Emperor Murov during the Black Masquerade, the scions of Rankov have proved to be loyal, if not entirely obedient, servants of the Emperor. Their distance from the capital and general freedom of action that Exarchs receive to better pursue their tasks, have made the Rankovs and the many families and groups beholden to them in vassalage, a prickly, self aggrandizing and willful bunch.

Though never taking direct action against a reigning Emperor, the Grand House is known to value its autonomy and for their opposition of centralization policies undertaken by the capital. And though they never took up arms against a reigning Emperor, the Exarchs of Virezhir have an history of obstructing and interfering with what they deem "unlawful infringements upon their unalienable rights". The Exarchs were also signatories of several petitions and appeals against assembled by noble councils and groups over history.

It's status as an Exarchate allows Virezhir a greater deal of freedom in most matters, including military. As of now, the forces raised by the Exarch and his vassals greatly outnumber those of the Imperial Authority deployed to Virezhir. To support this large regional host, Virezhir developed a native military industrial complex, which has seen substantial deviations from the Imperial norm over the years. Including their overuse of genetically modified shock troops.

Genetic engineering is also more wide spread than the norm inside the Exarchate. Nobles pride themselves on spending fortunes employing pet geneweavers while Geneticist Guilds hold considerable political and economical influence within the confines of Virezhir.

For all their efforts to loosen the hold of the capital over them, the Exarchs are also forced to deal with unruly vassals. The way in which the great Emperor Zelevas organized his conquests means that the Rankovs are but one of the many noble houses inside Virezhir. And though seemingly the single most powerful of these families, the Rankovs and their many vassals are keenly aware that their legitimacy as Exarchs derives from the authority of the Emperor. Any overt action against out Most August Empire will have to be heavily weighed against this fact. Likewise, should an Imperial Authority task force manages to inflict enough defeats upon the Rankovs, it's almost certain that their vassals will soon start to desert rather than to share what seems like a doomed fate.

Finally, as an Exarchate, Virezhir has to deal with the ever constant threats that exist beyond the safety and prosperity of the Empire. In the past millennia, legions of Xenos broke upon Virezhir, several even overran the Exarchate, forcing the Imperial Authority to deploy in force to revert the situation. And though the last great invasion was over four centuries ago, any major redeployment of troops outside the borders of the Exarchate would be strongly opposed by many actors within Virezhir itself.

Besides, we've all read the worrying reports about Xenos movement beyond the Zelevian Reaches. Should their estimations prove true, the Grand House will have more than enough on their plate to even dream of further subversion of rightful Imperial authority.

Imperial Majesty

As requested I have spent a better part of eight solar cycles assessing the Praag system. In this time I have analyzed and compiled what I believe is currently the most extensive pool of knowledge regarding the so-called religious organization that is the Order of the Exalted Sun's. First I should clear up the obvious that the OES (the moniker here so after used when regarding the Order of the Exalted Suns directly) is something of an offshoot of the widely popular state religion that is the Church of Ankh-Sah.

The order is nominally led by the widely successful and industrious Lord Temijen Blackwall of Praag. He is the Co-Founder of the mega-corporation Aurora Foundation that first began as a successful ship building, mining and manufacturing company. It seems much of the current OES uses prototype technology pioneered by Aurora itself. This has granted them a technological edge over many of their neighbors.

First, on the man, himself, we know a great deal; Temijen was born on the colony world of Jiarus to an esteemed noble house that had consolidated power over the planet for centuries. It should be noted that the system of Praag was one of the first generations of systems to be colonized decades before the first true faster than light warp engines had even been completed. These early expeditions relying heavily on outdated slipstream engines and cryo pods.

The fact it took almost a hundred anni cycles before contact was properly established between Praag and the Empire meant it had several generations to develop quite separately. A well-established caste system was born and standing at the head of society were the aristocratic families. The clan of Blackwall has always held a proud tradition of having many of its number involved within the Imperial army itself since their joining of the empire. Creating a strong military tradition that stretches through the ages and one Temijen has followed suit himself. His military records as you well know are impeccable until he eventually retired early to go into business with his younger brother Emanuel Blackwall.

The two turned a small mining company into the multi-system powerhouse that is now Aurora Foundation. Now the beginnings of OES began rather innocently. Aurora Foundation had begun to construction and use of a brand new design of an FTL engine. Upon completion, a fleet of ships was outfitted with these new Cognition Engines and sent to colonize a new sector of planets on the fringes of the Empire. However, these ships apparently vanished part way into their transit.

Perhaps hoping to save face Temijen personally led an expedition with ships outfitted with similar engines. Several cycles later only two ships returned, one of them the was the flagship Temijen had set out with and the other was one, of the till then, lost ships of the failed colonization effort. A vessel called the Zarheran. Reports are still limited in what exactly transpired during this rescue mission but what I have been able to discern from accounts of those present.

Is that the Temijen was able to replicate a tear in the void that the colony vessels were last seen. Those who entered in, including Temijen himself, have been tight-lipped about the events on the other side. I don't have to tell you how unprecedented direct travel into the void is and the fact someone was able to successfully enter it then leave is practically miraculous.

Whatever occurred during this rescue seemed to cause Temijen and those present with him quiet the religious encounter. As I have gathered it seemed Temijen's ship encountered an entity within the void itself they called "Black Sun" it apparently revealed a great many things before returning one of the lost ships. If this event is to be believed then it would mean the first successful encounter with a being from the void itself.

Whether or not this tale is true what I can confirm is those who entered the void in this way did not leave unchanged. Quite a few went mad or became sickened by some unknown illness. However, others, in particular, all the children of the ship rescued from the Zarheran developed unique and strange abilities both unnatural and potent.

They are somewhat reminiscent of regular vacare but defy even their vaunted powers. None of the children were born vacare and their abilities seem to barely be within their ability to control. As their parents were lost during their ill-fated voyage Lord Temijen went out of his way to provide the facilities altered specifically to taking care of them. He even directly adopted one of these children himself.

The children aside it was Temijen's sudden zealot fever that took the form of overtures and donations to the church of Ankh-Sah that first caught our attention. He managed to gain enough notoriety and met with several of the churches, top officials. The meeting ended with the church granting Temijen official sanctions to create a new sect. A more militant arm of the church that would give Ankh-Sah yet unseen presence on the galactic rim.

It seemed from intelligence gathered the church takes Temijen to be something of a present-day prophet. He has played his role well using the resources of Aurora Foundation to consolidate power in Praag and surrounding systems. Many have joined the Order of The Exalted Suns, brought in by Temijen's charisma, influence, and his supposedly being chosen by a god.

In the twenty anni sense the bright of the Order of The Exalted Suns and the events leading to Temijen's sudden conversion to Ankh-Sah. Those children aforementioned before to be changed by their trip into the void have played a key role as well. They are considered by the church to be touched by divinity and are widely known as the Star Hearlds. Having since been trained to harness their strange gifts.

As I have come to understand it, the famed knights of the order known as the knights of null owe their existence to these children in some way. I can confirm they possess the strange if not frightening power to 'deny' the power of a vacare to some extent. It seems less magical to me and more the knight's ability to enforce reality in such a way it cannot be changed as easily. This gift has created powerful vacare hunters and these hunters have established themselves well as experts in capturing rogue vacare.

I am unsure of what that connection is of yet between these knights of null and the accursed children of Zarheran but one thing remains true. As long as the Star Heralds remain within the order and see Temijen as both father and savior the Order will possess potent living weapons-- and make no mistake weapons are exactly what the church has optioned.

Temijen might have made his first political move in securing these 'accidents' by taking them into his care using his considerable resources. However, I am of the belief he became aware of their potential early on and hide greed with the illusion of a good deed. How interesting, if not overly conventiant, the technology that allows them to both controls their powers and sooth the burden they bring was developed so quickly.

I am rather skeptical of the entire event surrounding the creation of these heralds, and I advise we keep an even closer eye on this Lord Temijen as he is far more than he appears. It has been twenty years since the Incident of Zarheran and the man looks no more than 60 years old. He was already 66 anni by the time he partook in the voyage rescue. He still possesses all the energy of a man half of that age. I know anti-aging drugs are popular among the elite but none are so effective.

The past anni has seen a drastic rise in the forces of the Order, it is obvious they are gearing toward something big. Temijen himself as voiced concern the empire is not prepared for what is coming and that only he and his followers can save us. From what? Who are they preparing to fight? Xeno forces? Hidden separatist? This Temijen is not the first doomsayer religious fanatic. However, he remains the first to possess an army and the military background to make it frighteningly effective.

Should he move against the empire I advise we neutralize Lord Temijen himself. It is obvious the order relies greatly on his leadership. Moreso, if we were to strike quickly and decisively we can put an end to the order before it can make effective use of their assets. Specifically, we must at all cost make sure to avoid a guerilla war with the Star Heralds. They are formidable, but few in number and thus cannot throw their weight around inside a true war.

I admit the problem is somewhat muddled by the Orders ties with Ankh-Sah, however, we will simply have to take the risk of raising their ire. Temijen is no doubt aiming for grander I am sure, perhaps he even has eyes on the throne itself. I find it admittedly more comforting to think him a madman or an ambitious one. The alternative is simply unthinkable-- for it would mean there are dangerous beyond our current understanding and insight. Creatures of the void ready to consume us all?

I find the thought... unsettling.